Does black powder fowling prevent leading?

[dtknowles]

In my 450 BPE I shoot a plain base 350 gr bullet at 1700 to 1800 fps and I don't think I am getting any leading. The rifle has Henry rifling (odd sort of polygonal). That might help too. I just expect plain base bullets to lead as least a little at those velocities.

Tim

[Outpost75]

My experience has been that black powder lubes which are effective in keeping the fouling soft, preventing " caking" are also effective in preventing leading, up to the limits of plainbased bullets. I expect that slow twist and Medford rifling is more for giving of high velcity.

In .44-40 I use a ratio of 50-50 olive or neatsfoot oil and beeswax in winter and reduce the oil to 40% in summer. Over 100 degs F for cartridge use 30% oil to prevent quenching the powder. In larger cartridges I use a felt wad over the powder and apply a pea-sized dab of lube over the wad after compressing the charge in a die and before seating the bullet.

[Brimstone]

Your bullet is bumping up and sealing the joint between itself and the bore.
The original rifling designs of the period help as they tend up not have 90 degree angles.

[dtknowles]

Your bullet is bumping up and sealing the joint between itself and the bore.
The original rifling designs of the period help as they tend up not have 90 degree angles.

Yes, the rifling does not have sharp corners and I do use an over powder card wad. I have just never tried to push plain based bullets this fast for fear of leading.

Tim

[elk hunter]

I shoot a 500-450 3 1/4" BPE double using 4198 rather than black. I've shot a lot of plain base 350 grain bullets cast from wheel weight metal at nearly 2000 FPS and have had no leading either in the original Henry rifled barrels or the modern barrels I made for it. Based strictly on my experience with BPE rifles if your barrel or barrels are not rough from pitting, corrosion or poor original machining, i.e. boring and rifling, I doubt you will get much if any leading.

[dtknowles]

So, I guess it is not so much the black powder fowling but just all the other factors. The bore finish, rifling type, bullet fitment, obturation, low pressure, good lube, right alloy. It seems that I have been using gas check bullets when I maybe did not need to in other rifles and pistols. Gas checks have gotten expensive.

Tim