Suggest an alloy?

[Matt85]

I'm looking to pick up a 1200gr 85 caliber mold from Accurate Molds. But I'm unsure of what alloy I should use. I need an alloy that will deform as little as possible on impact with heavy bone but also not shatter. These bullets will be used as "solids" for hunting with an 8-bore double rifle. I would prefer an alloy that is available for purchase as I don't trust myself to be consistent.

What alloy do you suggest?

Thank you
-Matt

[dtknowles]

Lyman #2, medium hard and tough so it should not shatter. Balanced alloy with same amount of tin and antimony.

[Gobeyond]

Lyman #2

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

good God man, What are you hunting?
.835"
1200gr.
WOW !

I think I'd use 16:1

[TurnipEaterDown]

8 Bore: 8 balls to a pound, or 875 gr ball.
1200 gr, still a very short bullet.
Seems like most people do this as nostalgia. From what I have read, the 4 bores didn't work too well on elephant. Large frontal, low sectional density. Even though heavy, it has it's own issues.

[gwpercle]

Lyman #2 ... Should be just the Ticket on those mature Boar Hog's !

We got one in Louisiana ... in the Atchafalaya Basin Swamps ...they call Hogzilla ... it appears to weigh over 1,000 lbs but so far no one has "had enough gun" them 223 cal AR's ain't going to get the job done ... the 8 Bore double rifle ...
Should be just the ticket !
Gary

[Matt85]

Thanks all, sounds like Lyman #2 is the ticket.

My 8 bore double rifle has a .847" bore, so I will have Accurate make a .849" mold. I will be trying a 900gr ball, a 1200gr bullet (probably 1250gr), and some 1330gr bullets sent to me by another forum member. The historic "elephant load" for these guns was a 1150gr-1250gr bullet over around 10 drams or 273gr of black powder. I've seen some neat old sales ads offering 1150gr 8-bore cartridges with steel penetrators.

Turnipeaterdown is correct, the old bore rifles were not ideal for elephant. The sectional density of even the massive 1330gr 85 caliber bullet is only .265 and the modern standard for elephant is .300 or higher. Once smokeless powder caught on, the 577 NE almost immediately replaced both the 4 bore and the 8 bore.

-Matt

[Rickf1985]

Lyman #2 ... Should be just the Ticket on those mature Boar Hog's !

We got one in Louisiana ... in the Atchafalaya Basin Swamps ...they call Hogzilla ... it appears to weigh over 1,000 lbs but so far no one has "had enough gun" them 223 cal AR's ain't going to get the job done ... the 8 Bore double rifle ...
Should be just the ticket !
Gary

You need to get Scott from Kentucky Ballistics down there with that monster 4 Bore he has and try it out on those hogs. I am guessing it will stop them. Problem being is that unless you are as big as Scott you will be replacing your shoulder after shooting it a couple times. Not to mention picking yourself up after each shot.