I learned something new

[TXCOONDOG]

I've been casting for 8 years or so, mainly pistol using COWW/SOWW (air cooled/water cooled), and just started mixing different alloys for my 450 BM.

My hard casts test at 22 BHN and my other alloy is Lyman # 2 (15.4 BHN). Loaded both using same powder (charge weights), primers, brass, sized to the same diameter, powder coated, etc.

Anyway, Hard cast grouped 2"-3" and the Lyman # 2 1"-1.26".....old news to the more experienced casters, but was eye opening for me.

[Winger Ed.]

Cool.

I've been hacking around at this for 30-odd years and learn something new a whole lot more often than I would have guessed.

Not that I was doing it all wrong-- just lots of little things that make me better.

Now to make the circle complete, you also need to pass on what you've learned.

[Txcowboy52]

Good info to have. Thanks for sharing, seems like the older I get the more I learn.

[Digital Dan]

There's a use for hard cast I've heard, but it serves little purpose for shooting. Fit is the key to success far more often than not.

[GregLaROCHE]

Depending on what you’re looking for, harder isn’t necessarily better.

[TXCOONDOG]

I will be hunting hogs in brush such as yaupon shrubs, briars, palmettos, etc so I wanted to try using a harder bullet. Not sure if 7 bhn harder will make a difference.

[pworley1]

It has been my experience that for most pistol bullets the softer alloys are better. I have been casting for over sixty years and still learn things all the time.

[slim1836]

Due to the lack of mixing agents, I pretty much just cast my boolits with wheel weights or range scrap. Round ball is still cast with pure lead for my BP weapons. Since I just plink at the range, I don't get too picky. I do powder coat most of my boolits, but some pistol boolits are lubed.

I'm minute of hog or better if needed.

Slim

[LAGS]

I found that Some of my rifles shoot Boolits made out of harder lead alloy work better.
Like my Two Groove Lee Enfield Long Branch.
It likes Linotype Boolits sized .001 larger than groove diameter.
It probably will depend on the barrel and condition or depth of the grooves , plus the barrel twist.

[fredj338]

Depending on what you’re looking for, harder isn’t necessarily better.

This