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Old 03-18-2012, 02:35 PM
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Default Sprue In or Out 38 DEWC?

Which is most accurate? I've heard and read both. Some say put the most perfect end (non sprue) in the case because the bottom end acts like a rudder in flight. Who knows the truth?
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Old 03-18-2012, 02:52 PM
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Truth is it doesn't make any difference. If anything the sprue end of the bullet, if well cast, has the cleaner corners.

The "sprue up" idea comes from muzzle-loaders and patched round ball. In this case the sprue should be loaded up so you can align it in the center which results in better balance, and better accuracy. If you load sprue down you really have no idea where it is, and off-center the bullet will be slightly imbalanced. With a cylindrical bullet the sprue will be centered no matter which way it is loaded, just do them all the same way!
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Old 03-19-2012, 06:20 PM
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Either or but do them all the same.
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Old 03-19-2012, 08:23 PM
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The steering end of the cast bullet is the "tail" end (the end in the case). The best end of a dbl ended cast bullet is the end OPPOSITE the sprue. Therefore, to gain maximum accuracy, load the ugly end up (the sprue end).

If loading for revolvers, it is also a good idea to have nearly all of the first band out of the case and lightly taper crimp on the tail end of the first band. This helps to align the bullet with the revolver throats.

On the other hand, I load my cast button nosed wadcutters with the sprue down:



The proper answer to the original question is, of course, to shoot your revolver off a rest (preferably with a scope) and make your own determination. The better the quality of the cast bullets, the less importance this makes...

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Old 03-19-2012, 11:25 PM
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about the only thing I can see making a difference is if the plate end of the mold block was milled out of square
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Old 03-20-2012, 02:35 AM
WR Moore WR Moore is offline
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American Rifleman did an article way back when where they intentionally and uniformly dinged either the nose or base of a bullet and then fired them for comparative groups. IIRC, base defects had more effect on group size than nose defects, at least in rifles.

As someone else noted, make 'em all the same.
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