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  #1  
Old 07-15-2013, 04:28 PM
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Default lead bullets in 45C

I have had a 625 for several months and won some 255 cast bullets on GunBroker.. Upon receipt of those bullets, I weighed them. About half weighed 242 +/- and half weighed 252 +/-.

I was surprised that there was a 10 grain plus variance in weights.

Is there any better option other than sorting into the two approximate weights and load. I have 400 of these.

Thanks
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Old 07-15-2013, 04:39 PM
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I'd just shoot them. Assuming your going to start with minimu charge weights for initial loads for that style bullet.
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Old 07-15-2013, 05:17 PM
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I would just shoot them.
If you are at 15yds or less I can't imagine you would notice a difference.
At 25yds - maybe a smidge, at 50yds I would weight group them.
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Old 07-15-2013, 05:55 PM
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I'd separate them. Are they commercial cast? I cast a lot of bullets and I don't get 10 gr. variations in them. Can you check the hardness? Might be two different alloys.
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Old 07-15-2013, 06:48 PM
Ivan the Butcher Ivan the Butcher is offline
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I would find a supplier that won't mix lots like that. I know 255 grain is the traditional bullet for 45 Colt, but I really have liked 200 and 230 flat nosed bullets for Cowboy Action and use the same load in my carbine and revolvers. I use ww231, but Hodgdon "Clays" is popular as well as "Trail Boss". Have fun, Ivan
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Old 07-15-2013, 07:10 PM
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Don't sweat the small stuff. If they were rifle rounds meant for 1000 yards shooting, you might want to sort.
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Old 07-16-2013, 03:04 AM
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For use in a moderate load, & just having fun, there probably won't be much difference noticed. If you want, you could reload them all with the same load/powder, that's suitable for the heavier weight bullet, & then just put the light ones in one box & the heavies in another. Shoot one box first & then use up the others afterwards, so you won't have to be concerned with any differences they exhibit. (I'm assuming you still have them separated.)
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Old 07-16-2013, 03:13 AM
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I vote to sort to me 10grs is a lot. The alloy is different and that going to add to the equation besides you already weight almost all of them. You didn't throw them together did you?
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Old 07-16-2013, 08:47 AM
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I kept them separate after weighing them. Guess I will load them separately. Wanting to shoot a whitetail this fall with this gun.
I am pretty new to shooting cast bullets so was surprised at the weight variance.
Thanks for the comments.
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Old 07-16-2013, 10:15 AM
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Properly cast bullets wont have that much variance. By properly cast I refer to mold and melt temp as well as consistency of the melt ( alloy antimony etc.) and complete fill of the mold. I agree that unless you are trying to shoot match grade groups at long ranges, hunting loads out of a 625 shouldn't show a drastic amount of difference. Just do like suggested and load them separately and enjoy.
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Old 07-16-2013, 10:31 AM
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Sometimes a similar appearing bullet but with a different width lube groove can account for 10g difference.

And for casual range use, my experience is that there is "no PRACTICAL difference" in such a variance.

If I were going to use them as a 'hunting' load, personally I would also really wonder about it while being a bit more attentive to the nuances of 10/255 gr or 3.9% difference in slug weight.....if my math is right.

Typically in the non-competitive accuracy performance in my own loads, there are a host of other factors that account for way more variance from POA. However, the point of reloading and practice, is to decrease those as much as possible.
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Old 07-21-2013, 06:48 AM
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Don't know what kind or brand of bullets you got on GB, but I would have to say that that the QC wasn't very good because a .010" difference is something I have not seen in the 35 years I've been reloading. Descent bullets do vary, but only VERY SLIGHTLY, .001 - .002. Just saying. Personally, I would load them up and shoot them out and never buy unknown bullets in the future. If you shoot at steel plates or larger targets the different points of impact will not get you nuts.
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Old 07-21-2013, 08:00 PM
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I have to agree, the QC of that caster is krap to have 5% variation in wt, but it isn't going to matter that much for 25yd & less plinking. As long as your loads are not max, the wt means little to pressures. My plinking bullets will vary 1.5-2gr +/-. I don't weigh them all, but that is my spot check. My hunting bullets, which can be used out to 100yds, they do get weighed & I have them at 1gr +/-.
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Old 07-22-2013, 12:59 PM
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I would suspect that he cast with two seperate molds or he has a two cavity mold that was cut poorly. i would keep them seperate, verify that length is the same, especially from base to crimp groove and shoot them seperately. I do not believe that they should get seperate loads unless you are running max loads.
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Old 07-22-2013, 02:11 PM
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I guess the decision to separate or not depends on the type of powder and charge you are using (would the weight difference be a critical consideration if you are already at max for the particular powder, such that a 'heavy' bullet may be a little hot?), and your specific application, i.e. whether it is for plinking or action shooting where the precision is not all that critical if accuracy is acceptable, or if you are doing more demanding shooting with them where velocity consistency and precision need to be held to higher standards.

I'd probably just keep the powder charge a little on the lower side and shoot them for practice as is. If you are having trouble obtaining bullets and need some for more serious work (doesn't exactly sound like they are the best bullets for that task, but if it's what you got...), then separate for sure and go with what works best.
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