hardness rating

[MWAG]

i'm looking at some proj's at friendswoodbullets.com for .380 cal. they are lead round nose with a brinnell rating of 18. is this hard enough to function, in the weapon, in my 380 reloads? i couldn't find a comparison chart online to try to see what a rating of 18 was equal to on a more familiar substance.

 

[BruceM]

It's hard enough.

Bruce

 

[Tell Sackett]

MWAG,
Just for informational purposes, both Bruce and I have driven bullets softer than that to higher velocities than you will achieve with the 380.

The thing that will play the biggest point in leading or accuracy is size of the bullet not the hardness. Fit is first and foremost, then harness in relationship to pressure behind the bullet. A bullet may not lead at 1000fps with one powder and lead like crazy at 1000fps with a different one.

The one will be with a faster powder and have much higher pressure the other a slow powder with much less.

For a ballpark there is a formula to determine what the pressure should be per bullet hardness. 1440 x BHN = psi.

1440 x 18 = 25920psi. I noticed that most loads from Hodgdon don't make that pressure, although they are listed in CUP not psi.

Take a chance on them. If they don't work all you will have is a 2" to 3" barrel to clean. Not like a 22" rifle barrel.

 

[MWAG]

wow, that's some awesome information. thanks tell sackett

 

[ArchAngelCD]

As a matter of fact with a rating of 18 you would get leading if you didn't load them in a fairly high pressure round like the .380 Auto. Sometimes too hard an alloy is as bad or worse than too soft an alloy. I'm guessing 18 is just about right as long as you don't download your ammo too much.