Things we learn along the way

[Snapping Twig]

I had bought some beautiful cast bullets from Arizona Territory, apparently they closed down unfortunately.

Absolutely excellent bullets and IMO, as good as it gets for buying 'em.

So I decided to cast up a bunch of home brews. Since I have a Marlin with microgroove barrel and these are 44's, I sized them .432. Works in the Special as well as the carbine.

One thing I've done ever since I read Skeeter's article on the topic, I never size the front driving band. That always stays the way it came from the mold.

So, side by side with the beautiful Arizona bullet, other than sizing, they look the same. Lyman 429421.

For giggles, I dropped some in the cylinder of my 24-3. My bullets stopped when the front driving band hit the chamber throat. The Arizona bullet stopped exactly the thickness of the front driving band further. Nose of the Arizona - metplat and ogive - way out of the cylinder.

Mine, stopped at the cylinder face.

So, these little things you learn along the way matter. Leaving the front driving band untouched from the mold allows that little extra bump of pressure and therefore efficiency with the powder. Additionally the extra bight of the front driving band into the forcing cone, then the lands and grooves, sets up the bullet for accuracy.

Every little bit counts.

Thanks Skeeter.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Right on...............

Skeeter does have some good advise.

We all know it is not nice to...............

"Mess with Mother Nature".......... same with bullets.

You learned well......."Grasshopper".

 

[Engineer1911]

Well now I know why my Marlin didn't achieve "minute of buffalo" groups at 50 yards with cast bullets. In fact it consistently missed a 12" square target at 50 yards. The Remington XP-100 in 223 that I traded for it, shoots like a laser.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Size your cast bullets as big as you can for a microgroove.