What? No leading?

[Paul5388]

So the question remains, what was the difference when measured without the feeler gauge wrapped around it? If you used a .001" gauge, was what you measured less than .002" by how much?

 

[Maximumbob54]

I still use my process of elimination for my guns. I start at .001" over the bore's rated diameter. So for my .44's I start at .430" and try to step up until the lead alloy with lube combo stops leading. So far I know that my 29-3 and 29-5 both shoot just about anything with little to no leading when they are sized at .430", but my 629-6 still leads the forcing cone almost to the muzzle at .420" to .432" with lube at tumble lube with alox to 50/50 with an additional two tumble lube runs. I have used Bullseye, Unique, and Win231/HP38, and she leads with all of them. I don't know enough yet about powders to know what to try next. I'm leaning on finding a pound of 2400 to try next only because it's such a been there and done that powder. My last thought is still the cylinder throats. I'm not experienced enough to know just how much force should be needed to push the bullet through, so I just figure that if it isn't swaging them down then they should be fine. But if I can run .429" to .432" bullets through them, then it sounds like I have oversized throats in the cylinder. So I can see how the hot gas around the bullet would cause leading. Short of getting a new cylinder I don't see how to correct that.

Any help? Or am I basing my assumptions on poor logic?

 

[Ron H.]

Ron,
Are you buying your bullets or casting yourself? As far as accuracy goes, what you need to figure out next is what size is your barrel. If the throats are .4515" and the barrel is .452" or larger, that would/could be a problem. So, try to slug your bore too. If it were me, I would NOT touch the gun. Find someone that casts softer bullets, if you don't cast yourself, and try them with the same load you are shooting now. That may tell you something. How does that firearm shoot with jacketed or plated bullets?

Sir, I'm running commercial cast bullets, 250-grain bevel-base roundnose flat points. The few I've actually miked are indeed 0.452." No idea what their BHN is.

It's been probably 20 years since I last shot a jacketed bullet through this gun, but as I recall, they were pretty accurate. This was with factory Winchester Silvertip loads, 225-grain bullet.

I've never slugged a bore before. Can I use the cast bullets I have here for that, or would I be smarter to pick up some 0.454" pure lead round balls? And is there any other special voodoo I need to know about?

Thanks, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[rsrocket1]

Watch this You tube video on casting a slug. It works great. You can skip the first 1:35, it's pretty slow, just him talking.

Summary:
Melt a fishing sinker (pure soft lead) into a straight walled pistol case
Knock it out with a bullet puller.
You now have a soft slug which is tapered to fit your barrel at the muzzle end with minimal lead spilling over the edge as it goes in.

This worked great for 45ACP and 40SW. For a long case, just cut the brass shorter. Be sure to lube the slug before you pound it in, it will slide down the barrel much easier.

 

[Skip Sackett]

The old lead sinkers will work too. You may have to look around for the right size to start with. The suggestion above, while I have not done this, should work.

I have purposely stuck a bullet, driven by a primer only, driven it out, and measured it. It usually doesn't make it too far down a bore so.....short trip back out! Make sure you use an aluminum or brass rod though. Wood may work, but I have never found it to be so.

Ron, the biggest thing to try would be go to a faster powder before doing anything else. If you are using Unique, try Bullseye. Something like that. If you are using Bullseye, then, just go ahead and slug stuff 'cause, in my opinion, lower on the burn rate chart I have no use for. Just me, don't anyone get offended. Just telling you how I load. To each his own on this front, hey?

 

[Skip Sackett]

Paul,
I could probably figure it out and so could you BUT, here is a lesson I had to learn: Not everyone is alike. What I can figure out, and probably you as well knowing your background a little, you too, we can take some different roads and end up at the same place, on this issue at least!

I will check though and report back.

 

[Skip Sackett]

.429", Paul, exactly what I got the other way BUT, I had to "feel" this much , much , more.

At any rate, it can be measured and for the serious cast bullet shooter, it needs to be done. Once you get a winning combination, you will be super glad you took the time to do it.

p.s. Ron, I forgot, use some kind of lube. Wax, paraffin, motor oil, Pam, Crisco, Vaseline, your wife's lotion, something. It will make the sizing go better.