how soft do you cast?

N1c0l4s

N1c0l4s

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I am in a long period test to find out how soft qe can cast for revolver shooting.

I am surprise how low on bhn i can go wihtout leading!
Last test was perform for my 44 special with lee 429-208-WC and bullseye, at 6 bhn and i got nice result!
I had loaded some yesterday with, what i guess is, pure lead that i took from a retire stained glasss maker.

Does any one had ever cast that low?
 
I cast all my bullets from WW with 2% tin added. I quench from mould for 9mm and 45 ACP and all rifle bullets. Cast up a bunch of 20 to 1 lead to tin for a 455 a few years ago.
 
Like Chili I use range lead for pistol projectiles. Hard enough without having to add WW, Linotype, Monotype.

Strangley my RR lead is closer to WW than he is reporting. But that maybe his range.
 
I save ww and linotype lead for higher velocity rounds in 6.5 or 30 cal type rifles, pure lead for muzzle loaders, and pure lead and tin for the BPCR rifles. I have access to more pure lead than wheel weights so don't want to bump up the hardness any more than I have too as tin and solder costs me. Unless one is loading quite hot you can get away pretty soft lead.
 
The most enduring lie still being told by cast bullet manufacturers is that you need hard lead for everything. The reason they like hard lead is that the bullets sustain less damage from shipping.
 
Pure lead is generally assigned as BHN 5. Six is not really a step up. Its more like a typical swaged commercial lead bullet.

Most indoor range lead collected & smelted is around BHN 8-10. Eleven needs a bit more than range scrap can provide.

BTW, LEE does NOT offer any 44 wad cutter molds. Plus you have not offered your Bullseye load.
 
tbrwlf said:
Like Chili I use range lead for pistol projectiles. Hard enough without having to add WW, Linotype, Monotype.

Strangley my RR lead is closer to WW than he is reporting. But that maybe his range.
Click to expand...

First time i had cleaned my indoor range, BHN was a little over 11!! but all the other batch varies from 7 to 10 as chili said. all in the same range!
When i collect lead, i try to mix station in my bucket. When i smelt it, i mix diferent bucket too and do a second melt/flux with all my angots, agaain mixed. This way all my batch have the same bhn :)
Seem to be fatidious when i write it, but pretty easy to do :)
 
freire said:
I cast pure for my 44 Russian, 38-55 and 45-70 with no issues.
Click to expand...

What are u shoot 44 russian from?
I had try 44 russian in my 629 and have great pleasant plinking pills :)

But nowm as my learning as progress, i undersand i can load 44 spl with less pressure than the russian.
I am more confidant with my next test with pure lead now i know that you have great result too!! thank's :)
 
hatman1793 said:
Pure lead is generally assigned as BHN 5. Six is not really a step up. Its more like a typical swaged commercial lead bullet.

Most indoor range lead collected & smelted is around BHN 8-10. Eleven needs a bit more than range scrap can provide.

BTW, LEE does NOT offer any 44 wad cutter molds. Plus you have not offered your Bullseye load.
Click to expand...

Thanks hatman!

But lee AS offert a wadcutter mold with a nice little button nose. It's was discontinued in the mid 80 if i'm right! i realy enjoy this desing base in the H&G50.
here's the closer current offered mold desing i had found. i wait for it because it shoot so strait.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...dcutter-design-based-on-the-H-amp-g-50-cherry

Cant understand why lee stop to produce it...
Thor's Axe as couple video on this little mold on youtube!
 
tbrwlf said:
Like Chili I use range lead for pistol projectiles. Hard enough without having to add WW, Linotype, Monotype.

Strangley my RR lead is closer to WW than he is reporting. But that maybe his range.
Click to expand...
His range shoots an awful lot of 22s at their "New Shooters Night" which probably contributes to their range scrap having a lot more lead in it resulting in it being somewhat softer than what you would find at the average range where more cast wheel weight bullets are being used.
 
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