Cast Bullets in Marlin 1895 CB - strange residue in barrel?

[Northman999]

Fellows,

I hit the range this moring to sight in my Marlin 1985 CB and also shoot by first batch of cast bullets. The bullets were 405gr hollow base bullets cast from a Lee mold and lubed with Lee liquid Alox. Everything at the range went great, and I found my barrel had no leading I could see after the shoot, but there was some strange residue sitting loosely in my barrel afterwards. It appeared basically like loose tea leave particles or something like that in the bore.

Anyone know what this might be? Lube residue or something?

Except for this loose, leafy stuff, the bore was pristine clean, and the lands and gooves sharp and shiny.

Edit - Shooting Varget powder.

Should I be concerned about this?

 

[hk33ka1]

Powder residue maybe. What kind of powder did you use.

 

[Northman999]

Powder residue maybe. What kind of powder did you use.

Varget, from a fresh, new container.

 

[CanuckWR]

I get a little powder "ash" or residue sometimes also, Or at least thats what I thought it was. However I don't feed my Marlin varget.

 

[saskgunowner101]

Varget is a dirty girl when you don't have the pressure up in the 45/70. I tried a few cartridges with Varget and was almost in shock how much gunk was left over.

 

[Northman999]

Varget is a dirty girl when you don't have the pressure up in the 45/70. I tried a few cartridges with Varget and was almost in shock how much gunk was left over.

Okay thanks.

Too bad, as accuracy was very respectable. I've got some 3031 I can give a whirl with.

 

[saskgunowner101]

Okay thanks.

Too bad, as accuracy was very respectable. I've got some 3031 I can give a whirl with.

Don't let me talk you out using Varget if it's performing well. I was just making an observation that I noticed while using it myself. How many grains are you using?

 

[gunlaker]

Yeah just powder residue, unless you had tea leaves in those cases . You'll find that with light bullets or light loads with heavy bullets that imr-3031 will also leave residue behind. It doesn't seem to hurt accuracy though.

Chris.

 

[Boolitcaster]

Okay thanks.

Too bad, as accuracy was very respectable. I've got some 3031 I can give a whirl with.

Cast bullets are easier to squeeze down the barrel, so it is common to have some unburnt powder which wouldn't be there if the same load was used with jacketed. The residue doesn't hurt anything and if you are getting good performance don't sweat it.

 

[Northman999]

Don't let me talk you out using Varget if it's performing well. I was just making an observation that I noticed while using it myself. How many grains are you using?

I worked up loads from 49.0gr to 52.0gr for velocites from 1540 - 1690 fps with the 405's. As I mentioned earlier, I was happy with the accuracy of these bullets (the first of my own cast bullets I ever fired), and the fact that I got no leading.

I'm going to have to get more velocity however, as I plan on hunting wood bison with this rifle, and I'm still below minimum energy requirements for that.

I'd like to get around 1900 fps from my 26" bbl. I'm fairly confident I can find a load to do that, as I've seen data for 2000 fps out of 22" bbls.