My latest antique :)
- Thread starter Claven2
- Start date
The bone and charcoal case hardening actually surface hardens the metal. The chemical method that the Italians use is cosmetic only. The two methods look different. The real hardening method usually goes around holes, and edges. The chemical method doesn't 'see' the holes, edges, etc.
Colour case hardening is mainly for adding carbon to the surface of older low carbon frame guns - basically it gave it a super hard skin to protect the gun while allowing the core of the frame/receiver to remain able to withstand the pressures of firing.
The colours are the result of reactions on the surface of the steel, so hard use will wear them down, but they're also in the super hard case hardened steel, so not as quickly as with colour bluing that is done by a means other than case hardening. The metal is essentially bare, but most colour case hardening has a clear laquer or protective sealant put on the metal afterwards to protect the finish, and dissuade rust.
The colours are the result of reactions on the surface of the steel, so hard use will wear them down, but they're also in the super hard case hardened steel, so not as quickly as with colour bluing that is done by a means other than case hardening. The metal is essentially bare, but most colour case hardening has a clear laquer or protective sealant put on the metal afterwards to protect the finish, and dissuade rust.
Had it out to EOHC today. Put 50 rds of cast through it and my shoulder has the bruise to prove it.
Load was 28.0gr H4198 topped with a Lee 405 (which for me drops ar 415gn) wheel weight bullet. TP filler.
This load proved much more "stout" than I anticipated. By the end, I think I had a flinch developed!
I was getting leading in the last 10" of the bore so I think I need to dial the load down a little. Ignition was nice and positive though - no unburnt powder in the bore like when I use 4895.
Groups were disappointing - 10 rounds were going into a 6" circle at 100m.
I think the leading was throwing things rather off. I have better hopes for when I reduce the loads to the point the bullets aren't smearing down the barrel
Claven, if you can get your hands on any SR 4759 you should give that a try... Using the same 405 gr LEE bullet cast from wheel weights over 25.5 grs of SR 4759 will give 2" 100 yard groups in my vernier sighted Uberti Hiwall. I have tried these bullet unsized with tumble lube and lubed in a sizer with a .459" die and there is no difference in my rifle... Velocity if I recall correctly was about 1350 fps.
Man, you ain't kidding! Thanks for that. Loaded to those exact specs and took out my 26" Pedersoli RB:
(for shame, I know, I caved... don't have the resources to build an antique right now...)
Took it out and these were my first three out of the pipe @ 100yd before I started to walk it up the gong. The rest of the groups were in the 2" range as well.
Might've been the best shooting I've done!
Sorry for the hijack. But I think I can endorse that load...
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^ excellent shooting Oddbawl! Glad to see that recipe worked for you.
The only other load I've come across that groups better in my Highwall was out of the LEE manual. It was with the same 405 gr bullet pushed by 55 grains of IMR 4350, a very unlikely combination in my opinion. The only reason I stopped using it was there was an awful lot of unburnt powder left behind, it isn't as economical as the SR4756 load, and it had a heck of a lot more recoil (1600 fps)... But it grouped unbelievably cosistant.
The only other load I've come across that groups better in my Highwall was out of the LEE manual. It was with the same 405 gr bullet pushed by 55 grains of IMR 4350, a very unlikely combination in my opinion. The only reason I stopped using it was there was an awful lot of unburnt powder left behind, it isn't as economical as the SR4756 load, and it had a heck of a lot more recoil (1600 fps)... But it grouped unbelievably cosistant.
Man, you ain't kidding! Thanks for that. Loaded to those exact specs and took out my 26" Pedersoli RB:
(for shame, I know, I caved... don't have the resources to build an antique right now...)
Took it out and these were my first three out of the pipe @ 100yd before I started to walk it up the gong. The rest of the groups were in the 2" range as well.
Might've been the best shooting I've done!
Sorry for the hijack. But I think I can endorse that load...
.
Out of curiosity, what alloy are you using in your bullets? 30:1? Wheel Weight? Pure lead? also, water quenched or air quenched?
Straight up wheel weight out of a dual cavity Lee 405. My scale won't go that high, so don't know what they akchooly drop at. I drop them into a 5 gal pail of water. I don't know if it does much in respect to hardening, but I find it more convenient, as you don't have to be concerned with denting them.
That group was the best of the day, more consistently 2" or so.
Using the same load and the same bullet, I shoot plain old unqueched air cooled wheel weights... The rifleing picks up a light smear of lead but nothing that seems to affect accuracy even after 50 rounds down the pipe and it cleans up really easy...
Well I just finished casting up 100 350gr wheel weight bullets (water quenched because it's convenient) and tumble-lubed in Alox. I'm going to tumble lube them a second time to give them a nice thick coat.
I also have a bunch of 405's.
Plan is to try a number of different loads, probably starting with some Trail Boss and maybe a lighter load of 4198, simply because I already have those powders. I'm going to look for SR4759 as well.
I also have a bunch of 405's.
Plan is to try a number of different loads, probably starting with some Trail Boss and maybe a lighter load of 4198, simply because I already have those powders. I'm going to look for SR4759 as well.
