New to cast - need advice

baldtop

baldtop

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I'm looking for help finding a plinking load for .454 Casull Puma rifle using Unique and cast lead bullets that won't lead the bore. I have always favoured Hornady bullets, and like the look of their Frontier Lead projectiles. Would I be better served by .452 or .454 bullets in this application?
Advice appreciated and thanks.
 
+1 on castboolits.com

You will want to slug your bore, aim for groove diameter or .001 or .002 over. In my 44mag rifle (marlin) with 200gr Boolit 6.2 gr Unique works just fine for a very light plinking load. (more of a 44spl load)

Will handle up to 11 gr Unique before I get leading. Also may I suggest the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook as another great resource. For heavier loads, I use H110 with a paper patched 310gr boolit.
 
Griffoneur said:
My understanding is that use of "gas checks" will aid in reducing lead fouling.
Click to expand...

gas checks do help but are not the be all and end all for resolving leading problems.
first off, like others suggested, slug the bore and go about 0.1 or 0.02 over that size.
alloy type (hardness)should also be considered.
higher velocities (pressure), i would suggest a harder alloy.
lower velocities ans softer lead will work just fine.

the lyman casting handbook is highly recommended, lots of good information.
 
baldtop said:
I'm looking for help finding a plinking load for .454 Casull Puma rifle using Unique and cast lead bullets that won't lead the bore. I have always favoured Hornady bullets, and like the look of their Frontier Lead projectiles. Would I be better served by .452 or .454 bullets in this application?
Advice appreciated and thanks.
Click to expand...

It depends if you are planning on using (or making) cast bullets, or you are planning on using swaged lead bullets, such as those made by Hornady.
The bullet you buy, either cast or swaged, cannot use a gas check unless the cast bullets come with it.
But the good news is that if you are only looking for a plinking load with Unique, then about 10 grains of Unique will be reasonable, and should work with swaged bullets as well as most commercial cast bullets. Try the .452 and see if they work, as that is the most common cast bullet diameter.
Leading should never be a problem unless you are trying to push them too fast. But, as an example in a .357 Magnum Rossi, I can shoot plain base bullets at 1800 fps without leading.
 
I have been shooting cast bullets in my Colt SAA 45LC for the past 10 years. The bullets are a 16 brinell hardness and I use 5 grns of Red Dot with a 200 grn rnfp bullet, .453" dia. which gives me around 720 Ft/sec. Barrel leading is not a problem, nor is the exit on the cylinder chamber. The only place I regularly find leading is in my forcing cones, which is not a major cleaning operation.
 
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