Shooting Lead

[chucky52]

I'm loading .312, lead in a 32 H& R Mag and accuracy is poor at 100 yards. I miked the bore and lan to lan is .305 so I called Marlin. Their acceptable range for lan to lan is .303 to .305. Most lead nowadays is hard alloy with little expansion and their rep suggested .313 or .314.

At this point, I need to try to improve accuracy for silhouette competition and looking for ideas.

[Jerry Lester]

The land to land dimentions aren't what's important in this case. It's the actual bore size that's critical. That's where you lose the gas seal around the bullet.

[Lloyd Smale]

you didnt say how much load experimenting you did. Did you try more then one bullet design more then one powder more then one primer. Its pretty rare that the first load you stick in a gun will shoot. First thing i would do is buy about 5 different bullets and try them all. Most of my 32s shoot fine at 312 or 3125. A couple hints for .32s that ive found. Shooting heavy bullets 115s-120 most of them like slower powders starting with say 2400 and my favorites are aa9 and lilgun. My load data shows a definate preference for mag primers with the heavys and heavy loads. For light loads  and lighter bullets ive had good luck with bullseye, reddot and aa2

[swampthing]

The most important dimension is the throat. Lead bullets should as close to throat dia. as possible. This keeps the bullet straight when it get slammed into the bore, if the bullet tilts, pushing bullet center line off ballance, due to too small a dia to fill the throat, it will never be accurate. Marlin suggestd some good sizes for lead bullets.
             I seat my .432" gas checked bullets in my .444marlin so that the last 1/4" of lever travel is pushing the bullet into the lands enough to show slight rifling marks, I crimp with a lee factory crimp die when this length is reached, not in the "universal" crimp groove. This made all the difference in the world and is worth a try, with a slightly lighter powder charge of course. The key is to keep them straight, ballanced, from ignition to muzzle exit.
 My marlin is very accurate.

[chucky52]

Thanks for the comments. Yes I have tried a few powders, primers, bullets:lead and jscketed........
The only consistency is the inconsistency.