How fast can I push a BHN 15 bullet?

[jphendren]

I have a large box of 250 RNFP bullets, that are commercial cast with the bevel base, and from what I could find are BHN 15.  They have the red crayon type lube, and are sized .452".  I would like to shoot some of these in my FA 454, either loaded in .45 Colt cases, or 454 cases, either way.  I just don't want them to lead the gun severely by pushing them too fast.

Jared

[Ken ONeill]

I don't know the answer with certainty. I can tell you that I regularly run a 325 gr. BHN 15 .501" bullet @ 1175 - 1200 fps from 3 FA .500 WE's with absolutely no sign of leading. However, I have experienced some moderate to significant leading when running a 200 gr. BHN 15 .410 bullet in a FA .41 Magnum @ 1400 fps.

In the case of the .454, I would use  only .454 brass and work up in steps from, say, 1200 fps, and check as you go.

[Lloyd Smale]

First your lube will be a limiting factor and the bevel based bullet just dont work well at high velocity. Now combine that hard lube and the bevel bases and i dont hold much hope for much velocity without leading or any kind of a tack driveing load at any velocity. Id find a load around 800-900fps and blast them up or throw them in the pot and remelt them and make them into something that would work better at the velocitys your looking to achive. quote author=jphendren link=topic=232488.msg1099300974#msg1099300974 date=1303248497]
I have a large box of 250 RNFP bullets, that are commercial cast with the bevel base, and from what I could find are BHN 15.  They have the red crayon type lube, and are sized .452".  I would like to shoot some of these in my FA 454, either loaded in .45 Colt cases, or 454 cases, either way.  I just don't want them to lead the gun severely by pushing them too fast.

Jared
[/quote]

[jphendren]

Thanks,

These are those commercial, cheap hardcast that you buy at your local gunshop.  I've shot quite a few of these in my various SAA .45 Colt revolvers, and they shoot okay, but they do lead at even 850fps or so.  I was just thinking of a way to use them up.  I normally shoot 250 gr XTP's over 8 gr of bullseye in 454 cases, those are quite pleasant, and very accurate, but I ran out of XTP's, so was thinking of using these.

Jared

[Lloyd Smale]

two things id try to use them up would be a light load with a slower powder like 2400 and take those bullets and give them a coating of lee tumble lube before loading them.

[Richard P]

 What size are your cylinder throats ?  If the bullets are large enough that they require a push to get them through they will probably be serviceable to roughly 1200fps.  Extra lube is probably a good idea. If they are plain base you might want to hold them to 1000fps which is still good enough for many purposes.

[jphendren]

I just ordered 100 Keith style Lyman 452424's from Montana Bullet Works, sized .452".  They are BHN 15 as well, but have a plain base, not a bevel base like the commercial cast bullets.  They weigh 255 grains.  I am thinking that I would like to replicate the Keith .45 Colt load in my Freedom Arms.  From what I could find, his load is 20gr of 2400, behind the Lyman 454424, which is the same bullet, but with a square grease groove instead of a round groove.  This load is good for 1,250fps out of a 7.5" barrel from what I have read.  Could this load be replicated in 454 brass?  I can do it in .45 Colt brass if need be, but prefer to keep "magnum" loads in 454 brass so that I don't blow up my Colt and USFA SAA's.

Jared

[Lloyd Smale]

23 grains of 2400 should get you there in 454 brass.

[GH1]

 There's more to leading than hardness. Load pressure plays a role, as does bullet fit. Bullet fit is probably the most critical, as a cast bullet needs to be .001"-.002" larger than the bore size to adequately seal the bore.
 Also, if a hard bullet is loaded in a low pressure application it will often lead because the low pressure won't properly obturate, or expand, the base of the bullet to seal the bore. I ran into this with my .357. The stouter .357 loads wouldn't lead but the mild .38 loads leaded like crazy with the same bullet. Then again, if the bullet is too soft for the pressure being generated the hot gasses will cut right through the bullet base and produce leading.
 Lyman recommends .454 bullets to be sized at .451", so you'll probably be OK with the .452". The extra .001" will help prevent leading, I'd be willing to bet you can get 1300 FPS with no problems, maybe more.
GH1