454 RB vs. model 83 w/ cast bullets

[512]

hey guys,
just wondering about your experiences with cast bullets in the RB. i have tested lots of cast bullets in the 454 freedom arms. the trend is that plain base at full velocity shoot like crap (groups of 10 to 26 inches at 100yd) and gaschecked do way better (2 to 6" at 100).
alloy doesnt make as much difference as the gc does.
backing a plain base down a little gives great accuracy (45 colt vel.)
i test at 100 yd and shoot 10 shot groups after the barrel is "seasoned" with the load im testing.
i get my best accuracy with jacketed  when loading full velocity loads.

i was wondering what kind of luck you guys have had with plain based bullets in the RB. do the ports cause any problems? what kind of accuracy do  you get?              thanks, Jeff

[Graybeard]

I pretty much don't use PB bullets and for sure not at .454 pressures or velocity. Gave up on that as futile years ago. I use GC bullets almost exclusively. I will say tho the PB Lee bullets do shoot well in my RB480.

My most often used bullet in my RB454 is the Lyman 452651 which from my super hard alloy drops at about 318 grains rather than the stated 325 grains. These shoot just as accurately at all distances as jacketed bullets and because I make them I shoot them mostly. I've shot some 330s from an old LBT mold that were made for me by a friend and they shot even better than my Lyman bullets do. Not a lot better but better. They too are GC bullets.

I have an LBT mould to drop the 280 WFN on the way from Veral now. I'll use it in the RB454 and my .45 Colt guns as well. Myadvice is to use GC bullets in the hotter rounds. PB if really PB and not BB seem to do fine in lower pressure guns like the .45 Colt and .38 Special if the alloy isn't too hard and if they are sized right for the gun.

GB

[512]

thanks for the reply GB.
ya, the little copper cup seems to make quite a difference. funny thing is, that when i shoot a plain base bullet that doesnt group into snow and look it over, it doesnt look any different than the one with a gc. no gas cutting, no stripping, no more upset than usual. anyway, i guess gc is the way to go in full power stuff.   thanks again, jeff

[msmith]

What twist rate is the RB 454? The same as FA I presume, 1 in 24?

Graybeard, what type of lead are you using to cast the Lyman 452651? Water quenched WW or what ?

This is interesting as I just ordered 500 270grain Thunderheads from Penn Bullets. The alloy they use in these bullets is supposed to be able to handle the pressures of a Casull up to 1600+fps. I am anxious to see how they do.

[Graybeard]

Mike, I have a large quantity of linotype and some mixed with an even harder mixture my former printer best friend called Foundry Type. This stuff is some kinda hard.

GB

[palgeno]

I tried these in my 10" FA .454 and they were horrendous at 1700fps; loaded down in stages to about 1100fps and were only crummy. I found gas checks are necessary just as GB said. Could it be the forcing cone messing plain bases up? This gun will shoot moa with all the jacketed bullets I have tried.

[512]

i doubt it would be the forcing cone. one thing i have found is most model 83's have a barrel measurement of .453 to 454". thats the only thing i have found to be different than other guns. beats the hell out of me!
jeff

[Dan Chamberlain]

If you have a stock of plain based bullets that you want to use at higher velocities than you normally would, you can cut some base wads from milk cartons pretty easily.  They don't work as well gas checks, but you can pump your velocities on hard cast a little higher than you normally would with less leading.  Or, you can just shoot'em up with light loads.

Dan C

[volshooter]

I load 340gr WFP plain base (Tennessee Valley Bullets) over 30gr of WW296 and get 1550fps average. They shoot as good as I can hold my 6 inch RB with a red dot, about 6 inches @ 100 yards from a make shift rest such as a fence post or off the handle bars of a 4-wheeler. It takes 35grs of the same powder to get 1559fpr using a 240 XTP. I don't put more than 30 gr because of the deep bullets, there's just no room.
Rick
(I don't get any signs of leading @ 1550fps with these plain base)