Author Topic: WHICH CAST BULLET SHOULD I USE?  (Read 785 times)

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Offline tradegun

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WHICH CAST BULLET SHOULD I USE?
« on: May 28, 2007, 02:31:51 PM »
I am just getting started with the idea of shooting cast lead, I have shot jacketed bullets for years. It is my desire to load 44 mag cases with light to medium 44 Special powder charges. I have done the cylinder throat check I know the throat diameter and I have slugged the barrel and know the groove diameter. My question is which brand of cast bullet to purchase HARD or SOFT, if hard how hard. I am not at this time set up to melt lead and alloy so it is my desire the buy sized and lubed bullets at this time. I have been on several websites for various casters, but still unsure as it what I need for a bullet.

Offline Nobade

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Re: WHICH CAST BULLET SHOULD I USE?
« Reply #1 on: May 28, 2007, 03:38:13 PM »
Buy bullets soft enough to scratch with your thumbnail, sized to be a snug thumb press in the cylinder throats, and lubed with real i.e. not the crayon type lube. Load over 7 or 8gr. or so of Unique or use an appropriate amount of whatever else you like and you'll be set.
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Offline Blammer

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Re: WHICH CAST BULLET SHOULD I USE?
« Reply #2 on: May 28, 2007, 05:46:18 PM »
Currently you say your gonna shoot them at moderate velocity.

since moderate velocity, I would recommend a semi hard or hard bullet. Why? To prevent leading.

You will probably not need a gas checked one.

Look for bullets with a good lube. Good lube is also a good aid in preventing leading.

Look for a BHN of around 12, this is the typical Wheel Wt alloy, commonly used by casters.

the faster you want to push your bullets the harder you will want them.

Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: WHICH CAST BULLET SHOULD I USE?
« Reply #3 on: May 29, 2007, 08:09:37 AM »
if your throats and barrel are well matched and you can find a bullet sized properly for it then ive never seen where a soft bullet outdid a harder one. IF the gun is mismatched and the throats are smaller then the barrel you might do better with a soft bullet.
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: WHICH CAST BULLET SHOULD I USE?
« Reply #4 on: May 29, 2007, 08:53:04 AM »
If the bullet is to hard and not a great fit at low pressure you can get blow by , this happens more with bevel base and gas checked bullets in some guns ( and it depends on the gun ) plain and hollow base bullets are not as likely to show signs of blow by . The groove that holds the lube seems to work better if it has a square bottom .the bullet reacts in a way that forces the lube out of the grove better . a longer bodied bullet stands a better chance of entering the barrel in a straight line better than a short light bullet in a revolver !
barrel leading can come from different sources , most  is from bullet skip where the bullet skips before engaging the rifling due to poor fit of bullet , bbl or bbl and cyl being out of alignment . bullet hardness can be used to correct
 some of the problems with regard to hardness either harder or softer . If you are just getting started a good bullet is the Kieth style for revolvers it addresses the bottom of the lube groove , bullet length to bore size and in hardness if obtained from a reputable company ! its not the end all but a place to start ! the cowboy bullets seem to have bevel bases , they load easy but seem to yaw sometimes at distance , cowboy matches are relative short range so it doesn't matter and may not to you unless ya want to shoot at distance !
check out a Lyman reloading manual , they have a mix of 9 lbs of wheel weights and 1 lb 50/50 solder if i remember correctly , it was used as a standard ! any way it is a good place to start as is a R E Lee manual
If ya can see it ya can hit it !

Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: WHICH CAST BULLET SHOULD I USE?
« Reply #5 on: May 29, 2007, 10:46:20 PM »
probably your best bet at this point is to pick a commercial caster and tell him what your doing and ask for his recomendation. Most of them know there stuff and have shot there own bullets and know what works. Just stay away from bevel based bullets and at those speeds almost anything should work in a good gun.
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