cast bullets

[zacharoo]

I just got a milk carton full of 357 cast bullets. I figure at least 4 or 5 hundred . Weighted about 20 and they went between 168 and up to 180 gr. they are SWC with gas checks. Lubed and sized. Friend stopped reloading. Said if i like them he had 4 more cartons at home. I have a lot of HS6 powder to go with it. He doesn,t remember the data. Any of you have data for a bullet like this for 38 special and 357 mag. Got  a brick and a half of CCI small pistol primers also.

Zacharoo

[zacharoo]

I just called the old man back about the bullets. He said that it is a Kieth bullet.  It is supposed to weight between 168 and 173 grains. 

Zacharoo

[JustaShooter]

Hogdon's website (http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp) says for a 158 GR. CAST LSWC in a .357 Magnum the start load for HS-6 is 6.0gr for 990 FPS and MAX is 7.0 for 1106 FPS.

For a 158 GR. CAST LSWC in a 38 Special, start load is 5.7gr for 928 FPS and MAX is 6.3gr for 1010 FPS.

Just a Shooter

[Graybeard]

Keith bullets DO NOT have gas checks. With that kinda variance in weight I suspect you might have two different bullet types if not then quality control is HORRIBLE. That's a huge variance for the same bullet and might indicate two different alloys or two different bullets.

[Lloyd Smale]

greaybeard is right a true keith doesnt have a gas check but just about every semi wad cutter is called a kieth by people that dont know bill is right too in that thats a big swing in bullet weights for such a small bullet. they probably will make fine plinking bullets but dont expect guilt edged accuaracy from them.

[zacharoo]

He cast them him self . He is in his late 70's i am going by him. All I know is how much they wheight an that they have gas checks. He cast them himself. The bullets look good they are well lubed and the are a constant .358 dia.  I can scratch them with my finger nail if i press very hard.
Zacharoo

[jhalcott]

 I'd sort them by weight before loading ANY of them! I would then take one from the heavier group and one from the light group, set them end to end in a vice and squeeze them hard. Measure the lengths of each bullet. This will give you an idea where the hardness levels are. IF (big IF) he's like most hobby casters, he used what ever he could melt for bullets. If they look well filled out, I would use them for plinking using mild to mid level powder charges. The visual inspection could tell you if there are different molds involved. If plinking isn't what you want ,you CAN always remelt/cast to what you do need!

[zacharoo]

Sorted through 200 of them this afternoon.  Got 150 that went between 168 and 170 and put them aside.  Didn,t even get 1/4 of the carton done.  They are harder than I thought. I can tell the heavy ones before I weight them . They are a darker grey? I don,t know why. The heavy ones are softer. The light grey ones I needed my knife to scratch them. The old man said that the  darker colored ones are scape lead. The lighter  colored ones are wheel weights. I would like some loading data for HS6 and SPM primers in a 357. The same in 38 special if any body has an data it will be appreciated.

I don't want them to hunt with just to shoot .   

The heavy ones run 174 to 180 grains.
 
Zacharoo

[sgtt]

Seems to me you are on the right track.  Now call that kind gentleman and tell him how much you love his bullets and secure the rest. 

[wncchester]

"The bullets look good they are well lubed and the are a constant .358 dia. "

I suspect that much of the weight variation is due to inconsistant lubing AND alloy variation, that's no serious problem. 

Load them with mid-range charges for 170 gr. and have fun, LOTS of fun with that many freebies, for low cost!

[Graybeard]

Those weighting 168-170 very well might be from a Lyman 358156 mould which is one of my all time favorite bullets for the .357 magnum. Even from pure lead tho I can't imagine that mould dropping a bullet at 180 grains. That they are so hard and still weight that much tho makes me wonder if it's some other mould. Can you provide us with photos to help identify the mould?

I'm not familiar with that powder but will offer one caution to you and you can do as you please about it. Forcing a load with a powder that isn't appropriate just cuz you have lots of it is a bad and often unsafe idea. If you can find safe pressure tested data for it fine if not don't just assume it's OK just because you have it.

As I recall a couple of those HS powders were the same as Winchester 540 and 571 which was which I don't remember. Those were primarily shotgun powders but had some handgun applications as well. They weren't that great as handgun powders however. I'd get some 2400 to load them if it were me.

[zacharoo]

I took the heavier bullets and passed a rag cleaning the over lube. The weight of these dropped on an adverage to 172 to 174. Rezeroed the scale checked again and the heaviest were 174 .  Called Mr. Hebert back. Man Greybeard you are right it was cast in a lyman mold. The gas checks must with lube be the difference.
ZAcharoo

[Badnews Bob]

Sounds like a great deal to me Thank that old shooter and get the rest.