Author Topic: 45-90 load question (Read 440 times)

Cottonwood · « **on:** October 16, 2003, 05:49:22 AM »

Heres the question: I have plenty of lead bullets to load with, and most of the time I load with BP. But I have a bunch of the flatnose hardcast lead bullets that are lubed for only smokeless powder.

I find good data for just lead bullets, and not a bullet such as the 405-gr JSP, that I think would make a better hunting bullet because of its soft center and expansion for shock value of putting game down.

The powder that I purchased again is XMP 5744.

The load data for XMP 5744 for the (L) 405-gr calls for 31.5 to 35.0 gr. If I use the 405-gr JSP would FPS change, case presure as well?

jhalcott · « **Reply #1 on:** October 16, 2003, 08:00:59 AM »

lead bullets exert less pressures in the barrel than jacketed ones.pressure drives the bullet.so the velocity should change if you use the other kind of bullet.it is not prudent to load those big cases with out following tried and true recipes. I would ontact the powder manufacturer and ask their advice.
Hope this helps ,jh

jhalcott · « **Reply #2 on:** October 19, 2003, 05:52:27 PM »

as an after thought I was wondering why you don't boil off /scrape off the smokeless lube and relube with a B.P. lube.

Also the comment about a jacketed bullet being better than a cast one was a surprise. Those big flat noses should prove as effective as any soft nosed jacketed bullets around.
You can also get custom molds to cast dead soft noses on hard bodies that will expand at quite low velocities.Besides cleaning all that copper fouling out of a nice gun is NO fun.and if you don't clean ,there goes your accuracy! jh

Cottonwood · « **Reply #3 on:** October 20, 2003, 04:01:02 AM »

jhalcott

The reason I don't boil off the smokeless lube is the cast bullets are designed around smokeless powder. The lube grooves are not wide enough or deep enough to relube for BP.

I decided to just load the flatnose 405-gr cast bullets. Went up to the range the other night (indoor underground tubes) I was happy with the results.

The Shrink · « **Reply #4 on:** October 22, 2003, 02:00:27 AM »

JHalcott

A while ago Handloader mag had an article about making soft nose bullets without a special mold. Just make a dipper out of a small cartridge case, 9mm or 40SW or so, fill the nose of the bullet with soft lead and immediately fill the balance of the mold with your regular mix.

Don't see why it wouldn't work, and I'm gonna try it with my 40-70 this winter.

jhalcott · « **Reply #5 on:** October 22, 2003, 05:00:42 AM »

shrink, remember to keep your pots AND molds hot between fills.I use a hotplate to set the molds on between fills.800-825 degrees seems to be a good temperature to cast with. Expect more culls also. This procedure seems to work best with larger bullets,but can work with .30 caliber molds.
You must be VERY careful to keep the mold level while filling or you will get a bullet heavier on one side than the other.This will do funny things to the accuracy.
While I would not use these for targets(to much work and not neccasary)they are great for hunting loads.They can be driven too fast though and the noses will come off in the animal.Or litterally melt from air friction if the ranges are long. They CAN be shot faster than a straight ww bullet and that is all you really need for deer. jh