I have a slight leading problem I need some help with.
The gun is a Handi in .45-70 that I bought in August.
I'm using Missouri Cast bullets, 405 gr sized at .459" with a hardness of 18. My powder charges are 25 and 30 gr of AA5744 and according to Accurate my velocity should be around 1300 FPS, give or take. I'm using shortened LeverEvolution brass.
The gun has less than 100 rounds through it, but when I got it I used J-B bore cleaning compound on it to clean the bore a little bit, approximately 25 back and forth passes. I have not slugged the bore.
My leading is located in the very beginning of the barrel, right out of the chamber and extends maybe an inch or so into the bore then stops. There is no leading mid bore or near the muzzle, so I don't think it's a problem with bullet size or lube quality.
Is it possible the shortened brass is the culprit? Cartridge OAL is 2.44, spec is 2.55 according to Lyman. Perhaps the shorter case is allowing the flame front to surround the bullet just before it enters the barrel, kind of like excessive cylinder gap in a revolver?
Whaddaya guys think?
GH1