Author Topic: Dropped and dented bullets  (Read 513 times)

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Offline joeb33050

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Dropped and dented bullets
« on: February 13, 2005, 01:08:45 AM »
One day in the summer of 2004, after casting some 311299 bullets, I emptied the container of bullets onto the concrete floor from a height of about 3 feet.
After saying the obligatory words I was ready to re-melt the bullets and start again, but then thought that these bullets gave me an opportunity to experiment.
I inspected and weighed the bullets, discarding any with casting defects or outlying weights, as I do with almost all my cast bullets. The acceptable dropped bullets had dents ranging from pretty bad to no dent at all. I rejected no bullet for a dent.
I was working with a M54 Winchester in 30 WCF at the time. I loaded the dropped bullets and undropped bullets with the same loads, and shot them for group at 100 yards.

If I'm testing two loads, I shoot load "A" first, then load "B". Then I wait about fifteen minutes, may clean the gun if that is part of the test, and then shoot load "B", then load "A". This takes the "clean" and "hot" bias out of the testing.
In each of the four tests, the dropped and dented bullets shot smaller average groups than did "perfect"= not dropped and dented bullets.
Here are the averages"
1.569" vs. 1.650", 4 groups each
1.181" vs 1.613", 4 groups each
1.060" vs. 1.290", 5 groups each
0.913" vs. 1.019", 4 groups each

 I don't know what  conclusions can be drawn from this experiment, other than that dents don't seem to radically degrade the accuracy of cast bullets.
joe b.

Offline jgalar

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Dropped and dented bullets
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2005, 02:19:45 AM »
What surprised me in your post was that you were casting in the summer in Marathon, FL. How do you keep the sweat from dropping into the lead pot? :grin:

Offline quigleysharps4570

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Re: Dropped and dented bullets
« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2005, 04:44:05 AM »
Quote from: joeb33050
I don't know what  conclusions can be drawn from this experiment, other than that dents don't seem to radically degrade the accuracy of cast bullets.
joe b.


Might effect them at longer ranges. Never have tested the dented ones, but have seen other defects really send them haywire. A few years ago when I was lube-sizing, I noticed it looked like one side was getting shaved. Didn't take it too serious cause I kinda thought it was my imagination or if it wasn't it would work out when fired. Was I wrong! Was getting tumblers as close as 50yds. and at 100-200yds., don't think I could've hit a hay barn. Had to pull quite a few bullets. Quit even lube-sizing. Went to as cast and hand lubing. Here awhile back I had some that the grease grooves weren't nice and crisp on one side, went ahead and kept them cause I figured they'd be fine for plinking and such. In close they were fine...at 500-600yds. I was getting some tumblers. Thanks for your test results.

Offline Dusty Miller

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Dropped and dented bullets
« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2005, 06:56:45 AM »
At 500-600 yards you were getting tumblers?  Geeze, I've never shot at anything over 200 yards in my life!
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