Author Topic: Armor Plated Doe (Read 1475 times)

Castaway · « **on:** January 06, 2006, 05:55:08 AM »

Wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it. Wednesday, I busted a doe at 100 yards. Bullet was from my Hoch mould, at 423 grains of about 1:40 mix and moving a close to 1,800 f/s at the muzzle. Patch lubed with Lee Liquid Alox. Rifle is zeroed at 3" high at 100 yards, and that's exactly where it hit (forgot to allow for the three inches). Deer was virtually broadside and the bullet took a hard turn to the right and stopped just below the last rib. Recovered diameter was 0.980" and 363 grains. Two small pieces of lead fell out with the bullet and added to 402 grains recovered lead. Never in my life would I have imagined that heavy of a bullet, moving at that speed would not have exited. For what it's worth, she dropped like a ton of bricks. Ain't nothing like a patched hunting bullet!

Woodbutcher · « **Reply #1 on:** January 06, 2006, 04:15:02 PM »

Castaway, you do nice work! Between you and the Zrifleman, I'm either going to get straightened out reading your comments, or get in trouble deeper! Maybe both!
In Paul Matthews books, I believe he said that it might not matter if a paper patched bullet had lube groves or was smooth sided. So I figure a 300 gr. or 330 gr. soft cast paper patch bullet (with lube groves ) would be good in my 45/70.
My plan is to try some bought bullets, of the proper diameter, to help select the mold to purchase. Lots of molds for groved bulets, some of them are not expensive at all. Seems that getting the right "as cast diameter" is the important thing. Any thoughts?
Woodbutcher

Castaway · « **Reply #2 on:** January 07, 2006, 04:38:28 AM »

I started patching a 405 grain Lee bullet with grooves. Before patching, I lubed it and ran it through a 0.452" sizer, then removed the lube before patching. Shot fine, but ended up getting a 0.452" mould to save a couple of steps. Starting with a 0.452 bullet, I've had good luck patching with 16 lb. paper (college ruled notebook paper) and I don't have to resize after patching, saving another step. I've used printer paper (20 lb.) but found I needed to size again and lost about 50% of the patches. As far as lube goes; some do, some don't. I use either Alox or Lyman moly stick lube. Leaning hard towards the Alox as I think it gives some degree of water proofing. Wet patches are about as useful as wet toilet paper. When rain threatens, I also place my extra shells in a rubber glove. Patching is not as hard as it appears and adds mystic right up there with two bat wings and an eye of a newt. Hmmm, maybe it's the newt eye that makes that big bullet so effective.

Woodbutcher · « **Reply #3 on:** January 07, 2006, 07:21:46 AM »

Dear Castaway:
Thank you! This is reasuring. It's good to get some advice when starting on something new.
I'm impressed by factory 300 gr., but your 423 gr. bullet must be a real whopper stopper!
H-mmm, eye of newt, ya say? Newts is a mite scarce round here this time 'o year! Woodbutcher

Castaway · « **Reply #4 on:** January 07, 2006, 10:36:24 AM »

Suggest you get a copy of Paul Matthews book, "The Paper Jacket" available through Wolf publishing. He covers all the details and particulars. It's not that much more work to patch a bullet and the satisfaction I get from get-to-go is one of those intangibles that only an affectionado can appreciate. I have a template to cut my patches and it's just a matter of watching the TV when applying them. Loading is simple, either a Lyman M die or a Lee expander allows the bullet to enter the case without trouble. I've got an "M" die, but prefer the Lee as I don't get a wrinkle on the case mouth. Maybe if I spent the time, I'd use the "M" die, but right now, don't feel the need. Good luck, give us a report.

Woodbutcher · « **Reply #5 on:** January 07, 2006, 12:42:41 PM »

Now, ya see, it's info like this that inspires confidence when starting out!
Thank you very much! I've got Lee stuff anyway, so M die it is!
I get my books through inter-library loan, so I've read Matthews works. The library ladies tell me that I'm at the top of their list for... esoteric subjects! As in "what the heck is a paper jacket?"
I'm going to slug the bore and make a chamber casting from one of my rifles so I know where to start. Woodbutcher

Castaway · « **Reply #6 on:** January 07, 2006, 01:24:36 PM »

Good luck to you. Let us know your results.

Black Jaque Janaviac · « **Reply #7 on:** May 24, 2006, 04:14:08 AM »

Quote

The library ladies tell me that I'm at the top of their list for... esoteric subjects! As in "what the heck is a paper jacket?"

My wife said she posed the request as a challenge when she asked our librarian to get it through inter-library loan. She just said, "You probably can't dig this one up, but just maybe..." My wife said the librarian got all serious as if he had just been "called out" to a duel. In a few days, we got a call saying that the book was on its way.

I've loaded .357 magnum with regular lube-grooved bullets that were paper patched. I didn't lube them, just cast them with plumbers lead, sized 'em to .356 (my 9mm sizer), patched 'em, then sized 'em to .358". I recovered several of them and shortly after ignition the lube-grooves are obturated out of existance (full-house magnum smokeless charges). If I use air-cooled wheelweight alloy the patched bullets do not survive the sizing process very well.

Woodbutcher · « **Reply #8 on:** June 21, 2006, 10:30:06 AM »

Black Jack:
Ya gots ta keep them there Librarian Ladies smilin, they be dangerous if roused!! Woodbutcher