Author Topic: Need help with FA41 and cast bullets. (Read 1138 times)

Steve P · « **on:** March 10, 2006, 06:51:27 AM »

Veral,

I have a mold from another company that will cast out a 218gc bullet for my 41 mag. It works great for my Ruger! I have a new Freedom Arms Silhouette model on the way. I am getting the brass etc together. I am concerned the 218gr bullet may not be the best choice for silhouettes.

You are the expert. What are the Silhouette shooters buying from you in 41 caliber? Something heavier? Keith type design? Your WFN (awesome!) design?

I am typically shooting out to 200 meters. On occasion, I may shoot targets out to 500m.

What 41 bullet mold do you suggest? and where can I get it?

Steve

Veral · « **Reply #1 on:** March 12, 2006, 04:43:03 AM »

No one has ordered for a 41 FA and told me yet, so I'm not certain of what nose length it will take. When the gun arrives, measure from front of cylinder to a crimped empty case. This will be the nose length to specify if you order an LBT mold. I cut the mold about 1/32 inch shorter, which is your maximum acceptable nose length.
I believe the best bullet you could get would by the LBT 250 gr LFN. It is quite streamlined so with the heavy weight, retains it's velocity well, is extreemly accurate, and has superb knockdown on iron. For game the WFN gets the nod, and I reccomend 220 gr for most shooters, though 250 is great if run at maximum pressures.

Steve P · « **Reply #2 on:** March 12, 2006, 08:53:32 AM »

Thanks for the reply. I am by no means an expert, but your reply is what I was hoping for, a FN in 250 grain range. Gun should be here this week. I have new brass on the way also. Will do some measuring and follow-up with you.

Thanks!!

Steve

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #3 on:** March 17, 2006, 11:46:09 PM »

sorry guys I have that mold and it wont work in a FA gun. Tried it in one at a shoot we were at. Cylinder is very close in length to an old model ruger .357 if that helps. One way to do it and i do it all the time in my old model 41mag conversion is to crimp part way up on the bullet nose. I did alot of experimenting doing this and actually found loads that shot better then anything previously even in guns that didnt need it. Just use a lee factory crimp die and dont get carried away with the crimp. Use just a medium crimp. That 250 like that in my gun will shoot into an inch at 25 yards. By the way that is probably the most accurate .41 heavy bullet ive found. My mold is about wore out and i need to get veral to do another sometime soon.

Veral · « **Reply #4 on:** March 19, 2006, 05:33:46 AM »

Lets stay with my reccomendations above and through out this forum, on both nose length and bullet diameter. Measure everything. You'll find that most revolvers will need a diameter larger than standard for that caliber, but not necessarily so.

Lloyds message above is a case in point. If his most accurate load is an inch at 25 yards, he isn't getting LBT accuracy. Bullets should be reaming one ragged hole at that range, and will from almost any of the major brands of revolvers if they are 'FIXED' to my specs, which are clearly spelled out in my writings.

DON'T USE THE LEE FACTORY CRIMP DIE FOR STRAIGHTWALL HANDGUN AMMO IF THE BULLETS ARE LARGER THAN NOMINAL DIAMETER!!!!! This die sizes the outside of the brass to 'factory' specs, which also crushes bullets to nominal or standard diameter, and cases spring back a little, which leaves loose bullets to tie up cylinders and ruin accuracy by: 1. Inconsistent to no bullet pull, or case grip. 2. Making proper sized bullets too small for good accuracy.

The LEE factory crimp die for bottle neck rifle cases is a whole 'nother' matter. It's a jewel that can make loose chambered guns shoot better, and it's the best way to crimp bottle neck levergun ammo. I recommend my customers use it, and prefer not to put a crimp in lever gun bullets, so they can adjust seating depth to optimum for any rifle of the caliber, and as throat wear changes optimum seating depth.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #5 on:** March 19, 2006, 11:23:29 PM »

Veral if i can shoot an inch group at 25 yards with these old eyes i jump up and down and ive tested many many handguns for every manufacture and its a rare one that will shoot 1.5 inch cosistantly at 25 yards with any load or any bullet. Most of my guns at least in my hands that will shoot an inch are linebored customs I own. It is a very very rare shooter who is capeable of shooting cosistant one hole groups at 25 yards with an open sighted revolver so my hat is off to you sir!!

Steve P · « **Reply #6 on:** March 22, 2006, 05:13:14 PM »

Veral,

From new Starline brass to edge of cylinder is .550. I did not have my dies out and my buddy didn't get his in yet. So measurement is with brand new brass.

Do I need to slug cylinder and/or barrel?

Steve

Veral · « **Reply #7 on:** March 26, 2006, 05:33:09 AM »

If you really hate going through the slugging process, which will quite likely lead you to lapping the barrel and resizing the cylinder throats, you can order the diameter .002 over standard and simply size till loaded ammo chambers easily. This will give you better performace than any other mold maker can offer. (Due to proper and strong LBT bullet designs.) However, when you purchase a mold from you pay for premium, and I deliver at my end, but setting the gun up properly is mandatory to realize optimum accuracy, which will be under 2 inches at 100 yards from most revolvers.