Alloy or pure lead for casting conicals.

[James Beardsley]

These will be shot through a .50 cal. barrel with 1in28 twist. I've only ever cast for smokeless and round ball. Thanks, James

 

[stikshooter]

These will be shot through a .50 cal. barrel with 1in28 twist. I've only ever cast for smokeless and round ball. Thanks, James

YES to both , Speed/ profile /target/hunting /weight all are variables ! How fast your pushing and PB or GC all factor in (It ain't that easy) or everyone would be doing it , lots of trigger time is required especially in your gun/barrel . /Ed

 

[Idaho Ron]

These will be shot through a .50 cal. barrel with 1in28 twist. I've only ever cast for smokeless and round ball. Thanks, James

The paper patched bullets I make for my 50's is the Lee 500S&W bullet. I add alloy to boost hardness to a range of 6 to 7 BHN. Those bullets come out at 458 grains. I have recovered only a couple. Most blow through. This bullet broke both shoulders on my bull and still weigh 454 gr. I have been shooting that bullet for hunting for 13 years. It's taken a pile of game.

 

[Critter Getter]

When shooting paper patched bullets do you lube the bullet, the paper, neither , or both? I have a friend who passed away and I will be selling over 700 lbs of his wheel weight ingots that he had melted down. Greg

 

[Idaho Ron]

When shooting paper patched bullets do you lube the bullet, the paper, neither , or both? I have a friend who passed away and I will be selling over 700 lbs of his wheel weight ingots that he had melted down. Greg

I do not lube at all. That being said. I helped one guy to get his rifle shooting, and that gun liked a little chapstick on the paper right at loading.
If you lube the paper and leave it on too long the paper will fail and the bullet will push through the paper when loading.

 

[Critter Getter]

Good to know. Thanks for the info Ron. Greg

 

[ohio ramrod]

I refer pure lead in my hollow based mini's. I have found linotype lead to be brittle and having problems with the skirt separating.

 

[rmark]

Soft lead (scrap pipe and sheet, about BHN 6) or nearly so (stick on wheel weights, about BHN 8). A maxi style bullet as loaded is slightly over bore size and is engraved by the rifling when loading, hard lead is hard to load and casts oversize. A minie style bullet as loaded is slightly under bore size and expands to grip the rifling. In either case similar hardness of lead is appropriate. Pure lead plus a small amount for tin to help mold fill out would also be about BHN 6.

 

[nkbj]

If all you've got for casting round ball is alloyed then use what you've got and learn how to make it work.