Spru location made no difference...

[roundball]

Just some info in case its of any use to anyone...I recently switched from shooting 40 shot range sessions with a .40cal to a .50cal...another caliber that I use cast balls made by Eddie May in Chatsworth, GA.
The spru location on his cast lead balls is nothing more than a little flat spot, for the world they look a lot like a swaged ball.
And just like with the .395"s, I've intentionally been loading the .490"s paying no attention to spru location, and see no difference in loading or accuracy to the 50yds I've been practicing.
If someone isn't interested in casting their own, Eddie May makes good cast balls at outstanding prices.
Hoppes No.9 lube so there's no wiping between shots...Eddie May's cast balls so there's no fiddling with spru location = my kind of range trip.

 

[majg1234]

Good info RB,as usual based on tru experience
thanks

 

[rafterob]

I would think that the variable of the sprue location would come more into play at long distances. I too, really don't pay attention other than generally having it face up. Eddie May balls with good accuracy.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Unfortunately your post isn't very helpful.
Only a session shooting from the bench can confirm or disprove your claim.
I do know the top bench shooters and the top buffalo (cross-stick) shooters and the top offhand shooters pay close attention to the placement of the sprue or sprue flat.
Do a session of 50 to 100 rounds from a bench at 50 yards with various sprue locations and let us know the results.

 

[BillinOregon]

Roundball, thanks for sharing your experience. I, too, would think sprue location might come into play going out to 100 yards. When Mr. Stroh is finished with my .40, I hope to test this myself.

 

[Robby]

For some calibers, I use a Lee mould. Like Roundball describes, it leaves just a slight flat spot. I don't pay attention to its location and see no difference in accuracy. Lyman moulds leave a pretty hefty spru and with these I do make sure it is on top when loading, even though the Bevel Brothers, in their testing of spru location, showed it to make little to no difference.
Robby

 

[Grizzled Roberts]

Several years back the Bevel Brothers covered this subject They used to write a monthly column for MuzzleBlasts. They fired bench rest groups with the sprue dead centered facing up, sprues to the left side of the barrel, sprues to the right side of the barrel and sprues loaded down facing the powder. All four different loads grouped different. All four loads grouped fine. The bottom line was, load the sprue the same way each time and everything will be fine.

 

[roundball]

Unfortunately your post isn't very helpful.
Only a session shooting from the bench can confirm or disprove your claim.
I do know the top bench shooters and the top buffalo (cross-stick) shooters and the top offhand shooters pay close attention to the placement of the sprue or sprue flat.
Do a session of 50 to 100 rounds from a bench at 50 yards with various sprue locations and let us know the results.

"...Just some info in case its of any use to anyone..."

The post's description was very clear...it was posted in case it might be of interest to someone...the way forums work is that if its of no interest to you, the obvious response you should make is to ignore it and move on.

Some friendly advice you should pay attention to:
Spend less time critiquing other people's posts here on the MLF and instead of doing that, invest that time running your own tests...actually getting out to the range often and developing your own hands-on experiences...then you'll have something objective to report back.

:thumbsup:

 

[roundball]

Eddie May balls with good accuracy.

He does a heck of a good job and is about half the cost of cast balls from other commercial sources...

 

[Rifleman1776]

Spend less time critiquing other people's posts

Were you speaking for yourself?

I have been doing my own range work for over 40 years. Maybe I should have included that my experience is the location of the sprue does make a difference in grouping and accuracy. But, I have never been a master shooter. Never took home a trophy, or a dozen, or more from Friendship. I shared experiences, advice and observations of those who have.

 

[necchi]

Good info RB,as usual based on tru experience
thanks

By his own admition,
Bill NEVER shoot's with another person present.
Never.
So Bill's experiance is the council of but one man and is a single observation and conclusion.

These Trophies have been presented to me by my Peers,
I put the sprue forword:

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Good shootin, :hatsoff:

 

[matt denison]

Necci said

"I put the sprue forword"

I always knew that you had something going on. Your spelling sucks but your advice on this forum is right on. You have the wall to prove it.

My opinion: Doesn't matter if it is foward or rearward as long as you do it the same every time. Consistency = accuracy.

Roundball: I, as well as others appreciate the testing that you do and report here. If you were casting your own balls like us po' folk and reporting on sprue direction you might find your results different. Instead you are using high dollar "boughten" balls from a professional. Your report is important to the fellows who use those balls but only them.

With all respect to both gentlemen posting, I regard you both as assets to this forum.

(Nice shootin' Necci)

L'dog

 

[necchi]

Your spelling sucks

It does!! :haha:
I think my keyboard is dyslexic too!

 

[roundball]

High dollar???? 40cals are $4.37/100... :grin:...let's review, shall we?
Once again, it was an information only post:
============================================

PURPOSE OF POST CLEARLY ESTABLISHED
"...Just some info in case its of any use to anyone..."

SUBJECT
"...cast balls made by Eddie May in Chatsworth, GA..."

DESCRIPTIVE POINT OF PRODUCT
"...spru location on his cast lead balls is nothing more than a little flat spot, for the world they look a lot like a swaged ball..."

USAGE TESTING
"...loading the .490"s paying no attention to spru location, and see no difference in loading or accuracy to the 50yds I've been practicing..."

AWARENESS OF AVAILABLE ALTERNATIVE
"...If someone isn't interested in casting their own, Eddie May makes good cast balls at outstanding prices..."

SUMMARY
An information only post, about a specific product, under specific test conditions, with no inference or speculation about the product beyond what was specifically stated in the test report. It was all clearly stated in the opening post.


So.....how many forum members does it take to change a light bulb ??

:thumbsup:

 

[necchi]

At one dollar per pound for lead,
one pound will cast 332 - 92grn .395 ball.

You previuosly stated you purchased 1000 ball. That would be 43.70 + 8.95 shipping = 52.65

Consider a new Lee mold at 25 shipped leaving 27.65 for lead.

27.65 pounds of lead = 193,550grns
193,550
95 grns per ball = 2037.36 ball hand cast at home for the same cost
The next 1000 would only cost the lead about 10.5 #'s

 

[Zonie]

I think one pound of lead will cast 76, 92 grain lead balls, not 332 of them.
Then, on the other hand you do make a valid point which justifies casting roundballs rather than buying them. :grin:

 

[necchi]

:redface:
Ooop's wonder where I got the 332?

 

[roundball]

I'm being asked for contact info...here it is:

Eddie May Cast Round Balls
159 Ridley Rd.
Chatsworth, GA. 30705
706-581-8225
“Best Quality Round Balls, Minnie, Rifle Bullets and Modern Cast Bullets...Please Call or Write to place Order"

 

[necchi]

4.37 x 76 = 332