| Posted: Tue Oct 18th, 2005 01:12 PM |
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Handgunr
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 10th, 2005 |
| Location: | WNY, New York USA |
| Posts: | 96 |
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Hello all,
I've been casting probably since I was 11 or 12, and I'm 48 now. Back about 15 yrs. ago or so, I quit buying jacketed bullets and went to cast bullets exclusively in all of my handguns.
I found that, at least in my handguns, the cast bullets perform every bit as well as jacketed (for the most part), and that I've seen some pretty spectacular results regarding taking game with them. It's taken some trial & error, a lot of reading & research over the years regarding bullet designs, alloys, gaschecks, sizing, powders, etc., etc, to get to a point where my results in given calibers can now be predictable.
Getting to the point where you no longer have to guess & experiment on alloys, bullet designs & powders really eliminates a lot of the hassle of getting very good and acceptible loads.......one of the main reasons why many new bullet casters give up before reaching an acceptible level of success.
Cast bullets in rifles are more of a challange, especially in the smaller calibers, but with a little more involvment, it can be done as well.
I just wondered who the dedicated cast bullet devotee's were, and if so, what you're secrets to success are.......or if there's any questions I can offer help with.....
Take care,
Bob
Last edited on Tue Oct 18th, 2005 01:14 PM by Handgunr
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| Posted: Tue Oct 18th, 2005 01:35 PM |
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2nd Post |
Charley
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 9th, 2005 |
| Location: | San Antonio, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 6139 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | I load everything! | | My favorite chambering is:: | all of them |
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Can't remember the last jacketed bullets I fired thru a handgun, except for checking function for some defense/carry loads.
Most of what I shoot are homecast, but I have a bunch of commercial bullets I have aquired over the years. Some are swaged, some are cast, and some are electroplated (I consider them closer to cast than jacketed).
Can't see a reason to dump expensive jacketed bullets down range, especially for hunting/plinking.
I don't use gas check designs in handguns, never saw a need for them at velocities I shoot. I cast bullets for much of what i shoot, but not all. I cast for the .32s, (S&W, S&W Long, H&R) 9x18, and .45 Colt. To many other inexpensive cast/swaged bullets on the market to make it worth the time to cast 9x19, .38 Super, ;38/,357, .44 Spec/.44 mag, and .45 ACP.
I guess my pet peave regarding casting is the popular idea that all cast bullets must be as hard as possible. I can't count the number of posting I have seen on BBs all over the net with this common thread: "What am I doing wrong? I'm shooting (whatever) with a 240 grain bullet cast HARD, and I'm getting terrible leading and no accuracy?"
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STOP OBAMUNISM NOW!
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| Posted: Tue Oct 18th, 2005 02:49 PM |
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3rd Post |
Handgunr
HB Pro Staff
| Joined: | Mon Oct 10th, 2005 |
| Location: | WNY, New York USA |
| Posts: | 96 |
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Yep Charley........you hit the nail on the head....hardness issues.
Most guys that are new to the casting bug figure that cast bullets have to be as hard as a jacketed bullet to fly right.
The harder you go with an alloy, the closer you have to adhere to sizing the bullet to bore diameter. I tell those who decide to use very hard bullets, to, if anything, size their bullets .0005, or 001. over their "measured" bore diameter. Getting 1/2 sizes regarding sizing dies can be done, but they are expensive. Some dies I have are stamped .358, but they'll throw a bullet that's .3575. I buy several to cover a wide area, and have a better chance of getting the perfect fit. If not able, I go oversized a little.
Most jacket material (copper) is a nominal 40BHN. The core is usually pure lead at 5 BHN, and although vastly difference in hardness, they both work pretty well together.
With cast bullets, a totally different mindset needs to be used.
One alloy that performs well inside the workings of the gun, and provides good accuracy, then gives good terminal performance on game, is what is needed.
Once you learn, and do the math with cast bullets...using jacketed bullets in handguns seems costly, and almost unnecessary.
Most of my .44 Mag cast bullets used in 1400-1500 fps. magnum loads are only 14BHN, and most magnum loads use a bullet that carries a gascheck. Out of my scoped Redhawk they'll average 3-4" at 100yds. Mostly 3" if I do my part.
Take care,
Bob
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