The Handloaders Bench Home
Home Search search Menu menu Not logged in - Login | Register

Cast Hollow Point Bullets
 Moderated by: fryboy, Charley Page:    1  2  Next Page Last Page  
 New Topic   Reply   Printer Friendly 
 Rate Topic 
AuthorPost
 Posted: Thu Oct 22nd, 2009 08:43 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
1st Post
miestro_jerry
Guest
 

Joined: 
Location:  
Posts: 
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: 
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: 
My favorite chambering is:: 
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

I have a 44 Mag Hollow point mold and it is not a good mold. I have seen converted molds and very nicely machined HP bullet molds out there, but have heard of anyone that is really happy with the cast bullets these molds produce.

Anyone have any experience with making and shooting HP cast bullets?

Jerry

 



 Posted: Thu Oct 22nd, 2009 10:04 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
2nd Post
bigwhiterubicon
HB Pro Staff


Joined: Thu Sep 17th, 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 61
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: I load everything!
My favorite chambering is:: all of them
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

ya a freind of mine used to cast hp's, he was verry happy with the result he got out of them. he was casting a 139gr. swc hp for 38/357.
he used to get 1" groups at 50 yard out of a smith and wesson M10
i have no idea what he was loading them on however i remember that what ever it was it was very dirty, like unique.



 Posted: Thu Oct 22nd, 2009 10:20 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
3rd Post
-6
Super Moderator


Joined: Sat Jun 28th, 2008
Location: South Central, North Carolina USA
Posts: 866
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: I load everything!
My favorite chambering is:: '06
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Am going to try my hand at boring a HP into some 45s. Do not see why it would not work. Can make a simple jig so the depths will be constant and centered. wc



____________________
Lk 23-if you don't have a sword then sell your cloak and buy one.


 Posted: Thu Oct 22nd, 2009 10:29 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
4th Post
miestro_jerry
Guest
 

Joined: 
Location:  
Posts: 
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: 
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: 
My favorite chambering is:: 
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

=6,

I use my Forsters reamer for doing that, it holds a center and gives you some depth control.

Jerry



 Posted: Fri Oct 23rd, 2009 01:10 AM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
5th Post
-6
Super Moderator


Joined: Sat Jun 28th, 2008
Location: South Central, North Carolina USA
Posts: 866
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: I load everything!
My favorite chambering is:: '06
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Have a pic or link Jerry??? wc



____________________
Lk 23-if you don't have a sword then sell your cloak and buy one.


 Posted: Fri Oct 23rd, 2009 01:42 AM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
6th Post
miestro_jerry
Guest
 

Joined: 
Location:  
Posts: 
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: 
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: 
My favorite chambering is:: 
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Here you go:

http://www.forsterproducts.com/store.asp?pid=27805&catid=19938

Jerry

 



 Posted: Fri Oct 23rd, 2009 03:31 AM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
7th Post
3006 user
Gold Sponsor


Joined: Mon Jul 30th, 2007
Location: Denver Area, Colorado USA
Posts: 796
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: I load everything!
My favorite chambering is:: 30-06
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

miestro_jerry wrote: =6,

I use my Forsters reamer for doing that, it holds a center and gives you some depth control.

Jerry

+1



____________________
Molon Labe
Patron member NRA
USN 1956-1961


 Posted: Fri Oct 23rd, 2009 03:36 AM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
8th Post
Charley
Board Founder


Joined: Fri Sep 9th, 2005
Location: San Antonio, Texas USA
Posts: 3794
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: I load everything!
My favorite chambering is:: all of them
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Never used the Forster's hollow pointer, but do have and use a hollow pointer for .22 LR I bought years ago from a small (one man!) machine shop. Works well, just need to dig thru my tools and find it now.



____________________
TANSTAAFL


 Posted: Fri Oct 23rd, 2009 07:55 AM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
9th Post
-6
Super Moderator


Joined: Sat Jun 28th, 2008
Location: South Central, North Carolina USA
Posts: 866
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: I load everything!
My favorite chambering is:: '06
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Good stuff, thanks. I have a Forester Co-Ax loader. Did not know they made so much stuff. wc



____________________
Lk 23-if you don't have a sword then sell your cloak and buy one.


 Posted: Fri Oct 23rd, 2009 12:59 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
10th Post
Busted
HB Pro Staff
 

Joined: Sun Sep 13th, 2009
Location:  
Posts: 153
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: I load everything!
My favorite chambering is:: 30-06
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

I did a lot of casting for both rifle and handguns when I started, back in the mid 60s. Tried one hollow point mold, Lyman, and a Forster Hollow Pointer (which I stiil have but haven't used for over 30 years) for a bit of experimentation. While I would never discourage such things, I didn't have much luck at it. In fact my results duplicated what I was reading in the Rifleman and other such in the hey-day of good gun magazines.

Basic problem is that at handgun speeds it's very difficult to obtain any significant or consistant effect with ANY bullets. Jacketed bullets with a lot of exposed lead in a light jacket, any point configuration, does better than any cast bullet. We MUST cast bullets somewhat hard if we plan to push them over about 700 fps and harder bullets rarely expand, the hollow points mostly just scrub off in the "targets".

I had a huge sawdust pile from an old abandoned saw mill to test my reloads on at that tine. Used as a backstop, it was perfect to show check accuracy, penatration AND expansion. (Sadly, it rotted away so I lost my test range!) From those experiments, I determined that hard cast SWC game bullets would be the best, no expansion needed. Haven't shot enough game with a handgun to prove it, but I'm still satisfied with the Keith design, driven hard.



 Posted: Fri Oct 23rd, 2009 06:22 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
11th Post
Paul B
Handloading Master
 

Joined: Sun Sep 30th, 2007
Location:  
Posts: 557
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: I load everything!
My favorite chambering is:: 
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

I cast several bullets that are hollow points. All but one are Lyman molds. They are the #3118, #358315 and #458122. The non-Lyman mold is a SAECO with no number that casts four 44 caliber hollow point bullets. I have not done any serious casting with that one yet as the screw that holds the sprue plate was broken and I had to send it to Redding who now makes the SAECO molds. The few bullets that I did run from that mold came out OK, at least as to proper fill out and no spurious cavities inside the hollow point area.

A couple of things I found out that make a difference when casting HP bullets is use a slight bit more tin and heel that pin that makes the hollow point hot. The hotter the better.

I don't necessarily agree than handgun bullets must be harder than an IRS agent's heart. Elmer Keith's pet loads used a 16 to 1 lead and tin alloy even in his pet .44 magnum. That's not all that hard as lead alloys go, but proper fit to the firearm is very important if leading is to be either eliminated or at least kept to a minimum.

Jerry. Just out of curiosity, which HP mold are you having trouble with? Is it the hollow itself or the whole mold in general?

Paul B.



 Posted: Fri Oct 23rd, 2009 09:21 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
12th Post
miestro_jerry
Guest
 

Joined: 
Location:  
Posts: 
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: 
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: 
My favorite chambering is:: 
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

This problem child is a Lee mold, I do have a couple of Lyman ones that work well.

With the Lee HP mold, I think making the alloy harder and then heat the alloy up to the point they will cast sort of frosty may do the trick, I will have to experiement.

Jerry



 Posted: Sat Oct 24th, 2009 01:10 AM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
13th Post
fryboy
Administrator


Joined: Sun Feb 24th, 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 2868
Photo: [Download]
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: I load everything!
My favorite chambering is:: ones that work
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

thaz what i do to my lee's and lymans,i also add a lil extra lead to that mix, takes a bit to get the core pin warmed up but once there with a decent pace i usually get keepers,used to have a 225 hollowpoint 45 acp mold ..had the oddest looking hollow point but was the best lee hollow pointer i had(almost looked like the pin was a hexagon as if it was made with a allen wrench for the pin when one looked in the hole( but not the pin)if using hot alloy it's best to drop them base first(seems it can wiggle around on the pin and make off center holes) i dont quench these,being a lil softer helps the expansion ,



____________________
(happy shootin'-the best way to get empty brass!)


 Posted: Wed Dec 9th, 2009 08:34 AM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
14th Post
Rickster
HB Pro Staff
 

Joined: Sat Apr 26th, 2008
Location: Idaho USA
Posts: 41
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: rifle
My favorite chambering is:: 
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

I have a friend who used to insert either a small or large pistol primer (can't remember which), open end down into the hollow cavity of his 44 cal HP cast bullets.  I never observed the results but he swore that it really "Enhanced" the expansion of the bullets. Do you think???   I hate to admit it, but the idea does have a certain perverted appeal to it....



____________________
"Speak softly, but carry a big stick".
Theodore Roosevelt


 Posted: Wed Dec 9th, 2009 03:33 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
15th Post
-6
Super Moderator


Joined: Sat Jun 28th, 2008
Location: South Central, North Carolina USA
Posts: 866
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: I load everything!
My favorite chambering is:: '06
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Sure would like to know how that primer works--sounds very interesting



____________________
Lk 23-if you don't have a sword then sell your cloak and buy one.


 Posted: Wed Dec 9th, 2009 03:41 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
16th Post
Dragon88
HB Pro Staff


Joined: Mon Dec 1st, 2008
Location: North Carolina USA
Posts: 685
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: rifle
My favorite chambering is:: 44 Magnum
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

You could put a pellet of shot underneath the primer to act as a firing mechanism, then the primer cup down, then seal the top with lead or hard epoxy to try to get it to actually go off. Sounds ridiculous but I'd love to try it with a slow mo camera to see what happens on impact.



 Posted: Wed Dec 9th, 2009 03:44 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
17th Post
3006 user
Gold Sponsor


Joined: Mon Jul 30th, 2007
Location: Denver Area, Colorado USA
Posts: 796
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: I load everything!
My favorite chambering is:: 30-06
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

-6 wrote: Sure would like to know how that primer works--sounds very interesting

-6, erratically!! Had some .451" 240gr JHP that had a large pistol primer in the hollow.. Loaded them in 45ACP and tried them out on a fir 4X4. When they did go off, the nose splattered out to about twice diameter. About half did not detonate, but just flattened the nose with the primer intact.. Probably not worth the bother unless more velocity would do the trick - ala .375 or 44 mag.. Might be interesting in a 45-70.. :thumbs:



____________________
Molon Labe
Patron member NRA
USN 1956-1961


 Posted: Thu Dec 10th, 2009 12:29 AM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
18th Post
miestro_jerry
Guest
 

Joined: 
Location:  
Posts: 
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: 
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: 
My favorite chambering is:: 
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

I have been told about the primer in the hollow point thing for years. Never tried it, never will. The closest thing I have ever heard of, to that, were the exploding bullets that Hinckley tried to shoot Reagan with.

Jerry



 Posted: Thu Dec 10th, 2009 04:26 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
19th Post
Paul B
Handloading Master
 

Joined: Sun Sep 30th, 2007
Location:  
Posts: 557
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: I load everything!
My favorite chambering is:: 
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

You might want to reconsider posting about primers and the sort in hollow point bullets. The BATF frowns very severely on such shennanigans. :shameon: They are considered an explosive device. Just a friendly warning. You never know if Big brohter is watching. :pissed::thumbs1:

Paul B.



 Posted: Thu Dec 10th, 2009 05:29 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
20th Post
3006 user
Gold Sponsor


Joined: Mon Jul 30th, 2007
Location: Denver Area, Colorado USA
Posts: 796
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: I load everything!
My favorite chambering is:: 30-06
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Paul B wrote: You might want to reconsider posting about primers and the sort in hollow point bullets. The BATF frowns very severely on such shennanigans. :shameon: They are considered an explosive device. Just a friendly warning. You never know if Big brohter is watching. :pissed::thumbs1:

Paul B.

Paul, thanks for the advice.. Yeah, some postings are probably red flags.. Guess I haven't kept up on the regs about this subject... I was recounting experiences  from many years ago...



____________________
Molon Labe
Patron member NRA
USN 1956-1961


 Current time is 10:00 AMPage:    1  2  Next Page Last Page  
Top




UltraBB 1.17 Copyright © 2007-2008 Data 1 Systems
Page processed in 0.5175 seconds (53% database + 47% PHP). 36 queries executed.