This is my firts post, been a member about 30 days. Thanks for having me folks. Here is the skinny: I shoot a DW model 15 in 357. I have worked up a couple of alloys that heta treat well and cast pretty well. I have shot many hundreds of rounds loaded with 6.2-6.4 grains H-Univ, WSPM primers, medium crimp. I have had significant leading just past the forcing cone but I shot them anyway as they were under 1” groups during the first 25 rnds. Very accurate and many kills of rabbit thave been taken at descent range. Well, after discussing with Pat at Lee regarding the TL358/158gr mould,he thought the load or bullet was the problem. In working the 6.2 gr. load up, this was teh heaviest charge of H-Univ that didn't open up yet provided the cleanest shot (not very clean). PSI was estimated from data about 33KPSI. Bullet hardness using Lee tester was about 24 BHN. All bullets were unsized, a marked improvement over the sized model I had tried. I also tried H4227, my pet jacketed bullet powder for other firearms I shoot but it was filthy and shot open to 4 inches. Real Bad. So I went back to the drawing board on the 24 BHN. I studied the load data and found Aliant 2400 ran significantly less pressure with a starting load andgave 350 fps higher velocity. BTW the original load ran about 1150fps. Lube was Lee Liquid.
The new load (aliant 2400)barks hard, it really is a magnum laod which I was looking for (so good, I will likely try it in my Desert Eagle with jacketed bullets). The 24 BHN seemed to be just right as the velocity went up as planned but the leading that had plagued me in front of the forcing cone has now moved to mid barrel and was in long streaks (8 inch barrel). I used only one coat of Lee Liquid, applied pretty heavy. I usually apply two thin coats, but anyway. I like the load, it hits aweful hard like a hunting round should. But the groups opened up also and the leading I could tell was making a big impact on the performance. Additionally, the BHN was 24 and the pressure was approx. at 26KPSI, a significant reduction.
So the question is, how do I fix the forward leading?? I had previously had rear leading, tried load pressure increase and decrease with no acceptable performance change and no leading reduction (as low as 5.4 gr, as much as 6.5 gr H- Univ). The new load is much lower pressure (slower burn with longer pressure curve) with poor grouping but almost insignificant leading (it cleaned real easy but it was for sure casuing the groups to fall apart). Am I running out of lube?? Do I try to increase load as there is a huge amount of room to increase, or do I reduce the load??? What is forward barrel leading a sign of, overpressure, velocity issues, lack of lube?? HELP.
Thanks in advance for the assistance. I have a 30/30 contender that I have cast a new alloy and bullets for full house loads but I am afraid to lead up the super 14 barrell which is amazing with jacketed bullets until I get a handle onthe 357. So I am running scared at this point and that contender NEEDS CAST Gas Checked BULLETS moving through it!! If I cant get the 357 right (but I will, I am not defeated), then I cant justify the 30/30 workup.
Lastly I have a NIB Bullberry 22 K Hornet barrel, 12 inch for another contender. I blow rabbits up with my 22-250, nothing left to eat, at any range under 400 yds. With the Dan Wesson open sights, 70 yds is my max kill range with Cast Bullets and I have to have a monopod rest (I cant see any further than that my eyes are not young). The alloy is so hard (24) that at 70 yds and 1150 fps, they just cut clean holes and I have to hit them twice to stop them from crawling. My 22 LR 7.5 inch pistol with scope is good for 100/120 yd shots but 50% of those shots are missed and I have to sit down to do it with a monopod between my legs with LOTS of unrepeatable holdover. I needed a killer that WOULDNT blow the rabbit to kingdom come and keep me in some food, but extend my range to the 150 yd mark where I am capable with a flat trajectory. I chose the 22 hornet but seems like folks have some real issues with making the hornet work with the currently available 46 gr. cast bullets. I don't want to invest in moulds and “stuff” and waste time for medocre groups. Any success stories, ANY??? Twist is 1-14” or 1-12” per the mfgr (it is a barrel stub so there are different twists for the scrap barrels, I will have to test mine to find out) I would like to shoot the Hornet in VOLUME like I do my 357, and for me that means cast bullets. I don't want to sacrifice performance to save money, CB's are supposed to be as good or better than jacketed if done right,and I firmly believe that.
Best regards,
Mike Crain, New CBA member.