Singleshotom in your alloy testing how hard did you get to prior to settling on 1-22 and did you experience any leading issues as you were working your way up the ladder.

J.Louis

John, Dan Theodore experimented with several percentages of lead:tin:antimony with BPCR reloads.  The objective was to determine which ratio combination showed more nose bump-up and the longer ogive engraving ... more bearing surface in the bore.  The test caliber was the 35 Wesson in a 1:10 Lilja barrel, using 52grs of Swiss 1.5 that produced 1270 fps

His results is an article in the Winter 2010 issue of Black Powder Cartridge News.  A 98:1:1 alloy showed the longest engraving on the bullet nose indicating that the ratio had the best bump-up in the bore.

The easiest way to derive the 98:1:1 ratio is 3 parts Lyman #2 and 7 parts lead

I have a large batch of WW's that are Bhn 15.4 (close enough to Lyman #2 with a Bhn of 15).  So I mixed the WW's in the same 3 to 7 parts ratio and found that I could achieve longer engraved ogives on the bullets that I dug out of a soft dirt bank firing the Postell bullet.  Dan used his Mini Groove bullets for the experiment and shot them into a snow bank for better observation of the engraving.  Dan also tested 1:15 and 1:16 reloads with smaller groups then when shot with 1:20.  IIRC, back in the 1800's, the alloy of choice for BPCR store bought paper patch long range target rounds was 1:14 

Now - how which alloy ratio would work best with smokeless powder charges ... To Be Determined by Someone! 

PS:  John, thanks for the compliment.  Some days, all the planets and stars are in alignment!  

I will agree with 40 Rod Antimony is not a good thing.  Appreciate you guys experimenting with hard alloys and there could well be some advantage to hard bullets going faster with long bullets in fast twist barrels. We have been stuck on 1/25 at 1450 fps for a very long time. Possible some advantage has been overlooked

I would would want to see a clear trend however, lots of shooters in lots of matches winning using something other than lead/tin mixes between 1/20 & 1/30 before I changed my 1/25 bullets.  Admit I don't experiment with much. Fix my loads for the year in January never changing once the loads are set, but do keep my eye on developments.  Keep at it.

Boats

Thank you for your reply Singleshotom I find these harder alloys to be very interesting and was wondering where your break off point was in regards to leading.

J.Louis

Fred Boulton wrote on Oct 17^th, 2011 at 5:38pm:


During my many WW/hard bullet experiments I used bullets at and slightly over groove diameter.  I tried different bullet lubes, powders and wads. At that time I was using three or four different rifles. 32/40, 38/55, 40/65, 45/70. Oh, forgot, 35 Whelen.  All barrels leaded.  When leaded accuracy went out the window. A south window.

Doug Frazier, now deceased, used hard wax cookies under hard bullets and claimed this stopped the leading.   

Doug said that gas cutting caused the leading.  I have no reason to doubt that.   

Is it the characteristics of the alloy used or bullet fit?  I'll go with the former. 

                 Joe.   

                                                     

I recall talking with one of the "top shots" at EG.  (who is no longer active) a few years back he was getting record setting 200 yard groups using much harder alloys and significantly higher velocities then most were at that time. I do not know the alloy, lube or velocity, just that he shot damn small groups and high scores.

One of the reasons for the softer alloys in the past, if I understand it correctly was the need to breech seat with the push seaters of the early era.  Modern leveraging breech-seaters should obviate that requirement to a large extent.

JlLouis please check your email.
MIKE-T