Hi, I'm having issues with my 32-40 reloads. The target holes are slightly elongated at only 50 yards. I'm using WW brass with 14 gr of 4227 pushing a .322 Saeco 200 gr bullet from Montana Bullet Works. I started with 12.5 gr and had the same issue. My gun is a Win 1885 with a relined 14 twist, .321 30" barrel. I tried OAL's from stock specifications to just touching the rifling. I realized that my early loadings may have had too much of a crimp and reduced them to a point that some bullets could be rotated out by hand. I see no evidence of leading.

What's interesting is that I have no such issues with Buffalo arms black powder loads (165 gr Lyman 319247). The target holes are nice and round.

Should I just stick with 165 gr bullets or go with a different brand of the heavies? 

Thanks. 

marlinguy wrote on Oct 10^th, 2015 at 10:22am:


I started with 12.5 and tried 13.0, 13.5 and finally 14.0. Same issue every time.  not sure what the lead mix is but the bullet has a BHN of 15, which is somewhat soft.

In the jacketed-bullet world, the congealed wisdom when a bullet isn't quite stabilizing is to push it faster.   You don't tell us what your groups look like, though.  How does the load do at 100 yards? Or 200?   Not familiar with that bullet - plain base or gas checked?   BHN 15 isn't all that soft.  Are you measuring hardness, or guessing?

uscra112 wrote on Oct 10^th, 2015 at 1:24pm:


Groups are nothing to write home about (3" +) and didn't try anything beyond 50 yards. I just assumed that longer distances would be worse. The bullet base is plain and the advertised hardness is 15 but I don't have the means to actually measure it.

JP, I posted same problems awhile back with those bullets from  my Saeco mold also . I'am using a 30:1 mix and 4227 powder . I'am shooting a CPA bench rifle with a 1:15 twist and breech seating only with the rifling to the base band . I have tried everything from 13.5-15.0 grs. of 4227 . I shoot only at 200 yards and on the paper I get what looks like bullet tipping but just not tipping at the bottom of the hole but in all directions . I would not call this a true keyhole ? . What rifle are you using ? I'am about to give up on this Saeco mold myself and go back to my nose poor Hoch bullet which gives perfect round holes. The Hoch bullet is just a little longer than the Saeco bullet and both are tapered .   The Saeco casts a beautiful looking bullet and since it is a base poor unlike the Hoch nose poor casting with the Saeco is a joy, the bullet just does not shoot well for me . I hear a lot of guys get great results with the Saeco bullet . Also my Saeco bullets come in right at .322" and my bore diameter is .3192 / Douglas . Thanks

My Saeco 538 202 gr bullet shoots great at near max loads of 4227 or AA9, but on cold days will show signs of elongation due to the drop in temperature.  You may push it a little harder and see if that fixes the problem, but if it is tipping at 50 you trouble may lie elsewhere; I wonder if your mix is too hard?  15 is pretty hard IMHO.

Pentz wrote on Oct 10^th, 2015 at 9:30pm:


It's possible that the mix is too hard as the 165 gr. Buffalo Arms loads have a 20:1 mix and they work fine. 

I'll look into a supplier with softer bullets. Thanks.

JP
try pulling one of your bullets after you have seated it in the case. To tight of a neck may be making your bullets under sized . Black powder would bump it back up but not the smokeless . 
Dales