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Normal Topic What size cast lead bullet/mold for Rolling Block? (Read 1328 times)
Uechi
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What size cast lead bullet/mold for Rolling Block?
Jun 19th, 2018 at 2:42pm
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As all you guys know many antique black powder bores vary in diameter many from one rifle to,the next of the same model. Solution is of course is to slug the barrel or do,a cast to determine bore size. Have read numerous articles that say buy a mold that matches that diameter. Others say get a mold 1/000( 1 thousandth larger). Which is it and what is the rationale?






  
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Premod70
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Re: What size cast lead bullet/mold for Rolling Block?
Reply #1 - Jun 19th, 2018 at 2:49pm
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You can get away with shooting an undersize bullet with black powder due to the high impact at ignition, the bullet is shortened and fills the barrel. With smokeless the bullet has to be slightly oversize to the grooves and throat dimensions, the lower impact at ignition and burn do not fit the bullet to the riflings as in the case of black powder. 

There are plenty of differences between the two powders and it is better to pick one powder and study the bullets that work in that type of powder then spend the same amount of effort with the other powder. Heck, to confuse things even more there are those that mix the two powders and further confuse the issue. There are some bullet designs that are somewhat universal but for the best in accuracy one can do better with specific bullet designs associated to the individual powder type.
« Last Edit: Jun 19th, 2018 at 3:13pm by Premod70 »  
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Ranch13
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Re: What size cast lead bullet/mold for Rolling Block?
Reply #2 - Jun 19th, 2018 at 2:55pm
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Doing a chamber cast that takes in the first inch or so of the rifling, will save you a lot of potential headache. 
Grease groove bullets at groove diameter to .001 over generally work best for that type of bullet.
Paper patch patched to bore diameter works very well.
  
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oneatatime
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Re: What size cast lead bullet/mold for Rolling Block?
Reply #3 - Jun 19th, 2018 at 3:22pm
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Then there is the consideration that no matter what the mold says, depending on your alloy and your casting temp, the bullet that comes out may be different. If you are using smokeless, you definitely don't want it too small. If it is a few thousandths over you can always size it down which with some molds (Lyman?) may give you a more uniform bullet anyway. A mold from a custom maker who asks you about the alloy you will be using and the minimum size you need can generally be trusted. Many if not most mass produced molds will generally err on the plus size.
  
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