Cannonballs, Carbines, and Competition with the .41 Mag

[hoover]

Is that little load cutting 1,600-1,700 fps from your Marlin?

David, I would guess it would be. Free velocity is a wonderful thing with a longer barrel. I didn't haul my chronograph to the range on this outing.

Now here is something interesting. We all hear bout the lube star that cast bullets leave on the end of the barrel if they show enough lube present. This was left by my PC bullets. Perhaps it's just powder residue? No leading present in the barrel. As usual, a wet patch followed by a dry one left the barrel sparkling clean.

[dougader]

Always a great story and pictures from Tank as he takes us along on his trips to the range.

Thanks!

[callshot]

What was the sun glasses for in your test shot. You expecting muzzle blast or something. I shoot that same bullet from the same mould. In fact that mould is half mine. I don't know which half! Dick keeps it for me most of the time. That bullet shoots just about perfect in my FA---41. We need to test shoot those out here at this altitude with some honest observers. Good shooting.

[magnumwheelman]

Did the "STAR" seem sooty, like it could be gunpowder residue chaseing the groove on the way out

Have you ever recovered and pc bullet? Is the back of the bullet scorched from the gunpowder

[bradshaw]

Tank.... combustion residue. Looks good.
David Bradshaw

[hoover]

I'll use that term on my wife the next time she washes my undershorts, David.....

I figured as much as it easily wiped off with a patch soaked with Ballistol. I must lead a pretty boring life as I found it interesting non the less......

Cast up a pile of 230 grain Keith's from Saeco mold 411 today to do some comparison testing next week with the same guns.

[2 Dogs]

Combustion Residue..

BAHAHAHAHA!!!

[sixshot]

In case you're wondering guys that Saeco #411 (230 gr. Keith) is one of the greatest bullet moulds ever made. Took Tank a long time to track one down but he's a patient guy... and kind of sneaky! In my mind its probably the perfect bullet for the 41 magnum & I've taken a whole lot of game with it from frogs & turtles to deer, antelope & elk.

Dick

[bradshaw]

Carbon star, grease star, or combustion star on one's britches, whatever you call it sure makes counting the (12) lands in Microgroove rifling. Never tried to count the lands in my little old take-down Model 39 Mountie, nor the partridge and rabbit dinners it fetched.
David Bradshaw

[rjm52]

Nice writeup... Could you post a couple of pics of the two bullets...the Keith and the LBT.

Bob

[hoover]

rjm52, here ya go.




As Dick stated, I've longed for one of these molds when I saw how deadly the bullets are that they spew! Callshot took his moose with one, and Dick has taken about everything else with it. Best dang endorsement there is. Dick also gave me the tip of when my 4 banger Saeco 411 came up on one of the other internet sites. It is a dandy, and one of my most prized molds.

[sixshot]

Thats Saeco 230 gr. slug is a classic for sure & is superb at long range. I shot a big cow elk almost length ways with one of them back in the 70's as she sneaked up through the sagebrush towards me & my napping neighbor. I've told this story before & shown the photo but she was almost straight on at about 45-50 yds (can't remember for sure) I was shooting a model 57 S&W nickel & hit her just behind the right front shoulder, the bullet caught one lung, crossed almost all the way through her, hit a kidney & exited just in front of her left hip. She ran around in a tight little circle for 5-6 seconds & dropped. I've taken big game in 5 different states with that bullet, its almost impossible to find that mould (#411 Saeco) anywhere. Took Hoover several years to find one but they are worth the search.

Dick

[rjm52]

Thanks...

I have not been able to bring myself to powdercoat boolits yet...I'm just wondering what the long term effects on the bore they will have... Besides...I really like the smell of beeswax...

Bob

[hoover]

Bob, I shot basically all traditional cast/lubed bullets for over 25 years. sixshot introduced us all to PC slugs. Like you, I was skeptical at first, but curiosity got the better of me. They say curiosity killed the cat, but in this case it gave me a cheshire grin from ear to ear. I can process hundreds of bullets with ease, have a clean barrel after shooting, see an increase in accuracy in most cases, drive a softer bullet faster without leading, have clean dies and hands when loading, just to name a few. In my blued guns, I have shot thousands of rounds through them, and the inside of the barrel still remains just as blue. This issue comes up periodically, but has been unfounded. I only wish I could wear a barrel out from so much shooting, and I shoot 3-4 times a week most weeks. Bradshaw came up with the idea of the mirror scratch test. You could try to start a fire by rubbing a PC bullet against a mirror and never scratch it. There are plenty of skeptics out there, but once they try PC bullets, they are usually believers. I full heartedly have no worries what so ever about PC bullets harming my guns barrels. Heck, in the long run, they are probably easier on them in that it takes a whole lot less effort to clean them.

[Lee Martin]

Feb 18, 2016 15:36:43 GMT -5 hoover said:

one to make Lee Martin green with envy

I’m envious of that Marlin Jeff. I always wanted that model in 41. And fine shooting with one of my favorite calibers.

-Lee
www.singleactions.com
"Chasing perfection five shots at a time"