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Post by bearskinner on Oct 20, 2023 7:01:39 GMT -5
Not trying to get off topic of cast vs jacketed, but I like real world autopsies and performance over only bullet trap testing. I would recommend to anyone that hand loads, Sierra bullets and Swift bullets that I have ever used give phenomenal accuracy and performance. Unless you know the caster, ( or purchase premium cast) or cast your own, most lead, conventional bullets are probably too soft for hunting purposes. Just my opinion for what it’s worth.
I’ve head shot many, many hogs with 300gn hard cast GC bullets, and they drill holes perfectly. With the Miha Molds, you have the ability to make some solid points, small HP’s ( I call them cup points) and large HP’s so you can use the same bullet mold, and powder charge with a different tipped bullet for lighter or heavier critters.
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Post by x101airborne on Oct 20, 2023 7:48:26 GMT -5
Bearskinner, you are going to make a convert out of your son! Good job buddy!
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Post by revolvercranker on Oct 20, 2023 10:42:35 GMT -5
Not trying to get off topic of cast vs jacketed, but I like real world autopsies and performance over only bullet trap testing. I would recommend to anyone that hand loads, Sierra bullets and Swift bullets that I have ever used give phenomenal accuracy and performance. Unless you know the caster, ( or purchase premium cast) or cast your own, most lead, conventional bullets are probably too soft for hunting purposes. Just my opinion for what it’s worth. I’ve head shot many, many hogs with 300gn hard cast GC bullets, and they drill holes perfectly. With the Miha Molds, you have the ability to make some solid points, small HP’s ( I call them cup points) and large HP’s so you can use the same bullet mold, and powder charge with a different tipped bullet for lighter or heavier critters. bearskinner that is what's nice with casting your own as you have total control of the bullets you cast. With different alloys, one can cast and air cool, or he can water drop them, or he can oven heat treat them, and don't forget he can PC and even paper patch them. This all gives a wide range of different cast bullet hardness and performance. I know you know this and you're correct in what you posted. Under controlled conditions Razor Dobbs killed two Cap buffalos with a 10mm Dan Wesson 1911 using hard cast solids. One that he examined the bullet penetrated all the way through on a broadside shot. That's impressive for a 10mm. |
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Post by bearskinner on Oct 20, 2023 10:57:05 GMT -5
I learned a LOT of great information and How to, from Sixshot ( us Idaho boys gotta stick together) about casting, fluxing and powder coating.
My method of casting is once I get the hardness I prefer, I will flux with sawdust, air drop my bullets ( nice and frosty) on a fluffy towel. Then powder coat, usually the wet method, due to the humidity here in the N Idaho forest. 14 minutes in the oven at 400 F, then shake them into a deep water pan to sizzle cool. Once sized, the slick powder coated surface is a joy to handle, and impressive to shoot.
Yes, I mix different hardness for larger solids than I do for lighter HP’s.
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Post by revolvercranker on Oct 20, 2023 14:14:50 GMT -5
I learned a LOT of great information and How to, from Sixshot ( us Idaho boys gotta stick together) about casting, fluxing and powder coating. My method of casting is once I get the hardness I prefer, I will flux with sawdust, air drop my bullets ( nice and frosty) on a fluffy towel. Then powder coat, usually the wet method, due to the humidity here in the N Idaho forest. 14 minutes in the oven at 400 F, then shake them into a deep water pan to sizzle cool. Once sized, the slick powder coated surface is a joy to handle, and impressive to shoot. Yes, I mix different hardness for larger solids than I do for lighter HP’s. Little tip bearskinner. Two kinds of common fluxes. One is sawdust such as you mentioned. The others are mostly like waxes. Beeswax, paraffin, etc. Sawdust and waxes do two separate things. It really is best to use both. Have a friend that lives in Texas. I complained to him about the high humidity here in the southeast and can't get the powder to stick with the static method. He told me BS! That Tx has high humidity and he has even coated in a downpour. He said what to do is when you shake the container shake it as hard as you can as though to have the bullets break throught the plastic. Well let's just say shake hard. He also said do it for a longer time. Well one high humidity day I tried and by God it worked. I mentioned the liquid type coating. What do you use for the solvent/liquid....Acetone?? |
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Post by bearskinner on Oct 20, 2023 16:44:55 GMT -5
Yes, just simple acetone. I have some 1 gallon buckets, which when full across the bottom, is a perfect size load for the toaster over tray.
A 1/2 spoon of powder, and a half cap of acetone off the 1 gallon metal container. Put the lid on the bucket, swirl 10 times, bouncing once, pop off the lid, blowing across the top, from a distance (acetone will give you a buzzz) when the coated bullets dry they get lighter, dump on the tray Ang give them 12-15 minutes at 400 degrees. Your results may vary. I water drop PC bullets for hardness.
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Post by revolvercranker on Oct 20, 2023 17:30:04 GMT -5
Yes, just simple acetone. I have some 1 gallon buckets, which when full across the bottom, is a perfect size load for the toaster over tray. A 1/2 spoon of powder, and a half cap of acetone off the 1 gallon metal container. Put the lid on the bucket, swirl 10 times, bouncing once, pop off the lid, blowing across the top, from a distance (acetone will give you a buzzz) when the coated bullets dry they get lighter, dump on the tray Ang give them 12-15 minutes at 400 degrees. Your results may vary. I water drop PC bullets for hardness. Thanks for you method instructions bearskinner. |
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Post by bigbore5 on Oct 21, 2023 4:54:25 GMT -5
Yes, just simple acetone. I have some 1 gallon buckets, which when full across the bottom, is a perfect size load for the toaster over tray. A 1/2 spoon of powder, and a half cap of acetone off the 1 gallon metal container. Put the lid on the bucket, swirl 10 times, bouncing once, pop off the lid, blowing across the top, from a distance (acetone will give you a buzzz) when the coated bullets dry they get lighter, dump on the tray Ang give them 12-15 minutes at 400 degrees. Your results may vary. I water drop PC bullets for hardness. How many bullets at a time? Do you stand yours up or just spread em out on the pan? |
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Post by bearskinner on Oct 21, 2023 7:56:10 GMT -5
It’s not how many bullets, as 100 grain 32’s are much smaller than 525 grain .510’s. I have a cheap little toaster oven in the shop for this task. The plastic bucket I use filled across the bottom, is a perfect oven tray full of bullets. I go by a bucket bottom full to gage my oven fill.
I prefer to lay all the bullets on their side. When I run them thru the sizer, the bearing surfaces that contact lands and grooves are very smooth and have almost a polished look once sized. Any excess powder from the cook, is absolutely smoothed out once sized.
There are many ways to PC, I just use the wet method because I live in a rain forest and static electricity is sometimes non existent.
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Post by Big Bore on Oct 27, 2023 18:54:59 GMT -5
Update…I’ve acquired a box full of said cast HPs from someone that reached out with a proactive willingness to help. To that gentleman, a sincere thank you.
The bullets sent are from his SAA-270 mold and by my scale weigh around 282 grains. These are for my FA 97/45 colt and were a hair too long. I trimmed the brass down .03” and now they are a perfect fit. First load was a mid level dose of 2400 and they clocked just north of 1300 fps. After consulting the donor, he felt this would be fine but possibly on the fast side. So I’ve dropped the charge down and they are now at 1275. Good accuracy. Dialed in.
Hogs on my lease are on notice…
And deer season opens in a week.
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Post by sixshot on Oct 28, 2023 0:49:53 GMT -5
Big Bore, sounds like you've got a chip on your shoulder for those hogs & deer!
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Post by Big Bore on Oct 28, 2023 5:15:56 GMT -5
Big Bore, sounds like you've got a chip on your shoulder for those hogs & deer! Mainly the hogs. Deer hunting is what I do between chasing hogs. Pigs and pistols go together very, very, well. |
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Post by bigbrowndog on Oct 28, 2023 9:06:43 GMT -5
Randy I’ve got some 270ish SWC HPs from Dick that shoot well and should be short enough for a 97. But I can check crimp to nose length. I got them to use in my Forkin 5 hole, but then he sent me 50, 307ish HPs and I really like those and they shoot real gooder. So I’ll get him to make me more of those.
Trapr
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Post by bula on Oct 28, 2023 9:22:35 GMT -5
Just re-wording but, JHP's have been plagued by a narrow velo window. Cast HP, PC'd are being proven to have a wider window of good performance for impact velos.
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Post by bigbore5 on Oct 30, 2023 4:13:52 GMT -5
bearskinner, using the wet method, do you have any troubles with powder building up in hollow points? I'm thinking of trying it.
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