use more or less powder to stop keyholing?

max it · March 22, 2014, 10:50 AM

hi ya, I have two loads with wST; both 5.0 grains.
the plated 200gn shoot fine
the moly's keyhole.
more or less powder needed?

much obliged,

Max

Bart B. · March 22, 2014, 11:30 AM

If the moly coated ones keyhole, I think they've got out of square bases. Or, horrible unbalanced by air pockets in them.

steve4102 · March 22, 2014, 11:44 AM

More info on these "moly" coated bullets?

max it · March 22, 2014, 12:02 PM

hi, Bear Creek, 200gn .452" round nose hollow base

much obliged,

Max

g.willikers · March 22, 2014, 01:22 PM

From my experience, the major causes of key-holing are bullets that are a misfit to the barrel, or as BartB has said, badly made bullets that can't fly straight.
If the bullets are real soft, they could be damaged by the reloading process and do funny things in flight.

max it · March 22, 2014, 05:10 PM

Hi Ya All,
Everyone at the range has a good experience with bear Creek bullets; however it could be a bad batch hmmmm!
hard to tell what with seating depth, powder, reused casings, different primers and such.
at least with steel 8" plates at 15-50' it doesn't matter much.

much obliged,

Max

Gdawgs · March 22, 2014, 09:11 PM

When I got my 460, I loaded up some 45 Colts with 255 grain lead bullets. If I used Unique powder(didn't matter what charge, went from super wimpy to hot Ruger loads) and they all tumbled/keyholed terribly. Other powders were fine. Only Unique doesn't work in that gun. Still don't understand it. The Unique loads worked great in a different gun however.

So trying a different powder is my recommendation if varying the powder charge doesn't work.

WIL TERRY · March 23, 2014, 12:29 PM

BULLETS KEYHOLE because they are unstabilized by the rifling, usually because they are not being ingaged[ engaged ?] by it. IN your case bet the ranch on the latter.

max it · March 24, 2014, 08:07 AM

I changed powder; trying wSF instead of wST

the only problem with that is now I am out of wSF
so if it works better all I learned is that it is the powder/bullet/gun combo causing the problem.

much obliged,

March 22, 2014, 10:50 AM	#1
max it Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: SoCal; are we done yet? Posts: 272	use more or less powder to stop keyholing? hi ya, I have two loads with wST; both 5.0 grains. the plated 200gn shoot fine the moly's keyhole. more or less powder needed? much obliged, Max

March 22, 2014, 12:02 PM	#4
max it Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: SoCal; are we done yet? Posts: 272	moly coated, keyhole problem hi, Bear Creek, 200gn .452" round nose hollow base much obliged, Max

March 22, 2014, 01:22 PM	#5
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	From my experience, the major causes of key-holing are bullets that are a misfit to the barrel, or as BartB has said, badly made bullets that can't fly straight. If the bullets are real soft, they could be damaged by the reloading process and do funny things in flight. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

March 22, 2014, 05:10 PM	#6
max it Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: SoCal; are we done yet? Posts: 272	Bear Creek 200gn Hi Ya All, Everyone at the range has a good experience with bear Creek bullets; however it could be a bad batch hmmmm! hard to tell what with seating depth, powder, reused casings, different primers and such. at least with steel 8" plates at 15-50' it doesn't matter much. much obliged, Max

March 22, 2014, 11:30 AM	#2
Bart B. Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Posts: 8,927	If the moly coated ones keyhole, I think they've got out of square bases. Or, horrible unbalanced by air pockets in them.

March 22, 2014, 11:44 AM	#3
steve4102 Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,955	More info on these "moly" coated bullets?

March 22, 2014, 09:11 PM	#7
Gdawgs Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2009 Location: MN Posts: 656	When I got my 460, I loaded up some 45 Colts with 255 grain lead bullets. If I used Unique powder(didn't matter what charge, went from super wimpy to hot Ruger loads) and they all tumbled/keyholed terribly. Other powders were fine. Only Unique doesn't work in that gun. Still don't understand it. The Unique loads worked great in a different gun however. So trying a different powder is my recommendation if varying the powder charge doesn't work.

March 23, 2014, 12:29 PM	#8
WIL TERRY Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2000 Location: BLACK HILLS Posts: 1,322	BULLETS KEYHOLE because they are unstabilized by the rifling, usually because they are not being ingaged[ engaged ?] by it. IN your case bet the ranch on the latter.

March 24, 2014, 08:07 AM	#9
max it Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: SoCal; are we done yet? Posts: 272	I changed powder; trying wSF instead of wST the only problem with that is now I am out of wSF so if it works better all I learned is that it is the powder/bullet/gun combo causing the problem. much obliged,