Makeshift subcaliber rounds?

cornered rat · August 13, 1999, 01:31 PM

I am curious, how easy would it be for folks who cast their own bullets to pour lead over regular construction nail? Perhaps hold that nail in place above the base of the buller and then clip off the head. The idea is to roughly duplicate WW2-era anti-tank loads in a revolver. I realize the nail is not the same as tungsten, but still, it is harder than lead. Caveats, potential issues?

CR

BigG · August 13, 1999, 03:21 PM

It might work, however, a revolver's velocity would not cause it to penetrate like an M1 armor piercing round...

James K · August 14, 1999, 12:49 AM

This sounds like a question from someone who has not cast many bullets. The bullet mold sprue cutoff is at the base of the bullet. You can't insert anything hard through the hole because it would ruin the sprue cutter. If you just drop something in the mold, it might point any direction, at complete loss of accuracy. Keeping the whatever centered would be a big problem.

It would be easier to drill a hole in the bullet and insert the "thing".

Now, what a prosecutor or plaintiff's attorney would say to a jury if you ever did use it on anyone...???

Jim

Quantrill · August 14, 1999, 09:17 AM

I did something similiar to this years ago. Took a Lyman .38 cal hollow point 200gr mold and screwed into the hollow point a hardened screw of the appropriate size and there it was. The accuracy was fair but I never really did complete tests on either accuracy or penetration. I would imagine that you could do the same. One more thought on actually trying to cast a nail into the bullet. The nail would have to be preheated to the same temperture as the molten lead or there would be cavities at random throughout the bullet.
Quantrill

TheOtherMikey · November 6, 1999, 06:09 PM

Can you imagine what would happent if the "thing" inserted were a primer instead of a nail? Ouch!!!

It's not my idea, I saw it somewhere.

Art Eatman · November 8, 1999, 12:22 AM

T.O.M.: As long as you're seeing things, imagine how much room there is for a charge of primers instead of shot in a .45 Colt.

Drill out a soft-nose bullet from its jacket...

Art

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August 13, 1999, 01:31 PM	#1
cornered rat Junior member Join Date: November 30, 1998 Location: Minnesota Posts: 920	I am curious, how easy would it be for folks who cast their own bullets to pour lead over regular construction nail? Perhaps hold that nail in place above the base of the buller and then clip off the head. The idea is to roughly duplicate WW2-era anti-tank loads in a revolver. I realize the nail is not the same as tungsten, but still, it is harder than lead. Caveats, potential issues? CR

August 13, 1999, 03:21 PM	#2
BigG Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 1999 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 4,334	It might work, however, a revolver's velocity would not cause it to penetrate like an M1 armor piercing round...

August 14, 1999, 12:49 AM	#3
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	This sounds like a question from someone who has not cast many bullets. The bullet mold sprue cutoff is at the base of the bullet. You can't insert anything hard through the hole because it would ruin the sprue cutter. If you just drop something in the mold, it might point any direction, at complete loss of accuracy. Keeping the whatever centered would be a big problem. It would be easier to drill a hole in the bullet and insert the "thing". Now, what a prosecutor or plaintiff's attorney would say to a jury if you ever did use it on anyone...??? Jim

August 14, 1999, 09:17 AM	#4
Quantrill Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 1999 Location: Arizona, USA Posts: 725	I did something similiar to this years ago. Took a Lyman .38 cal hollow point 200gr mold and screwed into the hollow point a hardened screw of the appropriate size and there it was. The accuracy was fair but I never really did complete tests on either accuracy or penetration. I would imagine that you could do the same. One more thought on actually trying to cast a nail into the bullet. The nail would have to be preheated to the same temperture as the molten lead or there would be cavities at random throughout the bullet. Quantrill

November 6, 1999, 06:09 PM	#5
TheOtherMikey Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 1999 Location: Surprise, Arizona, USA Posts: 171	Can you imagine what would happent if the "thing" inserted were a primer instead of a nail? Ouch!!! It's not my idea, I saw it somewhere.

November 8, 1999, 12:22 AM	#6
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	T.O.M.: As long as you're seeing things, imagine how much room there is for a charge of primers instead of shot in a .45 Colt. Drill out a soft-nose bullet from its jacket... Art