TiteGroup melting bullets?

totaldla · May 10, 2010, 04:46 PM

Just wondering if you folks have seen this. I was using Hodgdon TiteGroup for my 44 mag plinkers. I've used it to push Oregon Trail 240gr bullets. I've tried it twice now and I see the same thing - melted lead deposited on the cylinder face. I don't see this with any of the other powders (see link, I've tried a lot). I've had it happen with the stock sized and lubed as well as .430" sized and lubed with Alox.

It seems to happen with the low-pressure loadings (~900fps - 6.5gr). The lead deposits are a pretty radiating pattern and don't affect the cylinder rotation. I'm a bit concerned about the smoke though, as I suspect there's a lot of vaporized lead.

Has anyone else seen this with TG?

m&p45acp10+1 · May 10, 2010, 05:09 PM

I use Titegroup in my .41 mag. I cast my own. I tumble lube in liquid allox. The smoke you are seeing is lube burning.
Most of the guys here will ask did you slug your bore, and what size are bullets.
Mine all shoot fine. I clean my gun before leaving the range. I get a few tiny particles of lead on the patch after brushing, after that the bore is nice and clear.
Next I would ask how good did you clean the gun after shooting any jacketed, or plated ammo. Lead will stick to copper in a hurry. Try cleaning the heck out of the gun with a good solovent, and brushing the chambers, and throat very well. Wait a day after that and repaeat. Usualy that will make a world of differance.

Coffeeshop123 · May 10, 2010, 08:05 PM

I've had this happen with .357 mag loads as well. When they make the jump from the cylinder to the forcing cone, it'll happen. I'd be more concerned about barrel leading; if it's not happening then I wouldn't worry much about it. Anytime you shoot unjacketed lead bullets, you're going to have lead fumes in the air...The smoke could be from the lube or from the powder as well; I haven't tried Titegroup yet but even with Bullseye I get an appreciable amount of smoke when shooting cast bullets.

totaldla · May 10, 2010, 09:07 PM

Yea, I'm used to smoke - I've been shooting cast for a long time. As some have noted, the amount of smoke varies with the powder, charge and lube type. For example, I get more smoke from the TiteGroup plinkers than I do with the same bullet pushed with 23.5gr of W296.

But it is the cylinder face leading that I find interesting. TiteGroup is the only powder I use that does it. I only get a small amount of Forcing Cone leading with the TiteGroup load. Thanks for the inputs.

Dave R · May 10, 2010, 09:32 PM

When I used TiteGroup with Laser Cast bullets (which are supposed to be pretty hard) in .45acp, I had a LOT of leading. When I went to Unique with Laser Cast bullets, I had more soot, but much less leading.

Then I tried TiteGroup with Barry's plated bullets, and again, not much leading.

So I'm inclined to believe that TiteGroup was melting the lead. That TG/Lead bullet combo leaded my bore probably 3x as much as the other combos I tried.

IllinoisCoyoteHunter · May 10, 2010, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Anytime you shoot unjacketed lead bullets, you're going to have lead fumes in the air...

hmmmm....really. I can see lead from the primers, but lead from the bullets?

WESHOOT2 · May 11, 2010, 03:07 AM

I don't use any powders 'faster' than Universal/Unique in the 44 Magnum; my IPSC loads uses Universal.
Know what I mean?

laytonj1 · May 11, 2010, 08:44 PM

Quote:

hmmmm....really. I can see lead from the primers, but lead from the bullets?

Some of the lead from the base of the bullet will vaporize from the hot gasses.
If you ever recover any of your lead bullets after shooting you will see the erosion on their bases.

Jim

totaldla · May 12, 2010, 01:14 PM

Good point. I need to dig one of these out of the dirt and check the base. Oh well - ain't reloading fun?

May 10, 2010, 04:46 PM	#1
totaldla Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2009 Location: SW Idaho Posts: 1,294	TiteGroup melting bullets? Just wondering if you folks have seen this. I was using Hodgdon TiteGroup for my 44 mag plinkers. I've used it to push Oregon Trail 240gr bullets. I've tried it twice now and I see the same thing - melted lead deposited on the cylinder face. I don't see this with any of the other powders (see link, I've tried a lot). I've had it happen with the stock sized and lubed as well as .430" sized and lubed with Alox. It seems to happen with the low-pressure loadings (~900fps - 6.5gr). The lead deposits are a pretty radiating pattern and don't affect the cylinder rotation. I'm a bit concerned about the smoke though, as I suspect there's a lot of vaporized lead. Has anyone else seen this with TG? __________________ Lee Auto Bench Prime Castor Oil Case Lube

May 10, 2010, 05:09 PM	#2
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	I use Titegroup in my .41 mag. I cast my own. I tumble lube in liquid allox. The smoke you are seeing is lube burning. Most of the guys here will ask did you slug your bore, and what size are bullets. Mine all shoot fine. I clean my gun before leaving the range. I get a few tiny particles of lead on the patch after brushing, after that the bore is nice and clear. Next I would ask how good did you clean the gun after shooting any jacketed, or plated ammo. Lead will stick to copper in a hurry. Try cleaning the heck out of the gun with a good solovent, and brushing the chambers, and throat very well. Wait a day after that and repaeat. Usualy that will make a world of differance. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

May 10, 2010, 09:07 PM	#4
totaldla Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2009 Location: SW Idaho Posts: 1,294	Yea, I'm used to smoke - I've been shooting cast for a long time. As some have noted, the amount of smoke varies with the powder, charge and lube type. For example, I get more smoke from the TiteGroup plinkers than I do with the same bullet pushed with 23.5gr of W296. But it is the cylinder face leading that I find interesting. TiteGroup is the only powder I use that does it. I only get a small amount of Forcing Cone leading with the TiteGroup load. Thanks for the inputs. __________________ Lee Auto Bench Prime Castor Oil Case Lube

May 10, 2010, 09:32 PM	#5
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2000 Location: Idaho Posts: 6,073	When I used TiteGroup with Laser Cast bullets (which are supposed to be pretty hard) in .45acp, I had a LOT of leading. When I went to Unique with Laser Cast bullets, I had more soot, but much less leading. Then I tried TiteGroup with Barry's plated bullets, and again, not much leading. So I'm inclined to believe that TiteGroup was melting the lead. That TG/Lead bullet combo leaded my bore probably 3x as much as the other combos I tried. __________________ I am Pro-Rights (on gun issues).

May 11, 2010, 03:07 AM	#7
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	me personally I don't use any powders 'faster' than Universal/Unique in the 44 Magnum; my IPSC loads uses Universal. Know what I mean? __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

May 10, 2010, 08:05 PM	#3
Coffeeshop123 Member Join Date: April 27, 2010 Posts: 20	I've had this happen with .357 mag loads as well. When they make the jump from the cylinder to the forcing cone, it'll happen. I'd be more concerned about barrel leading; if it's not happening then I wouldn't worry much about it. Anytime you shoot unjacketed lead bullets, you're going to have lead fumes in the air...The smoke could be from the lube or from the powder as well; I haven't tried Titegroup yet but even with Bullseye I get an appreciable amount of smoke when shooting cast bullets.

May 12, 2010, 01:14 PM	#9
totaldla Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2009 Location: SW Idaho Posts: 1,294	Good point. I need to dig one of these out of the dirt and check the base. Oh well - ain't reloading fun? __________________ Lee Auto Bench Prime Castor Oil Case Lube