Looking for a test

BJung · September 14, 2020, 10:16 AM

I'm did a quick search for cast rifle bullets with the front being pure lead and the base a hardcast and maybe water dropped. I've read one article of someone casting such a bullet but no results or photos of whether it works. Does anyone know of a source?

FrankenMauser · September 14, 2020, 10:21 AM

I can't cite a source, but I've seen some reports on both sides.
Some say it's too much of a pain to be worthwhile, and the failure rate is very high.
Others say it works great.

There was at least one somewhat recent article (last year or so?) about doing such, in either Handloader or Successful Hunter magazine.
The author there used the two-mold method, where the nose is poured in its own mold. Then it is placed into the other mold, for the second alloy to be poured.
Photos looked good. Text of the article claimed it was the 8th wonder of the world.
I believe hogs were also used as ballistic test media.

BJung · September 14, 2020, 12:04 PM

I've seen images of the two piece molds and how the parts are suppose to be epoxied together. The most common methods I've read of are the hollow points and the softening the tip by submerging the base and shank in cold water and softening the tip with a propane torch. I think a pure lead buckshot at the tip and encased at the base with an alloyed lead/ GC would act like a softnose or like a paper patched bullet. It's something on my "want-to-do" list.

reloader28 · September 24, 2020, 12:09 AM

I've played with them and am not that impressed. I think a pure lead nose with no jacket is just to soft to work the way I want.

For hunting, I much prefer the popular 50/50/2% alloy. Tho with these I like to water drop them to bring them to the about same hardness as my straight COWW bullets, then I anneal the front half. A little time consuming, but since I dont need many dedicated hunting bullets they last a long time and I've had great results with these in rifles

BJung · September 24, 2020, 11:55 AM

Yes, I've read about this annealing process. Thanks for replying.

September 14, 2020, 10:16 AM	#1
BJung Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2019 Posts: 773	Looking for a test I'm did a quick search for cast rifle bullets with the front being pure lead and the base a hardcast and maybe water dropped. I've read one article of someone casting such a bullet but no results or photos of whether it works. Does anyone know of a source?

September 14, 2020, 10:21 AM	#2
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,421	I can't cite a source, but I've seen some reports on both sides. Some say it's too much of a pain to be worthwhile, and the failure rate is very high. Others say it works great. There was at least one somewhat recent article (last year or so?) about doing such, in either Handloader or Successful Hunter magazine. The author there used the two-mold method, where the nose is poured in its own mold. Then it is placed into the other mold, for the second alloy to be poured. Photos looked good. Text of the article claimed it was the 8th wonder of the world. I believe hogs were also used as ballistic test media. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

September 14, 2020, 12:04 PM	#3
BJung Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2019 Posts: 773	2 piece mold I've seen images of the two piece molds and how the parts are suppose to be epoxied together. The most common methods I've read of are the hollow points and the softening the tip by submerging the base and shank in cold water and softening the tip with a propane torch. I think a pure lead buckshot at the tip and encased at the base with an alloyed lead/ GC would act like a softnose or like a paper patched bullet. It's something on my "want-to-do" list.

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September 24, 2020, 12:09 AM	#4
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	I've played with them and am not that impressed. I think a pure lead nose with no jacket is just to soft to work the way I want. For hunting, I much prefer the popular 50/50/2% alloy. Tho with these I like to water drop them to bring them to the about same hardness as my straight COWW bullets, then I anneal the front half. A little time consuming, but since I dont need many dedicated hunting bullets they last a long time and I've had great results with these in rifles

September 24, 2020, 11:55 AM	#5
BJung Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2019 Posts: 773	Yes, I've read about this annealing process. Thanks for replying.