Overview:
This initial posting is intended to be a brief overview of various projectiles and as time permits more detailed postings will follow.
With the cost of everything going up, many folks are turning to using commercial cast projectiles or casting their own. Approximately 60% of reloaders who start out using commercial cast bullets as a way to save money eventually move on to casting their own. I am into my third decade of casting and continue to work on new bullet designs to optimize performance.
The starting point of any adventure, cast bullets included, is identifying the goals you wish to achieve as they will differ not only for the person but also for the cartridge, gun and intended use of such. For example, one may desire cast projo's for informal plinking or cowboy action shooting while another is looking to punch paper and someone else is seeking a feed their big bore with hunting bullets. One must also consider the type of gun being used whereas the projo's must not only be matched to the intended end-use but also to the gun's action for feed reliability and to the barrel for diameter & twist rate.
Busting the myths:
Myth 1 - Gas check requirements.
More often than not, GC's (Gas Checks) are not required on cast bullets. Despite the number of times the myth "GC's keep the bullet base from melting and leading the bore." is repeated, repetition does not make it true. Yes, the burning powder is hot but it cannot put enough BTU's/calories into the bullet so as to raise its temperature to the melting point. The predominant cause of bore leading is the use of undersize bullets and/or bullets that are made from an alloy that is too-hard to properly function with the normal operating pressure of the load. The secondary causes of bore leading are mechanical issues such as; a rough/copper fouled bore; reloading dies/techniques causing damage/deformation of the bullets; issues associated with the chamber and/or cylinder on revolvers. Something to think about concerning the melting base myth ... if that statement were true, why then can one run jacketed bullets with an exposed lead base at velocities well in excess of 3000 fps yet not see any bore leading or find signs of the soft lead base being melted after firing?
Myth 2 - Cast bullets for hunting.
The most common myth is states that cast bullets are not reliable for hunting big game. This statement is true to some extent but in the manner in which it is most often repeated as an all-encompassing statement, the myth is busted. Cast bullet can be very well suited to hunting use provided that the proper bullet design is chosen, the bullet is matched to the load and the shooter makes proper shot placement. After all, people survived for centuries hunting with cast bullets long before jacketing a bullet with harder than lead metal was even considered.
Myth 3 - Cast bullet velocity.
The myth often states, "Cast bullets cannot be run over X fps." Yet another all-encompassing statement that is untrue purely because it does not identify a specific set of conditions. While it may be true that bullet A in combination with load B used in gun C will have problems if pushed above velocity X, the statement applies only to that one particular example. Years ago I purchased a pristine Ruger revolver for half its actual value because the owner said, "It won't shoot cast bullets." For the twenty some years I owned that revolver, I shot nothing but cast bullets in it obtaining excellent accuracy.
Myth 4 - Cast bullets are not accurate.
Every time I hear that one I just have to laugh at the ignorance because cast bullets, as with any other bullets, will return only as much as one puts into them - the old adage of "one reaps what one sows" applies to all reloading and cast bullets must be loaded according to parameters as dictated by the bullet/gun/load combination.
"SEXY" ... is redefined when it comes to cast.
To be continued ..........
http://www.fire-iron.biz
