Hi All,

Was wondering if anybody shooting 38/357  and 9mm revolvers, pistols and carbines with experience in loading lead bullets would be interested in collaborating with me.   That is, to load and shoot the stuff I cast.   Test for good accuracy and zero leading with zero leading being the main criteria.   I hate scrubbing.   Not interested in velocity; have jacketed stuff for that.

So far, I've made a 9mm load using wheel weights that shot good (no leading and good accuracy ) in two pistols and a 38 load using a 1/2 wheel weight +1/2 soft lead alloy in two 38/357 carbines (shot good).   Both bullets used home made aluminum gas checks made  from arizona iced tea cans. The gas check maker is from Pat Marlin who advertises on castboolits.com.    Being that wheel weights are getting harder to find, I'd rather start with the  half and half alloy for 9's and 38/357's.  I've read that the 1/2 wheel weight and 1/2 soft lead alloy is a good for hunting because it mushrooms well.   I've got a Lyman HP bullet with a conventional gas check  for 9mm.   Maybe someone can shoot it into a wet phone book or something.

I'm starting a new job and would like to keep up the gas checked, plain base soft alloy bullet testing going.   Couple reloaders  with 9mm AR's, 357 levers, 38 revolvers and 9mm pistols help me out?   

Here is a picture of some bullets.

 

I have a lever action carbine and a variety of handguns in .357, and would ne happy to shoot your loads!  I'm not a reloader, tho, so they would need to be your loads, not just ypur lead!

I have a lever action carbine and a variety of handguns in .357, and would ne happy to shoot your loads!  I'm not a reloader, tho, so they would need to be your loads, not just ypur lead!

Uhm,  strangers might have good candy but you shouldn't take it.         Shooting somebody else's  reloads=same thing.    I can teach you how to reload 38/357 if you want.   

Interesting project.
I have to wonder about pushing aluminum down a barrel though.
If it was such a great idea, wouldn't the major ammo-makers be using aluminum jackets instead of expensive copper?

Interesting project.
I have to wonder about pushing aluminum down a barrel though.
If it was such a great idea, wouldn't the major ammo-makers be using aluminum jackets instead of expensive copper?

Good point.   Don't know why there are no aluminum jackets.    On using aluminum checks;  there is a lot of good information on the forum castboolits.com, in the gas check section.   I made my decision to try by  lurking there.    The wait for the two Pat Marlin's check makers was about a year.   

I would be happy to try some out for you. I am shooting .38spl target velocity loads. Im not the best pistol shooter around, but I can load em, shoot em, and let you know. Pm me with your details.. 

Cast Lead from OldMose

First let me apologize to OldMose with the amount of time it took to report back on these.  I had been excessively busy last year and only recently got a chance to try these out, and I was not able to really play with loads for these.  I know that the full potential of these superbly cast projectiles have not been fully explored by me, and I am sorry that it took so long to get back.

That said, the bullets OldMose let me use were awesomely cast!  Clean, sharp, and weights were extremely consistent.  Gas checks were also very nicely pressed, no raised edges and the base sharp and uniform.





The load I had an opportunity to try was 3.7 grains of Bulleye powder.  I loaded all the rounds on my Lee turret press and dumped charges using the Auto Disk dispenser with the micrometer adjuster.  Very consistent throws are made in this set up any deviation is at most = or - .1 grains.  I loaded 10 of each bullet type to see where they would stand.  I also loaded 5ea LHP at a higher charge of 4.5 grains to see if leading would occur or if the gas check would dislodge.

The 130 grain LRNFP was loaded to an OAL of 1.435” and crimped into the crimp groove.

The 140 grain LHP was laoded at 1.495”  and lightly crimped as it had no crimp groove.

Accuracy with the solids were not that great with this loading.  Maybe, with careful workup, I would be able to find something that shoots better. 



Accuracy with the hollow points was very good.  Flyers are from my own poor shooting ability.  These have potential in my Ruger Blackhawk .357 Mag, if I were to more carefully play with a load.



Accuracy of the 4.5 grain charge was ok and shows potential.  These must have been screaming, however,  I did not get any pressure signs nor did I get any gas check dislocation.




All rounds showed NO LEADING in my cylinder or barrel.  This is awesome, because this Ruger has very rough machining and leads something fierce with my other cast loads.  It is a pretty accurate pistol, but because of the leading, after about 50 or so rounds, the accuracy drops off some.


Thank you OldMose for giving me these bullets to try out.  I really enjoyed shooting them.

Thanks for the testing, Heavies.