43-287B

[Rick]

What BHN is your alloy before HT? The stuff that leaves no lube or crimp groove?

 

[Brad]

Those bullets were 14 BHn. Heat treated I expect 18-20 BHn.

With the pressures that load developed the fact the bullets didn't strip is amazing. The alloy was like putty but held the rifling somehow.

 

[Rick]

Those bullets were 14 BHn. Heat treated I expect 18-20 BHn.

With the pressures that load developed the fact the bullets didn't strip is amazing. The alloy was like putty but held the rifling somehow.

Not somehow me thinks. Excellent alignment with the centerline of the bullet with the centerline of the bore, was a perfectly straight shot down the tube. One of the dividends of a throat full of snug full diameter bearing surface.
.

 

[Rick]

As I have posted several times in the past, the only change to the bullet when it leaves the muzzle from when it was chambered is rifling engraving.

Well, in Brad's case also the elimination of lube & crimp grooves.
.

 

[Brad]

Will be interesting to see how recovered bullets from future loads look by compairison. Heat treated alloy at a lower pressure should leads to less deformation of the lube groove.
Amazing what a recovered bullet can tell you.

 

[Rick]

I'll be more interested in seeing 5 shots making one hole in the target.

 

[Brad]

Recovering bullets is easier?
Ok Rick, how many years did it take you to shoot one hole groups at 100 with a revolver?
I have some issues to work out in my bench setup. Gonna need to think on things and maybe make a rest of some sort.

 

[Rick]

A reasonable level of integrity prevents me from claiming one hole groups. I have shot 5 shots touching with a revolver a time or two but one hole? That's not to say it's not expected from you though.

 

[Brad]

Ooooohhhhhhhhh.

Maybe I should shoot paint cans instead?

 

[Rick]

The closer you get the more you will want it. After how long of kicking and screaming and fighting your finally ready to see what I have been trying to tell you.

 

[Brad]

Oh, I see what you are telling me. Knowing and making it happen aren't the same. I know how to dunk a basketball but I can't.
It will take work and perseverance but I will keep at it. Each day is a learning experience.
If it was easy would it be a worthwhile endeavor?

 

[Rick]

You've actually come a long ways, what kind of revolver groups were you shooting and at what range a few years ago?

 

[Brad]

Not even trying at 100. Learned a ton so far. The finger groove grips are a help so far, keep my hand in the same place on the grip shot to shot. Not as comfy in recoil but it is a worthwhile trade off.
I need a rest that is the right height so I can get support under my hands easily. I also am learning that like shooting a rifle off a rest you need the hands and elbows in the same place shot to shot. Natural point of aim matters here.

 

[Rick]

Yep and like a rifle don't forget follow through. Don't know how finger groove grips will effect follow through but you shall find out. I never found finger grooves that fit my hand worth a hoot.

 

[Ian]

Also don't forget that a diluted alloy HT'd to the maximum bhn isn't the same thing as a more rich alloy HT'd and then annealed to the same number, or more mildly HT'd to the same number.

 

[Brad]

Hand size and shape makes a difference. I don't have huge hands but they are slender. Don't forget I have skinny little wrists too so I need to let the gun find a good spot on the rest. If I don't do that I end up trying to force it and that makes me wobble more.

 

[Brad]

Also don't forget that a diluted alloy HT'd to the maximum bhn isn't the same thing as a more rich alloy HT'd and then annealed to the same number, or more mildly HT'd to the same number.

This alloy is a mix of old bullets I had kicking around. I would say it is close to WW plus a little tin. Air cools to right about WW plus tin so I figure it will heat treat in a similar manner. I have close to 100 pounds of the mix so I can do a bit of shooting.

 

[Ian]

That ought to be perfect.

 

[Pistolero]

I was amazed to see you erasing the crimp and lube grooves entirely. I have never seen that before,
and recovered a good number of bullets.

Bill

 

[Brad]

Just checked the heat treated bullets. They are running 24 BHn or so. The lube groove will be pretty safe on these.
Next time I will try heat treating at 400°, that should drop the hardness into the 18 BHn window. Some day I will learn to keep notes on this stuff.......
If the monsoon lifts I will try to shoot some in the next week. That is a big if. Forecast for Wed is a high of around 45-50 with rain and wind. Not nice weather.