Lyman 35887

TomSp8

Active Member
I checked tonite, and found the two that would not chamber were indeed a tad longer than what I had written down (I fired the other eight, so obviously couldn't measure those). I had written down 1.315, and these two measured 1.320. That was just enough. Bumped them deeper, to 1.310. One was good to go, but the other still would not fully enter. Apparently, I never sized that bullet because the exposed front band measured .360...this revolver has tight cylinders.....I loaded a dummy at 1.310 and was able to still give a light crimp into the crimp groove, and it inserted completely without having to push it. I will measure and record the oal to the shoulder, rather than to the button nose, as that is what actually matters.... Time to load up the remaining handful, and will give this mold another try this weekend.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
if the bases are good i bet they shoot just fine.
i went through 200 jacketed rifle bullets with a file making grooves and marks and creating all sorts of havoc all over them.
i even squished a couple of noses with some pliers.
the only ones that shot out of the solid 1-1/2" group were the ones i messed up the bases on.
 

TomSp8

Active Member
Cast up a few more of these (along with the RCBS swc's) and learned a little something. Still getting some erratic front band fill out, kind of out of round, and some were really jacked up, even after it was hot, but began getting more consistant decent ones when keeping everything hot hot hot. Kept the pot at about 750 and went fairly fast. My alloy is about 50/50 clip on and stick on. When they began to come out slightly frosty, they appeared to fill out better. But I did learn about the ladle...I noticed the lead was not pouring out of it real "wet" at times, and realized it was not fully submerged in the alloy between castings. I made an effort to reinsert the ladle with a swirling motion and be sure the spout stayed down and submerged. Then I swirled it a couple times before each pour, to be sure it was staying hot. Still ended up with about 30 to 40 percent rejects with this mold, due to irregular front bands. But much better than my earlier attempts.20220806_111439.jpg
 

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
I once read of a test of Army GI ball bullets fired in the 1903 Springfield rifle.
In " Lot A " the nose sections of 20 bullet had pull marks.
The bases were fine in Lot A.
.
They were compared to " Lot B ".
All firing done at 100 yards.
Lot B was 20 rounds fired at 100 yards with good bullet bases and no pull marks.

No appreciable difference in the groups.
The base of any bullet is the critical difference.
 
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Dusty Bannister

Well-Known Member
I would think that the only problem might be when shooting at a distance and if the bullet is slightly out of balance from incomplete fill out. Most of us can not shoot well enough, off hand, at 25 yards to show up on the target. We still like "perfect" bullets though.
 

KeithB

Resident Half Fast Machinist
Damaged bases on bullets and bad/damaged crowns on barrels are two of the most common reasons for poor accuracy. They both cause a problem from the instant the bullet leaves the barrel.
 

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
I would just add that jacketed bullets are more forgiving than cast. Even the Data Miner guy at the other place found that when you hit a certain point damage on the front of a cast bullet would enlarge the group. Of course, he wouldn't admit that even though his figures proved it, but that's another issue! But base damage can be a real eye and group opener. The faster you push them, the more it shows, or so it seems to me.
 

popper

Well-Known Member
Venting. How fast do you start the ladle casting pour? You plop a bunch of alloy in the bottom, space between the blocks vents OK but at the ledge, no venting on the sides. As you continue the pour, it slows down and fills right. But yup, only base damage really ruins accuracy to any real extent.
 

300BLK

Well-Known Member
That bullet, 35887, has three lube grooves and is intended to be crimped over the undersize portion of the forward band, or over the entire forward band.