[schmeky]

I have a light load of 4.0 gns WW231 with a 200 gn LSWC bullet for my .45 ACP loads. Accuracy and feeding in my 1911's and other .45's is superb, but using a Master Cast bullet results in a lot of smoke.

I assume this is the grease in the bullet groove. If it weren't for this, it would be the perfect plinker load. Would a dry lube cast/swaged bullet reduce this? Any suggestions?

[tiger rag]

In my experience it will reduce the level of smoke .

[raxafarian]

4.0 ? Do your bullets go backwards?

[schmeky]

raxafarian,

I like to get the most from a pound of powder. These loads shoot just as well at 4.4 as they do at 4.0, same POI, pistol functions 100%.

Just need a little less smoke.

[Steve C]

Smoke's mostly lube burning. You can get some Lee Liquid Alox and lube lightly over your Master Cast bullets, let them dry a couple days and you'll get reduction in smoke and likely eliminate any leading you may be getting from gas blow by.

Speer or Hornady dry lube will help a lot also with smoking.

[Loomis]

Why does the smoke bother you?

[lgbloader]

In California, I am surprised that they haven't outlawed smokey cartridges yet.

As you all well know, You can't smoke in a bar in california, and pretty soon there will be no drinking and no talking as well.

I think I'll pour myself a drink...

Cheers...

[ants]

A few suggestions:
Change to a powder like Clays, which will burn a little faster with less smoke. It's also very, very economical.
Change to a bullet with harder lube, or a moly or polymer coating.
Switch to copper plated bullets.
Increase the powder charge incrementally. Maybe 1 or 2 tenths will reduce smoke without hurting economics too much.
Put up with the smoke.

I still get plenty of smoke with I try to coat with liquid alox, and the bullet becomes a lot messier. Rooster Jacket liquid lube works a lot better. But both solutions introduce additional cost per hundred rounds. Either switch to Clays or just put up with the smoke.

[Snapping Twig]

I cast and use alox, either Lyman or Javalina.

I also use W231 for light to midrange loads in all calibers.

Lighter loads smoke, no getting around it. Up the charge and there's less smoke. Make a stout load and there's little if any smoke.

[schmeky]

Thanx for the input. The smoke is a percieved problem since I shoot at an indoor range. I think Snapping Twig is pretty close, the more pressure, the greater the "upset" of the bullet base resulting in a better bullet to bore seal.

But, the lube residue from each round is in the bore for the next discharge to burn off. I was thinking there were some casters that used a dry/wax like lube like Speer used to use on their swaged lead bullets. I don't remember these dry lube bullets producing mush smoke.

Incidentally, the Master Cast bullets display superb accuracy in my 45's and I cannot detect any leading.

[dagger dog]

The next thing the Caliban will do is put catalytic converters on lubed bullets!