9 mm lead bullets and keyholing

[glenns]

Picked up a lb of Power Pistol couple days ago and went to the range yesterday. Looks like the my keyholing problem is gone.

Thanks for all the input.

Why would a slower burning powder (Bullseye v. Power Pistol) take care of the keyholing?

Glenn

 

[sixgunner455]

Personally, I found the 124gr lead/Bullseye loads in the Lee manual to be too hot, at least for the bullets I bought. Lots of leading, and unhappy feeding after the first mag. Backed it off to 3.5gr, according to several other references I looked up, and all is well.

I haven't experienced keyholing either way.

Powder burn rates determine pressure curves. The pressure curves affect the way the bullets exit the barrel. Other than that, I have no idea why it would change the keyholing problem.

 

[sugarmaker]

May be soft lead or shallow rifling grooves (which work fine for jacketed but not lead).

Slower powder will lessen the torque the rifling applies to the bullet as the bullet accelerates more gently.

Maybe a different brand of bullet? Swaged bullets are usually pretty soft. Cast bullets are better BUT: Tin is $$ and in the rush to the bottom for price, isn't mixed in as much as it should be.

Most lead bullet loading manuals are made for Lyman #2 alloy, which 10% tin / 2%?? antimony. it's a whole lot harder than some of the stuff out there.

If you've got a serious leading problem due to soft bullets or high velocity, you'll need to clean the bore thoroughly before anything will work - can be kind of difficult as it can really stick on.

 

[popper]

Heavy bullet, fast powder = shaved bullets and no spin.