Appropriate Brinell

[sonora]

I'm using a 44 Special. My reloads consist of a .430 dia coated 240 grs, SWC cast bullets with 6.0 grs or 6.5 grs of Unique. These loads are pleasant to shoot and accurate. Mostly used for plinking and target shooting. I believe the Brinell # is 16 or 17. Not sure what the mv is, but I would guess about 800 or 850 fps? Is a Brinell # of 18 too hard?

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

Yes.

I shoot 357 Mag at 1200+ fps, with 50/50 CWW/Soft lead, which is about 11-12 Brinell.

You don't need anything over 12, and 10 would be fine.

 

[JJFitch]

My 200/230 grain .452 45ACP are around 10 BHN with a pretty soft lube. MV 750-830!

I add a little tin to range mined lead. Most experts agree that barrel fit is the most important component in the casting process.

I clean my barrels with a rolled up paper towel.

Smiles,

 

[sonora]

I like to keep things simple and I like the 240 grn swc for my 44 special. I'm not casting my own bullets. I using Bayou bullets the Brinell # is 16 to 17. I wanted to try Missouri Bullets the rt 8ir 240 swc is listed at 18#. Missouri says that this bullet is for "magnum loads". Bayou and Missouri both offer only one 240grn swc. My choices are limited. Is 18# to hard for good obutration?2

 

[AJC1]

That's harder than I would go from an expense angle. Most scrap lead I find is very soft and I use superhard from rotometals to raise the hardness. I made up some bhn 11 bullets lately and they seem to do it all so far with no problem. I have yet to rifle test the 357 but the speed would be a lot higher, in a 4" colt they are good for a hefty load of unique.

 

[sonora]

I'm not casting my own.

 

[AJC1]

I'm not casting my own.

And your situation you may want to look for one of the companies that has a little bit softer option. I know that a lot of companies have cowboy reloads for 45 Long Colt but I am unsure of anything for 44

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

Several years ago I was shooting the Missouri Bullet 240gr truncated cone bullet in #12 hardness. I fired it in several 44 Mag revolvers, and 1 lever action rifle.

I used Universal, and HS-6, and drove that bullet to 1200 fps in the revolvers easily, with no leading and no problems.

Now I cast my own, but the 18 hardness is not needed for the velocity you are seeking.

 

[243winxb]

These loads are pleasant to shoot and accurate.

Then i would not change a thing.
https://www.alliantpowder.com/

 

[murf]

is your barrel leading with that load?

murf

 

[SlowFuse]

I've understood commercial casters go a little harder than necessary because they look better when they get to you. Harder lead doesn't get dinged as bad when shipped.

38 specials i shoot about that velocity is range scrap that is around 10 to 12 bhn. If its not leading and the price is right, keep shooting! But if they offer a softer "cowboy" type velocity i'd go with those.

 

[jmorris]

These loads are pleasant to shoot and accurate. Mostly used for plinking and target shooting.

My best advice is to not fix what’s not broke.

 

[Riomouse911]

If it’s not leading your barrel and is accurate, as the guys said don’t change a thing.

Missouri Bullet Co offers a 12 BH “cowboy” velocity coated bullet that should fit your bill. I bought 165 gr to load plinkers just for fun shooting like you describe.




I’ve been shooting a lot of Eggleston coated 200 gr RNFP over 7.3 gr unique in my 3” GP 100. Just enough oomph to let you know you fired a big bore but easy on the wrists, hands and gun. I don’t know the BH of these non-lube groove bullets off the top of my head, but loading that bullet over 6.5 gr unique will be very soft shooting. (You can pick bullet colors, too!)

The two gold ones are the Missouri bullets and the others are the Eggleston’s in olive drab and the festive red and green is from their “Christmas holiday pack.” You can also get red, white and blue in a “Patriot pack”



Stay safe.

 

[243winxb]

Match the cartridge PSI to the leads BHN hardness using the Lee Hardness Test
chart that comes with the kit. May give an idea of what alloy is needed.

A minimum BHN of 12 should work fine , if you believe Mr Lees chart. Any alloy over 22 BHN would not be useful, imo.

Harder is always better then softer, in my testing. (Uncoated)

Any/all alloys may work, according to the internet. Add in diameter, lube & coatings & it becomes Voodoo or witchcraft.

https://leeprecision.com/

 

[kerreckt]

I shoot a lot of hand cast bullets. Most are 44 spl. BHN 10-12 works best for me. No leading. No problems. When first starting to cast I used lead in the16-18 BHN range and had problems with leading. This was my experiences. Yours may be different. Best wishes

 

[Texas10mm]

When Elmer Keith was doing his 44 Mag work he used a 16-1 alloy. That's a BHN of 10.3

Anyone shooting cast bullets really should read http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Contents.htm

A BHN of 18, if the fit is too small will probably lead your barrel something fierce.

 

[sonora]

Just wanted to try a different manufacturer of bullets. I want to stick with the 240 grn, swc. It seems to me that Bayou's coating could be a little more consistant. Good people at Bayou Bullets and overall pleased with their product.
Thank you all for your informative and helpful responses. I've learned a thing or two.

 

[Riomouse911]

Missouri Bullet Co. offers the 240 Keith coated and uncoated, page 4 of the .44 section;

https://missouribullet.com/results.php?pageNum_rsCWResults=3&category=5&secondary=12

Anything they sell marked “Cowboy” is BH 12, the others are BH 18. Try coated bullets, I think once you do you’ll stick with them. I sure have, as smoke from plain lead is awful at the indoor ranges I’m forced to do most of my shooting at.

Great bullets from MBC, they’re great people, too.

Stay safe,

 

[mdi]

The old "harder is better" is a myth for cast lead bullets, and I agree 18 is too hard, a waste of money and alloys. There is no danger shooting actual hard cast bullets but unnecessary. Way more important than BHN is bullet to gun fit. I have driven 160 gr LSWC in my 357 Magnum close to 1,300 fps with no leading to speak of (max loads of True Blue). BHN approx 12 with a decent lube made for excellent shooting bullets that did not lead the barrel because they were sized correctly for the gun used...

I believe the commercial casters use hard alloys for their bullets is for the same reason they use hard lube; better able to survive shipping. And newer cast lead bullet users think harder is better and the casters sell more of what they think the buyer wants...