Cast Bullet Muzzle Velocity

[345 DeSoto]

What's about the limit on FPS for a cast (wheel weights) rifle bullet? At what velocity does barrel leading start to occur...all things being equal?

 

[LiveLife]

Perhaps these will help - http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Chapter_3_alloySelectionMetallurgy.htm

Wheelweight alloy ... bullet hardness ... generally comes out in the range of BHN of 10 to 12 for air-cooled bullets ... water quenching bullets cast of WW alloy produces a bullet with a BHN of about 18.

... At magnum handgun velocities (e.g. 1400 fps), bullets with a BHN of about 12 (e.g. air-cooled WW alloy) will expand somewhat. This is an excellent alloy for deer and black bear sized game. Water quenched WW alloy at BHN 16-18 is quite tough and will neither expand or shatter at these speeds. This is an excellent alloy for maximum penetration.

http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Chapter_7_Leading.htm

Leading caused by the bullet. The cause of leading can be traced to the bullet if it's the wrong hardness for the application ... too soft of a bullet (e.g. BHN < 8) can be stripped if pushed too fast, while a bullet that's too hard (e.g. BHN 22) can fail to obturate, and lead the trailing edge of the lands. The bullet can also be the source of leading if ... bullet in a load that generates more than about 40,000 psi peak pressure or 1500 fps muzzle velocity; these applications are better served by GC (gas check) bullet designs.

http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Chapter_15_HandgunHuntingCB.htm

It just wouldn't be right to talk about cast bullets and buffalo and not talk about the .45-70, right? Rob used this combination, in the form of his Winchester 1886, to take a fine young meat bull a few years ago. His .45-70 loads were composed of the Lyman 457124 ... cast of air-cooled WW alloy (BHN of about 10-11), loaded over 50.0 grains of 4895, to produce a muzzle velocity of 1650 fps.

 

[USSR]

What's about the limit on FPS for a cast (wheel weights) rifle bullet? At what velocity does barrel leading start to occur...all things being equal?

Unfortunately, all things are never equal when it comes to shooting cast bullets. It depends upon bore condition, bore-to-bullet size dimensions, and alloy and lube used. I shoot unchecked .30 Carbine bullets at full velocity (~1900fps), but the alloy used is similar to linotype (BHN of ~22). Since you mentioned wheel weights, you can make them quite hard by either quenching them or heat treating them. Still, if they are unchecked, I would stay below 2000fps. Also, I suggest you size them .002" above your rifle's groove diameter. Hope that helps.

Don

 

[fecmech]

The devil is always in the details. It is relatively easy to get very good accuracy with cast rifle bullets up to about the 2000- 2200 fps range. Above that requires good lubes, correct twists, correct powders and alloys along with holding your teeth just right! Leading is not so much the problem as accuracy at higher velocities.

 

[A Pause for the Coz]

I dont shoot at the upper velocities so haven't run into leading because of over doing it.

So far I have had leading in 3 guns.
327 mag. I shot some swc just tumble lubed not sized.
.316 bullets leave some lead. Sized right at .313 and no leading.

.380 auto using some as cast 105 gr swc. These were like .360. Again sized right no leading.

LEE Enfield 303 British. .303 bore and .317 groove.
Try finding a bullet to fit that.

Other than that whacky 303 all the leading has been a mistake by me.
I usually try to hit the 1700 fps range in my long guns with a gas check.

After shooting 50 cast loads out of my 308 win. I looked in the bore and it was shinny like new.
Cleaning consists of a shot of bore cleaner, a brush, One patch. Done