Is this key-holeling?

[SteelyNirvana]

I took my first cast reloads to the range tonight. They are .38 specials, Lee 158 SWC tumble lube bullet, over 3.5 grains of Winchester 231. I'm using a S&W model 66, ex LEO gun, 4 inch.
They did fairly well, I'm content with them all though I think I could my grouping could have been better. I'm working on that, this is the first time I've been to a range with this gun (I'm usually plinking at stuff in my bosses backyard).

I'm posting a pic of what I believe are 3 key-holes. I would like someone to say yay or nay. If they are key-holes. I think it could have been due to the fact that I'm using pure soft (Plumbers caulking) lead and that I loaded these as dropped from the mold, although Lee says they should drop +/- .001 from the mold. I used Liqud alox thined with a bit of mineral spirits and tumbled in a bowl.

Thoughts, suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Walkalong]

Looks like just a torn target where the backing was loose.

 

[pbearperry]

I believe what you are seeing is tearing of the target material as the bullet is passing thru.This will disapear by pushing that bullet a bit faster.

 

[SteelyNirvana]

Looks like just a torn target where the backing was loose.

That never crossed my mind. There is no backing for the targets at this range, The top of the target is held on by two metal paper clips and the rest of the target just hangs loosely.

 

[D. Manley]

There is no backing for the targets at this range, The top of the target is held on by two metal paper clips and the rest of the target just hangs loosely.

There's your answer. I'd bet if the paper target was kissed up tight to cardboard backing you'd have nice round holes. Just the thin paper lets it have a little "give" and the tearing results...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Since you go the answer to the target question I'll address this:

I took my first cast reloads to the range tonight. They are .38 specials, Lee 158 SWC tumble lube bullet, over 3.5 grains of Winchester 231. I'm using a S&W model 66, ex LEO gun, 4 inch.
They did fairly well, I'm content with them all though I think I could my grouping could have been better. I'm working on that, this is the first time I've been to a range with this gun.

I have 2 favorite loads for the .38 Special, a 148gr DEWC over 3.2gr W231 and a 158gr LSWC over 4.0gr W231. If you like the load you made I think you will really like a 158gr SWC and a charge of 4.0gr W231. I've been using that load for a lot of years and was very happy when I saw that combination listed as "potentially most accurate" in the new Lyman 49th Edition. Give it a try...

Congratulations on loading your first cast bullet rounds.

 

[GodGuns&Guitars]

Have to agree with the others. Not keyholing. Just target tear. You'll know a keyhole the first time you see one.

 

[GP100man]

any carbon marks on the smaller tears??


GP100man

 

[SteelyNirvana]

any carbon marks on the smaller tears??

Nope, no carbon marks on the tears. If a key-hole happens, would this be a tell-tell sign?

ArchAngelCD, thanks for the suggestion of bumping the charge up to 4.0gr. I'm gonna load a batch this weekend and see how they perform

 

[rcmodel]

+1

The target is flinching!

rc

 

[GP100man]

briancraig81

if it comes out of the barrel it`ll have carbon on it & leave a witness mark.
by the width of this ring being even all the way around tells me the boolit is straight , best if on a backed target though.

GP100man

 

[chriske]

Carbon or lead smear/smudge on one edge of the bullet hole is a good sign.
On the other hand : "keyholing" bullets seldom produce such keyhole-shaped holes like the ones in your target. They're more oblong, oval- shaped.
158Gr .38 specials " keyholing", those 3 ? Naaahh.

 

[EMC45]

Back 'em with cardboard and it will look like a paperpunch got ahold of the target!