Leading in my Judge??

[gozad]

I just started reloading and am getting a lot of leading in my Taurus Judge.
I am using cast lead 200gr bullets with 8gr to 9.4gr of Unique and 250gr lead cast with same powder loads.

Any ideas I am getting tired of cleaning the lead out and trying again.

 

[243winxb]

From Lee's link below. >Cast bullet leading

A clue to what is causing the leading is where the leading first begins to appear. If it appears near the chamber, chances are that bullet diameter or hardness are the cause.

A diameter too small and/or too hard an alloy will allow high pressure gas to leak past the bullet, which erodes the bullet and leaves leading near the chamber.

If the leading first appears on the leading edge of the rifling (if you imagine the bullet being pushed through the barrel, you will note that one edge of the rifling does most of the work of imparting a spin to the bullet. This is the edge you see when you look through the barrel from the breech end) the bullet might be too soft, and/or the velocity too high.

If the leading appears in the second half of the barrel, the bullet is running out of lube. You should see a star shaped pattern of lube accumulate on the muzzle. This is an indication that there is a little excess lube.

 

[Sam1911]

A diameter too small and/or too hard an alloy will allow high pressure gas to leak past the bullet, which erodes the bullet and leaves leading near the chamber.

It might be a good idea to check your chamber throats. If they're too small, they'll cause that issue. Not a problem with jacketed bullets but not so good for cast lead.

There are folks you can send the cylinder to who will ream them to proper size. I had it done to my 629 for that reason.

 

[gozad]

The leading begins at the forcing tube.
Factory lead ammo doesn't do this. The bullets I got from a big gun shop here. No info on them except the box has 500 200gr RNFP and the other one is same but 250gr.

Where is a good source for 45 colt bullets? I have found several places that make/sell them on the net but don't know anything about the companies.

What hardness should I look for?

 

[Sam1911]

You could always send Brad with Missouri Bullets a PM. He's a member here and really helps out with questions like this. I buy a lot of stuff from him.

Here's his website page on that question: http://www.missouribullet.com/technical.php

At a guess, I'd say you're at around 13,000 CUP with those loads. His formula says you should be at about a hardness of BRN 10, plus or minus a few points.

He lists about four bullet choices at that hardness for .45 Colt that would match what you need.

 

[Jwbfx4]

Where is a good source for 45 colt bullets? I have found several places that make/sell them on the net but don't know anything about the companies.

+1 on Missouri Bullet Company. I shoot the cowboy #1, its a 250 gr. RNFP with BHN of 12.

Great company with outstanding customer service.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

One more issue not mentioned is lube. Many of the "garage factory" bullet makers don't use a good lube. Brad at MBC uses a quality lube. If it is a lube issue, you can usually fix it by tumble lubing the bullets with Lee Alox or Rooster Jacket.

 

[KosmicKrunch]

Slug your chambers and barrel, measure or have them measured and then order specific diametered and lubed bullets or buy the equipment to size and lube them yourself. Your load does not seem real hot, so I doubt you are getting melted lead/gas blow by unless they are either real tight or real loose, if loose were the case, you can always gas check the bullets. If tight, resize them.

When I cast, I usually use #2 alloy and then size/lube with a 50/50 of Alox/Beeswax. This combo of size, lead and lube is a super easy clean up and low cost.

 

[snuffy]

The problem with the judge is those long chambers and therefore the long bullet jump from the mouth of the brass to the beginning of the rifling/barrel. The bullet skids for the first inch or so before it grips the rifling, hence the leading at the forcing cone.

if loose were the case, you can always gas check the bullets. If tight, resize them.

He's dealing with gunshop bought bullets, most likely plain based bullets. They can't have gas checks added unless they were made to take a gas check, no rebated base. I doubt a gas check would help anyway, because of the above scenario.

 

[243winxb]

Snuffy gives good info. It may not be possible to stop leading. Jacket bullet may be the only choice. Having had a T/C contender in 45 colt/ 410 the long chamber is a problem for accuracy as well. Larger diameter bullets may help, just a guess.

 

[rcmodel]

It might be a good idea to check your chamber throats.

As Snuffy mentioned, the Judge has .410 shotgun chambers for throats!!

Factory load .45 Colt often times uses soft swaged lead, hollow base bullets.
They can bump up / expand enough to fit the .410 chambers before they get to the forcing cone.

Commercially cast bevel-base bullets are probably going sideways in the .410 chambers before they get to the forcing cone.

That right there might be your problem.

rc

 

[gozad]

I am going to try missouribullet.com bullets, should I get bhn 12 or bhn 18.
I plan to load 8gr of unique under their 250gr bullet.

I was comparing my load with some I got from bitter root valley ammo. Mine are a lighter gray. May not mean much but only difference I can see.

 

[Sam1911]

should I get bhn 12 or bhn 18.

Already answered a couple of times around posts 5 & 6.

The 18s would be for real steamer loads like the "Ruger Only" loadings or similar high pressure recipes.

 

[snuffy]

How plain do we have to say it? The judge is NOT ever going to be a decent revolver with lead bullets. Or jacketed for that matter.

Look at how normal revolvers work. The bullet only has a short throat to go through before reaching the forcing cone and the beginning of the rifling. The bullet has just started to accelerate, so it takes the rifling at a slow/low velocity. The judge has those long 410 chambers to allow the bullet to accelerate, then the bullet slams into the forcing cone and rifling going nearly full speed.

It's main purpose is to be a very short range self defense weapon with the versatility of using both solid bullets and shot shells in the same gun. Stick with .410 slugs or specialty 3 ball loads. If you insist on 45 colt shells, know that they won't be shooting small groups.

 

[gozad]

I changed to trail boss powder. No more leading.

 

[bayhawk2]

I have to agree on the long cylinders.I have a Judge and
tried the 13-14 BHN cast bullets on it.I had to slow the bullet
down so much to stop the leading it was not worth it.One thing
maybe to try,is a slow burning powder.Something I never
got around too.If you can find a load with H110 or WW 296?
I have to admit i think it's a losing battle on the Judge.
I love the .410 Federal 000 buckshot in the Judge anyway.
That's what it is really made for.