Smoke when shooting reloaded cast bullets

[kopfjaeger01]

So I recently started reloading 38 special. I'm using 3.4gr of titegroup under 158gr lead swc. When I shoot them I get a big puff of smoke. Gun is filthy after 50 rounds and so are my hands. Accuracy is good and everything functions fine.

To ensure its the bullets causing this, I loaded 4.0 gr of titegroup under 125gr Hornady XTPs. No smoke and no dirty gun. So jacketed bullets are fine.

Question is: is there anything I can do to reduce the smoke and filth?

What about the Lee universal case expanding die? Says they are used to accept cast bullets without shaving.

I'm shooting these in a Taurus 85 stainless, and a 605 poly. 2" barrels on each.

Thanks for any help.

 

[rcmodel]

The smoke is from your cast bullet grease bullet lube burning off.

There is not much you can do about it except switch to coated, plated, or jacketed bullets.

rc

 

[JamieC]

Shoot either jacketed, plated or coated lead, end of smoke problem. It's the lube used on plain lead bullets that causes the smoke.

 

[dragon813gt]

What lube are you using on the bullets? This is where most of the smoke comes from. But certain lubes w/ certain powders are just a bad combination. If you want no smoke than you will have to use jacketed, plated or coated bullets. W/ regular cast bullets you try to mitigate smoke as much as possible.

 

[Ifishsum]

Titegroup seems to burn a bit hotter than some powders and I think it causes more lube burnoff than other powders I've used. But there's always going to be some with lubed cast bullets....it's never really bothered me considering how well they shoot and the cost savings involved. I cast my own and lube sparingly with LLA and truth be told I think I kinda like the combustion smells of gunpowder and alox.

 

[X-Ring]

What about the Lee universal case expanding die? Says they are used to accept cast bullets without shaving.

Made for loading cast bullets in rifle rounds where the die does not flair the case mouth. Will do nothing to help your smoking problem.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree, the powder you're using does burn on the hotter side making the lube problem even worse. If it really bothers you change over to costed bullets. I load W231 which is a little better than Titegroup and there are others. (AA#2 is one)

 

[stubbicatt]

You could change your bullet lube. I get very little smoking from Emmeritt's lube.

 

[Mostly Lead]

So I recently started reloading 38 special. I'm using 3.4gr of titegroup under 158gr lead swc.

Double check your load data, but I believe you're on the lower end of the acceptable range for that powder. I feel like there is more smoke from my light loads than my heavier ones.

Stay under max, but see if you can load them a bit heavier...

Of course, if you like the load you're using - stick with it. It's just smoke.

 

[BigBore45]

Titegroup does that with traditional lubed lead. I run a load similar to yours for my wife to shoot and found it got cleaner at the max of 4.0 grains. But still dirty compared to other powders

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I burn something more in the line of Unique burn rate and heat them up a little. You still get a lot of smoke but your hands won't be as dirty when you are done.

I also started using Lee liquid alox and Lee tumble lube bullet molds and the smoke and dirt are much less than it used to be and my hands aren't dirty when I'm done.

 

[kerreckt]

I have noticed that Titegroup and lube are a smokey combo. I try to shoot these outside. I use a different powder for indoor shooting. VV340 works well.

 

[BCRider]

A small amount of the black fouling is the lead. But I agree that the majority of the black you get is from the lube.

 

[kopfjaeger01]

Thanks for all the responses! Sounds like I'll just get used to cleaning more often.