Cast Bullets--Flat Base vs. Bevel Base

[Cholo]

Almost all my cast bullet reloads have been flat based since about '77. It was about all they had back then and I saw no reason to change. Some gun writer once wrote against bevel base cast bullets, leading or something.

Lots of posts lately about the best cast bullets. With few exceptions they're bevel bases SWC's. "For ease of reloading" a few manufacturer's say. I never had a problem with flat based bullets. Are there any real life differences? Accuracy, leading?

Does Cholo simply need to simply get over feeling that flat based cast bullets are superior, all other things being equal? All the rifle bullets I've ever shot have been flat based as well.

 

[anachronism]

I have a couple of bevel-base moulds, and don't have any issues with them. Now the bevel-base commercial bullets I've tried were pretty dismal. But I feel that way about most store bought bullets. Bevel bases make it a little easier to cast perfect bullet bases in automated machinery, and the bevel base is less likely to be damaged by handling and during shipping. My opinion is that all cartridge loadings differ slightly, and some combinations simply work better for some applications than others.

 

[Tx gun runner]

Bevel bases make it a little easier to cast perfect bullet bases in automated machinery, and the bevel base is less likely to be damaged by handling and during shipping.

+1 ........ Flat base seal a little better and normally shoot more accurate over 25 yds , but 90% of the shooters won't see a differance between them .

 

[WESHOOT2]

And there are varying degrees of bevel.

 

[J Miller]

I used to shoot a lot of bb cast bullets. I fought leading all the time. Then one day I shot a bunch of home cast flat based bullets and come back with no lead in the gun.

In my experiences hard cast bevel based commercial bullets are leading fiends. I still have lots of them loaded from the past bench sessions and I shoot them from my lever guns. They don't seem to matter there at all.
But I won't shoot them from my revolvers.

Joe

 

[Bucks Owin]

I used to shoot a lot of bb cast bullets. I fought leading all the time. Then one day I shot a bunch of home cast flat based bullets and come back with no lead in the gun.

In my experiences hard cast bevel based commercial bullets are leading fiends. I still have lots of them loaded from the past bench sessions and I shoot them from my lever guns. They don't seem to matter there at all.
But I won't shoot them from my revolvers.

Joe

Why would they lead your revolvers but not your rifles? :?

Anyway, IMHO, a lot of commercial cast bullets are made to withstand shipping damage first, achieve lead free accuracy second. Ditto the on the lube.. :roll:

Not all but...too many :( (Which no doubt turns off many shooters to cast bullets who buy cast for "economy" not a quality product)

 

[Tx gun runner]

Why would they lead your revolvers but not your rifles? :?

The bullet is not the correct size for cylinder , Stainless revolver and blued rifle , forcing cone needs to be cut to 11 degrees for cast bullet , ect , ect .

 

[WESHOOT2]

Lucky me; I've used numerous and varied cast bullets through numerous and varied platforms without leading.
I'm not sure exactly why that is.......

 

[Donaldjr1969]

I get some leading with both commercially cast bullets as well as some cast for me by Iron Mike Golf here on the forums. However, after every 4 to 6 cylinders, I run a lead remover patch through it followed by a bore snake. It takes less than a minute to do and it keeps the bore from even coming close to the point where lead buildup affects accuracy.

Of course, I, as well as many others, probably have their leading an inch or so just beyond the forcing cone. So they are most likely getting it due to a bore constriction. I see that on my SRH and eventually, I will get the bore firelapped. IMG firelapped his RH Hunter and with the alloy he uses on his .432-sized bullets, his leading is inconsequential.

 

[Cracker-American]

I am still a babe in the woods with cast bullets but here is my experience.

I bought 500 each, 18 bhn BB cast semi wadcutters in .41 and .44. If I load either one with a published load of H 110 leading is minimal. if I use Unique I have a chore getting the lead out.

I finally found some Lee Liquid Alox and tumble lubed some of the .41's. Shot a few then injured my right hand/wrist and have not been able to shoot enough to get an accurate test.

This much I do know. I will not buy any more BB bullets short of an emergency.

 

[Tx gun runner]

Of course, I, as well as many others, probably have their leading an inch or so just beyond the forcing cone. So they are most likely getting it due to a bore constriction. I see that on my SRH and eventually, I will get the bore firelapped. IMG firelapped his RH Hunter and with the alloy he uses on his .432-sized bullets, his leading is inconsequential.

+1 ...... I found bore constriction in most my Vaquero where the barrel is screwed into frame . I fire lap them out using vavle grinding compound .

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

My experience w/ commercial BB bullets is like some others here report: often there's been more leading than I thought there should be.

But I don't think it's a function of the design, as much as the lead's hardness and especially the lubes used by the commercial casters being matched to the load. IME, commercial bullets have worked better w/ hotter loads, which are at opposite end of the scale from where I do most of my loading. Some of the "offenders" did ok w/ a treatment of Lee Liquid Alox (LLA) OVER the factory lube...

Haven't had too much trouble w/ my own cast BB bullets. As Weshoot2 mentioned, there are varying degrees of bevel, and those I make seem to be pretty minimal. Makes 'em easier to insert in the case, but doesn't seem to cause much of a leading problem in most of my guns when cast w/ straight wheel weights and lubed w/ LLA.

Only exception is my .357 Bisley. I think Ruger was using rocks for cutting tools when it was built: everything about that gun from chamber to muzzle is rough, and it doesn't like ANY cast bullets unless they're gas checked.

Rick C

 

[anachronism]

I used to shoot a lot of bb cast bullets. I fought leading all the time. Then one day I shot a bunch of home cast flat based bullets and come back with no lead in the gun.

Joe

You might also check the revolver for thread choke in the frame area. My SRH had a really bad case of it, as had my last several S&Ws.

 

[WESHOOT2]

I feel blessed that I have never-ever owned a 'lead-er'.

 

[Swampman]

Me either....my guns shoot either type without a problem.

 

[GP100man]

I`ll take my alloys to the outer limit & have found flatbased boolts hold the rifling better .

less leading,better groups . more noticable when on the HI end

Bevel based boolits have there place also , as if ya wanna go fast with a mold the base may smear a bit & the bevel handles that to a degree .

The biggst problem with BBs is lube stiks on the bevel when I lube size em & going for well filled bases it`s hard to see .

Now with all that said ,one of my favorite loads is the Lee 158gr rnfp under 3.5-4.8gr of CLAYS.