Undersize bullets for my SBH

[wavehopr]

This past Monday I received a box of 500 240gr cast bullets that sized .430" and are 18 BHN. I slugged the barrel on my Super Blackhawk a year or so ago and made a note that it was .431-.432 but I don't know how accurate my caliper is. When I ordered the bullets, I thought maybe they would work OK.

Well, they didn't. I loaded up 100 and took to the range yesterday. At 50 yds. I was having difficulty keeping them on a 20" x 20" paper target. They were all over the place. I even shot the target frame several times.

After agonizing a bit, I had the idea to "enlarge" them. So, I took 50 and, one at a time, stood them on end on an anvil. I then gave them a "whack" with a hammer. After measuring, it looks like I gained about .001"-.003" on their diameter and increased the meplat by some.

Now I'm wondering if this is the best way. If someone else has some suggestions for the remainder of those bullets, please share.

Thank-you.

 

[twobisquit]

try Lee liquid Alox and H-110

 

[wavehopr]

Thanks for the reply, twobisquit, but I really didn't get any leading to speak of. One or two swipes with the bore brush and all was shiny clean. The problem was the accuracy.

 

[Sugar River]

Have you measured your throats?

Pete

 

[wavehopr]

I haven't measured the throats, but a .430 bullet will fall through with almost no persuasion.

 

[Chief 101]

I think you did fine by wacking them to enlarge 'em. Had to do that once or twice myself and it worked just fine. Not rocket science but it will make 'em work and bit more accurately. Chief aka Maxx load

 

[wavehopr]

Thanks, Chief.

wavehopr, aka BoatBuoy

 

[Cholo]

Need more info. Those .430's should shoot fine out of your SBH unless they're loaded down too far. I just measured my cast .44 bullets and they're right on .430 and shoot like a dream out of any of my .44's. Your bullets are pretty hard. What load are you using? Mag. or Special brass?

I guess a SBH barrel could measure oversize, though I've not heard of it. In other words, it very well might not be the bullets.

 

[wavehopr]

I suppose I should have posted this to begin with - Starline .44 Mag brass, CCI 300 primers, 11.0gr. Unique.

 

[Chief 101]

Thanks, Chief.

wavehopr, aka BoatBuoy

I expanded some lead bullets the first time in a vice with a torque wrench and it took forever but it did work as good as the hammer wack.
Did you ever post over at the "iboat forum"? The title sounds familiar...BoatBoy...Chief aka Maxx Load

 

[Cholo]

wavehopr, I can't say about the load using 11 grs of Unique as I've never gone that high with that powder and I can't find my old Lyman cast bullet book. Starline makes great brass and CCI great primers. If I want to go over 9-10 grs of Unique in a 44 mag you might want to try 2400 or 296. My nod would be 2400 with a cast bullet as it's more forgiving to load down a little. I'd try a mag. primer with those powders.

Has this gun had any issues with accuracy in the past?

 

[wavehopr]

Did you ever post over at the "iboat forum"?

Yep, that's me. I included the aka because I knew you used to post over there. This is like going into a strange bar and seeing a familiar face.

 

[WESHOOT2]

I like your method (I've squashed a few in a vice for fattening meself).

Suggest next test begin with 8.5g Unique FIRST.

 

[wavehopr]

Yea, I'm gonna drop the charge. I fattened some tonight and loaded about 10. I discovered that they wouldn't chamber because they were too fat. I got suspicious of my bore slugging so I re-slugged, twice. Once with a fishing sinker and once with a "fat" bullet. Both times I got the same result - .432.

 

[Cholo]

I actually can't believe some of the responses in this thread. Smack 'em, squash 'em, beat 'em with a mallet. Real consistant! I hope y'all stay home while I shoot a few on the ridge or at the range...

Much of this advice is off the charts and should be posted on the mall ninja chat boards. I'll go as far as saying some of you ought to stay out of the reloading forum altogether.

Some people need to stick to video games instead of reloading bullets. Every gun club has a few and the internet is full of YouTube videos of your Darwin Award antics :roll:

Squash a .430 18 BHN bullet to make it shoot better. GMAB!

 

[Chief 101]

I actually can't believe some of the responses in this thread. Smack 'em, squash 'em, beat 'em with a mallet. Real consistant! I hope y'all stay home while I shoot a few on the ridge or at the range...

Much of this advice is off the charts and should be posted on the mall ninja chat boards. I'll go as far as saying some of you ought to stay out of the reloading forum altogether.

Some people need to stick to video games instead of reloading bullets. Every gun club has a few and the internet is full of YouTube videos of your Darwin Award antics :roll:

Squash a .430 18 BHN bullet to make it shoot better. GMAB!

Sometimes you need to use your imagination to make stuff work. If you just read the books and follow the rules you can't get any further than the next guy that does the same. I am not suggesting to do anything that I haven't seen done by experts and done myself over the last 50 or so years. You can't be afraid to be innovative lest you....Chief aka Maxx Load :roll: :wink:

 

[WESHOOT2]

I notice your sig-line suggests you're one of 'us', but your post suggests you ain't.

PS I don't "reload bullets".
Oh, and I ain't twelve, either.......

 

[wavehopr]

As a follow up: I back the charge down from 11gr. to 8.9gr. Now I can put 'em all through a 3x5 index card at 50 feet, regardless of size disparity.

 

[Chief 101]

Good job Boatbuoy. I'm all for customizing the recipes in making bullets that perform an unusual task, in fact I worked in an underground lab for a few years where I did just that. You just need to do it scientifically and start with known recipes and adjust slowly from there.
On the other hand I am glad to see you here playing with 44's. I also hope you are still playing on the water, you see guns and water can go together. I have shot a few big Carp with a 44mag SBH. Anyways, don't get discouraged with reloading ammo, it's alot like sailing, read the books and stay on the safe side.
Chief aka Maxx Load

 

[wavehopr]

Yep, the guns/boats intrigue me about equally. Boy, hobbies can get expensive. I've shot 44's off and on for years but picked up a new caliber a couple of years ago - .45-70. I've got 4 of those now, including a wheel-gun.
Now imagine that - a lib with a .45-70.