Home cast slugs

[sdporter]

Anybody else out there cast their own slugs for their Whites? What are you using for lube? Do you notice any difference in accuracy switching between lubes? I was checking barrel sizes between one of my Super 91’s and Whitetail. My bullets drop out of the mold at .508 and I size them to .504- they shoot good in the Whitetail. Unsized, they push into the barrel of the Super 91 with my thumb and slide down well. So that barrel has to be .507 or larger. I haven’t pushed one all the way through and checked the size, but I don’t think it will change. Sunday I shot them 4 times first shot about 3” higher than the next 3 I think, not sure but it appeared the next three went through one hole. I didn’t clean it cause I only had an hour to shoot the next day and was gonna move the POI to where I wanted it and I didn’t want to waste time shooting a Squibb, and for hunting I like shooting on a fouled bore. Those three shots the next day were in a vertical line about 4” between each. I’ll try and clean it and try again, but I would have thought it would have remained consistent overnight... The lube I make contains beeswax, parrafin and lanolin and ivory soap. Tried bore butter also and not noticed any change.

 

[michiganmuzzy]

I cast for my knight, white and cva. Making my own grease, too. 3:3:3 ratio. beeswax, parrafin, and vasoline. More parrafin in the summer and more beeswax in the winter. I was going to use the NASA lube that the BullShop sells but wanted to make my own. I get great accuracy in in my knight and cva. Haven't put my own stuff thru the white yet. I adjust the consistency of the wax for the temp. Not to hard or soft. I dry patch once after about 5 or 6 shots.

 

[sdporter]

I cast for my knight, white and cva. Making my own grease, too. 3:3:3 ratio. beeswax, parrafin, and vasoline. More parrafin in the summer and more beeswax in the winter. I was going to use the NASA lube that the BullShop sells but wanted to make my own. I get great accuracy in in my knight and cva. Haven't put my own stuff thru the white yet. I adjust the consistency of the wax for the temp. Not to hard or soft. I dry patch once after about 5 or 6 shots.

Do you melt and put the bullets in a pan and let the lube solidify and then punch the bullets out or just smear it on. This stuff I made up is very tenacious and sticks together so well I have to smear it onto the bullet.

 

[edmehlig]

I pan lube all of my cast bullets in a silicone bread pan. With my homemade lube I let it harden no more than 75 minutes. I then remove the block and push them through with my fingers.

If you don't want to experiment and make your own lube I've heard great reviews on Bullshops NASA lube and SPG lube.

 

[Idaholewis]

I agree with Ed on Bullshop’s NASA Lube. Bullet Lube can make, or Break Accuracy, There was a time I didn’t believe that to be possible, But i can tell you for a FACT That Bullet Lube plays a BIG Role in Accuracy. A thinner Lube has Always worked best for me.

 

[sdporter]

I pan lube all of my cast bullets in a silicone bread pan. With my homemade lube I let it harden no more than 75 minutes. I then remove the block and push them through with my fingers.

If you don't want to experiment and make your own lube I've heard great reviews on Bullshops NASA lube and SPG lube.

Here’s the recipe I dug up on the internet that I have been using. I was mistaken on my earlier post about it containing parrafin. I was searching to try and find something that resembled docs super lube. If I had a lubrisizer I’m sure it would work better. It is so sticky I almost think it glues the damn bullet into the bore when everything is cold. I let it sit overnight also before I tried to punch the bullets out. I’ll have to try it again while it’s still relatively soft. I have a homemade sizing press that I make the dies for on the lathe. I tried smearing it onto the unsized bullets and then punching them through the sizer, it just made a huge mess....

 

[Sideshow]

I agree with Ed on Bullshop’s NASA Lube. Bullet Lube can make, or Break Accuracy, There was a time I didn’t believe that to be possible, But i can tell you for a FACT That Bullet Lube plays a BIG Role in Accuracy. A thinner Lube has Always worked best for me.

I never knew lube was that critical for accuracy . Locally i cant find anything but Bore Butter . Youve said before you like a harder bullet . Do you think thats a factor ??? How are you sized , i assume fairly tight . Enlighten us !!!!

 

[jlynch75]

I found if you live in a warmer climate bore butter works fine. But is you live in a colder weather bore butter gets very hard in a short time while hunting. I have two Whitelightings, my own bullets come out of the the mold at .504 and I resize them to .503. In one gun I can push them in with my thumb. The other gun I use the bullets not resized and they are so loose I use pink waterline tape on them.

 

[Sideshow]

I found if you live in a warmer climate bore butter works fine. But is you live in a colder weather bore butter gets very hard in a short time while hunting. I have two Whitelightings, my own bullets come out of the the mold at .504 and I resize them to .503. In one gun I can push them in with my thumb. The other gun I use the bullets not resized and they are so loose I use pink waterline tape on them.

The tape is a good idea !!! Thank you !!!

 

[michiganmuzzy]

I pan lube in a shallow pyrex pan. I microwave the wax til it melts, set in the bullets, then put it in the freezer for an hour, then pop em out and size them. I can leave the wax at room temp to see how it will be in the summer or put it in the freezer to see how it will be in the winter and adjust the mix accordingly.
It is a little messy but cleans easy.

 

[Idaholewis]

I never knew lube was that critical for accuracy . Locally i cant find anything but Bore Butter . Youve said before you like a harder bullet . Do you think thats a factor ??? How are you sized , i assume fairly tight . Enlighten us !!!!

Lead hardness can MOST definitely make a Difference, a BIG DIFFERENCE! For example my Old Stainless 50 Cal Green Mountain LRH Barrel would NOT shoot a Pure lead bullet, Just wouldn’t do it! A pie plate Group was the Best i could expect from it. I tried a Group of Dan’s Bullshop 460 Grain Bullets in my Stainless 50, I only had 4 Bullets, After this 3 Shot Group i saved the 4th bullet so i could Send it to Accurate Bullet molds and have it Copied, I Contacted Bullshop Dan and Asked if he cared first? Just the Right thing to do

This is the 4 Original Bullshop 460s, This is all i had to test. These were Lubed with Dan’s NASA Lube.

This is the Group i shot with 3 of the Above Bullets, This was only 50 Yards, But this Barrel was EXTREMELY Finicky and i was simply Short Range Testing, I really didn’t expect much? I was EXTREMELY HAPPY after this Group, i knew the Rifle was gonna shoot these!

Fast forward, I talk to Dan and get permission to Copy his Bullet. I send the 4th Bullet (from above) to Accurate Bullet Molds and Have Tom Copy it as Close as he possibly could, He hit it SPOT ON! My Bands measure IDENTICAL to the Original, My new Bullet was a Clone of the Original

I get the new Mold and Immediately Start Casting with PURE PLUMBERS LEAD, i head out to test it, To my TOTAL SHOCK it Shot Like GARBAGE??? I shot a Typical Pie Plate Group again?? I contacted Bullshop Dan, I sent pictures of my New Bullets lubed, and asked if he had any idea what was Wrong? He IMMEDIATELY noticed my Bullet Lube was Different, Dan told me that Lube could Definitely make a HUGE Difference. My Lube was MUCH Stiffer than Bullshop’s NASA

This is not the Actual Target (I can’t find the Original Target?) But this how my New Bullshop Clone Shot, it was HORRIBLE!! But this was also TYPICAL of my Old Green Mountain Stainless 50 LRH, it was FINICKY.

It also Dawned on me to Ask Dan about his Lead? Did he use Pure Soft Lead? Or Slightly Hardened? Dan Explained to me that he got Pure lead from Plumbers, And that he also kept the Solder Joints, That Told me what i needed to Know The Solder Will Harden lead, This was back before i had my Cabin Tree Lead Hardness Tester, I often wish i had 1 of the Old Original Bullshop Bullets to Test it’s Hardness. Now remember My New Bullets Above That Shot SO HORRIBLE were Cast of PURE PLUMBERS LEAD. Dan didn’t think the Solder would effect the Hardness? I can tell you for SURE that it does

This is what i get with my Bullshop Clone Hardened, and my Own, Soft Home made Bullet Lube. This Target was Shot with my New Blued GM LRH Barrel, But i Shot SEVERAL Targets just like this with my Old Stainless 50, The ABSOLUTE Key with the Old Stainless Barrel was Lead Hardness, That Barrel would NOT shoot Soft Lead. My Blued Barrel will Shoot Either, Or equally Well.

 

[Idaholewis]

My Old Stainless .50 Cal Green Mountain LRH Barrel was an AWESOME Lead Hardness Tester, It Just Couldn’t tell me the Exact BHN, But it could DEFINITELY tell me if the Bullets were Pure lead or not? I am not The Only one that Had a Stainless GM LRH Barrel act up like this with Pure lead, Ron (Idahoron) Deals with this Exact thing, In fact he is who I learned some of this From. Ron has a Method he uses to Harden his lead, He uses X amount of Chilled Lead Shot to X Amount of Pure lead to Get a BHN of 6-7 I believe? Why? Because his Stainless GM Barrels will not Shoot Pure Lead worth a Darn.

 

[Sideshow]

Lead hardness can MOST definitely make a Difference, a BIG DIFFERENCE! For example my Old Stainless 50 Cal Green Mountain LRH Barrel would NOT shoot a Pure lead bullet, Just wouldn’t do it! A pie plate Group was the Best i could expect from it. I tried a Group of Dan’s Bullshop 460 Grain Bullets in my Stainless 50, I only had 4 Bullets, After this 3 Shot Group i saved the 4th bullet so i could Send it to Accurate Bullet molds and have it Copied, I Contacted Bullshop Dan and Asked if he cared first? Just the Right thing to do

This is the 4 Original Bullshop 460s, This is all i had to test. These were Lubed with Dan’s NASA Lube.

This is the Group i shot with 3 of the Above Bullets, This was only 50 Yards, But this Barrel was EXTREMELY Finicky and i was simply Short Range Testing, I really didn’t expect much? I was EXTREMELY HAPPY after this Group, i knew the Rifle was gonna shoot these!

Fast forward, I talk to Dan and get permission to Copy his Bullet. I send the 4th Bullet (from above) to Accurate Bullet Molds and Have Tom Copy it as Close as he possibly could, He hit it SPOT ON! My Bands measure IDENTICAL to the Original, My new Bullet was a Clone of the Original

I get the new Mold and Immediately Start Casting with PURE PLUMBERS LEAD, i head out to test it, To my TOTAL SHOCK it Shot Like GARBAGE??? I shot a Typical Pie Plate Group again?? I contacted Bullshop Dan, I sent pictures of my New Bullets lubed, and asked if he had any idea what was Wrong? He IMMEDIATELY noticed my Bullet Lube was Different, Dan told me that Lube could Definitely make a HUGE Difference. My Lube was MUCH Stiffer than Bullshop’s NASA

This is not the Actual Target (I can’t find the Original Target?) But this how my New Bullshop Clone Shot, it was HORRIBLE!! But this was also TYPICAL of my Old Green Mountain Stainless 50 LRH, it was FINICKY.

It also Dawned on me to Ask Dan about his Lead? Did he use Pure Soft Lead? Or Slightly Hardened? Dan Explained to me that he got Pure lead from Plumbers, And that he also kept the Solder Joints, That Told me what i needed to Know The Solder Will Harden lead, This was back before i had my Cabin Tree Lead Hardness Tester, I often wish i had 1 of the Old Original Bullshop Bullets to Test it’s Hardness. Now remember My New Bullets Above That Shot SO HORRIBLE were Cast of PURE PLUMBERS LEAD. Dan didn’t think the Solder would effect the Hardness? I can tell you for SURE that it does

This is what i get with my Bullshop Clone Hardened, and my Own, Soft Home made Bullet Lube. This Target was Shot with my New Blued GM LRH Barrel, But i Shot SEVERAL Targets just like this with my Old Stainless 50, The ABSOLUTE Key with the Old Stainless Barrel was Lead Hardness, That Barrel would NOT shoot Soft Lead. My Blued Barrel will Shoot Either, Or equally Well.

THAT ,was AWESOME INFORMATION !!!!!! My super 91 410 is ok with the white power punch bullets i got with it , but NOT what i consider good enough . The lube is dried up on all of them so i got bore butter locally . No other choice around here . This bore size is an odd ball and difficult to shop for PERIOD !!! Never played witb a conical so hard in every way to get stuff for . My old 54 knight wasnt even close to this difficult !!! What i can learn here is PRICELESS INFO !!! I have maybe 25 power punch 400gr left with dried up lube and the opener is Nov. 15 !!! Im panicing !!!

 

[Sideshow]

THAT ,was AWESOME INFORMATION !!!!!! My super 91 410 is ok with the white power punch bullets i got with it , but NOT what i consider good enough . The lube is dried up on all of them so i got bore butter locally . No other choice around here . This bore size is an odd ball and difficult to shop for PERIOD !!! Never played witb a conical so hard in every way to get stuff for . My old 54 knight wasnt even close to this difficult !!! What i can learn here is PRICELESS INFO !!! I have maybe 25 power punch 400gr left with dried up lube and the opener is Nov. 15 !!! Im panicing !!!

On top of that i REALLY want to use blackhorn too . I got the ignition figured out with no blowback . Been using a home made sabot from a winchester shotgun wad with a .388 , 330gr hand swedged bullet and 85grw of blackhorn but it is a ***** to get started down the bore . Once im in im ok and it is accurate and powerfull !!! Wonderfull , but ya gotta make em and load em BEFORE everything is peaches and cream . Docs idea wasnt so bad....

 

[michiganmuzzy]

THAT ,was AWESOME INFORMATION !!!!!! My super 91 410 is ok with the white power punch bullets i got with it , but NOT what i consider good enough . The lube is dried up on all of them so i got bore butter locally . No other choice around here . This bore size is an odd ball and difficult to shop for PERIOD !!! Never played witb a conical so hard in every way to get stuff for . My old 54 knight wasnt even close to this difficult !!! What i can learn here is PRICELESS INFO !!! I have maybe 25 power punch 400gr left with dried up lube and the opener is Nov. 15 !!! Im panicing !!!

Bore butter is better than nothing, but see if you can get beeswax locally. Imo it would be better than bore butter for freshening up those powerpunch's. Especially since your using BH209. Try a 3 shot group with it.

 

[Sideshow]

Bore butter is better than nothing, but see if you can get beeswax locally. Imo it would be better than bore butter for freshening up those powerpunch's. Especially since your using BH209. Try a 3 shot group with it.

Thanks michiganmuzzy , ive spent too much time developing a @#$% HOT ROD !!!!!!! Oh it will shoot ( under 2" @ 200 w stock trigger and a 1x6 scope) but im about wore out with ALL THE WORK INVOLVED !!! I got some T7 2f and Black mag3 and some Pyrodex p(nasty) but no loads tested except for the P @80gr for the 400gr powerpunch . I have goofed up my time left before the 15th . Damn kid , think i need a spankin ....lol !!! Smart isnt always good . See , SIDESHOW fits . Dumb--Dumb has shot up ALL his sabot rounds having FUN !!!!!!!!!!

 

[Idaholewis]

Here’s some food for thought on Lead Hardness and Target Shooting

Look in to BPCR Shooters, These Guy’s compete out to 1,000, 1,200 Yards, look at the Score Cards, Some will Show Their loads, even the lead they used, Look at their Lead, Take note of how many of these Guy’s you see using Pure Soft Lead? You will find VERY FEW Guy’s that use Pure Lead, The Majority will be using an Alloy, 1-20 is EXTREMELY popular with these Guy’s, even 1-16, Why do the Majority of these Guy’s insist on using an Alloy? There must be a Reason right? Think about it, These Guy’s can use ANY Lead they want, and Most choose an Alloy. With a VERY Recent World Championship on the Line, What do you Think WINNER Dave Gullo was using for Lead? Anyone wanna bet it wasn’t Pure Soft Lead?

I believe the reason for the Above to be the Design of the Bullets they use (Elliptical, Money, Prolate, Etc.) I have read and Looked at some CRAZY Photos of Recovered Bullets at 1,000 Yards and Beyond that Were Supposedly Shot in Soft Deep Snow Drifts and Recovered the Following Spring, Many of the Noses of the Softer Bullets were “Bent” Referred to as “Nose Slump” This is Controversial, There’s Been plenty of Arguments about it, Some say NO WAY, Others SWEAR it happens. I don’t personally know? One thing for sure, The Bullet DEFINITELY Changes Form when Fired, “Bumped up” to fill the Grooves, Can a BIG LOOOONG Sleek Nose Bullet Such as a “Money” Made of PURE SOFT LEAD, have the Nose Slump over when Fired? I believe it’s VERY VERY Plausible

Here is a post from “Distant Thunder’s” Jim Kluskens
“Shooting a well fitting bore diameter paper patched bullet that is seated as much as possible up in the rifling eliminates the alignment question and 16:1 hardness got rid of my unexplained fliers whether it was nose slumping or whatever. Don't care, I just go with what works in my rifle”

Here is a Pic I found in a Quick Search of the Subject, This is NOT MY PHOTO. This bullet nose is Definitely “Slumped” Bent to the Left

What i can say for a FACT is, Some of the absolute BEST Groups i have EVER Shot have been with a Harder Bullet, From my Beginning in Muzzleloading, 90% or more of my TIP TOP Groups were Shot with an Alloy. BUT, i have also shot some Great Groups with Pure Soft Lead as well. From my hands on experience, I give the Harder Bullet the Edge in Accuracy. Some of this Depends on the Rifle, As I mentioned my Old Stainless .50 Cal GM LRH Barrel Above, Pure Soft Lead was NOT an Option with that Barrel, But Put a Harder Bullet in it and that Barrel would COME ALIVE!!

With the above Said, I have Switched to PURE Soft Lead For ALL my Hunting Bullets in the Rifles i own that will Shoot Soft lead Well, And Hold in my Bores without fear of Slipping off the Powder Charge (Some Won’t hold a Soft lead Bullet well) In these few Rifles i have No Choice but to use a little Harder bullet so they will Hold the Bore Snug.

Why the Change to Pure Lead? Pure Soft Lead Simply performs better in Recovery Tests i have personally Done, Ron L Tests Show this CLEARLY as well. I have Recovered Several 1:30 Alloy Bullets in Soft Dirt That Didn’t do much at all, For Hunting I want a Bullet to Mushroom, ROLL Back in a Ball. For Targets, I don’t care what they do as long as the Holes are touching

I am Currently Running 3 Seperate lead Pots, Pure Soft Lead, 1-40 Alloy, and 1-20, Each of These Pots are SPECIFIC and ONLY get Certified Lead/Alloy, I get it Buffalo Arms, i have tested each SEVERAL times with my Cabin Tree Lead Hardness Tester and get the SAME Result each time, The Pure Lead, and Alloy i get from BACO is VERY Consistent

I invite each and everyone of you to Play Around with an Alloy of Say 1-20, 1-30, VS Pure Soft Lead, Poured from the Same Bullet Mold Of Course. See if you can tell a Difference? I just don’t believe the Harder Bullet is a Great Option on Game, They are gonna Poke a Smaller Hole Straight Through.

Most everyone knows that i am a BIG BACO Fan (Buffalo Arms Co.) I live 20-30 minutes from them, and do 99% of my Business There. One thing i find a Bummer is Their Cast Bullets, Look at the Lead used, ALL 1-20 Alloy, i Feel that is WAY to Hard for a Hunting bullet, I wish they would offer Different Lead/Alloy Options in their Home Cast Bullet line. BACO doesn’t Cast Their own, they Get them from BitterRoot, i guess they Stil do? I quit paying attention to them.

 

[Sideshow]

I useda snover nose w hp in my swedged sabot rounds in my 410 . Had to add a stainless .125 tube slit on 4 sides --super glued in , to stop slump . It shoots . Used wet newspaper to check mushroom and penetration . Beautifull performance !!! Big dummy shot them ALL up yesterday . Deer opener is nearly here and i cant give that kind of time to make more before i hunt . @#$% IDIOT !!!!!! Honestly believe a .500 deep .125 to .150 dia hole , w a pbillips screw driver x started in it ( the marks left in the lead) would work w a harder alloy , kinda like tbe barnes X bullet !!!! No time to do it before season on full size connical . DAMN. Or just slot ogive 4 ways and add a bb or a ball bearing to slam it open on impact w 40 to 1 and a snover nose ??? What can i say , tbats me......

 

[Sideshow]

I useda snover nose w hp in my swedged sabot rounds in my 410 . Had to add a stainless .125 tube slit on 4 sides --super glued in , to stop slump . It shoots . Used wet newspaper to check mushroom and penetration . Beautifull performance !!! Big dummy shot them ALL up yesterday . Deer opener is nearly here and i cant give that kind of time to make more before i hunt . @#$% IDIOT !!!!!! Honestly believe a .500 deep .125 to .150 dia hole , w a pbillips screw driver x started in it would work w a harder alloy , kinda like tbe barnes X bullet !!!! No time to do it before season on full size connical . DAMN.

Still gotta lube it though !!! Lol !!!!

 

[Sideshow]

Still gotta lube it though !!! Lol !!!!

When you look at all i got going on concerning my projectiles i REALLY goofed up !!!!