Cast linotype mix expanding?

[Pest889]

Hi all, I made some 30 cal a few years ago. I mixed linotype with range lead that was around 11 hardness. I was hoping to get around 17-18 with the mix. Its been a while but im pretty sure I was able to drop one through the barrel after I made them. I used the Lee C309-150F and 170F. They dont want to set up in my Henry side loader 30-30 and they dont fit in the end of the barrel. I was using them in a pre 64 Winchester. I have a sizer for my Lee loader but its not set up and I have to dig it out. If they did expand can I put them through the sizer?

 

[popper]

Yes. But you need to determine the needed size. Big problem is those are bore-ridder bullets, The body and nose are different sizes. Most likely they need nose only sizing. Nose should lay on the lands or very SLIGHT engraving. Don' know if the Lee loader will work.

 

[JonB]

Hi all, I made some 30 cal a few years ago. I mixed linotype with range lead that was around 11 hardness. I was hoping to get around 17-18 with the mix. Its been a while but im pretty sure I was able to drop one through the barrel after I made them. I used the Lee C309-150F and 170F. They dont want to set up in my Henry side loader 30-30 and they dont fit in the end of the barrel. I was using them in a pre 64 Winchester. I have a sizer for my Lee loader but its not set up and I have to dig it out. If they did expand can I put them through the sizer?

I guess I am not sure what you are taking about here?

 

[Pest889]

I guess I am not sure what you are taking about here?

the bullets seem to be bigger than they were before

 

[JonB]

let's take these one at a time.
" im pretty sure I was able to drop one through the barrel after I made them"

A bullet falling down the barrel. Is that what you meant?
Maybe cast some new ones and see if you can repeat that action.

 

[fiver]

nobody cares about the muzzle end of the rifle.
whatever you shove in the chamber will come out the right size when it gets there.

 

[Pest889]

nobody cares about the muzzle end of the rifle.
whatever you shove in the chamber will come out the right size when it gets there.

... and maybe lead my barrel?

 

[fiver]

no.....
not anymore or less of a chance than using any other alloy.
you want things to fit tight, as tight as possible but still be able to go in and out of the gun without being jammed too tightly to release the bullet or leave it behind.
heck even if it's jammed in there hard as long as the case can open to release the bullet your actually in far better shape than trying to throw a bunch of slop down the hallway.

 

[Pest889]

no.....
not anymore or less of a chance than using any other alloy.
you want things to fit tight, as tight as possible but still be able to go in and out of the gun without being jammed too tightly to release the bullet or leave it behind.
heck even if it's jammed in there hard as long as the case can open to release the bullet your actually in far better shape than trying to throw a bunch of slop down the hallway.

Thanks, I was wondering why guys were going .311 or .312 on a 30 cal

 

[Pest889]

no.....
not anymore or less of a chance than using any other alloy.
you want things to fit tight, as tight as possible but still be able to go in and out of the gun without being jammed too tightly to release the bullet or leave it behind.
heck even if it's jammed in there hard as long as the case can open to release the bullet your actually in far better shape than trying to throw a bunch of slop down the hallway.

I know some machinists. Ill get them to mic them and see what they are at

 

[imashooter2]

Your frame of reference for size is how they fit in a different barrel, so you really have no way to tell of the castings have grown or not. There is nothing wrong with minimalist reloading, but if you don’t have something as basic as a caliper or micrometer, you have to depend on tooling to make sure things are correctly sized.

How did you get the gas checks crimped?

 

[Pest889]

Your frame of reference for size is how they fit in a different barrel, so you really have no way to tell of the castings have grown or not. There is nothing wrong with minimalist reloading, but if you don’t have something as basic as a caliper or micrometer, you have to depend on tooling to make sure things are correctly sized.

How did you get the gas checks crimped?

when the checks are pushed on it pushes through a sizer for 30-30 that makes sure the diameter is right, If they expanded, (which is what I was wanting to know if that can happen) if they are too big Ill try putting thyem through the sizer again

 

[imashooter2]

No, your alloy can’t grow. Whether or not the bullets will chamber in the new barrel is easy enough to check. Load up a dummy round without primer or powder and see.

 

[Dusty Bannister]

My bullet is growing

I gave some bullets to my old lady to load in her magazine to put in her lower receiver. But it had grown to big since it was sized. Anyway, I went to load some 183gr NOE bullets for my 350 tonite. I loaded a couple and grabbed the gun to check that they would function. NOPE! They were very...

www.artfulbullet.com

 

[Pest889]

My bullet is growing

I gave some bullets to my old lady to load in her magazine to put in her lower receiver. But it had grown to big since it was sized. Anyway, I went to load some 183gr NOE bullets for my 350 tonite. I loaded a couple and grabbed the gun to check that they would function. NOPE! They were very...

www.artfulbullet.com

Thanks. Well I think they did grow some. I also think the new Henry has a tighter barrel than the old Winchester. I have a lot of loose bullets but A LOT of finished ones in casings... Ill mic them and if they are too much ill have to take them apart and push them through the sizer, hopefully that takes care of it.

 

[fiver]

you have to look at the whole picture, the body is rarely the problem.
unless your using part of it to scuff fit the leade area.
the nose is where you get bit.

 

[Pest889]

you have to look at the whole picture, the body is rarely the problem.
unless your using part of it to scuff fit the leade area.
the nose is where you get bit.

unless im not understanding... the Lee sizer resizes the whole bullet. It pushes the bullet through a 309 hole

 

[fiver]

mmmhmm but the nose is still 301 or more like 302 after the change,, and your rifles bore is still 300.

 

[Pest889]

mmmhmm but the nose is still 301 or more like 302 after the change,, and your rifles bore is still 300.

Yep definetly not understanding something. I thought u said tight was good? Why the hell is the mold a 309 for a 300 bore? So if the nose is too big then what happens?

 

[JonB]

Pest889,
Have you read up on reloading cast bullets?
like the first half of the Lyman castbullet handbook 4th Ed
OR better yet,
"From ingot to target"

From Ingot to Target

From Ingot to Target: A Cast Bullet Guide for Handgunners by Glen E. Fryxell and Robert L. Applegate Foreword by John Taffin Two RCBS 44 caliber 300 Gr. flat point molds. One mold was converted to Cramer style HP by Erik Ohlen with gas check shank removed from one cavity, casting one HP GC...

www.artfulbullet.com