yodogsandman
Well-Known Member
Thinking hard on Bruce B's soft point method today.
Instead of floating the mold on the melt, why not use the hot plate and set the temperature to what you want?
Can I cast say, a Lee 356-100-1R or 356-120-TC from pure lead to use for the 310gr, .35 Thumper bullet? How about a .311" round ball at 45gr for 30 cals? Soft nose weight consistency would be better. Would it matter much?
How about pre-casting soft noses to the final hunting molds nose size? They could be brought up to slump temperature in the mold on a hot plate and the mold would be hot enough to cast with a harder alloy. Less splishy, splashy mixing of the different alloys in the mold when cast?
Do we really need to stay at the 1/3 soft alloy to 2/3 hard alloy ratio. Could we use a certain size soft nose section to predict exit hole size on game? Tough one here, I like high retained bullet weight, huge frontal expansion AND secondary projectile organ damage.
Heat treat Bruce B's soft points normally?
Does the soft nose portion need to be kept off of the bearing surface of the bore and grooves? Would bullet nose slump at higher velocities matter here? Do velocities and shooting distances be kept lower?
What are your thoughts on this? Anyone have any real world experience with them and care to share how you would improve on the method?
I hate tracking wounded game and prefer that they drop within sight of the shot. My dad always said to "shoot em again" if you had any doubt because, he didn't want to have to chase em all over the mountain. I appreciate that statement more now. Bruce B's method seems the best way to go to prevent that.
Instead of floating the mold on the melt, why not use the hot plate and set the temperature to what you want?
Can I cast say, a Lee 356-100-1R or 356-120-TC from pure lead to use for the 310gr, .35 Thumper bullet? How about a .311" round ball at 45gr for 30 cals? Soft nose weight consistency would be better. Would it matter much?
How about pre-casting soft noses to the final hunting molds nose size? They could be brought up to slump temperature in the mold on a hot plate and the mold would be hot enough to cast with a harder alloy. Less splishy, splashy mixing of the different alloys in the mold when cast?
Do we really need to stay at the 1/3 soft alloy to 2/3 hard alloy ratio. Could we use a certain size soft nose section to predict exit hole size on game? Tough one here, I like high retained bullet weight, huge frontal expansion AND secondary projectile organ damage.
Heat treat Bruce B's soft points normally?
Does the soft nose portion need to be kept off of the bearing surface of the bore and grooves? Would bullet nose slump at higher velocities matter here? Do velocities and shooting distances be kept lower?
What are your thoughts on this? Anyone have any real world experience with them and care to share how you would improve on the method?
I hate tracking wounded game and prefer that they drop within sight of the shot. My dad always said to "shoot em again" if you had any doubt because, he didn't want to have to chase em all over the mountain. I appreciate that statement more now. Bruce B's method seems the best way to go to prevent that.