Zn/Cu alloy

popper

Well-Known Member
Haven't stuck one in years, IMHO it's the soft alloy. Pounded 3 out of different sizers last night. Don't want anything that prevents lube or PC sticking.
 

popper

Well-Known Member
Comparison of isocore & Cu/Zn/Sb alloy. 185gr GC, iso are PCd, other is BLL. 50 yds. Vertical is probably me. Same load of 16gr 2400. Looks like I'll be using the Zn'd with BLL from now on in the 30/30.
 

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fiver

Well-Known Member
I think it's partially you and partially the load.
16gr of 2400 is right on the edge.

but that's pretty good,,,, really, look at the groups.
a little vertical on the one but the other is nice and round.
 

popper

Well-Known Member
Kind out of book data.
OK, the Zn works good. Next experiment. Ecoat PC - PC, H2O, boric acid & voltage. Static fluid bed worked but not well, maybe this will.
 
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popper

Well-Known Member
Got to test the Sb/Cu/Zn alloy on a piggy this week. Had 2 in the trap, a brown @110# & black @90#. He got the brown immediately with 40M&P, I used the BO pistol with SeeAll sight. I got hits but it got lost in the mesquite & johnson grass weed. 31-182 GC BLL. It went ~30 yds, & turned left. Thought I saw a black hump through the thicket & took a 'hail mary' shot, Buddy thought it stumbled but we couldn't find it, I didn'have boots on and there are rattlers around so I was careful but didn't push too hard (he was down a couple weks age, went to turn on the water and a large one was at the valve). Found a good blood trail but lost it. Anyway, had the 30/30 with same alloy & boolit so I tested on brown, through the front shoulder area (both are running somewhere around 15-1600). No exit hole but took out front leg. Tried another shot just forward of the rear legs. Nice 30 cal hole in & ~45 sized exit. Looks good to me. Hauled brown to the other side of the field and it was too hot for buddy to mow so he asked if I wanted to shoot some rifle. Then he remembers he has a steel target from a couple years ago he hadn't used - we could go try 200 yds. He's never shot an AR10(LR308 carbine 1:10) & I never shot 200 before. Anyway, I let him start Took a few shots to get the range right (BDC reticle). He got several hits on the lower part, then got a couple on the top and tipped it. Drive down & reset, back & my turn. Ding. Reset, ding, reset, ding, reset. This is 165gr. PC cast (31-165C isocore - no tin - & Cu 2400 fps) 2" group. Did find a 1/2x1/2" slice of alloy but no GCs.Really happy, we the tried Hog Hammer ammo. Ding, reset (his shot). I went just over the top. At $1 a round, we decided to go to 50yds and use the BO pistol - he never shot one before. I told him to cheeck the tube but he place it in his shoulder first shot. Target is leaning ~ 15 deg forward so the 150 SP & 155 Amax wouldn't tip it unless you fired several shots to get it to tetter. He grouped ~ 3"x1" high, I did about the same. Then we started for dove, he get 3 - me zero. Then I tried a pattern of my shotgun - terrible. Federal dove/target 7 1/2 20ga. His box blind got blown down so we spent some time trying to figure how to get it up on the 16' stand.
Anyway, good results, will post steel pics when he emails me.
Oh, SeeAll worked real well, easy to acquire a running pig and good group @ 50 yds.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
a lot of shotguns don't like the cruddy wad and soft shot those promo shells use.
the users generally tighten their chokes up to full or even a bit more for 30yd shooting.

that round in the 30-30 sounds like it would be real good on a deer, punching a shoulder on a pig is not the easiest thing to penetrate.
 

popper

Well-Known Member
Pic as promised. Big splat is 7 mag he shot a few years back. None dented the plate but just a very small (0.1"?) dimple. 30/30 test pig, other got away. 20ga shells are fed. target & dove 7 1/2 loads. Rio & estate shoot better.
 

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fiver

Well-Known Member
the Rio's use a better wad and better shot.
the estates [white box] with the brass head are also good shells, their silver heads are about the same as the promo federals.
I know it's odd but the brass ones come from France, the silver [red/yellow box] are run right on the federal equipment right down to the hull making machines, but they are a bit better load because they use a different shot and wad.
the two hulls and primers are exactly the same just a different color in 12 ga.
now the kicker Rio makes some stuff for Federal [the field and target line with the brass head]
and federal re-brands the Rio shot as their own.
Rio has a state of the art plant in Texas and makes all kinds of stuff for shot shell use there but also still imports stuff from Spain.
just like Estate does from France.
confusing?
to make it simple buy Estates from France and the actual Rio product.
they are within a dollar a box of the promo stuff but 2 notches above in quality.

anyway that's a good size Pig.
big enough to get meat off but not to the big stinky stage.
it looks like the alloy performed pretty well.
 

popper

Well-Known Member
Wife's birthday today so I told her I would celebrate with fireworks. Not a great response. Anyway, BO carbine, 182gr GC soft alloy. 2x BLL ~ 1700 fps. Shot a 155 amax first to check scope. 4 GC, then a couple 170 PB with PC on base, BLL coated. Then 2 more 182gr GC. Obviously the PB didn't work (on a different target - not worth posting).
 

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fiver

Well-Known Member
not too far away from the A-max it looks like you could shoot them interchangeable without too much trouble.
I see a little vertical dispersion there?
 

popper

Well-Known Member
Time to recycle the soft PB ones to GC ones. Next up is the 308W. The CFE BLK worked fine but couldn't get more than 17.4 i and seat the boot to the COL that works in the chamber. My new slow & heavy hunting alloy. Back to the hard alloy for HV & target. Scope is sighted for 142GR PB @ 100. Pretty sure the vertical is me. At least the big steps.
 

popper

Well-Known Member
I wanted to use 18gr. for a load but it turned out to be compressed so I dropped back to 17.4 That high one could have been the compressed one, who knows? high was the second shot. Poured a bunch of GC this morning but have noticed that dropping the mould on the Lee melter support immediately after pouring caused an immediate dimple in the sprue which then gets larger as it cools. Fillout is much better, almost no culling to do.
As for her birthday, I took her with friends to a good dinner and reminded her I didn't put '70' in giant letters or a bunch of black balloons in the front yard. All the kids and grand kids and friends called to wish her a good one. Happy camper.
 
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