Spike Camp

Hard cast bullet test.

Hard cast bullet test.
« on: April 23, 2022, 05:55:26 PM »
I finally took a bunch of 1 gallon milk jugs up north to do some comparisons  between my best soft point bear stoppers and hard cast lead bear stoppers.
And I still don't have a hard cast slug for comparison.  Because I couldn't stop one.
I had seen a guy do this on YouTube.  And his 44 magnum soft point stopped in the 4th jug.
So I started with 6 jugs for my 40 s & w with A 200 gr hard cast bullet. It blew thru all 6 jugs.
So that was a waist of 6 jugs. I then shot the 180 gr hornady critical defense with the red rubber in the cavity. It stopped in the 3rd jug. I only had 6 jugs left so I shot my 44 magnum with 250 gr. Partition.  It lodged in the back of the 6th jug and poked a hole  but stayed in the jug for me.
I know it's only water.  But both those soft point bullets are poster child quality. I was really impressed with the partition. It was prefect.
But in the end. You can't beat the hard cast for penetration.  I will have to get .ore jugs and try and stop one to see what they look like
« Last Edit: April 23, 2022, 05:58:52 PM by grizzly340 »
Mark

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Re: Hard cast bullet test.
« Reply #1 on: April 23, 2022, 08:26:26 PM »
Testing bullets is always fun. If you can find a restaurant that will save their oil jugs for you. Oil for the the deep fryer. 3 jugs equals 6 one gallon in penetration, and more water to move.
Mike

Re: Hard cast bullet test.
« Reply #2 on: April 23, 2022, 11:44:25 PM »
If I were going to hunt with a pistol/handgun caliber such as a 44 mag, 45 Colt, 454 Casull and I were huntings anything tougher than a large mule deer such as elk, moose, bear, large hogs within the handguns effective range it would be any of the better very hard cast LBT molds (Lead bullet Technology) styles,  SSK molds makes a decent design, Nei makes a good mold,  rcbs, lyman , H&G old school, Old ideal molds, any mold with a large cutting band & nose such as the better  Keith style swc (semi wad cutter) molds,   Magma makes great molds and I'm a little Bias since the founder's  kids and I are child hood friends and have at one time owned most of their equipment  they can convert  / mill a few  other 1 or 2 cavity  manufacturers  iron molds  I have a couple I got used  for use in their master casters and bullet master automated machines.  Anything made out of hardened Linotype alloys with or without gas checks depending on how hard the lead is.  Any of these bullets should have a wide Meplat (big flat tip). Since I make my own  for some of our guns and have for many years,   in the 44 mag  I like Heavy per caliber bullets in most cast bullet calibers, such as  LBT 300 gr wide flat nose or Long flat nose, (chances of leading barrels is down when using heavy per caliber bullets and of course lead hardness and barrel condition i.e. pitted worn out barrels play a huge part also).   Linotype  and 2-6 or 2-7 cast bullet alloys are a lot harder than most jacketed/plated hunting  bullet cores whether it's a rifle or handgun bullets.  Cast bullets alloys that are made specific  costs quite a bit more to make and buy vs a standard cup and core bullet which the jacket is the hardest part of their bullet and the lead core is usually swaged in which soft cheaper to buy lead is used to create some expansion in handguns and they don't always expand as advertised,  hence the use of very hard & wide Meplat handgun bullets  that  will  drive deep and  don't need to expand because they are already wide to begin with.  These big companies IMO  generally buy lead based on the London metal exchange rates and they buy in tonnage amounts  or they have other resources where they can buy materials.   If you were going to use some of these extra hard bullets in a semi-auto the big flat Meplat may not cycle correctly and will need to choke down tip diameter something like a Truncated cone design to feed properly that's what I use in the 9 mm  147 grain & 10 mm 200 grain in  semi-autos and I don't gas check these they are hard enough with full power loads.   The only  extra step I've had to do when re-loading these big heavy bullets  especially the 320's and some others is they need to be seated in 2 stages to be able to crimp.   I had guys tell me the LBT's in 44 mags used in Alaska will blow right thru a Bull Moose  broad side at handgun range.  In the 44's , 357's ,  45's,  I strictly use the powder than gives the highest velocities normally H-110 or Win 296.  I do like the old HS-7 now discontinued powder in the 10 MM auto.   There are a couple other powders that will fill the bill these are just my favorities for this application.   For penetration testing I use Oak rounds and measure the depth,  Bullet proof glass sometimes at handgun velocities,  sand,  sometimes wet news papers.  Most of the time these very hard bullets don't deform a whole lot they may smear the nose a little just like they are suppose to do.  I've even tried them in a 458 win mag full power loads in an oak round,  I guess that's why they use solids on Elephants.  To be honest I rarely buy  30-30 , 35 rem,  458 dia  jacketed rifle bullets  because for my purposes I can run  full power loads at a substantial cost savings accuracy is on par with factory jacketed bullets,   and  in these applications they work just fine. 
« Last Edit: April 25, 2022, 10:43:21 AM by zoniezonie »

Re: Hard cast bullet test.
« Reply #3 on: April 24, 2022, 05:17:34 PM »
I have been using Oregon Trail Laser Cast bullets in all my revolvers for some time. With a heavy charge IMR 4227 behind their 215 gr semi wadcutter, they are accurate and and don't lead the barrelof my 4" Mod 57. With that load I'm glad it is Magna-Ported. They also shoot well in .45 colt in my SSA and my .357 Python.
« Last Edit: April 25, 2022, 12:58:33 PM by Dino82520 »

Re: Hard cast bullet test.
« Reply #4 on: April 25, 2022, 11:16:02 AM »
If I were going to hunt with a pistol/handgun caliber such as a 44 mag, 45 Colt, 454 Casull and I were huntings anything tougher than a large mule deer such as elk, moose, bear, large hogs within the handguns effective range it would be any of the better very hard cast LBT molds (Lead bullet Technology) styles,  SSK molds makes a decent design, Nei makes a good mold,  rcbs, lyman , H&G old school, Old ideal molds, any mold with a large cutting band & nose such as the better  Keith style swc (semi wad cutter) molds,   Magma makes great molds and I'm a little Bias since the founder's  kids and I are child hood friends and have at one time owned most of their equipment  they can convert  / mill a few  other 1 or 2 cavity  manufacturers  iron molds  I have a couple I got used  for use in their master casters and bullet master automated machines.  Anything made out of hardened Linotype alloys with or without gas checks depending on how hard the lead is.  Any of these bullets should have a wide Meplat (big flat tip). Since I make my own  for some of our guns and have for many years,   in the 44 mag  I like Heavy per caliber bullets in most cast bullet calibers, such as  LBT 300 gr wide flat nose or Long flat nose, (chances of leading barrels is down when using heavy per caliber bullets and of course lead hardness and barrel condition i.e. pitted worn out barrels play a huge part also).   Linotype  and 2-6 or 2-7 cast bullet alloys are a lot harder than most jacketed/plated hunting  bullet cores whether it's a rifle or handgun bullets.  Cast bullets alloys that are made specific  costs quite a bit more to make and buy vs a standard cup and core bullet which the jacket is the hardest part of their bullet and the lead core is usually swaged in which soft cheaper to buy lead is used to create some expansion in handguns and they don't always expand as advertised,  hence the use of very hard & wide Meplat handgun bullets  that  will  drive deep and  don't need to expand because they are already wide to begin with.  These big companies IMO  generally buy lead based on the London metal exchange rates and they buy in tonnage amounts  or they have other resources where they can buy materials.   If you were going to use some of these extra hard bullets in a semi-auto the big flat Meplat may not cycle correctly and will need to choke down tip diameter something like a Truncated cone design to feed properly that's what I use in the 9 mm  147 grain & 10 mm 200 grain in  semi-autos and I don't gas check these they are hard enough with full power loads.   The only  extra step I've had to do when re-loading these big heavy bullets  especially the 320's and some others is they need to be seated in 2 stages to be able to crimp.   I had guys tell me the LBT's in 44 mags used in Alaska will blow right thru a Bull Moose  broad side at handgun range.  In the 44's , 357's ,  45's,  I strictly use the powder than gives the highest velocities normally H-110 or Win 296.  I do like the old HS-7 now discontinued powder in the 10 MM auto.   There are a couple other powders that will fill the bill these are just my favorities for this application.   For penetration testing I use Oak rounds and measure the depth,  Bullet proof glass sometimes at handgun velocities,  sand,  sometimes wet news papers.  Most of the time these very hard bullets don't deform a whole lot they may smear the nose a little just like they are suppose to do.  I've even tried them in a 458 win mag full power loads in an oak round,  I guess that's why they use solids on Elephants.  To be honest I rarely buy  30-30 , 35 rem,  458 dia  jacketed rifle bullets  because for my purposes I can run  full power loads at a substantial cost savings accuracy is on par with factory jacketed bullets,   and  in these applications they work just fine.
A lot of good info in there, but it would be a whole lot easier to read if there was a break after every two or three sentences.
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Re: Hard cast bullet test.
« Reply #5 on: April 25, 2022, 03:24:46 PM »
I have used Hunter's supply hard cast in my lever action rifle, semi auto handguns and revolvers with pretty good results on paper. Testing them sounds like a fun project.

Re: Hard cast bullet test.
« Reply #6 on: April 25, 2022, 05:48:23 PM »
Yea I know,  I'm the worst when it comes to writing  ;D ,  but at least I try to get the point out there even if I drag on as others have mentioned in the past,  jokingly of course.