Another Lead Hardness Question of Sorts

S

SpringOWeiler

New member
I've reached my limit on patience for the manufactures to restock reloading components. It seems like our unified support over the last year and a half has translated into 125-150% price increases on ammo and components in my area. Thank year Sierra, Hornady, Speer, Federal, and all the others. Even my budget sources have been dried up for over 6 months. The only solution i see is to start casting again.

I'm planning on focusing my efforts on the 7.62x39mm. I would like to use the 160gr tumble lube gas checked design. I plan on melting down range scrap as my primary source of lead. I'm under the impression that range scrap is essentially pure lead or 8-12BHN. However, since I'm using a gas check is the lead suitable to shoot at 1900-2100fps? Or do i need to buy a hardener and do a little bit of math to find the proper wt%? Also I'll be getting something in the 405+gr wt range for my 1895gg 45-70. I don't have a mold picked out would love suggestions for that gun.

I'm pretty new to smokeless casting, I've only made 50 cal minnie balls for a knight inline, and 45cal 200 concials for a colt walker repo. I think I have the the basic process down, but almost zero experience to base it off of.

Thanks!
 
My thoughts

The 45-70 will probably be happy with 10-12 bhn, the speed you speak of in the 7.62x39 will need a harder alloy probably in the 16-18 bhn & a check .

Also consider the action of the 7.62x39 , if gas operated lead will be a problem sooner or later no matter how hard.
 
Yeah it's a ak. Wasr10/63 .3115 groove diameter avg. Does lead cause problems in the gas operated rifles? Or just a mess? I don't mind cleaning a mess.
 
I'm planning on focusing my efforts on the 7.62x39mm. I would like to use the 160gr tumble lube gas checked design.
Click to expand...
Oh, Dear God!!! The internet just exploded! You can't shoot bullets that heavy in an AK or SKS. It'll blow up!!

All kidding aside...
All of the above advice has been good. However, I have a personal hatred of tumble-lube designs(*). I very much prefer good, old-fashion lube grooves full of proper lube. Rifles love to make bullets "run out of lube", especially with proper loads. So, I just can't see a TL design working well for your intended purpose.

*The exception is powder coated bullets. If you're going to coat them anyway, why have deep lube grooves that won't be used?... ;)


If you want to try GC-ed range scrap, I'd probably aim for about 1,200-1,400 fps.
 
FrankenMauser:
Oh jeeze lol Well hopefully the gas impulse blows out the barrel parallel to the gas port from that titanic slug.
Thanks for the advice I'll check out powder coating, maybe it would be a better choice.

skizzums: I'll check them out and see if they have any posts about it. I'm not a fan of xtreme bullets, i've had less than satisfactory performance out of their products. I'm pretty dead set on using heavy weight bullets in this rifle, so nothing below 150gr.
 
comment from the peanut gallery!
im going to be shooting cast in my SKS
and i slugged the bore last week ugggg .3135"
so im going to powder coat some as cast .310" boolits
should work out fine
and with the powder coat one should not have to worry about gas checks
or what alloy you use, so range scrap should be just the ticket
wish me luck!
 
Let me know how it works out. I've been intrigued by the powder coating method. It'll be interesting to see how the coating holds up in a undersized bullet .
 
There's a lot of folks having very good luck with powder coated non-gas checked pills in 300 blackout in AR platforms. Fairly similar in weight and velocity to 7.62x39, so I'd venture it would be workable without a check.

There's a fair amount of experimentation still going on with fixturing methods for rifle pill electrostatic powder coating, but a LOT of methods of tumble coatings are fast and effective.

I was able to drop my alloy WAY softer with powder coating since gas cutting simply goes away with a PC. But I'm only casting for pistols.

As to range lead it is all OVER the place as far as alloy. The thing to look for is the type of bullets. If you see a bunch of pistol bullets with lube grooves, you are going to see higher bhn and experience better mold fillout due to tin content. If all you see is jacketed, well you'll probably be looking for alloying agents- tin, antimony, pewter etc.
 
Use Lyman's 457193/405gr (412-actual at BH=15) w/ AA5744 for 1,200-1,500fps out of that GBL.
(It certainly works well in mine)
Code: 
1895MarlinGBL 45-70   by volume/H=59.0 Cast 459 /Size 459              06/15/12
Lyman 405 LFN 457193 #2 (412ctual) /AA5744/31.0/ BR2/ StarLine* /OAL:2.555"
QL= 21,587psi/1,485fps (18.5") *(QLeq-Vol=84.4H20)**60% Case /HvyCrimp
Code: 
1895MarlinGBL 45-70   by volume/H=46.7  Cast 459 /Size 459              06/15/12
Lyman 405 LFN 457193 #2 (412ctual) /AA5744/24.5/ BR2/ StarLine* /OAL:2.555"
QL= 12,967psi/1,209fps (18.5") *(QLeq-Vol=84.4H20)**47% Case /HvyCrimp

33jmhpx.jpg


I recommend Liquid Alox, using Lee's push-through sizer, and 2nd light coat LLA after sizing.
(But Lyman 450 sizer using standard 50/50 Lyman beeswax/Alox works OK)
 
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The tumble lube/gas checked Lee 155's I put through my AK formed a lead ring around the gas piston hole and jammed it solid.

I do however use them in my CZ carbine.
 
(chris in va): did some normal jacket rounds clear out that project?

(Beagle333): Those sure are a hunk of bright red lead. lol

(mehavey): Thank you for all the info. I'll keep an eye out for that powder and lube them twice.
 
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