TargetTalk

Greetings,

I will probably test in a fast twist 0.308 or 0.311 barrel. Undecided.

I just happened to have a 0.3115 greaser die for my Star. This way, there is minimal effort loading the sized blank into a 0.312" swaging die.

With cast bullets, it is best to size only enough to true up the bullet. Usually about 0.0005" to 0.001".

Cheers,

Dave

Dave, I noticed on the CB website that I won't be needing to send you any molded HBWC's since you finally took the plunge. I hope I am still young enough to shoot when it gets here.
I sent some Saeco molded bullets to IPshooter to see if he gets results as good as I got. I gave some to one of my friends in my group and he was very satisfied with them. He was quite handicapped testing because none of his guns will easily accept scope mounts. He also trimmed his brass. I am going to load some of the H&N bullets with the most times fired un uniform brass length measurements that I can find. If my results are as I expect I am going to trim all the brass just enough to square up the ends but not make them the same length to see if my problem is length or unsquare ends. I did measure some more new Lapua brass. I did about 50 rounds and found one at .910 and one at .919. However, most all are .914-.916. When I get a chance I am going to go through several hundred and will post what the results are. What I don't know is whether the case length varies within one case, in other words is it unsquare. I tried to measure that and it wasn't easy to do. I also ordered a .002 larger brass sizing die from Lee. I tried to find the taper crimp die that you recommended by the number but didn't find it. A friend gave me one marked TC 5. I expect that this is the same as what you are talking about but with a 5 degree crimp instead of 4. -- Bill --

Greetings,

Tested my home made HBWC bullets. They show promise and I will continue to experiment. However, Speer and H&N factory bullets are still Number One.

Test Parameters..

4.5" Stainless Shilen barrel
1:12 twist 0.308 Bore Diameter Six Groove
Custom Match Chamber
Groups fired at 50 yards from mechanical fixture.

Cheers,

Dave

It looks like the Mihec mold is about to be manufactured also. From what I understand, it will be soon. -- Bill --

Greetings,

I am on the list, as well.

I am hoping this will provide an alternative to buying commercial bullets.

Cheers,

Dave

I got such good results with the Saeco 98 that really, nothing else is necessary but it will be fun to mess with the HBWC's anyway. Have you ever had the chance to try them. If not and you want some to try, let me know and I give you some out of my stock.

Greetings Oldcaster,

I suspect your Saeco mould is the #323. It is very similar to the H&G #66, which I have. The bullets work well in factory barrels. My problem is Lead fouling. What bullet lube do you use?

Cheers,

Dave

Yes Dave, it is the Saeco 323 FBL. I guess the FBL means flat bevel. I molded the bullets but haven't bought a sizing die for my star yet because I still haven't decided what size to get since I might still change my barrel to something smaller. Consequently I gave the bullets to a friend and he sized the bullets and says he used Saeco Gold lube and only lubed the two bottom grooves. It is quite greasy and anoying to handle but it worked well. His die, according to my mic measures a little smaller than .314. Right now my star is set up with Dardas hard blue lube and I did lube up some .32's with a die I made on the lathe for the Star but I had to make the hole a tad over .314 so it really doesn't size the bullet but just puts lube on. I shot some and thought they were alright but I shot only 20 of them so not enough shots to get in trouble with leading. I did buy the Lee .002 larger brass sizing die to not work my brass so much but it didn't seem much bigger than stock as my expander still is hard to pull out. I also got a taper crimp die but school is still out on that one. I had better get out soon to finish testing all of the variables I have because the HBWC mold may be here soon at which time I can start over.-- Bill --

Just to clear up my mind - by swaged do you guys mean a factory projectile like lapua or hornady, made in a press or something. By cast, I assume you are talking about homemade lead projectiles, made by melting lead into a mould.

For the most part that is correct but swaged bullets which means "pressed into shape" can be made as a home project also and if you look a couple of posts up you will see that this is exactly what Dave Wilson did. Others have cast a bullet with a mold and finished swaging to shape. Swaged bullets are usually fairly soft for two reasons, One is that it is easier and the other is because they shoot good. -- Bill --