Cast bullets, again

I recently scored a complete set of "Handloader" magazine, in binders, from issue 1 to 156.
I had previously bought the CD ROM version of it and the "Rifle" sister publication.

Anyway, in the July-August 1980 issue is a very useful article on cast bullets and Teflon tape as a lube / "heat shield".

It might be useful if the "gatekeepers" could see if Wolfe Publishing would allow a posting of the complete article here.

To the "meaty bits":

The authors played with bullets loaded into .243Win, .308Win, .30-06, 7 x 57 and .30-30.

Reported results are excellent, with 150grain bullets being successfully driven to 2,615 fps from a .308Win and at 2,820fps from a .30-06. That is fairly steaming for a cast bullet.

The catch is that they used a "Loverin" style bullet that has many narrow "grease-grooves" along the bullet. A gas-check is also used.

"Lee" apparently don't make a Loverin style mould in .312 size, nor do Lyman.
However, Cast Bullet Engineering in Sydney, Australia have several candidates, a couple of 176gn, .310 designs; (310176L and 313176L) and a 190gn model (313190L). The 190 grain job looks like the best prospect.

The CBE site is here: CAST BULLET ENGINEERING - Home


As with a lot of .303 ammo info, you can use the same bullets in your trusty 7.7 Arisaka or 7.65 Mauser

Here are some Loverins in common vintage military diameters. All of them can group very will with the right alloy, load, and lube. Seems a shame to muck them up with tape - but maybe they aren't intending the common plumbers' white stuff.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../2m2gmz6-1.jpg

In the USA, used blocks can sometimes be found at reasonable prices since these were quite popular moulds not too long ago.

The good thing about using Teflon tape is that it doesn't pick up grit and other rubbish as wax lubes seem to. Also, in warm places (Southern Texas, most of Australia, the lube cannot melt all over the bottom of the ammo box on the range. If ALL the lube grooves are inside the neck ONLY, like most pistol bullets, things should be OK. With the long, "groovy" Loverins, this could be a challenge.

I suppose you could keep them in the "Esky" / "Chilly-bin" / "cooler"with your lunch and cold drinks.

There is another product that MIGHT be worth trying: "Tectyl", a waxy preservative from the Valvoline stable. It is perfect for sealing up bits of old motorbikes, machinery (and guns) so that they do not corrode in said warm (and humid) climes. Sets quite hard, but fairly slowly and is fairly stubborn when you have to clean it off.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bruce_in_Oz

"Tectyl", is fairly stubborn when you have to clean it off.

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I've got a few T/A's working for me that could vouch for that!
Still, better that than dealing with a stored part that has gone rusty...

Might have opportunity to try some experiments with 7,65 Argentine cast bullet loads soon. 3-4 week backlog on orders from Grafs. Did not order the Loverin type bullet mould, though. Which would set things back a further month at minimum...