Soil,
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[/align]Probably the "standard" cast bullet most widely used is the Lyman #429421 plainbased SWC. RCBS's version is very good also, and both are considered "Keith" style by most. I have them both, as well as many other's, but for general shooting up to 1000-1200fps. they work fine. I've never bought cast bullets, as I've cast them since I was very young, (probably over 35yrs.), but I do know good cast bullets can be had if you know where to go.
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[/align]I normally cast them from straight WW's, air cooled to a 9BHN hardness level. Pure lead is 5BHN, and will shoot fine up to about 800-900fps., but lube and sizing is very important regarding cast.
[/align]When you buy your bullets, such as you mentioned, your kind of at the mercy of the maker's sizing & alloy parameters. The correct sizing for your gun would be a bullet that you can push through your cylinder with your thumb, and would push through "snuggly". Not dropping through, or sticking, but a good snug fit that will just push through.
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[/align]Most custom bullets are cast hard to cover a wide range of uses. Most up around mid to high teens (14-18BHN), but there area some who cast them from an alloy that's similar to linotype at 21-22BHN,and is really toohard & brittle for most cast bullet usage. Unnecessary really.
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[/align][/align][/align]As far as loads go....
[/align]With plainbased bullets that I'll be shooting at 1000-1200fps, like I mentioned, I'll use wheelweight alloy that I allow to air cool to 9BHN. I'll size them to fit the cylinder in my gun and lube them with a good 50/50 alox-beeswax mix which works well for that recipe.
[/align]I normally use 8.5-9grs. of Unique which gives me 1000fps. out of my 7.5" Rugers.
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[/align]Now, if I want a hunting load, I'll cast a Lyman #429244, which is a Thompson style SWC hollowpoint that has a gaschecked base, or a Lyman Devastator, which is also gaschecked.
[/align]I'll cast these out of wheelweights also, but I'll drop them into water (water quenching)directly from the mould. After sitting for about 12-24hours, these bullets stabilize at approx. 14BHN. Being harder, plus the addition of the gascheck allows me to push them at velocities of 1400-1500 without leading. Any gaschecked bullet will work in this manner.
[/align]Plainbased bullets will work also, but the hotter gases from the "magnum" charge has a tendency to melt the bases somewhat, and push the molten lead out onto the walls of the bore, where it waits for the next round being fired. The leadinggets progressively worse with each round. Gaschecks prevent this, and 90% of all leading anyway.
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[/align]My magnum load is usually 21.0grs. of 2400, and with those bullets mentioned, I get 1430fps average out of my Redhawk and Super Blackhawk Hunter. I've always known that 4227 is another powder comparable to 2400 when it comes to cast bullets. Both powders have a burn rate that has a "smoother" curve when it comes to cast bullets, and performs much better with them. AA#9 is another powder I plan on trying in the near future as it appears to be very close to 2400 in burn rate and grain weight.
[/align]I've tried H110, W296, and other's over the years, but they've never surpassed 2400 in accuracy with cast bullets. 4227 was very good in comparison to 2400, but I got better velocities with 2400, and slightly better accuracy. But again, they were very close.
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[/align]Hope this helps.......
[/align]Bob
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