Why not? If it doesexpand ( or obturate)upon firing, won't any marks made at loading be a moot point?
By definiton, isn't obturation a deformation of the bullet material?

I agree with you to a point. First of all it is the base of the bullet that expands at ignition. The marking will be along the whole length of the bullet if the bullet is oversized to the bore. So you are affecting the entire bullet, not just the base. Also you are affecting the bullet going in and coming out, so you have affected your bullet twice instead of once.

I also agree with Underclocked about the purest lead(as possible). but only when using a slip fit bullet. Or a bullet that is the same as bore size. If you use soft lead and your bullet is even slightly over sized then you are deforming your bullet when you push in down the barrel.

As all of you know, you will get different accuracy from different rifles shooting the same bullets. You guy's know that accuracy is inherent in the rifle, and not necessarily the projectile.

I have and still do cast a lot oflead bullet's. In MZ's, BP loads in cartridge rifles, and smokeless loads. I am only stating that I have found that the relationship of the bullet to bore size is more important(in my experience) than the particular alloy I am using. I have never noticed a difference in performance on game between WW and pure lead. They both work well. And it is easier and cheaper for me to get WW. If I could get better performance from pure lead, then I would definitely pay the difference.

And I will admit that the Half Nutz comment was a hoot. I am still laughing about that one. Tom.

The whole point of pure soft lead is to have the bullet engrave on the rifling and engage the rifling. The Lee REAL bullet seats really well in muzzles that are not crowned due to the shape of the first engraving band. It centers in the bore for that reason and shoots accurately for the same reason. Also, Lee moulds are as good as any alumininum mould around. I shoot my 320 grain bullets in my Traditions Buckskinner with 90 grains of FFF without any wad on top of the powder and it is a very accurate load. That gun does not pattern anything else except for those bullets. It has a 1 and 20 twist.

arkrivco

"love those old guns"