450Bushmaster.net

I finally got my hands on my own cast hollow points after waiting months for the group buy mold tailor made for the 450BM by NOE. For my first casting session, I decided on straight wheel weight alloy with at least 2% tin added. They weighed about 290 for the HP and 305 for the cup point.



Bullets were then sized to .452 and checked with tall aluminum gas checks from Sages outdoors. Finally bullets were powder coated.

I used previous load data experience to load to about 1850fps with H110 so I could test expansion/weight retention. This was the focal point of my initial testing. I'll be doing accuracy later.

Bullets were shot into water jugs with a series of variables including age, cooling method, and cup or hollow point.

The best expansion and retention came with air cooled cup points that were aged at least 3 weeks. The velocity seemed too fast across the board for the hollow points, I'm not sure what alloy would be best for those. Fresh cast bullets were too soft as well.

Hopefully the accuracy testing goes well.

Nice looking pills there.Nothing wrong with that expansion either!!

Maybe try water quenching them to harden them up some?

Al in Mi wrote:Maybe try water quenching them to harden them up some?

Yes sir, quenching was one of my variables. I think it made the bullets too brittle. The quenched bullets looked like they shed the expanded lead. You'll have to look closely at the picture with bullets on the paper, I wrote kind of small.

I may try a light subsonic load with the HP. I just need some trail boss to play with.

Very interesting, looking forward to updates

07Kingpin wrote:Very interesting, looking forward to updates

Yes, same here!

Those look like they expanded well. Nice report!

I finally got to shoot a ladder sample of these, and since I was low on H110, I decided to do it with Lil Gun. I was impressed by the results, and increased speeds I got compared to jacketed bullets of the same weight. I'm assuming the velocity increase is due to reduced bore friction.

Loaded to 2.13", used Lee factory crimp, and HP bullet.
Using 1:24 twist 18" GLFA barrel.
Fired from lead sled at 100 yards.

29gr LG: no reading
30gr LG: 1915 fps
31gr LG: 1982 fps
32gr LG: 2114 fps



Since I only shot 3 of each loading, take the velocity with a grain of salt. I did have big ES numbers with 32gr. Will be loading more up at 30gr to see if I can repeat the accuracy I saw.

Assuming that top center target is 30gr. That's a keeper!
I don't care what the velocity is. Your gun is talking to you there.

Hoot

Yes, 30gr load top center. Even the 31 grain load is good for what I expected. It is interesting that the point of impact shifted so much with a grain difference between loads.

Hoot wrote:Assuming that top center target is 30gr. That's a keeper!
I don't care what the velocity is. Your gun is talking to you there.

Hoot

Yeah. I would say he found an accuracy node.