Lubless bullets in 10mm Revolver

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  • Last Post 10 May 2020
John Alexander posted this 09 May 2020

 

In the March/April Fouling Shot George A. Damron V contributed an interesting article involving cast bullets in a 10mm Ruger Redhawk.  

The article featured full case loads of a "too slow" powder that produced good accuracy at half to two thirds of the muzzle velocity of factory loads, 10 to 100 shot groups, no "lube" on the bullets, no leading, and leaking primers.

The author was obviously having a good time with these unusual loads. I was fascinated with the article and wondered what some of you pistol shooters thought of it.

John

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Eutectic posted this 10 May 2020

Low pressure and thus low temperature = no leading. The full case can give low SD even with the slow powder. This also works in rifles. Tends to give unburned powder, probably a lesser problem in a pistol.

I think the graphite from the powder and the powder residue may be providing the small amount of lubrication needed.

Yes it works but is an expensive way to load moderate velocity ammunition. A small charge of a fast powder like Bullseye will give the same velocity and it will burn clean. The only advantage it is impossible to get a double charge.   

Steve

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Boschloper posted this 10 May 2020

I have considered trying some surplus 20mm powder in lead bullet 30-30 and 30-06 loads.  I had a friend who shot handgun silhouette and he loaded his bottleneck wildcat cartridges with a full case of slow powder, saying the pressure was always safe, unburned powder was common and accuracy was usually good.  With surplus 20mm powder going for $10/lb it is pretty tempting. 

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John Alexander posted this 10 May 2020

I think that is one of Darnron's motives.  He mentioned that he had 32 pounds of the surplus powder. That should shoot quite a number of 100 shot groups.

John

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RicinYakima posted this 10 May 2020

I think those of us who were active cast bullet shooters in the early '90's when Communist surplus powders were $4 a pound tried this type of thing. My thought is that the unburned powder behind the bullet just acts as a case filler so reduce gas blow by. My issue always was trying to clean the crap from the deterrent coatings from the powder out of the barrel.

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Squid Boy posted this 10 May 2020

I have used what I call "powder as filler' and had it work very well is some cartridges. The problem is it is very dirty and can be a chore to clean as RicinYakima says. They were usually accurate and had surprisingly low SD's but for the most part I have switched back to faster and cleaner burning powders. You have to try different things. Squid

"Squid Pro Quo"

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