Cast (BHN) Brinell Hardness

[G-Man WC]

I came across some stats and was wondering if there correct pertaining to
muzzle velocity, BHN, and bore leading.
With cast an oversized fit of .001 - .002 is need to seal off gas is an important factor.
800 - 1000 fps = 10-12 BHN
1000-1400 fps = 12-16 BHN
> 1700 fps = 20-30 BHN
I don't plan on running cast bullets at jacketed speeds and want to find a good range load to start off my reloading career.
I picked a nice used 1894CB 45colt - 20" Marlin. I think the 45LC is a good round to start off with and get my feet wet reloading, or so I'm told.
Looking for Cowboy type loads for knocking iron down.
Missouri Bullets seem to be popular
Cowboy #1
.452 Diameter
.45 Colt (.452)
250 Grain RNFP
Going to start with the old stand by of Unique or 231. Vel between 800 - 1000fps.
My long winded question is; Do you think the Brinell or 12 is the way to go?
And would using a 18 BHN casuse excessive leading at lower vel?
Would like to hear what you all are shooting out of your 45LC levers for range work.

Thanks

-gary

[Whiterabbit]

I loaded 45LC, 454, and I load 460, here's my experience.

The numbers are GREAT for a ballpark, but aren't the end all, be all. I've shot missouri bullets @ 18 BNH (claimed) to 2400 fps (calculated), I've shot 96/6/2 moly coat (claimed max 1400) to 2000+. On the docket next is to shoot some solid copper 45 cal barnes bullets around 1000 fps (no, I'm not kidding.)

Here's my advice:

Be aware of what the math says, but don't consider it gospel. Have no fear to go outside their limits, but when you do keep an eye on things like stuck bullets, leading, etc. Don't make conclusions like a load "is bad" cause the groups are 6" then go home and find out the grooves aren't visible in the barrel cause the bore is filled with lead.

Because you might just find a load that is super accurate using a bullet that "shouldn't work" the way you are loading it.

[Whiterabbit]

But to answer your specific question, I recommend you try it. I see no problem either way, 250 @ 800-1000 fps, 12 or 18 bhn. At those levels of hardness, at the velocities you are looking at, you aren't pushing any envelope in any direction. I shoot an almost dead-soft 500 grain bullet out of a 460 S&W. No one does that and writes about it on the internet!

HOWEVER

The NRA reloading book suggests for sillouette shooting (metal targets), that softer bullets result in more energy transferred to the target, and better luck on knock-down when the velocity is on the hairy-edge of being powerful enough to do the job.

Me personally? I would pick one (probably based on cost and ease of availability), load it to maximum accuracy, THEN evaluate bore leading. No leading? dream come true. Leading? find the cause. Might be hardness, but might be bullet fit or lube, or other factor.

[Cowboy T]

For "cowboy" type loads, the softer, the better, and it has a lot more to do with pressure than velocity. Velocity is secondary. I just got through shooting some BHN 12 at full-house .44 Magnum pressure. No lead-fouling and terrific precision. What matters a lot more is proper bullet size for your chamber and bore; and having not just enough lube, but the right type for the application.

I'd suggest BHN 7 or 8 as a maximum for your non-Magnum rounds, and maybe straight wheel weights (BHN 12) for your Magnums. Also, the softer your lube is, the better. That hard Crayola-blue wax you see on store-bought cast bullets? Forget it; it doesn't help. The traditional NRA 50/50 formula, or tumble-lubed liquid Alox, are both much better lube options.

[G-Man WC]

Thanks for all the input. I don't cast so I'll need to buy.
Somewhere I remember reading that the Laser Cast Oregon Trail bullets are very hard?
I want to say BHN 20 or up, so maybe I'll stay away for the 45lc
I'll start small with a box of 500, and see what works and try
and find out what the 1894CB likes.
The strange thing is that the load data is all over the place for
Unique and 250gr pill.
Lee#2 MIN 8.0gr-850fps MAX- Same 8.0?
Speer#12 MIN-8.6 - 891fps - MAX 9.5gr - 941fps
Lyman#49 MIN 6.0gr-809fps MAX 9.0gr-1157fps
6.3gr-913fps MAX 8.2gr-1101fps
I'm guessing I should go with a recipe that the bullet caster recommends.
-g

[sargenv]

In addition to hardness, size of the bullet relative to the bore is also one factor in whether a bullet will lead up the bore. If they are undersize but very hard, they will still lead the bore more than one that is softer and of the correct size.

[Bill Steele]

In addition to hardness, size of the bullet relative to the bore is also one factor in whether a bullet will lead up the bore. If they are undersize but very hard, they will still lead the bore more than one that is softer and of the correct size.

This.

Size, lube, then everything else. That has been my experience. In semi pistols it has always been easier to get at the root cause of any serious leading. In revolvers, for me, at times it can be a real mystery, but I always get back to: bullet/bore size, then lube, then everything else.