[Husker]

I stumbled across a partial box (600 of 1000) of Oregon Trail .452dia 250gr RNFP bullets that I couldn't pass up.  Now I'm starting to wish I had.

I have tried a number of different loads with this bullet for my 45 Colt Vaquero.  So far, all of them lead my barrel badly after only a few rounds.  I don't have a leading problem with other bullets, although they have all been hard cast from either BTB or Cast Performance.

Any load ideas to get these to shoot without leading the barrel?

 

[Marshall Stanton]

Husker,

sorry to hear of your frustration.  Try a mild load of 9.0 grains of Hodgdon Universal Clays with any large pistol primer.  Should yield about 900 fps and mild pressures.  If this doesn't work, try 9.5 grains of Accurate AA #5 powder for about the same type of load.  The AA #5 has a lower flame temperature, and may be a bit more forgiving than the Universal Clays.

No promises, but these loads have been very forgiving, and quite accurate with other garden variety hard cast generic type bullets of this weight in the .45 LC.

Let us know if these work!

God Bless,

Marshall

 

[IDShooter]

Husker,
     I'd be interested to know if you come up with a good load that doesn't lead. I have had quite good luck with Oregon Trail  .30 caliber bullets in rifles but when I tried their .44 bullets they leaded my cylinder and forcing cone. And I don't believe it was because they were undersized; they would not fall through the cylinder throats, so if they were any larger they would have just been swaged down anyway.  I never did figure it out. Good luck!       IDShooter

 

[Leadslinger]

Here is a good one.

Take a cast iron pot and heat it up over medium heat (outside) add 600 Oregon Trail bullets, 2 or 3 lbs. of pure lead and stir. After their all good and melted add some flux (sawdust, wax whatever you have) skim off the crud and ladle pour this mixture into a pre-heated, clean bullet mould.....

(there is a subtle hint in this message)  <!--emo&--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''><!--endemo-->

 

[IDShooter]

Leadslinger, No need to beat around the bush that way!! :biggrin:    ID