The Lyman "Ideal" Mini Sharps saga continues....

[rbertalotto]

In our last episode....we had a Lyman "Ideal" Mini Sharps in 38-55 Winchester that was tumbling three different diameter "store bought" lead bullets.......

So.....

First I'd like to thank the folks that sent me bullets to test. I'll say it again, shooters are some of the nicest folks you'll ever meet! Oh, the Sharps kinda has a lever......

To the range!



So I cast a bunch of Lee bullets out of 20-1 Alloy. They dropped at .380-3805. I sized them to .379 (as that is the only sizing die I have for my Star Lubrisizer until Chris from Lathesmith gets me my .381. And I need to order a custom die at .381.

I lubed them with SPG lube.

Shooting in a hurricane at 50 yards I turned in a number of GREAT five shot groups. Here is a representative example.



I also loaded up a few bullets that were donated to the cause. Here is what they turned in! These were .381 and simply shot great. This is why I decided to move to .381

(Six Shot Group)

But the strange part of this whole episode is the fact that the "store bought" bullets, cast with the same Lee mold I'm using and measuring .379, all tumbled. Yet my .379 bullets were not tumbling and were extremely accurate.......Huh?

I also shot some "Cash" bullets at 100 yards. I was using a large post in the Lyman 17 front sight. It would have been better with a circle front sight.
This is a five shot group! Talk about two bullets in the same hole!



This is just a fantastic little rifle. The double set triggers are great and at just about 6 pounds, it will be a great "Walk Around" hunting rifle......

[rjohns94]

Very nice. Well done.

[TedH]

Looks like you found the winner.

[AJMD429]

Wonder if the store-bought ones had bubbles or something in them; did you weigh some of them to see if they were as consistent as the ones you cast...?

[Old Savage]

Nice work - pics of the rifle?

[Stan in SC]

My thoughts exactly,OS.Pics of the rifle??

Stan in SC

[Griff]

Congratulations. Great groups. Nose shape, length of bearing surface, amount and type of lube will all have an effect on bullet stability. Barrel length and twist rates also play a part, as does groove diameter and depth. Sometimes, we boil that all down and say "weight"; when in fact, it's the combination of thse factors that's the real factor(s). I have 7 different guns in .45Colt. Luckily, they all pretty much like all the bullets I load for them. I have a favorite bullet for the handgun, a 185 grain WFN. At ~800fps it's accurate (like 4" groups - best I can probably do nowadays) out to 50 yards in my 4-¾" SAAs... but won't consistently hit a 12" target at 50 yards from my 24-¼" barreled 1873! Black powder, and 4 different smokeless powders were tried.

[rbertalotto]

Hi Griff,

But in this case the bullets were from the same model mold. Both of use were using Lee 250g mold.

Strange!

Pictures of the Lil' Sharps







more pictures in photo album
www.rvbprecision.com

[Old Savage]

Great looking rifle.

[M. M. Wright]

What more could a man want? Gorgeous rifle and outstanding groups too.

[Griff]

Hi Griff,
But in this case the bullets were from the same model mold. Both of use were using Lee 250g mold.
Strange!

Not so strange. Any manufactured part will have some discrepancies between items. The first mold off the cherry will be somewhat larger than the last one, and will probably be round, while the last one might look round... but could be not quite so concentric. While both may fall within the manufacturer's tolerances... just like barrels... First ones made on a mandrel might go .381, and later ones might be .379... both within spec, but very different results!

PS, like OS sez, that's a beautiful rifle.

[CJM]

Your store bought bullets were probably a lead-antimony alloy that is much harder than the 20-1 lead-tin that you cast. So your bullets "slug-up" from the pressure as exit the case and grab the rifling so they are spinning properly and go straight when they exit the muzzle; the hard-cast bought bullets don't and tumble when they exit the barrel.

[rbertalotto]

CJM...I believe you are correct. I don't have a hardness tester, but my "pocket knife" tedt seems to confirm what you are suggesting....Thanks

[Bill in Oregon]

Ya know, Steve Garbe killed an elk a few years back with a .38-55 loaded with black powder and cast bullet. You are a well-armed man!

[hfcable]

i probably missed it, but what is the bore diameter on this beautiful little gun?

[rbertalotto]

Best I can measure..... .3795

[hfcable]

was hoping they would use something between 375-377
that explains a lot. marlin i beleive uses the larger diameter too.

would be nice if they would use the smaller so a wide range of readily available bullets could be utilized. well, i still want one at that

[rbertalotto]

My new Winchester 94 in 38-55 is .376. My .379 bullets work wonderfully in this rifle.

No big deal on the Lyman rifle. Just need a custom die at .381

[Ysabel Kid]

Very cool!