A revolver man writes - Crossfire: letters to GUNS - Letter to the Editor

In the January issue I found John Taffin's "Practice Loads" article very interesting. Because heavy (300-grain) bullets moving at moderate velocities from .44 Magnums or .45 Colts are what I consider "practical" loads, I have experimented with them for years. I've even tried the same 300-grain FP Oregon Trail bullets with the same charges of Unique and HS-6 powder John Taffin mentioned in his article.

The problem I've encountered is leading in the first inch or two of my barrels. I'm sure the leading has two causes--first Oregon Trail Bullets are cast hard, and second they have bevel bases. I've used Oregon Trail bullets successfully in higher-pressure loads, but in low or moderate pressure loads they just don't seem to expand properly to seal the barrel--I think the expansion is called "obturation," but I'm not sure.

Anyway, the result of non-expansion is hot gas leaking up the sides of the bullets, actually cutting and melting the bullets in my barrels. Then, because the alloy is so hard, it's a tedious job to clean it out.

I've pretty well given up on moderate loads using commercially cast bullets. My own cast .44 and .45 caliber 300-grain plain base bullets work fine. That is when (not often) I have the ambition to cast them.

Jimmie R. Young

Via E-mail

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