WB
Walked down to the shop to take a pic or two.
Tuesday, January 02, 2018, 14:17

And please look below where Gary and I were discussing squibs and in actual agreement. Magnum primers help prevent problems as you get up to full case loads of powder. Get you some Magnum primers.

I was impatient to get me a .510 mould and start making my own bullets. LEE makes some inexpensive aluminum ones in double cavity that are very useful but TOO HEAVY to use as is. One is the old Ideal 450 gr. for the 50-70 carbine load and the other is a 500 gr. FN with a very thick base band. Still for less than $30 with handles who could resist. I read an article about these guys cutting moulds for their Spencer carbines making 350 gr. bullets.

Tank Hoover wrote an article about it but I don't know if it was ever published, yet. I removed the sprue plate and cut the bottom of the bullet cavities to make my own special .510 GNR bullet.

The best design for me. A 330 gr. naked FP with a very short crimp shank for the 15 gr. Gator ".50 short rifle" gas check. Fully suited with check and lube it weighs a little less than 360 grs. They drop at 0.515" and I size first to .512" using a Lyman 450 then final 0.510" in a LEE push through sizer.

I've played with the various options as I trimmed it down. First I tried a three band w/gas check that weighs 420 gr. I found it a bit too beastly in recoil and wasteful in resources. Switching to 350 gr. in comparison every 4th bullet is free! Next was a 375 gr. plain base (shown raw). Truthfully it is about all you need and saves that gas check and the install step. You could shorten it one lube groove too. I finally settled on the 350-360 gr. as shot that begins as a .515 330 gr. naked bullet. The shank is what's left of the old lube groove but it works fine. I did the same to the 450gr. style LEE and ended up with a more pointy 410 gr. gas check bullet. It's the slug I shot two completely through a young Bison at only 1050 fps. This mimic's one of Gary's stories in his book. I was very pleased to repeat and validate his findings. You don't need to push it that hard!

(All three of these are the same bullet examples at different stages of modification as I shortened the mould)

In my bullet pile you'll find another bullet, maybe one of Randy's a WFPGC. Great bullet. However I was experimenting, note it is over half in half out of the case seated to the crimp. My modified bullet is only 1/3 of it's length inside the case, taking advantage of the ample cylinder capacity and leaving more case capacity to lower pressures. A dozen years ago I actually tested what I could do using this to my advantage for more power. I was able to rival .500 Linebaugh speeds at what seemed safe pressures using 4227. However recoil was brutal as is the .500 LB.

My favorite load is the 350 gr. bullet and about 27/29 gr. of 4227 with a LG Pistol Mag. primer. Toned down considerably from GNR's load manual. It will shoot through anything I can imagine this side of big bears and African critters. Probably them too! The flat point is smaller but effective, the bullet flies well and penetrates very straight.

I have a standing offer to anyone who desires a modified LEE mould for their .510 GNR. Get it to me and I'll modify it for free (in my lathe) as you desire, all it costs is the mould and shipping.

Green line shows two of the different WFNGC bullets that fill up more of the case when seated. A good bullet too.