[Guest]

I am currently reloading Lee Cast 9mm 126 grain TC tumble lube bullets. I have encountered a yawing/tumbling problem with this bullet. At loads of 3.0 to 3.3 grains of Bullseye, there is little or no problem at 25 yards with this bullet. These loads will shoot approx. 3" groups from the bench. When I go from 3.4 all the way up to 4.2, the yawing turns into a complete sideways entry of the bullet into the target (tumbling). The heavier the charge of powder, the more of the bullets that will tumble. At 4.2 grains of Bullseye, almost all of the bullets I will shoot will enter the target sideways, thus leaving the bullet profile cut through the target. The same thing occurrs with Titegroup powder. Anybody else have this problem with tumble lube bullets. No wisecracks about tumble lube bullets are supposed to tumble. Suggestions anyone???? I have not chronographed any of these charges to see what the actual velocity is. 4.2 Bullseye should be just under 1,100 fps.

 

[Will_M]

What gun? What barrel length? Do you know the rifling twist rate?

Is that charge of 4.2 listed for jacketed bullets or lead?

 

[SubGunFan]

Bullets might be undersized. Try sizing .357 then .358.

(Assuming you are currently sizing .356)

Also.... yes, what gun? From past experience the Browning Hipower didn't like lead bullets (thumbing).

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[Guest]

XD(M)9, 4.5" barrel, 4.2 is listed for lead bullets, bullets sized to .356, bore slug is .354

 

[SubGunFan]

Hmmmmmmmmm.... Could the bullets be oversized....? I would not think .002" would make a difference. Undersized YES, but not oversized.

My 40S&W XD shoots my .401 lead bullets great. I know, 9mm and 40S&W don't act the same.

I also would not think barrel twist was the problem.........

Have you tried casting the bullets harder (adding more Tin)...?

If possible, try some factory cast (or friend cast) lead bullets lubed with a wax lube. That way we can verify if it is just your lead bullets. PM me.... I will send you some .355 - 120gr LRN 9mm bullets to load and try.

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[Guest]

My XD(M)40 (both of them) and my XD(M)45 shoot the tumble lubed bullets very good with no tumbling or yawing. I am going to cast some 126 grain round nose (tumble lube)in the morning and see how they shoot. The hardness of the bullets is between 11.9Bn and 12.6Bn. The tin content of the lead is right at 4%. Plenty enough. There are no signs of base melt in the shot bullets and absolutely no barrel leading. If I had either, I would say soft bullets. What is really puzzling is going up in powder charge by .2 with each load increases the problem by a few more tumbling bullets. i.e. load 3.4= 1 or 2 bullets out of ten that tumble, 3.6= 2 or 3 bullets that tumble, 3.8= 3 or 4 that tumble all the way through 4.2 where 90 to 100% tumble. I am inclined to believe that the bullet itself (the TC design) loses stability as the velocity increases or I have a very slight off center mold array that molds the bullets very slightly off center. I appreciate your offer to send me some bullets to try but I want to exhaust what ideas and tools I already have before I use something else.

 

[SubGunFan]

I have a 525gr 45-70 bullet that I cast for my Buffalo Classic. When I get them above 800-900fps they sound like Bumble Bees flying downrange they tumble so bad. Below 800fps they are fine. However, with these 45-70 bullets I think it is a barrel twist problem. In the future I will try sizing .459 instead of .458 to see if that helps any......................... Man, I want those "mortar shells" to work.............

Does anyone know if Springfield Armory uses a different type of rifling in their 9mm barrels (unlike the 40s and 45s)....? However, it is true that 40s and 45s do fly slower than 9mm (less some 40s in the 1200fps range).

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[quigleysharps4570]

I have a 525gr 45-70 bullet that I cast for my Buffalo Classic. When I get them above 800-900fps they sound like Bumble Bees flying downrange they tumble so bad. Below 800fps they are fine. However, with these 45-70 bullets I think it is a barrel twist problem. In the future I will try sizing .459 instead of .458 to see if that helps any......................... Man, I want those "mortar shells" to work.............

That 525 gr. is that the real sharp spire point one? I reload the 535 gr. Postell bullet for a friend that has that rifle and it shoots fine. Can't recall what his load chrony's at but the smokeless load for my Sharps with that bullet is 1600 fps. and no problems.

 

[SubGunFan]

First, sorry Jody for the hi-jack.........

The 525s are from a Mountain Molds mold that I designed. It is a RNFP bullet. I had ordered a 405gr RN (with small flat point for leverguns) that I designed from Mountain Molds and that bullet shoots great. I liked the first mold so much, I decided to try a heavier bullet. I only went on weight and looks since I know little about bullet properties..... The 525s might be too long for the twist rate I have in the H&R B.C.

WOW...... 535gr at 1600fps...... Those puppies must kick like a mule................

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[quigleysharps4570]

Kick...not too bad.