tanfoglio1911 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 I need recommendation on which powder is best to use in lead bullets with less or minimal smoke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustygun Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 I would also like to see some recommendations. It seems the loading data for cast bullets is limited at least I have had trouble finding much data to work with. The limited info I have seen never seems to fit with the bullet weight I want to load. If anyone has a source for reloading data for lead bullets please share. I have read several "opinions" or recipes that others have used but never anything from a bullet or powder manufacturer. I have 250 180 gr SWC .400" bullets on the bench that need a all expense paid high speed trip to a target. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzt Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Any of the cooler burning fast powders will work. You can also buy bullets with the red lube. It smokes less than the blue lube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ItZallGooD Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 I never had any luck with lead in the 40. It always smoked like a chimney regardless of lube or powder. I cast my my own, so I was bummin when I couldn't get it figured out. I switched to coated bullets for the 40 to minimize the smoke factor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanfoglio1911 Posted May 30, 2015 Author Share Posted May 30, 2015 I tried a couple of powders but so far VV has lesser smoke and more cleaner. I got a lot of Titegroup but will never consider and recommend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanfoglio1911 Posted May 30, 2015 Author Share Posted May 30, 2015 Scored a couple of WSF today. I will let you know how it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustygun Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Scored a couple of WSF today. I will let you know how it works. Please let us know how the WSF works as I have a couple lbs also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanfoglio1911 Posted May 31, 2015 Author Share Posted May 31, 2015 (edited) I will let you know guys Edited May 31, 2015 by tanfoglio1911 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlchevy Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 My wsf loads for my STI's 40 s&w 180gr bayou 5.2 gr wsf 1.165 oal. 169pf 200gr bayou 4.5 gr wsf 1.180 oal. 170pf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave C Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 VV 320, WST, Solo 1000 and Ramshot Competition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sg1911 Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 Try bayou bullets, the coated bullets dont smoke or lead your barrel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanfoglio1911 Posted June 5, 2015 Author Share Posted June 5, 2015 Went to the range yesterday and shoot a couple rounds using WSF. I did not chrono and check the PF. I was just checking if it will be smoky or acceptable. Data: 180gr FP Lead CCI Primer 1.18 OAL 5.1gr of WSF STI Edge 40 Not smoky and very acceptable. Accuracy is good. I can recommend to use these powder on a regular lead bullet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamikaze1a Posted June 6, 2015 Share Posted June 6, 2015 (edited) Probably won't make major. Be close but you'll need a few more tenths to be safe... Edited June 6, 2015 by kamikaze1a Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted June 6, 2015 Share Posted June 6, 2015 4756 always worked pretty well, but, if you don't have any it probably isn't very available as it has been discontinued by Hodgdon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Nick Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 155 gr. RN Bayou Bullet 3.5 gr. WST 9 Lb. recoil spring in Limited Pro My steel load. Very light recoil and I don't notice any smoke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IATURNKEY Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 I had good luck with Universal Clays. Only problem is I haven't been able to find any for months and have switched to a coated bullet and Tight Group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanfoglio1911 Posted June 11, 2015 Author Share Posted June 11, 2015 I had good luck with Universal Clays. Only problem is I haven't been able to find any for months and have switched to a coated bullet and Tight GroupCan you Can you share your data on these Universal Clay powder. thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igolfat8 Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 I've shot lead exclusively for the last 3 seasons in my G35 (KKM barrel). I ran home cast Lee 145 SWC for the first two seasons using 4.2 grains of TiteGroup. This season I ran 175 grain Lee TC with 3.4 grains of Bullseye. Neither smoked anymore than plated or FMJ. Its not the powder but the lube you are using which is causing the smoke. High humidity is also a factor that will cause almost anything to smoke. Lee liquid alox lube smokes the worst of any lube I have ever seen. I have a recipe for a home made lube that is the cleanest I have ever used if you lube your own boolits? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsa Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 I've shot lead exclusively for the last 3 seasons in my G35 (KKM barrel). I ran home cast Lee 145 SWC for the first two seasons using 4.2 grains of TiteGroup. This season I ran 175 grain Lee TC with 3.4 grains of Bullseye. Neither smoked anymore than plated or FMJ. Its not the powder but the lube you are using which is causing the smoke. High humidity is also a factor that will cause almost anything to smoke. Lee liquid alox lube smokes the worst of any lube I have ever seen. I have a recipe for a home made lube that is the cleanest I have ever used if you lube your own boolits? Bingo! This is one of the reasons I switched to a Hi-TEK coated bullet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igolfat8 Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 (edited) Bingo! This is one of the reasons I switched to a Hi-TEK coated bullet. Me too. I am in the process of delving into (home) powder coating. Not because of the smoke but lube issues take a long time to understand and remedy. Then after you have figured out a solution you are still left with all of the filth and wax build up in your breach area nooks and crannies to clean. Hopefully these powder coated pills will help in that area Pre-bake: Post bake: PS, The Pink and Purple pills are my daughters Edited September 17, 2015 by igolfat8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
himurax13 Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 I want some pink ones... How are you able to coat the base? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igolfat8 Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 They are "dry tumble" coated with powdered paint which coats the entire bullet surface. Each bullet is set on its base on NON STICK tin foil and the base bakes just as smoothly as the rest of the bullets exterior surface. Its quite easy to do, especially if I can do it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
himurax13 Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 (edited) Do you have a youtube video for this dry tumbling process? Are you casting pure lead bullets or are you mixing in some tin and antimony? Do you size after the curing process? Edited September 19, 2015 by himurax13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Absocold Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 As stated before, your lube is the biggest culprit. After that, some powders will smoke more than others, especially at lower velocities. For example, Bullseye loaded soft smokes like a train but loaded hot it's much cleaner. I've been using W231 but I'm finding that WST at the same velocity smokes a little less. E3 seems to be even better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Absocold Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 Also, make sure the lead is soft enough to properly obturate at your pressure level and the bullet is the correct diameter for your barrel. Either being wrong will allow excess gas to bypass the bullet which will cut the lead and smoke like crazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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