Al, 4-5 inches was a lot more common. I didn't see results like that until I duplexed and I should have said 2 1/2 - 3 inches. Still minute of deer. Loading black or duplexed loads your cases should last indefinitely. My first cases are 25 years old and the first couple years they got a workout. Those were re-formed 348 WCF, BACO cases with the "A" base turned into the base. My next cases were Bertram and, so far, so good.
I have the Lee dies and use their flaring tool. I used a .457 sizing die for years, which sized nothing and weeped something terrible. I finally broke down and bought a proper die from BACO and I don't remember what it is...lol!! I bought by size that wouldn't touch the sides, just not leak so much lube....and I don't remember my bore groove either. I guess I need to shoot it more, huh.
Mike hit on bullet alloy and he's right. IF you're shooting BP, 25-1 is about as hard as you want and he's spot on about lubes as well. I used some Hawk jacketed bullets and even though they're annealed dead soft, which I understand is about the same as Linotype, I steered away from them in deference to the softer steels of the 1870's, when my double was made. I tried the heavier, RCBS cast bullet but just could not get it to regulate and the recoil was more than I wanted for the old rifle. It wasn't anywhere near too heavy for me, there was simply a significant difference between it and the lighter Lyman bullet.
In my initial post I had the bullet weight wrong. I said 450 grs., which is incorrect. I have corrected it to 350 grs.
Last edited by sharps4590; 12/25/24 09:51 AM.
