Bullet Hardness Question

[Kevin5098]

I mistakenly ordered Missouri Bullet 125 gr cowboy action bullets (Brinell 12)from Grafs for my GP-100. I normally stick with light target loads - 16,900 CUP for .38s and 18800 CUP for .357s. According to the technical page on the Missouri Bullet website, the optimum hardness for these loads is in the 13 - 15 range. Should I use these bullets or return for an exchange? The loads will be for casual range use and I am in the habit of cleaning the revolver after each trip. I'd rather not exchange them unless necessary.

Thanks,

Kevin

 

[calaverasslim]

Bullets

Your good to go. That is almost like using wheel weights which most of who cast use. For what you want they are perfect

 

[Kevin5098]

Thanks

 

[GP100man]

12 bhn should do ok for what you describe .

less weight to push the lower the pressure , ya mite have to bump the charge to get the bullet to seal good.

My low pressure rounds for 357 i try between 10-13 bhn, & 150 gr bullets.

 

[Remo-99]

Bullets that are a fraction softer than your usual loads should not cause any issues at all. Correct bullet sizing for your gun would be more important.

 

[fourdollarbill]

Actually I prefer a softer bullet than 12BHN with a lite load. The softer bullet will expand and seal better keeping the hot gas from blow torching past the bullet up the rifling causing slivers of lead to make a mess of the barrel. Or if you can size your own... Size it to the cylinder throat measurement and no hot gasses will blow torch passed the properly sized bullet.

I would keep the bullets and shoot them. Maybe up the charge a bit or not.
If you have any leading do this:

1. Unroll an Oh'Cedar or Chore Boy brand pure copper scrub pad and cut a 2" sleeve off.
2. Roll that sleeve around a 22 caliber bronze cleaning brush.
3. Lube it with Hoppes #9 or your solvent.
4. Feed it in the bore and scrub the lead out in about 10 strokes.

Patch the bore clean and your done.

 

[lexjj]

I shoot those same bullets at target velocities and get no leading. I use 3.5 grains of 231.