BHN 26
Mixed Nuts,
what have you decided you like for powders?
Did you get better results with different bullets?
A couple days after that hardness test I tested again. This time on multiple bullets from the same boxes - have 2 boxes. All new tests came in at SAECO 10 which is 22 BHN. So the bullets are not 26 BHN - although one was just under SAECO 11 which would be about 26.
I didn't try new bullets. Instead I began to buy casting equipment. Currently have two 4 cav Lyman molds - the 358665 and the 358429 with handles. Have a Lyman ladle and a Lee electric pot.
Bought the Manson .358 throat reamer with a full set of pilots for the Ruger with an under-size cylinder throat or three. Bought a cheap micrometer. Made some powder dippers for a series of 2400 loads. Bought the SAECO hardness tester. And have a couple of .35 Remingtion cases that I'm going to make into cake cutters for pan lubed .358s.
Of course I still have Accurate No.9, W296, 2400, IMR 4227, and Unique. Although I may never us the Unique as it seems weird to me putting so little powder into the cases, the loads were wimpy, and they leaded (although I should be fixing that).
I must say that I've felt one step behind during this equipment procurement. If I did it again, knowing I was going to get the Manson reamer and knowing what I would learn on The High Road, books etc... I'd have bought custom molds at .359 or .360. As of now, I'm worried about the Lyman's dropping smaller than or at .358. There is a guy online who enlarges the driving bands of Iron molds so I may go that way if the castings are small.
Anyway, after all that, I still haven't cast. It's too hot here right now. Have collected some brass from shooting factory Federals. In a month or maybe two, I'll get casting, get the molds how I want them, and conduct the tests again with the above powders, give or take Unique which I'm not too excited about anyway.
That's where my grand experiment is at.