rifling for cast vs jacketed bullets

wood butcher

February 26, 2007 13:34

I just purchased a new Browning highwall in .45-70 that they tell me is rifled for jacketted bullets not cast. What is the differance? Can I still shoot cast bullets?

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  Tailgunner1954

  February 26, 2007 13:51

  Jacketed barrels have rifling that stands about .004-.005 high, and the lands tend to be narrower than the grooves.
  Cast barrels have rifling that runs in the .010 range, and the lands tend to be the same size as the grooves.
  
  While you can shoot lead through a jacketed type barrel, the results probably won't be optimum.

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  Ray Boone

  February 26, 2007 15:23

  In addition to the width and depth, they differed in pitch. Jacketed bullets were stronger and so could be rotationally accelerated at a faster rate than lead. Whereas rifling for lead bullets ran about 1-20" and slower, rifling for jacketed bullets runs around 1-9" to about 1-14". Compromise barrels generally run about 1-18", and are the worst of both, not spinning fast enough to stabilize the jacketed bullets and too fast for the lead bullets, causing them to shear lead on the rifling. Neither case results in good accuracy.

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  Ray Boone

  February 26, 2007 15:27

  To answer your question, yes you can still shoot lead bullets in the barrel rifled for jacketed bullets, but not the tendancy for leading due to shearing. I'd suggest you talk with the people at Oregon Trail bullets. I has some of there .458s that are designed for 45/70 that I regularly shoot with reduced loads in my 458 win mag, with very good results. Their bullets are an alloy of about 4 metals and are very resistent to the problems of lead bullets.

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