Home Forums Reloading Bullet Casting Accuracy with damaged bullet bases

To see if damaged bases affected accuracy, I took a box of 18 Hoch bullets for the 32/35 Maynard, and made one file pass across the bases at about 45 degrees. This filed a flat defect on the bases, readily seen.

I shot them 2/23/05 at Trail Glades Range in Miami.
Hoch 165 grain bullets, perfect bases vs. bases filed one stroke at about 45 degrees = damaged bases. 12/IMR 4227, Rem 2 1/2, breech seated, multiple cases, Model 1882 Maynard No. 16 in 32/35, Iron Sights, Hot and plenty of mirage. 100 yards, 5-shot group with perfect base bullets, then 5-shot group with damaged base bullets-alternating for 3 groups each.
Group Sizes:
Perfect bases: 2.15", 2.20", 2.675" Avg 2.508".
Damaged Bases: 1.2", 2.975", 2.025" Avg. 2.067"
On a good day, with one case and going carefully, this rifle has made many groups under an inch, probably averaging about 1 1/2 inches. The Irons are harder to see than ever.
This test proves, if anything, that bullets with damaged bases do not shoot wildly.
I have pictures of the filed base bullets, and 2 samples left.
Next week I'm going to try a C. Sharps 45/70, breech seated, with a scope. I'll damage some bullet bases again, probably with a file.
[email]joeb33050yahoo[/email]

How about noses.....

Dents, etc....

Thanks for sharing the experiment, Joe.

Funny, my irons are getting harder to see, too. What's with those iron sights, anyway?

Joe, I read with interest about the testing you did. I can specifically remember seeing old articles by C.E. Harrison (I think) about cast bullets that definitively explained that base damage wasn't as bad as nose damage but even at that, it caused groups to expand. Thanks for providing the results of your tests.