I have some 250g RNFP lead bullets I'm loading for my 45 colt. I'm about to take a pretty big step from around 810fps to up around 1000fps. Since I don't know the hardness is there any rule of thumb to go by or should I just work up till I start seeing leading on the forcing cone and rifling?

These will be fired from a new vaquero and a M92 lever only. Going to leave the Italian SAA out of this.

Edit: got new grips for the ruger. May be cheesy but I like it!

Hardness is not the be-all, end-all answer.

First off, you want to limit pressures to what's safe in that size of revolver. Safest would be to stay around 14,000 psi, but some respected authorities claim the New Vaquero can take around 20,000 psi.

So, I think you probably get the velocity you're talking about BUT you may find your sights useless.

As far as leading goes, it's not the alloy's hardness so much as it is the fit of the bullet to the chamber mouths. Also important is choosing a powder that will give the necessary obturation. That means you wouldn't want to go with a light charge of a slow burner like 2400, but rather a stiff charge of something faster-burning---like Unique, so that the bullet base upsets to seal the chamber mouths.

The levergun may be another story all together...not my thing so I won't comment on that one.

Thanks for the info on the powder. Unique was on my list but so was 2400. I can scratch the 2400 now. I've still got the powder/pressure list you gave me so I'm going to reduce by 10% and work up. Thanks again for that info.

As far as useless sights are you suggesting it will shoot high? It's already 2" high and left at 25 yards running 810fps but I have learned to adjust. I hope it it does not get much worse.

There are many variables. Powder type, gas check, no gas check, hardness, etc. Do you have a Lyman manual? They usually have a bunch of good lead data. Here's a little tip I learned for dealing with leading. I was shooting 158gr lswc's in my SP101. After about 200 rounds, I was starting to get some decent build up around the forcing cone. I tried scrubbing it off with some solvent, but didn't have much luck.

The next time I went to the range, I loaded up some really hot 158 jhp's with H110. I shot about 50 of these. The muzzle flash was huge. After the 50, any signs of leading were completely gone. It was clean as a whistle.

Just so you know it is a really bad idea to shoot jacketed bullets after you have been shooting lead without a good barrel cleaning. It can and will cause normally safe rounds to generate more pressure, usually not that big a deal unless it is hot out our you shoot enough to heat up you revolver or you have carbon build up in your chamber from shooting 38s/44s/45lc in guns chambered for magnums. If you are having trouble cleaning the from your barrel forget the little bronze brushes and "lead solvents" and get your self a Lewis lead remover. People who load and shoot cast bullets have been using this toll since Moses wore short pants.

Let me reiterate(this is not a personal attack lharrel) but trying to blast the leading from your barrel with "really hot" loads is about as smart ++++P++++ 22 hornets loads or pulling bullets from factory rounds adding some more powder to it and seating a different bullet.

and WP with fixed sight guns like yours sometimes the load to use isn't the fastest or most accurate but the one that shoots the best to your guns point of aim.

Hotter the load the lower the point of impact.

I'm not big on pistols but how does this work? Seems like,it should hit higher. I'm just being curious.

The bullet will exit the rising muzzle sooner.

Winner Winner

With proper bullet fit and hardness I have shot cast lead flat base bullets 1600 fps with no leading whatsoever.

I haven't pushed them this fast but my go to 357 load is a 160 Keith running right under 1400 out of a 8 3/8 barrel and only clean every 2000 rnds. As said before harder is not better, the hardness of the bullet should be matched to the burn rate of the powder and powder charge. Something else to consider is type and quality of rifling in the gun (older smiths and pre strike colts being smoother than new smiths and rugers). Rough rifling and short forcing cones tend to lead no matter what, lapping the barrel and lengthening the forcing cone the can alleviate some of this but need to be done by a revolver smith. With all that said every gun is going to lead with improperly sized bullets.

This was achieved many times with my Freedom Arms 44 Magnum with a 10" barrel. I have since started using gas check bullets when I want to push hard cast projectiles this fast. Just for piece of mind and no worry.

I also shoot regularly 350gr gas check bullets out of my 500 Mag Handi-Rifle over 2300 fps with no leading and great accuracy.