I thought that maybe it is time to reserect this thread.
I have cast up a quantity of 12g slugs using a 1oz Lee Drive Key mould. I cast a couple of different alloys.....pure lead, a 2% tin / 6% antimony mix and pure Linotype. All weighed within less than 1/10th of an ounce of one another. Now before the purists rip me a new "one" for using anything other than pure lead, I decided to try a harder alloy for increased penetration on mud encrusted pigs.
My loads consisted of an aussie powder called AP70N and a Spanish powder, PSB1, from the manufacturers of RIO Cartridges.
Rio
My initial tests were for pressure signs and "fall of shot" accuracy between the two powders, but as it turned out I got a pretty good idea of penetration as well. My target was a sheet of cardboard attached to a hardwood eucalypus tree...well I was in the field...and suited the purpose.
Five shots, standing unsupported, from 50 metres all landed within a circle approximately 14 inches in diameter, with two of the shots with the same load being about 3 inches apart. I am going to do a little more development on that load.
The real surprise came when I took the target down to have a look at the remains of the slugs....remember this was a hardwood eucalypt. Well, the pure lead one penetrated about 2 inches and mushroomed nicely,
the 2% tin / 6% antimony pentrated about 4 inches and sort of bent a little and the pure linotype pentrated about 6 inches and can almost be reloaded. All three are shown in the pics below. The rest I couldn't find cause they dug a large furrow through the side of the tree and kept going.
I believe that I am well on the way to developing some good pig "medicine".
Cheers, Vince