Aluminium bullets

[Octane]

Maybe if you wanted to lighten a high BC projectile you could use a cast aluminium core to reduce the weight in relation to size. The Hornady 750gr 50cal AMAX projectiles use such a core made from aluminium to keep projectile weight down while achieving a BC of 1.050 with a length over 2". While the cast aluminium projectile may not be feasible, you could use it as the base to custom build a specific length and weight around that will work.

I'm doubtful you could get the precision required for balance in a home casting setup to achieve the above though?

[1290]

I doubt a %100 cast aluminium projectile will work as so many posters have alluded to already. Maybe if you wanted to lighten a high BC projectile you could use a cast aluminium core to reduce the weight in relation to size. The Hornady 750gr 50cal AMAX projectiles use such a core made from aluminium to keep projectile weight down while achieving a BC of 1.050 with a length over 2". While the cast aluminium projectile may not be feasible, you could use it as the base to custom build a specific length and weight around that will work.

Mass factors in favour of a projectiles BC, relative to the SD; lightening would reduce the BC for a given form.....
Amax has Al core??
You could use a core to more the centre of mass around, to alter the ballistics and terminal ballistics, provided the core is (absolutely)centred it wont alter the rotational balance.

[brett1868]

Definaty aluminium cored, I've shot plenty of them and recovered several cores. Will try posting a pic tonight if I make it home. Hard to tell if the AMAX core is cast or machined, based on a retail cost of $4.20 each they might be machined. These projectiles have achieved 2" groups at 1000 yards so are reasonably accurate.

[1290]

If you make it home?
You're either the ultimate pessimist , or SOMEONE has a big night planned

[Josh Smith]

I believe I saw Barnes (or someone) making zinc and copper bullets someplace today, Midway USA perhaps.

The high melting temps have kept me away from experimenting with alternative metals.

Josh

[brett1868]

Top to bottom - AMAX 50 BMG showing aluminium tip (couldn't find a recovered core), 50 BMG WBC Brass VLD, What's left after passing through a 1/2" steel plate and 2 railway sleepers before being embedded in a bank some 40m back, AMAX copper jacket, WBC Beta .416 VLD, WBC .416 recovered from dam wall, What's left after 750m into a 1/2" steel plate (didn't penetrate but made a big dent).
Plenty of different materials available to make projectiles and I'm sure we will be seeing some new materials in the near future.

[Aster]

found a sectioned specimen of a Amax, showing ally tip;

amax.jpg (7.52 KiB) Viewed 2610 times

Would have been interesting retrieving those examples...

You can see how those turned projjies have 3 driving bands...interesting

[south]

Mass factors in favour of a projectiles BC, relative to the SD; lightening would reduce the BC for a given form.....

Brain starting to hurt....

[Pom]

These projectiles have achieved 2" groups at 1000 yards so are reasonably accurate.

Just "reasonably" ?

You've got high bloody standards

[Tiiger]

Hard to tell if the AMAX core is cast or machined, based on a retail cost of $4.20 each they might be machined.

Looking at the cutaway 1290 posted the top of that core is looking a bit sloppy....

Right side of core in particular in relation to the copper jacket.