greenergp Posted June 28, 2017 Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 Has anyone tried duplicating the Eley Lightning steel loads, i would seem easy to open a cartridge up and get a list of all the components . I would like to do some in BB and No2 shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Continental Shooter Posted June 28, 2017 Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 yup, easier said than done! you're missing a key component though:the factory powder made to Eley specs ... that's unless you can get someone at Eley to give you some... It is already a bad practice to copycat lead cartridges, it will be even worse with steel Cheers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenergp Posted June 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 (edited) The Eley site list the Lightnings charged with SSB+150, would it be worthwhile loading with SSB 150 and sending the loads for testing? Edited June 28, 2017 by greenergp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatsanmad Posted June 28, 2017 Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 Simple answer no. Unless you can get hold of the eley spec ssb 150 its not possable as the ssb sold to us public isnt the same and you wont get all the components in the hull and crimp it properly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric lee Posted June 28, 2017 Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 Unless anyone knows different ssb150 is sourced direct from Eley in commercial drums, then decanted for sale to joe public so there may be some mileage in trying ( proof test it) bear in mind just because the website says its ssb dont make it so, lots of powder look very similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted June 28, 2017 Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 There is nothing special about Eley Lightning steel. They are a decent cartridge, but why not just use a steel recipe that has a similar velocity? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted June 28, 2017 Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 As above or copy Gamebores load, I think it's a bit smoother to shoot. When are we going to get a 3" bb load from manufacturers. Some make them like NSI but they're not brought in by the importer. I even thought about opening some lightnings and swapping the no1 shot for bb but been told it's a no no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted June 28, 2017 Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 Nothing wrong with swapping 1s for BBs as long as the same weight is used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kraai Posted June 29, 2017 Report Share Posted June 29, 2017 As above or copy Gamebores load, I think it's a bit smoother to shoot. When are we going to get a 3" bb load from manufacturers. Some make them like NSI but they're not brought in by the importer. I even thought about opening some lightnings and swapping the no1 shot for bb but been told it's a no no. Baschieri & pellagri have a 3" bbPellets are 4mm te same as gamabore mammoth nr 1 also 4mm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenergp Posted June 29, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2017 The Lightning steel is advertised to do 1650 fps, on Johnnytheboys's tests it came out at 1373 fps and others say it does not reach the advertised velocity. On the Maxam website they have load data for 36gram steel using SSB 150 powder and that is supposed to reach 1312 fps at 9500psi so that is reasonably close, so that is probably the Lightning steel load. I am just trying find a load that is cheaper and easier to source the components than using hard to find Alliant Steel powder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted June 29, 2017 Report Share Posted June 29, 2017 and ssb150 isnt hard to find, with only one retailer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenergp Posted June 29, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2017 Its a lot easier to get than Steel or Longshot and at £27 a lb much cheaper than them as well. My local shop wants £49.99 for a lb of longshot (and its not in stock) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted June 29, 2017 Report Share Posted June 29, 2017 clay and game list longshot at £45per lb. ssb150 £26 for the same amount (give or take 50 grams) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted June 29, 2017 Report Share Posted June 29, 2017 What's stopping you using a lead powered for 36g loads for steel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted June 29, 2017 Report Share Posted June 29, 2017 (edited) What's stopping you using a lead powered for 36g loads for steel? with the lead powders, getting good speeds out of them is the issue, alliant steel and other slow burning powders have been developed to produce high speed levels while giving low breech pressures. thats the key. infact lead 32g powders can get 25g of steel fast. edit in red Edited June 30, 2017 by cookoff013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B525 LIGHT Posted June 29, 2017 Report Share Posted June 29, 2017 Eley don't use standard US steel shot sizes in their shells. Their 1's are actualy 3.8mm pellets so are actually a US size 2. Theres half your problem solved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Continental Shooter Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 I don't see what's the problem to copycat the lightning steel using SSB 150 and test it first providing you can get more or less the same components and the exact same crimp height you should have a reasonable picture of how your powder performs vs factory, then should be able to adjust. I am not convinced that lead powders cannot get to certain speeds ... the problem here is that you don't get as many lead powder as the market has to offer ... or they are pretty expensive.... With SP2 (add 20 m/s to make V0) 12/76 cx2000 2,75 x 32 #1 B&P steel 32 @ 58,5 --- V1 452 m/s PMax: 753 bar 12/76 cx2000 2,72 x 34 #3 Gualandi Tubo 43 @58,2 --- V1 498 pm 793 and with M92S 12/70 cx2000 2,15 x 35 #3 B&P Steel 28 @ 57,8 --- V1 446, PMax 980 bar 12/70 cx2000 2,10 x 35 #3 B&P Steel 28 @ 57,8 --- V1 440, PMax 940 bar These have been tested a good couple of years ago so, powder batches will have changed (for those still toy around with M92S ) Cheers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 Still don't know why anyone would go to the trouble of trying to copy Eley steel! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 Still don't know why anyone would go to the trouble of trying to copy Eley steel! Shotsize selection? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenergp Posted July 4, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 Still don't know why anyone would go to the trouble of trying to copy Eley steel! If there are loads that you have that you would recommend over the Lightning steel loads could you either send me the data on them or put it on the forum. And i will load some up. Thanks...james Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAB1954 Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 Clay & Game have some load data for SSB+150, they have a 12 gauge 3 inch 36 gram load that does 1335fps/7500psi. Pressure seems a bit low suggest you email them and confirm. I don't use this powder so no results of my own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigeon jim Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 I tested some SSB 150 with 36g in a 3" case and was much higher pressure than clay and game were quoting, Also Eley lightning steel is not worth copying ,nothing special about them! Jim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted July 5, 2017 Report Share Posted July 5, 2017 Clay & Game have some load data for SSB+150, they have a 12 gauge 3 inch 36 gram load that does 1335fps/7500psi. Pressure seems a bit low suggest you email them and confirm. I don't use this powder so no results of my own. 7000psi with a slow burning powder? Something sounds fishy. Might be awful in the cold? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Continental Shooter Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 very anemic ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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