Who casts for rifles ? Bullet casters Unite!!!

[Tim Ault]

Since the reloading forum is a little slow as of late I'd thought I would see who else shares my favorite pastime Casting their own for their rifles .What calibers ? favorite mould? best loads ?favorite cast shooting rifle you have ,and how you use it,Plinking, match shooting ect.?

Since I started this thread heres about me. Started casting about 5 yrs ago .My favorite cast rifles are my 1928 era 1894 winny in 32 spl., M600 in 35 rem. 1903A3 2 groove and my most accurate is a #4 LE action that has reworked into a true match rifle with a douglas heavy tapper .300x.308 barrel.

Favorite and best shooting moulds are RCBS 30-165, 32-170 ,35-200,Lyman 311466,Lee 312-185 and 312-155

As for loads I'm pretty conservative and generally stay under 1800 fps. using Unique(I use alot of Unique), 3031, AA2015 and most used is "wanna be 4895" powder I pulled from 54R ammo . I'm also using my own homemade gas checks made from alum or brass.

I'm probably one of the few who actually shoots my cast loads in competition in CMP type and 200 yd reduced Highpower matches.If there are others I'd like to hear from you and how your doing in matches.

So lets hear from the rest of ya'll


Tim

[Flash]

I have the Lyman 180GC 308, which did an admirable job in my 30-30, .308, and 30-06.

I have shot a squirrel with the 30-30 once, just to prove it could be done. I too used Unique.

I have just come into posesion of a mold for the .224 bullet, I have no idea what weight, but when I get my casting setup arranged again, I'm going to try some of that in the Ruger Mini 14 and the AR.

It is a fun hobby when you can specialize, but I scatter myself around among casting and loading different calibers, weights, and velocities: 380ACP, 45ACP, 38/357, 9mm, 44 SPL and 44MAG, as well as that 308 thingie.

Flash

[556slinger]

fun thread.

I am casting for 30.06 using a Lee 180gr. .309 mold here is my current load

1. RP brass
2. CCI LRM primers
3. 23.5 grs. of 2400
4. 1.1gr. of poly-fil (packs the powder against the primer)
5. 180gr. linotype water dropped sized to .309 (avg. wieght 173 gr.)

I have yet to try this due to my waiting for a replacement ejector for my M1917 so I can not say if it is a good load or bad load.

after CHRISTMAS, I am going to get a Lee 6 cav 180 trunc mold but i nned to get the .40 pro 1000 press because I am extremely tired of spending 6 hours loading 200 rounds of .40 and shooting them up in 45 mins or less.

[Pete D.]

Been casting for a long time.
Most accurate bullet for me has been the little 120 grain Lee RN. Loaded into a .30-30 case on top of seven grains of Unique, it'll shoot ten shots into three inches with my iron sighted T/C Contender carbine. Probably do better with a scope.
I want to get the '03 Springfield out and try some loads with Trail Boss. I have'em loaded but not tested as yet.
The bullet that I cast and shoot most nowadays is the Lyman 457658 in a 45-70 case over 65 grains of FFg BP. Browning 1885 BPCR.
Pete

[imashooter2]

I also cast for the .30/30. The best bullet I've tried has been the Lee C309-150-F. I cast of an alloy that is 95pb - 4sb - 1sn with a touch of shot added for the arsenic. I water drop these, size to .311 and lube with White Label Lube's Carnauba Red. Favorite load is 15.5 grains of Alliant 2400 which gets 1,739 fps average and is as accurate as jacketed in my rifle.

I also shoot a Lyman 311440 clone (same alloy and lube) over 29.9 grains of H335 for 2,114 fps average. Not as accurate as the Lee bullet with 5 shot groups about 3.5 inches at 100 yards, but certainly minute of deer. And I love the .30 caliber wad cutter design.

Bullets that have not worked well for me...
The Lyman 311041. It cast fat enough, but I could never get it to shoot in anything but bunny fart loads. I suspect the long unsupported nose allowed it to yaw when pushed hard.
The SAECO #316. I couldn't get it to drop over .309 and my rifle demands .310 minimum. A shame because I really like the look of it.

ETA: I cast for a .357 Magnum carbine too, but I don't think that is really in the spirit of this thread...

[Tim Ault]

Imashooter2 ,Your a member over at "cast boolits " also correct? I'm RU shooter over there.

[imashooter2]

Imashooter2 ,Your a member over at "cast boolits " also correct? I'm RU shooter over there.

Yes, that's me. I've seen some of your posts there. I've followed Cast Boolits around since it was a sub forum on the defunct shooters.com. It is a great place to hang out. Info for folks at every level of the hobby.

[Pete D.]

Also at Cast Boolits - same screen name - Pete D.
And same name at the Cast Bullet Association forum. I used to, years ago, shoot postal matches with the CBA. It's been a while.
Pete