Is it possible to make a full power .223 load with cast bullets?

[m1garand_man]

I want to find out if it is possible to make up a full power load for .223 using gas checked bullets.

My concerns are

1. How can I achieve a hardness of 35 or harder with out having the bullet be too brittle?

2. I would be using gas checks but what lube would I need? I've been looking at the red dragon lube from these guys http://dragonbulletlube.com/products.php

3. What other concerns would I have in a DI ar 15?

I am playing around with this idea because the allure of an almost free .223 load for plinking is almost irresistible.

[303Guy]

Mmmm .... That's a tall order but perhaps if we knew what barrel length and rifling twist you have. I'm a paper patcher but I hesitate in suggesting that route with such a small boolit .... [smilie=1: Besides, your question was GC Boolits. You might ask about the alloy hardness you want under the Lead and lead alloy's (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?f=57) section. (You may not need such a hard alloy). What boolit do you have in mind? And by 'full power', do you you mean a load that will cycle the action? A heavier boolit and a slower powder might bring it all together for you.

[JeffinNZ]

You'll get close at least. I have a load using W748 under a lino 225415 that produces 2800fps with varmint accuracy.

[303Guy]

Have you looked at this thread? AR 15 question (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=125592) . It'll answer your question.

I have a load using W748 under a lino 225415 that produces 2800fps with varmint accuracy. Wow! And my son sold my lino half ingot for scrap metal!:groner: Oh well, I don't have an AR15 anyway.

[Bret4207]

I want to find out if it is possible to make up a full power load for .223 using gas checked bullets.

My concerns are

1. How can I achieve a hardness of 35 or harder with out having the bullet be too brittle?

2. I would be using gas checks but what lube would I need? I've been looking at the red dragon lube from these guys http://dragonbulletlube.com/products.php

3. What other concerns would I have in a DI ar 15?

I am playing around with this idea because the allure of an almost free .223 load for plinking is almost irresistible.

First off, why do you assume you'll need such a hard alloy?, and no I don't think you can make it that hard without being brittle. Second, lube isn't going to solve all your problems any more than a high Bhn will. I think you'll need to start with things like fitting a boolit to your twist, looking for proper powders for the boolit in that case, seeing if your boolits are of high enough quality (perfect!) to give you a fighting chance at those speeds and pressures. You might be able to do it, but there's a long learning curve to cast.

[Junior1942]

Question: I want to find out if it is possible to make up a full power load for .223 using gas checked bullets.

My answer: No.

[runfiverun]

i have pushed 2800 with groups in the 3's in my 223 with cast.
sadly neither of my ar's will even come close.
not even my armalite national match.
chromed bbl's, fast twist rates, and a gas system, all conspire against you.
i'd look for a powder with gas volumn at about 1600 fps to work up from.

[357maximum]

YES....maybe/perhaps



I have done some amazing things in a 1 in 12 twist .223 but...........your agenda is much higher due to twist rate. I had several loads that would break 3K in my H&R 223's.

After my experience I would try the following if I were going to attempt what you seek:

1. alloy......you do not need a brittle bhn 35 boolit.....I would start with an alloy of 2/5 pure lead, 2/5 wheelweight, and 1/5 railroad or other copper/nickel containing babbit material

2. Powder in the neighborhood of H332/ H335 / W748

3. Rem 7 1/2 primers

4. LUBE as a self annointed lube chemist I hate to admit the following: The best lube I found for the HV .223 stuff was a light coating of Lee Liquid Alox with a slight dusting of motor mica soon following.

5. Boolit designs I ha luck with were the bator, lyman 225415, Rcbs 55 grainer. Your choices will likely need to be of a heavier design.


You may not make 3K in the accuracy department but with enough playing 2600 to 2800 should be doable ...... IF YOU REALLY REALLY WANT IT.

[jhalcott]

I used the 225415 in my Remington 700 .224 to get to 2600 fps. Then I shot the chrono!! I THINK operator error was at work. The first 4 shots of the group were in about 2" at 100 yards. That was the second group of the trial. LLA and mica were one of the lubes that DID work Teflon tape worked well also, BUT the taping is too hard on my fingers.

[w30wcf]

3,200 fps in a 22-250 using the NEI 55 gr in Lino & LBT blue produced a couple of groups in the 1 1/2" range at 100 yards for me when I tried it a few years ago.:-D

http://www.neihandtools.com/catalog/224-55-gc.jpg

I had read an article about the 22-250 and cast bullets in an older issue of the Handloader and thought I would give it a try. Powder used was 4198. It worked pretty well!

w30wcf