Bullet mold for 5.56x45 AR

[WilliamDahl]

Anyone tried this one for an AR?

Lee C225-55-RF

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0000622BATOR6

[runfiverun]

the problem with that mold is it's a great design.
it's the follow through that kills it,the mold is either top notch,or junk.
it will probably do fair in the 5.56 chambering.
there is a group buy on a 60 sumtin grain boolit designed for the ar's i think noe is cutting it.

[Moonie]

The one I got has an oversized nose and would not work in my AR, cartridges wouldn't chamber all the way and the boolits would then stick in the throat when you removed the cartridge.

[WilliamDahl]

The one I got has an oversized nose and would not work in my AR, cartridges wouldn't chamber all the way and the boolits would then stick in the throat when you removed the cartridge.

Is that something that could be solved by seating the bullet deeper?

[chris in va]

I thought you couldn't shoot cast through an AR due to the gas system.

[WilliamDahl]

I thought you couldn't shoot cast through an AR due to the gas system.

I've heard of people doing it and I've heard people say that it couldn't be done. I have an AR that I want to try it in, but I also have a .223 barrel on backorder for my Thompson Encore that should be here within a month.

[jdgabbard]

Moonie, is your AR chambered in .223 or 5.56? The reason I ask, the .223 has a shorter lead than the 5.56 chambering. May be that the chambering is the issue. However, I have hear people say that the bator boolit worked well, but wouldn't feed in their ARs.

[Moonie]

Moonie, is your AR chambered in .223 or 5.56? The reason I ask, the .223 has a shorter lead than the 5.56 chambering. May be that the chambering is the issue. However, I have hear people say that the bator boolit worked well, but wouldn't feed in their ARs.

5.56, it is definitely the mold, the nose is .225 up to the ogive, I would have to seat the boolit close to the end for it to work, found it easier to get a 4 cavity NOE 221, they work great.

[Moonie]

I thought you couldn't shoot cast through an AR due to the gas system.

Lots of posts on this forum of people doing it, AR-15 AND AR-10.

between my son and I we have 4 uppers, 5.56, 2x300 BO and a 6.8, cast is used in all of them, no problems at all.

[chris in va]

Interesting. My AK developed a nasty, action-jamming lead ring at the piston port, even using gas checks. Lead buildup isn't a problem with the AR? Someone pointed out their gas tube got clogged with lead on another board.

[Moonie]

Interesting. My AK developed a nasty, action-jamming lead ring at the piston port, even using gas checks. Lead buildup isn't a problem with the AR? Someone pointed out their gas tube got clogged with lead on another board.

We have had no issues, our 300 BO uppers have only had cast used in them, never a jacketed round through the bores.

My son also has a 5.56 that he swaps the lower into and makes sure it is spotless as he is one of Uncle Sams Misguided Children and cleans extremely well. Mine shares a lower and BCG with my 6.8 SPC. It gets checked often when swapping out the bolt, never any issues with lead in the gas tube or the bcg/bolt.

[chris in va]

What velocity are you pushing these at, and are they gas checked?

[jdgabbard]

Interesting. Myself I've always been afraid of shooting the holy lead in mine. Fear of cleaning that gas tube and port is the primary factor. Plus I don't shoot it a whole lot, so that doesn't help the cast. Personally I've been doing a lot most stockpiling of 223/5.56 ammo than I have shooting it. Just bought 2000 5.56/223 mixed brass for $120. Will buy some jacket wearing projectiles at the upcoming gunshow to load to military spec. I guess for me, factory stuff works fine in mine for the time being.

[Moonie]

What velocity are you pushing these at, and are they gas checked?

I haven't chrono'd any of them but in the 5.56 I use 16gr H4895, in the 6.8 I use 18gr H4895 with an old 135gr Ideal rn mold. In the 300 we have used several powders at velocities between 1,000 (247gr and 230gr) (non gas checked) and 1,700ish (170gr)

All except the 247g4 and 230gr were gaschecked.

[Christorbust]

William I had some success with the Bator mold in AR's. It's been a while since I've played with it, and I never quite perfected it BUT I did find loads that would not jam and would function the two rifles I tried them in for the amount of test ammo I made.

My bator mold was up to snuff though with the correct dimensions. Here is a link to former Bator conversations: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showpost.php?p=1386638&postcount=115

[Moonie]

Don't get me wrong, if you get a properly dimensioned Bator it should work ok, keep in mind that even properly dimensioned it will have a short COL.

[wbwizzard]

I had LBT make a mould for my 5.56, 60 gr, .224GC. No functioning problems and great accuracy with 18 Gr IMR4895. For me, the the trick is to use a Lee factory crimp.

[fcvan]

I've been using the Lyman 225-415 55 gr with 14 grains of 4227 in my Mini 14 and in my brothers AR. We haven't noticed a discernible amount of lead buildup in either gun's gas ports. The first bunch were lubed with Rooster Red and lately Lars BAC. I'm not sure but it seems the lube helps keep the lead from sticking to the internal parts as well. If a buildup problem does eventually show up I don't believe it will be too difficult to clean up. We will watch and see. Frank