My first .22 boolits

[Jim]

Not too long ago, I tried my first attempt at casting .22 boolits with a Lyman mold. I set up a hot plate and preheated the mold but, apparently, didn't get it hot enough.

Recently, a fellow member gave me a Lee 48 grain Bator mold. The Lee molds I know how to run. I fired the pot yesterday and ran off a coupla' hunnerd absolutely beautiful boolits.

Now I have a second choice to use in my little H&R .223 and in my number 3 Ruger Hornet. :bigsmyl2:

[Jack Stanley]

Congrats to ya Jim , sounds like you got started much the way I did with the tiny bore . I was given several cans of loaded ammo by a department that no longer shot reduced ranges . When I used all that up I had to make my own and a member from my state ( thanks again John ) loaned me a couple molds . I made a bunch of bullets and sent the molds back and now have a couple molds of my own .

Of course you know the rest of this story ... I ended up buying yet another rifle just to shoot cast bullets in [smilie=s:

Jack

[runfiverun]

you have to run the little 22 cal steel molds like they are aluminum.
i have the rcbs 22-055 mold that shoots outstanding in my 22 cal rifles.
i have to run it like i hate the thing and i'm trying to abuse it.
then i have to stop and re-heat it [partly because it wears me out] and partly because the mold cools off.

[Jim]

I didn't have to do that 'stop & reheat' thing with the Bator mold. I kept right on casting and it kept right on throwin' good boolits.

[JeffinNZ]

Are these the boolits lubed with cat hair Jim?

[Jim]

Me an' my big mouth. You ain't gonna let me live that down, are ya', Jeff? :bigsmyl2:

[1Shirt]

Jim, Once ya start playing with 22's in cast it becomes an absolute addiction of frustration until you find "The Load". My #3 Ruger in K-Hornet likes H-110 at about 2350-2400 with the Bator and with 225348, but won't shoot anything longer into less than 3" at 50 yds. . My Sav 223's like all of the 22's regardless of length (1-9 or so twist), and like 4198. Good luck and let us know of your results.
Might want to check out Beagles "Why Grown Men Cry' article. It is a great help withthe 223.
1Shirt!:coffeecom

[JeffinNZ]

Maybe I'm just lucky but I have never found .224 cast boolits any more difficult to ge to shoot than any other caliber.

[.22-10-45]

1++ What JeffinNZ said...If anything...once mould is up to temp. I find I have to SLOW down to prevent sprue tearing. My alloy is Steriotype diluted with soft lead..a bit harder than Lyman #2. Pot temp is around 650 deg.

[gunseller]

I started casting 22 cal boolits when I purchased a box of stuff at a sale for $10. It had 2 30 cal molds and a 22 cal mold. I late sold extra reloading stuff out of the box for more than the $10 I gave for the box. There were also 5 or 6 other molds in the box. All were Idea molds. The mold produces a 60 grain boolit. I do not remember the number and it is not close to where in am right now. ACWW were what was used to cast with. I pan lubed with a 50/50 mix of wax and vasoline with a shot of LLA added. Used the Lyman checks that were in the box as well as the push through sized also in the box. Picked a load of 2400 and went shooting. Must have been a good pick as head shots at 75 or so yards are the norm.
Steve

[45-70 Chevroner]

In my own experience ( every ones is differient ) I had to run the pot up to 900 + or - 10 to 20 degreese to get it to make good boolits. I have had this 225415 Lyman 55 gr. double cav. mold for a long time. I have no frosting and I use clip on WW and a little tin. I have cast 3 or 4 thousand with it and have always cast at high temps, because I could not get it to cast anything good at temps under that.

[Jack Stanley]

Are these the boolits lubed with cat hair Jim?

Cat fur patching ???? New secret weapon is it fellas ? [smilie=1:

Jack

[JeffinNZ]

Most likely and the special lube grooves may be purchased from Waksupi......

[bruce drake]

I've been told but its not confirmed (please no more photos Jeff) that JeffinNZ likes to cast his bullets while donning purple longjohns and wearing a homemade wallaby ballbag around his waist...

Perhaps THAT is the secret to perfect 22 caliber cast boolits...

[JeffinNZ]

Please don't give Jim any ideas Bruce. Janet is away right now and he has the house to himself!

[bruce drake]

And the trouble starts... ;)

[7br]

I've been told but its not confirmed (please no more photos Jeff) that JeffinNZ likes to cast his bullets while donning purple longjohns and wearing a homemade wallaby ballbag around his waist...

Perhaps THAT is the secret to perfect 22 caliber cast boolits...


Please don't give Jim any ideas Bruce. Janet is away right now and he has the house to himself!

Remind me not to go to the Castpic of the Month for a month or so. There are some things that just cannot be unseen once ya saw them.

[Jim]

Please don't give Jim any ideas Bruce. Janet is away right now and he has the house to himself!

Not quite yet. She leaves Sunday AM.

T- minus 40.5 hours and counting....

All systems are go for launch.

[runfiverun]

where are you gonna get purple long johns in virginia?
i'm assuming you have the wallaby ballbag allready..:lol:

[Jim]

T- minus 22 hours and counting........

All systems are go for launch.

[cdet69]

I have always had a difficult time casting 22 bullets with steel molds. I have a Lee Bator and a NOE 225107 mold both made out of aluminum. Once they are hot they always cast very well. Never had to stop and let them cool down either. I use both styles in a tc contender 22 hornet. I have found Unique powder also works well for this cartridge.

[1Shirt]

I agree with those who say casting the small ones are no more difficult than the larger as long as the mold is hot enough, and you cast fast. I like mine with some frost on them. The only problem is in sorting for minor defects, and weighing to exact weights, but both are labors of love when it comes to the best accuracy potential.
1Shirt!