I need a new boolit launcher

[Marlin Junky]

It's not something I'm going to loose sleep over; however, my current boolit launchers eat too much powder and alloy; (have you seen the price of powder lately?) therefore, I'm just wondering what everyone's favorite bolt action cartridges are under .30 cal.

MJ

P.S. If this keeps up, I'm going to start shooting airguns.

[Bullshop]

It will have to start with 22

[williamwaco]

My favorites in order of powder usage.

.22 Hornet.
.222 Remington
.243 Winchester.



.

[Marlin Junky]

My favorites in order of powder usage.

.22 Hornet.
.222 Remington
.243 Winchester.

Will,

Sell me on the neckless .243. :-D

MJ

[I'll Make Mine]

I'm very partial to .221 Fireball myself, but I could be easily swayed to a .222 or .22 TCM as alternates. If I needed to hunt with the same gun, I'd probably (despite the "under .30" qualification) strongly consider .30-30, which can be loaded down to about .32 S&W Short ballistics (hence save powder and lead), but still take deer without any question on full power loads.

Then again, since buying a rifle to save on ammunition seems pretty silly to me, I'd probably just load "cat sneeze" ammunition for my Mosin Nagant (planning to start as soon as I get my press back in service). A 90 grain boolit, a few grains of fast powder, and a primer will compete favorably on cost with "readily available" varieties of match grade .22 LR, and the same gun will take any game in North America with full power loads.

[Bullshop]

Nuther 221 fan here. Mine converts from fun gun in summer to work gun in winter.

[detox]

P.S. If this keeps up, I'm going to start shooting airguns.

I have a 22 cal Benjiman Marauder pistol with optional shoulder stock....it drives tacks. It is filled using scuba tank to 2800psi and can fire up to 30 shots on one fill. This is the hottest selling PCP pellet gun on market.

BTW i would not cast smaller than .308 caliber

[detox]

Marauder PCP Air Pistol. Crosman now owns Benjaman
http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Benjamin_Marauder_PCP_Air_Pistol/2367

I like Zinc pellets best

[williamwaco]

Will,

Sell me on the neckless .243. :-D

MJ



Well,

It will kill a house fly two of four shots at 100 yards.

It will kill a mouse every shot at 200 yards - If you can see it.

It will kill prairie dogs four of five shots at 300/350 yards.

It will kill Jack rabbits four of five shots at 400/500 yards.

It will kill coyotes as far as you can see them if you can range them accurately.

It will kill a deer as far as I think is morally acceptable with no hold over.

I have owned three of them, one a feather weight sporter (98 Mauser ) the second a Varmint model M70 circa late 60's. the third a SAKO heavy barrel circa mid '60's
The sporter would shoot in the 5's The heavy barrels would both shoot in the 2's and 3's.

AND.

I am shopping for one right now. For EXACTLY the same reason you mentioned.

BUT.

Since I have owned three of them, I am curious about the .260.


The good news is that it doesn't matter which one you select you will love it for at least year or two.

[leadman]

You could have a bolt gun barreled for one of the TCU cartridges (223 necked up, shoulder blown out) or the 300 Whisper/Blackout. There was an article in a gun magazine awhile back on a 7TCU rifle. Seems pretty close to the 6.8SPC but probably has more molds available and also (normally) free brass.

[detox]

You could have a bolt gun barreled for one of the TCU cartridges (223 necked up, shoulder blown out) or the 300 Whisper/Blackout. There was an article in a gun magazine awhile back on a 7TCU rifle. Seems pretty close to the 6.8SPC but probably has more molds available and also (normally) free brass.

I was thinking the same thing 7TCU sounds cool, but in Thompson Contendor single shot rifle. I have a Remington 700 receiver that I may get rebarreled in either 7 TCU or 300 Whisper/Blackout, but with slower 1/12 twist rate for lead boolits

Remington has a new 300 Blackout rifle, but twist rate of 1/7 is far too fast for cast boolits.
http://www.remington.com/pages/news-and-resources/press-releases/2012/firearms/bypopulardemand.aspx

[Artful]

Well, only one I still have under 30 I cast for is 256 Win Mag cal but it's not a bolt gun
- if I wanted a bolt gun I'd look at something like 25 Copperhead (Wooter's wildcat on 222 necked up to 25 caliber)
- Next choice would be 25-20. I also find that casting smaller diameter boolits is more exacting and frustrating.
- I did pick up a Spanish Destroyer Carbine in 9mm Largo (which seems to be working fine with 9x19 Luger) - I had planned to
modify it like this one on you tube - but financial situation is slowing my progress.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywa7HQ3Nhu4

[Marlin Junky]

Anyone have a Handi-Rifle in .243? I'd go for a .243 barrel if I knew it had a long enough throat to accommodate Lyman 245496 which somehow found its way into my mold collection.

MJ

[.22-10-45]

.22 Hornet
6mm Lee-Navy
7X57

[nhrifle]

I've done some playing around with casting for the .223 for use in my Encore and my AR. I have two NOE moulds, a 70 grain round nose and the 55 grain FN, as well as a Bator mould. Havn't shot the Bator yet, but the others are showing some promise.

[tg32-20]

My favorites for low powder usage.

1. 25-20 - if you can find the brass

2. 32-20 - almost the same and brass is available

I am not sure what guns are available in these calibers today, but my old Marlins in these calibers shoot really well, accurate, low recoil so everyone enjoys shooting them and cheap to load.

[runfiverun]

I was thinking the same thing 7TCU sounds cool, but in Thompson Contendor single shot rifle. I have a Remington 700 receiver that I may get rebarreled in either 7 TCU or 300 Whisper/Blackout, but with slower 1/12 twist rate for lead boolits

Remington has a new 300 Blackout rifle, but twist rate of 1/7 is far too fast for cast boolits.
http://www.remington.com/pages/news-and-resources/press-releases/2012/firearms/bypopulardemand.aspx

no it ain't.

b.t.w.
I burn more powder in my 22 cartridges than I do in my 30 cal cases, on average about 5 more grains.

[Piedmont]

I would do a Hornet or that new Ruger bolt locker .357. The .357 will be better for knocking around inanimate objects.

[stubshaft]

.22 K-Hornet
.222 Remington

[jonp]

Tied for me with 7mm Mauser and 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser. both will do anything you need them to do outside of Big Bear in the US and although Karamojo Bell even used the 7mm Mauser on Elephant with great success I wouldn't recommend it.
Easy to find and load US Cartridges? 243 because I normally hunt nothing larger than Whitetail and this will do the job at the distances I shoot. I bought a Handi Rifle Single Shot in 243 a while ago and although not the most beautiful or glossy thing on the planet it is superbly accurate and cheap.

[altheating]

I find myself shooting the 357 Mag (8 gr Powder) and the 22 K Hornets (11 gr powder) more than anything else. Then comes the 221 Fireball (21 Gr Powder) and the 222's and the 223's. Between the 357 and 22 K Hornets I shot well over 5000 rounds last year, yea cheap and a whole lot of fun. Hell, my 357 Ruger 77/357 has taken game from ranging in size from a caterpillar to whitetail deer!

[Triggernosis]

Be aware though, the. 243 is a barrel burner. My last one was toast at a little over 800 rounds.

[.5mv^2]

I loaded down some 9mm with a small load of powder to about 700fps from a hipoint carbine. It was louder than
the nice bolt gun with a supressor but you did not need hearing protection. The gun would cycle without flinging
the brass.

Need to look up my data. Thanks for making me think about it.

To the OP get a 223.


Well, only one I still have under 30 I cast for is 256 Win Mag cal but it's not a bolt gun
- if I wanted a bolt gun I'd look at something like 25 Copperhead (Wooter's wildcat on 222 necked up to 25 caliber)
- Next choice would be 25-20. I also find that casting smaller diameter boolits is more exacting and frustrating.
- I did pick up a Spanish Destroyer Carbine in 9mm Largo (which seems to be working fine with 9x19 Luger) - I had planned to
modify it like this one on you tube - but financial situation is slowing my progress.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywa7HQ3Nhu4

[CML]

[QUOTE=I'll Make Mine;2119825] I'd probably (despite the "under .30" qualification) strongly consider .30-30, which can be loaded down to about .32 S&W Short ballistics (hence save powder and lead), but still take deer without any question on full power loads.QUOTE]

I love the 30-30 for light loads. ANY .30 bullet can be used and Trailboss powder works great though it does take alot more of it than the reduced loads of faster powders.

[fcvan]

When I read this my first off the wall thought was . . . A chamber insert for 30 carbine in a 30-06 rifle. You could certainly save powder and lead by shooting the carbine loads or possibly play with a heavier subsonic load. The chamber inserts are only $20 from the outfit below

http://www.mcace.com/adapters.htm

I wrote to them and asked about various products they produce and they got right back with me. It seems like a low cost alternative to shooting full spec ammo.

[Marlin Junky]

I bought a Handi Rifle Single Shot in 243 a while ago and although not the most beautiful or glossy thing on the planet it is superbly accurate and cheap.

Got any 100 yard groups with Lyman 245496 or RCBS 243-095 to show off?

MJ

[I'll Make Mine]

When I read this my first off the wall thought was . . . A chamber insert for 30 carbine in a 30-06 rifle. You could certainly save powder and lead by shooting the carbine loads or possibly play with a heavier subsonic load. The chamber inserts are only $20 from the outfit below

http://www.mcace.com/adapters.htm

I wrote to them and asked about various products they produce and they got right back with me. It seems like a low cost alternative to shooting full spec ammo.

Another option along this line is the Hammond Game Getter. This uses an off-center powder load from a concrete nailer (essentially a .22 blank made for pushing rather than noise) to drive a sized buckshot round ball; the powder loads cost just a little more than .22 LR rounds used to, but aren't in shortage (they're made on separate lines from rimfire ammunition), and buckshot is cheap on a per-ball basis (compared to anything else in the way of commercial components), even if you buy read-made.


Marauder PCP Air Pistol. Crosman now owns Benjaman
http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Benjamin_Marauder_PCP_Air_Pistol/2367

If I'm reading that right, even with a biggish discount from list, that's $570 for the gun and a hand pump (scuba setup probably costs as much or more than the pump and then you either need an expensive high pressure compressor or have to pay for every fill). And then you can't cast your ammunition, so you still have to pay retail for pellets (larger PCP guns are built to use solid bullets you can cast, but .22 varieties, AFAIK, still use "diablo" waisted or ash-can style hollow base pellets).

[Marlin Junky]

If I'm reading that right, even with a biggish discount from list, that's $570 for the gun and a hand pump (scuba setup probably costs as much or more than the pump and then you either need an expensive high pressure compressor or have to pay for every fill). And then you can't cast your ammunition, so you still have to pay retail for pellets (larger PCP guns are built to use solid bullets you can cast, but .22 varieties, AFAIK, still use "diablo" waisted or ash-can style hollow base pellets).

Yeah, the cost to get started with PCP's will buy a lot of smokeless powder and alloy. After which, you're restricted to subsonic velocities anyway. I think the key is to find a powder burner that likes relatively light charges of shotgun powder.

I'm still interested in getting started with a 6mm or .25 if someone can show me some respectful targets shot with a Handi Rifle in those calibers. Otherwise, I'll just keep plugging along with my boring old .30's that launch 180+ grains of alloy.

MJ

[Wayne Smith]

My choice is 25-20 because I have one in a Savage and 32-20 because I have one in a Remington pump. Those are the smallest capacity rifles I currently own. If I were buying? I still think I'd look for a 25-20 just because I love the old ones. Brass is easy, neck down the 32-20 and you have 25-20.

[James2]

Another vote for 222 Rem.

[John Allen]

22 hornet
6mm Remington - Only because I have a beautiful Mauser action FN ultra medalist
25/20 or 32/20 both are fun and cheap to shoot but usually single shots

[DLCTEX]

22 Hornet, 222, and +1 on downloading the 30-30.

[Any Cal.]

I went through a similar thought process. My thought was... rule out anything based on a recent military case for ease of getting brass. Nothing under .30 caliber so it is easier to cast. Higher pressure spec for better range of powders, pistol powders use far less than rifle. Nothing over .43 caliber, as it gets really wasteful of lead. Lead is cheaper than powder, use heavy boolits so you don't need as much powder.

So, 30-30 bolt gun, .357 or .44 bolt. 300-416 magnums of various types, 7.65 Arg, 8mm Mauser, 9.3x62.

The obscure wildcats cost a premium for barrels and dies, occasionally brass as well, and won't have the easy resale of something a little more normal.

If you can wait for brass the 7.62x39, 338 Federal, .358 Win, or .35 Whelen could work.

$500 or more for a rifle and dies takes a loooooooooonnnnnnnggggg time to recoup in powder and lead savings. You may get farther ahead buying a new mold and rethinking your powder choice.

[Nrut]

No 250 Savage LN ??

[fish0123]

In order to save powder and money I have been shooting my bolt action rifles using small charges of pistol powder. This could be an option for you. Right now I am using 10 grains of Universal clays in my mosin nagant. Its a cheap gun and a cheap load, yet fun to shoot.

[Mk42gunner]

I like the .22 Hornet just because. There isn't anything wrong with the .222 or .223 Remington's either.

My current favorite is the .25-20 WCF. The boolits and gas checks are enough larger that it is a lot easier to lube/size and load them. Cases can be necked down from .32-20 if needed, without too much trouble. No recoil and very low cost for components.

Mine is in a Husqvarna bolt action single shot; but there are others out there, I would like to find an affordable Winchester Model 43 for instance.

Robert

[Marlin Junky]

No 250 Savage LN ??

Had to buy the wife a washing machine and a vacuum and the family car (the computer on wheels) quit running all in January so the 250 LN never had a Chinaman's chance. If a good used 250 "Short Neck" or .243/6mm would come my way at under 5 clams, I'd be interested.

MJ

[popper]

Bout any 100-110 gr with unique in 30 cal. Been thinking of getting a plinker mould for the 30-30 too. The primer cost is my greatest.

[Nrut]

There should be plenty of .243/6mm both new and used down there under $500.00..
Not having shot cast from either one I can't make a recommendation..

If you have a Contender frame I would look for barrel chambered in a .223 round necked up to .243, .257, .264, or 7mm.

After reading Mike's experiences with his 7TCU barrel I got all excited about buying one for my Contender carbine..
So far I haven't found a dealer up here who carries Contender barrels and it looks like the only place they can be had is in the used market down in the states..

So I am pulled out my 30-30 barrel and some 311407's, 31141's and Lee "soup cans" and started loading..
Going to have fun when the weather smarten's up!

[Hyphenated]

.257 Roberts in a Ruger 77 or a Ruger #1. This is the best under .30cal rifle I have ever owned that still did a good job with cast boolits.