Casting for 223 Remington

[DeanWinchester]

A friend and mentor gifted me a pair of molds ( with handles and gas checks!)
First is a NEI 45 224 GC and the other is a Lyman 225415.
I'll have to come up with a sizing die. I'd like to get Buckshot to make me one. I'll also have to get me an Mdie.

Anyway, I'd like some guidance/direction on getting started. The rifle is a 1/9 twist CZ527 varmint. I can see this being a tedious little bugger.
I was also given three sticks of LBT Blue Soft. I consider myself a Bens Red man, but this is supposed to be great stuff.

What would be a good powder for this? I don't know if any of the powders I have on hand would be appropriate. I don't mind buying any kind of powder, I have access to just about any kind out there.
I could care less about high velocity, it'll never be shot past 100 yards and see mostly 50 yards.
Would Unique work here? I have some ball powders, smp842, wc846, I also have some Varget and IMR4350. I've never cast for small bore, do they like a slower or faster powder? I'll likely cast these from water dropped COWWS.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

[JeffinNZ]

The 225415 (old version, 48gr) has always service me well in my .223 Rem. 6-7gr of Green Dot for around 2000fps. 13-14gr H4227 or 23-2400fps. Both combinations with ACWW. With harder alloy I have cracked 2800fps using 748. It's a great small boolit. The FN does very well.

[DeanWinchester]

Green Dot? I don't have anything even close to that. Ill definitely add that to my shopping list.

Thanks Jeff!

[TheCelt]

There is a great article titled "Why Grown Men Cry, Cast Bullets in the 223" written by Beagle who is a member of this group. Probably one of the better (if not best) article on casting for the 223 I've ever seen. Do a Google search for the article and you'll be able to DL it in PDF. You will not be disappointed.

[spfd1903]

I have shot some very tight groups at 100 yds. with a Howa Ranchland. Lee 55 grain, 93-3-3 alloy,gas checked. Tightest group was with ACC 5744, good groups with 2400. Surprised me with the performance at 100 yards.

[TheCelt]

I have shot some very tight groups at 100 yds. with a Howa Ranchland. Lee 55 grain, 93-3-3 alloy,gas checked. Tightest group was with ACC 5744, good groups with 2400. Surprised me with the performance at 100 yards.

What twist rate???? How many grains of 5744???? Boolits sized to 0.22x? Group size/ rounds??

[spfd1903]

Not at home with the notes right now. Post details later!!!!!!!!!!!

[DLCTEX]

WDWW and Ben's Red are good combinations in my 22 cals. 22 Hornet, 222 Rem., and 223 sized .225. 46 and 55 gr. boolits.

[TheCelt]

WDWW and Ben's Red are good combinations in my 22 cals. 22 Hornet, 222 Rem., and 223 sized .225. 46 and 55 gr. boolits.

Have you used 5744???? Looks like Beagle had his best group with H110 and the 225415 after it had been HP'ed, 1/2" @100 yards!!! Is your rifle a 1-12 / 1-14 twist?

[DeanWinchester]

I have shot some very tight groups at 100 yds. with a Howa Ranchland. Lee 55 grain, 93-3-3 alloy,gas checked. Tightest group was with ACC 5744, good groups with 2400. Surprised me with the performance at 100 yards.


That's great news, I got plenty of Bens Red and more wheel weight lead than I can cast in a lifetime.

[45-70 Chevroner]

Unique works well but I haven't tried it past 50 yards though. I have one each of the Lyman 225415 molds one a 48 gr. and the other a 55 gr. both work well. I have also tried bullseye, red dot, H4198 and 2400. They all shoot well out to 50 yards but I haven't tried any of them farther than that. I really prefer the faster burning stuff though so as to keep the cost down. There are also lots of loads for cast in the Lyman manual.

[spfd1903]

The Lee 55 grain boolits shot from 1:12 twist rate, 20" barrel @ 100yd. : three touching, one an inch away @ 7 o'clock, one an inch away @ 10 o'clock. Thirty degrees F, no wind. Loaded with 12.4 grains Acc 5744. Lee dies, Dillon 550B, Lee FCD. Alox tumble lubed, Hornady once fired brass, OAL 2.033", WIN SRP. All the data I can think of Celt.

[TheCelt]

The Lee 55 grain boolits shot from 1:12 twist rate, 20" barrel @ 100yd. : three touching, one an inch away @ 7 o'clock, one an inch away @ 10 o'clock. Thirty degrees F, no wind. Loaded with 12.4 grains Acc 5744. Lee dies, Dillon 550B, Lee FCD. Alox tumble lubed, Hornady once fired brass, OAL 2.033", WIN SRP. All the data I can think of Celt.

Thank you Sir, I believe that'll do just fine!!!

[BeeMan]

RCBS 55, sized .225, Felix lube, 7.0 gr Blue Dot, Fed 205, range pick-up brass full length sized and trimmed. Twenty rounds fired at 50 yards netted a .6 inch 5 shot group, another 5 shot group at .75 inch, and 8 out of a 10 shot group inside 1 inch. Bolt action 1 in 12 rifling twist.

[TheCelt]

RCBS 55, sized .225, Felix lube, 7.0 gr Blue Dot, Fed 205, range pick-up brass full length sized and trimmed. Twenty rounds fired at 50 yards netted a .6 inch 5 shot group, another 5 shot group at .75 inch, and 8 out of a 10 shot group inside 1 inch. Bolt action 1 in 12 rifling twist.

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