Hunting only with cast Boolits

[vmathias]

Curious as to who switched over to using only cast boolits for hunting and what caliber?

[nagantguy]

For handgun hunting big game I currently only use one caliber .44 mag/ special. I have been using only cast for a few years. It started by accident, went to hunt hogs and grabbed 2 boxes of shells which were supposed to be .270 gr Speer golddots. Over a heavy dose of h-110. They turned out to be 265 grain gas checked cast also over h-110. Long story short, hogs died. Good accuracy good penetration and nastry wound channels. I've been sold since. Deer and pigs so far but all have died real quick like.

[oldfart1956]

Switched over sometime in the early 1970' (?) when Pa. started the flintlock season. I became disenchanted with suppository guns. Used .50 cal. then....soon realized rifled guns wasn't all they were cracked up to be and went to smoothbore. A CenterMark .62 at first...then a .75 Brown Bess..and a steady procession of others since. I've been happily pokin' holes thru deer with 65gr. of 3fg ever since (roughly...100?) and using shot in the same guns for small game. I did use my fathers mdl.70 I inherited to kill 1 deer back in...2007 I think it was. (jacketed) These fellers piqued my interest in revolvers and last year got my first flatland grizz (groundhog) with a Ruger in .45 colt. Only took 30 shots! :) In the past year I've melted 300lbs. of galena into 38/357/44/45/45-70 boolits. I still don't cotton much to suppository guns. Audie...the Oldfart

[TXGunNut]

Not exactly. A J-word rifle or two generally goes along these days but the CB rifles get most of the action. I've only been hunting w/ CB's for a couple of years but I can see a day when I either convert all my hunting rifles to CB's or simply leave them at home.

[sharpsguy]

I have never killed an animal with a jacketed bullet, and very few with smokeless powder. My friends and I have hunted with cast bullets for forty years and have taken a LOT of game, both here and in Africa. The cast bullet loaded correctly is an awesome killer on anything you care to shoot. I shoot a Sharps loaded with cast bullets, usually paper patched, over black powder and use buckhorn barrel sights that come on a Sharps. Buffalo, elk, kudu, wildebeast on down, the Sharps and lead bullets gives complete penetration and a quick kill. I use cast bullets and black powder because IT WORKS.

[Blammer]

started about 4 -5 yrs ago trying cast occasionally. Then decided to go all the time with cast for the distance and the shots I take cast is an easy choice. I like my 30 cal and my 35 cal and my 44 cal for cast boolit hunting. :)

[Bullshop]

Yesterday I was thinking about starting a thread to list all the game you have taken with cast. My list got so long it made me tired and I fell asleap. My nap seemed to have killed my train of thought. It dont take much any more. I still remember meal time though.

[MT Gianni]

I will still use both. I have over 1K jword hunting bullets and a lot of loads for them.

[waksupi]

I switched about 15 years ago. Have never regretted it. Deer, bear, elk, bison, bear, and antelope all agree.

Look at my profile album for some samples.

[vmathias]

I switched about 15 years ago. Have never regretted it. Deer, bear, elk, bison, bear, and antelope all agree.

Look at my profile album for some samples.

Waksupi, That is some BEAUTIFUL terrain you have out there. Looks like the Cast Boolits are doing their job very nicely. What is your main GO TO caliber?

[white eagle]

I use both
but lean heavy on cast above 30 cal
hunting arms and cals. seem to change with the seasons

[reloader28]

I still have several hundred condom bullets loaded, but I started hunting with cast about 4 years ago and aint looked back since.
Deer, rabbits, p-dogs so far.
Cast boolits work great and dont cost me anything.

[TheGrimReaper]

Unfortunatly the only hunting rifle I currently cast for is my 45-70. Everything else gets j-worded. Hope to change that someday!

[Von Gruff]

Last trip out with a newly built rifle in new one-off cartridge (6.5 Grendel Max - well two off as a friend built one on the same reamer) was an 8 animal trial bag with A Max's because I hadn't developed a satisfactory 200 yds hunting loads for it at the time - a deficit that has since been rectified with a 123gn at 2150fps. The last few years however, has seen all the game animals almost exclusively taken with cast, either the 160gn in 7x57 or 350gn in 404 Jeffery.
Rabbits are another thing altogether though as I have not found a 20 cal mould so the jacketed bullet has to be the go.

[Adam10mm]

Slowly making the switch, but now it's done. I've been using cast bullets in my 10mm for a few years for squirrels, grouse, and rabbit. 155gr LSWC loaded to 1250fps. I've got to work out a heavier load for deer and that's my goal this summer. I've got a 225gr LSWC mold here I need to get back into casting with whenever I get free time and do some testing. Even thinking about getting rid of the jacketed bullets in my carry ammo and going to lead only.

[quilbilly]

Everything of mine gets cast except for my two long range varmint rifles.

[superior]

45-70 and 45 colt for everything inside of 100 yards ( iron sights).
My 7mm rem mag and .338 don't see any action.
The RBH, 1895g, and Rossi m92 have never seen copper and never will.
A Texas whitetail dropped like a hot rock when hit by the 45 colt 300 grain pill.
If I ever want to do anymore long distance varminting,
I'll cast for the bull bbl savage in .223.
If allowed only 1 firearm, I'll keep my smooth bore security 12 ga.
2" @ 50 yards with Lee key drive slugs. I love casting a coffee can full of slugs, then assembling them with an old Lee Loader.

[Ron.D]

I'm heading toward "almost" cast boolit only mode, however I'll probably always take my 270 while hunting the prairies. So far I've totally dedicated my 45-70, 43 mauser, 444, 358 Win. and .303 to shooting cast.The .303 has a chamber adapter to allow me to shoot 32 acp out of it. I see one gap in the lineup, a longer range rifle capable of taking something up to moose in size. I'm really thinking a 375 H&H will be my next addition. Probably in a Savage, so I can add more barrels in case I decide on something else in future. I don't need a very heavy boolit, so it'll probably have a 16"-18" twist and 26" barrel, to keep it cast friendly. I feel the need for speed on this one, much more so than boolits heavier than 270 grs. So far my only big game with cast is a black bear shot with the 43 mauser. Boolit was from the RCBS mold @ under 400 grs. launched with black powder, DRT. My retirement is looming, so I expect my cast boolit count to climb in the next couple yrs. Ron.D

[sharpsguy]

Stay with the 43 Mauser. It is the twin of the 44-77 which accounted for thousands of buffalo in the American West. Put sights on the rifle that allow you to reach the moose you are after, use the same load, and it will kill the moose as easily as it killed your bear.

[richhodg66]

I'm leaning that way. Two years ago, I started hunting "small bore" with cast. I had killed a lot of deer with my cast in .50 and one .54 muzzle loaders, then killed one with a .30-30 (Ideal 31141) and then this past year with a .308 (Ranchdog). This year, I plan to have a couple of '06s, a couple of .300 Savages and that same .308 ready to go, but I have started dabbling in the .22 Savage Highpower, so there will be a jacketed plan too. Also wanna try my .250 Savage and I don't cast for .25s.

[TXGunNut]

It seems the only hunting cartridge I don't load CB's into is the 30-06. I have the NOE GB 311-041 and a RD mould so it shouldn't be that big a deal. I've only been hunting with CB's for a couple of years and have had awesome results with the 45-70, 35 Rem, 45 Colt and have a 32 WS looking good as well. As soon as I obtain a suitable 30-30 I'll resume that project. I have a couple of pretty awesome 30-06's but they don't get out much. Someday I'll break away from condom hunting bullets altogether.

[357maximum]

It has been near a decade now since I have killed a deer with a jacketed bullet. My cast kills have been 7TCU, 30/30, 357MAX, 35REM, 35Whelen, .50 muzzleloader, and I am sure I am missing something in that list. Only thing I have used FOR DEER other than cast is arrows and rocks this past decade.

Varmints is another thing....I hate casting .22's and then putting the real short condom on them tic tacs...so the 22's will be all Jacketed from here on out....I simply have too big a set a paws with diminishing dexterity to be playing the cast 22 game, but it was a fun and successful "quest" that simply lost it's charm once achieved. After playing with the .243 with cast I am starting to feel the same about them....maybe I will have to set a self imposed 7mm limit for cast, just cause I do not like making the smaller pills. This obsession is sposed to be fun right?

[waksupi]

Waksupi, That is some BEAUTIFUL terrain you have out there. Looks like the Cast Boolits are doing their job very nicely. What is your main GO TO caliber?

.358 Winchester!

[NLS1]

This is kinda a funny thread, I can relate with wanting to hunt only with cast.
Last fall, I was bow hunting during a time when firearm season overlapped.

Here it is handgun or shotgun most places I go, so I grabbed the SBH 44 and a container of what I thought was my Keith loads over 8 grains of unique which are super accurate in this gun. Turned out I didn't look at the label too close and it was a container of left over j word soft points that are also super accurate.

Anyways I threw the revolver in the holster just in case I had the urge. I had extra doe tags, and a little one walked within distance that night. I actually could not bring myself to shoot it with the j word handloads! Just didn't feel right, even though it would have been easier to use the revolver since she was so close, I knew she would see me once I moved!

The bow felt right in that instance instead of j words, and I was much happier, and she was just as dead.

Dan

[RugerFan]

When I lived in GA I switched to cast only for big game. Used .358 Win, .308 Win, .41 mag, .303 Brit, Hawken & inline MLs to take a number of deer and hogs. Since moving back to Alaska recently, I’ve chickened out and carried a .300 Win Mag w/j-bullets. A security blanket for the long shots encountered, but I plan to work CBs back into the mix.

[GLynn41]

all handguns and my 18.5" Ruger m-77 tang modle in .358 Win

[RobS]

I actually sold all my firearms that I didn't shoot cast boolits from because they were never used. Cast in all mine now and it has been this way for many years.

[KCSO]

In 1976 I went to huntig mostly with muzzleloaders and used J word bullets onlu for long range pest control. By 1980 I was shooting cast in all my rifles and have hunted with cast bullets every since. My 30-40 Krag rifle has dropped a ton of deer for me and very few required a second shot. Otherwise cast round balls from 32 to 70 caliber have put small game and meat in the freezer.

[nekshot]

deer, pigs (domestic), steers, bulls cleanly dispatched with a 22 long rifle and cheap lead bullet ( not the copper clad type). All one shot kills. Might not be the type answer you want although it is true, the point I want to make is I would trust almost any cartridge with lead only because for me it is shot placement. That is how I got the nickname neckshot.

[1Shirt]

I use both, but now have gone to only cast for 357/44M/375H&H/444, and 45-70. Cost and reality being the primary reason.
1Shirt!

[jhalcott]

ONE caliber??? NO WAY! I use several calibers and guns, some are fed only cast. Most are fed both at different times to suit my mood. From 10" 7tc/u Contenders to 24" 45-70 Mauser with many stops in between. The ONLY gun I've never shot a cast bullet in is my 6.5JDJ,14" contender.

[MBTcustom]

I finally gave up on jacketed bullets and went totally cast in2011 after I found this site. I have always cast for all my guns, but I only hunted with jacketed bullets (please don't laugh, I have repented, confessed my sins, and turned from them).
The only rifle I shoot jacketed in anymore is the 300 win mag, but I have changed my hunting style, and now it sits idle.
Favorite caliber? 358 Winchester hands down. I built the rifle myself, and it is extremely accurate.
However, I bought a 45/70 guide gun recently, and I may take it courting this year instead.

[1bluehorse]

The only rifles I shoot cast bullets in are my 45-70's and I don't hunt with them. I feel hunting our little blacktails around here with a 45-70 would be absurd..in fact my 1886 hasn't seen the light of day for a few years and has probably been fired less than 20 times.....however all my handguns shoot nothing but cast bullets...but the "hunting" long guns shoot jacketed...and they do just fine.

[btroj]

Haven't hunted deer with jacketed in many, many years. Used cast in 45-70, 30-30, 45 Colt, 357, and 375 H&H for deer. Never even considered anything but cast for my 2 black bears.

I have gotten to a point where the HOW is as important as the WHAT. Hunting with anything but cast just isn't an option for me now.

[plinky56]

.50 cal fl ml with round ball; .50 cal inline ml with .44 keith swc in sabot; .44 cal blackhawk with keith swc; various .22 with .40 gr hp; 30 .06 with various boolits; .45 cal blackhawk yet to be determined. They all work!

[Smoke4320]

Just got in this cast game 2 moths ago but plan on using a 458 socom, a 6.5x55 Swedish mauser, and hopefully a 6.5 grendel for hunting All cast

here are 2 loads I tryed yesterday

7065170652

[vmathias]

Just got in this cast game 2 moths ago but plan on using a 458 socom, a 6.5x55 Swedish mauser, and hopefully a 6.5 grendel for hunting All cast

here are 2 loads I tryed yesterday



7065170652

Is that a coated bullet??

[Smoke4320]

Yes powdercoated

[GH1]

I use commercially made cast bullets in my .357 lever and .45-70 Handi with good results.
GH1:D

[RoyEllis]

All mine .30 cal & up shoot cast, .22 & .243 stick with jacketed but they get shot less & less each year. All my pistola's run cast, even the MAC 10 9mm eats cast loads well.

[rking22]

Used cast exclusively over the last 3 years , 45LC in a browning low wall, then a rem 600 in 308 , now a Rem M141 in 30 remington. Over the last 30 years 90% of my deer have fallen to cast projectiles. Mostly round balls of various sizes from traditional type sidelocks. Squirrels to lead in the form of 22LR and some .20 cal Premiers! Mainly just more rewarding to "shoot some food" with my cast bullets. Got 45-70s , really overkill on TN whittails! Reminds me ,that was the last J-word deer! Ruger level load with a 300 gr JHP ,60 yards and made a awefull mess of the chest cavity and both shoulders! He still ran about 50 yards with a 300gr bullet hitting him at 2250FPS, complete exploded inside! Bullet energy is just meaningless ,energy dump my foot, enough to go all the way thru is plenty. Now the 45-70 gets a Gould at about 1400fps , way more enjoyable!

[lead chucker]

I started exclusively a couple years ago. I hunt with 44 mag rifle and 308 win with cast have shot two black bear and five deer with cast. I sent my 308 out to get a custom barrel put on it so I had to take my 300 mag out bear hunting this season with j bullets. The shots are a little to far for the 44 mag. Now if I could just make powder and primers I would be set.

[waksupi]

I finally gave up on jacketed bullets and went totally cast in2011 after I found this site. I have always cast for all my guns, but I only hunted with jacketed bullets (please don't laugh, I have repented, confessed my sins, and turned from them).
The only rifle I shoot jacketed in anymore is the 300 win mag, but I have changed my hunting style, and now it sits idle.
Favorite caliber? 358 Winchester hands down. I built the rifle myself, and it is extremely accurate.
However, I bought a 45/70 guide gun recently, and I may take it courting this year instead.

Backslider! :kidding:

[MBTcustom]

Backslider! :kidding:

Hey I just want to see if a deer just falls over, or if all four hooves leave the ground LOL!

[Grandpas50AE]

Hey I just want to see if a deer just falls over, or if all four hooves leave the ground LOL!

It should do the job quite well. My first whitetail was taken in 1978 with my Marlin 1895 45/70 and all four hooves left the ground (of course that could be due to it being a head shot).

I first noticed the effect of KNOCKING a deer off its feet when I took my first muzzleloader deer long ago - it was one of the few hunting loads that I have seen this with. The muzzleloader is a T/C .50 Hawken using a patched ball at 1800 fps. That patched ball weighs 180 gr, and is pure lead - AND it is absolutely one of the more authoritative hits I've seen on whitetail deer. Large caliber soft slugs at relatively modest velocities have always worked very well on all the deer my brothers and I have taken. And every single one of them we have shot with the muzzleloaders have been knocked off their feet, with only one being able to get hind legs under her and go 30 yards before expiring. When I saw what those soft, patched, round balls did, I quit hunting with j-words in my modern smokeless guns and nothing but cast since then (1981).

[TXGunNut]

Hey I just want to see if a deer just falls over, or if all four hooves leave the ground LOL!


First deer I shot with my Guide Gun (ported) I got back on target in time to see hooves flying-upside down.
You are going to shoot boolits in that Guide Gun, aren't you Tim? Only j-word mine likes is the RP 300 grainer but then I discovered boolits and the rest is...ballast.

[MBTcustom]

Shooting bullets in a guide gun is like dating your sister: it just isn't done!

I will be hunting with the 457193

[TXGunNut]

My Guide Gun likes the 457193, likes the RD 460-350 a little better. I'm thinking a little polishing compound will bring my 457193 around. Somewhere around 2100fps that 457193 drives my thumb into my nose but I like it anyway.

[castalott]

[QUOTE=goodsteel;2198345]I finally gave up on jacketed bullets and went totally cast in2011 after I found this site. I have always cast for all my guns, but I only hunted with jacketed bullets (please don't laugh, I have repented, confessed my sins, and turned from them).


Welcome Home, my brother....Dale

[Smoke4320]

to be truly saved my brother you must divest yourself of any J-words
I am he to help you and a PM will follow as to where to ship all the offending objects far from temptation :)

[Cosmiceyes]

My 1st cast hunting boolits are Saeco 180Truncated Cone GC in a 12 inch TC Contender 357 Supermag. All shots 200 yds an under.I developed the load in IHMSA competitive shooting.Just changed the hardness of the lead down a notch.I use lung shots.
As the years went by I realized I was shooting 25-50 yards so much that I started using my S&W 59 6inch with a Saeco #410 Flat nose.To my surprise they dropped faster when shot.
Now I am developing a load for my Ruger Bisley Flattop in 44 special that has a 5 1/2 inch bbl.To my research of active friends I have found the Kieth do the best job of creating rapid bleed-out.I have 3 Lyman molds to play with.A #429215 201 grain GC;#429360 238 grain;and a #429244 255 grain GC. All to keep me busy till pig,and deer season.
My other research has taken me to build or buy a 35-375 caliber rifle in bolt or lever action.I want the bolt mostly.So 35 Rem. to 375 wildcats just for cast boolits so older actions aren't a problem with the lower pressures.

[hicard]

Looks like we will be using nothing but solid copper bullets here in Kalifornia if all this legislation get passed.

[pacecars]

I will be hunting excusively with a Shiloh Sharps Saddle Rifle .45 2 1/10. I will be using a 480 gr Lyman 457121 over 66 grs of Kik 3F powder

[sharpsguy]

That is very likely the most versatile load there is for a 45-70. I used it in a 45-70 Shiloh Number One Sporter in South Africa in October of 2010 and it is not only a hammer, it will reach way out there with accuracy and killing power. There is really no need to load anything else.

[Cosmiceyes]

With the truth that came out about the fake science study of the condors,we are going after the legislation at this moment.Seems they can swallow pure lead,just as we can,and zilch will happen till it comes out.So swallow small boolits.That looks like a large pig in your picture.Makes me hungry!What caliber rifle did you use? :)'s

[marada]

i think i will switch to all cast boolits this season for good. nothing like rolling your own.

[TXGunNut]

I'll certainly continue to hunt with j-words....just don't know when. ;-) I have a few 30-06's that haven't been brought into the fold yet but they seem to stay in the cases when I go after critters.

[dragon813gt]

If I have a rifle slung over my shoulder for hunting it's loaded w/ cast bullets. But due to the short seasons for firearms I use finely sharpened pieces of metal attached to a stick more often :laugh:

[1Shirt]

I also am leaning that way for big game, but will stay with jacketed for my 22's and probably 6MM's. For deer however and for anything up from 6.5 thru 45 cal, am pretty sure I will be loading cast. Took my last deer with a 375H&H with 270gr. Lyman HP, over 27 gr. of 2400 at 110 yds. A bang flop. Sort of decided me that that's the way to go.
1Shirt!

[youngda9]

goodsteal and I seem like we are on a parallel path. I also have switched over to cast boolits in everying I shoot. The only thing that I haven't tried cast in yet is a 7mm Wby that is a safe space taker upper. My 358 Win is my favorite rifle and it gets shot a lot (Ruger 77 all weather) with WDWW 232 grain gas checked boolits. I also just purchased a 45-70 guide gun and am working up loads with the 457193 right now. I started too hot with IMR4198 and am now backing off to test lighter charges and some loads using H4895 for accuracy.

[303Guy]

With the truth that came out about the fake science study of the condors,we are going after the legislation at this moment.Aah. So the truth did come out, did it? I never did accept that birds ingesting lead would suffer any harm in their short lifespans, let alone absorb enough lead. Mind you, they do have potent digestive juices! We in NZ are restricted to steel shot near waterways due to the alleged ingestion of lead pellets by water birds when feeding on the banks. I have my doubts about that one too. It can't be about the fish since we use lead sinkers!

[hicard]

I was using my Marlin 444 that day. Boolits of course.

[Marvin S]

I have not taken any game with a jacket bullet in about 7 years. I shoot a great many of the old hyphanated rounds but the 25-20 gets most of my rabbits, squirrel and such. For deer this year it may be the 33 WCF.

[texasnative46]

To ALL,

I came to boolits in "an odd way", as I bought a 1917 US Rifle (the so-called P-17 US Enfield by Remington) that was rebuilt at SAAD & then "lend-leased" to the British Home Guard, who reamed it out to .311, so that they could use British bullets.
My "brother of the heart" is C E Harris & he came up with a "small game cast load" that is PURE DEATH on squirrels, jackrabbits & other small game & without ruining any edible meat.
We set the sights at 600 and it is DEAD ON at 50 yards. - Not only is that old "mix-master" good practice for deer season BUT it is the MOST accurate rifle that I own!!!

As a result, when I go to Africa in 2015 for my 1st safari, I'll be taking a crossbow & my CZ550 LH in .375 H&H with 286grain cast boolits & believe that I'll "use enough gun".
(Apologies to Robert C. Ruark.)

yours, tn46

[303Guy]

.375 H&H with 286grain cast boolits ...
What would the velocity be?

[Walstr]

RugerFan--- Pls. report your lead alloy that you found successful for deer as well as hog. Was the hog's shield too tough for your alloy? Pls. comment on boolits performance. Thanks.

Walstr

[Good Cheer]

25-20 for small game. Once upon a time I thought I might sell it and made this picture for an advertisement.

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy192/SNARGLEFLERK/25-20ad_zpsa3b71b8d.jpg (http://s791.photobucket.com/user/SNARGLEFLERK/media/25-20ad_zpsa3b71b8d.jpg.html)

.375x45-70 for large.

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy192/SNARGLEFLERK/carrier38LC_zpscbb07a6d.jpg (http://s791.photobucket.com/user/SNARGLEFLERK/media/carrier38LC_zpscbb07a6d.jpg.html)

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy192/SNARGLEFLERK/R_zps3dbc99c9.jpg (http://s791.photobucket.com/user/SNARGLEFLERK/media/R_zps3dbc99c9.jpg.html)

But I just got in an adjustable weight paper patch mold for the .40x16" twist Great Plains Rifle that I want to use this year. Yesterday a large hog came through the back yard and emptied the raccoon's food bowl so there may be a volunteer for testing.

[olereb]

I'm new to casting but plan on only using cast from now on,i have a lot of jacketed bullets for my rifles but they aren't hunting rounds so it will be easy to transition. Mostly will be for 30-30,45-70 and 45colt and 44mag blackhawks.

[GunnyJohn]

This will be my first year of cast commitment. Up until now I have only killed one deer with cast. (lots of coyotes and ground rodents). I'll take my 35 Whelen and 45-70 for my cow elk hunt, and hunt my bear with a 30-30 or 30-40 Krag if I can get a load developed for the Krag in time.

[Digital Dan]

Thought provoking conversation.

Mostly of the opinion that whether or not to rely on a particular bullet style is more task driven than anything else and when saying that I mean the combination of gun/cartridge/quarry/terrain etc.

Lead bullets work, no debate about that from me. However I'm at a bit of a loss to differentiate jacketed from paper patch in terms of performance. Paper patch is a jacket and little more...or less.

Without arguing one facet or the other I shoot all styles for all purposes, but not necessarily in the same firearm. I do have guns that have never known copper and some that will never launch PP or GG bullets.

With that said I cast .25, .28, .30, .38, .40, .45, .50 and soon, .56 caliber. Some are round, some are Hindenburgs and that's the way I do it. You probably get different mileage

[grampa243]

With that said I cast .25, .28, .30, .38, .40, .45, .50 and soon, .56 caliber. Some are round, some are Hindenburgs and that's the way I do it. You probably get different mileage

Hindenburgs??

[Redhorse702]

PLEASE talk to me about your 7x57.. I have not decided on a mold.. it shoots a 160 gr j bullet ok. really likes 139 gr better.. any suggestions? Mauser 98 action.. commercial barrel..

[pls1911]

Switched when I was burning 200 + 30/30 rounds a week shooting silhouette.
Been 22 years and I never again shot a bullet I didn't make....in 22/30/35/38/44/45/45:70/405/416Rem.
They work!

[Shuz]

I've been shooting cast boolits in the .44 mag since 1963, and have taken quite a few animals with many revolvers chambered for it. I started hunting with cast in my rifles in 1999 and have since taken a couple of bull moose and one bull elk with cast using the .35 Whelen and 358009. This year I'm gonna hunt with my 1983 vintage .444 Marlin. I plan to use either the MP-433-300HP or the Ranch Dog .44-265.
I still shoot jacketed bullets, but not very often. I cast for the .250Sav,7mm-08,.308,.300Sav,.30-30,.30-06,358Win,.35 Whelen,.44 mag rifle, and the new to me, .444Marlin.

[waksupi]

PLEASE talk to me about your 7x57.. I have not decided on a mold.. it shoots a 160 gr j bullet ok. really likes 139 gr better.. any suggestions? Mauser 98 action.. commercial barrel..

If you are going to shoot cast, I recommend sticking with the heavier weight. A Loverin design would be good, and you may even want to consider going up to the 175 gr. range for the very best results, assuming your twist will handle them.

[SSGOldfart]

Yesterday I was thinking about starting a thread to list all the game you have taken with cast. My list got so long it made me tired and I fell asleap. My nap seemed to have killed my train of thought. It dont take much any more. I still remember meal time though.
funny how that works

[DougGuy]

I like to hunt where it's thick because the deer like it that way. I end up taking more deer out of my treestand shooting purty near straight down on them with a pistol, right under or very near the bottom of the tree I am in.

Once I found this forum my whole line of thinking with hunting boolits changed. I don't currently cast but I hooked up with a few members that were kind enough to share some of their boolits with me and I have brought my handguns around to shooting 100% cast. No more jwords no more HPs, just wide flat nose heavyweights in .44 and .45 caliber.