Best cast boolit and load for 16" 223 ar15

[donovansn585]

Looking for opinions on the best cast boolit mold and load data for a 16" ar15. Thinking about casting for my ar and need to buy a mold I currently cast for only pistol. I want a load that will cycle the action and keep the velocity around 2000 fps. I currently have imr 4895, cfe223 and tac for powders.

[fcvan]

I have been using the Lyman 225-415 55 grain boolit with a gas check over 14 grains of IMR 4227, a load listed in the Lyman 49 manual. The book shows this as going 2193 fps at 23,200 CUP. This load cycles my Mini 14 and my AR (as well as my friend's rifles) quite well. Accuracy with BAC lube, gas check and sized to .225 has been minute of soda can at 100 yards. The same boolit, powder coated, gas checked and sized, seems to be closer to 1.5" at 100 yards.

I still have some tweaking I want to do and further testing with a scope vs the 1 MOA open reflex sight I'm using currently. My main objective or goal has always been killing cans at 100 yards so I'm already happy but why not try to wring out all the accuracy I can? Some guys are getting great results with PCd boolits at faster velocities and so I might search for a sweet spot slightly above what I'm doing. For now 4227 works, and Mr Postman recently delivered 8 more pounds :)

[donovansn585]

I like it thank you I know where I can get some 4227. Which I want to try in my 300 AAC also so that sounds great thank you

[fcvan]

I just bought 8 pounds from 3rd generation supply (link below) and just checking, they have 20 units of 8 pounds in stock. Ya, I bought a bunch because I have a 300 upper coming and figure to use the Lee 312-155 2R as my projectile. I've already cast a bunch, made a bunch of gas checks, powder coated and sized, and am just waiting for delivery. Btw, 4227 works really good in a lot of things but I mainly use it for 5.56/.223 loads.

http://store.thirdgenerationshootingsupply.com

[Dancing Bear]

I have been using the Lyman 225-415 55 grain boolit with a gas check over 14 grains of IMR 4227, a load listed in the Lyman 49 manual. The book shows this as going 2193 fps at 23,200 CUP. This load cycles my Mini 14 and my AR (as well as my friend's rifles) quite well. Accuracy with BAC lube, gas check and sized to .225 has been minute of soda can at 100 yards. The same boolit, powder coated, gas checked and sized, seems to be closer to 1.5" at 100 yards.

I still have some tweaking I want to do and further testing with a scope vs the 1 MOA open reflex sight I'm using currently. My main objective or goal has always been killing cans at 100 yards so I'm already happy but why not try to wring out all the accuracy I can? Some guys are getting great results with PCd boolits at faster velocities and so I might search for a sweet spot slightly above what I'm doing. For now 4227 works, and Mr Postman recently delivered 8 more pounds :)

Isn't that a 45 grain mold? Or is my manual outdated? I still using "The Cast Bullet Handbook, 3rd edition" 1992.

[fcvan]

The 225-415 was made years ago as a 45 gr boolit but is now 55 grains. I purchased mine new 3 years ago or so. Midway had it on sale so I jumped in. I'm thinking of getting another 22 mold from one of the vendor/sponsors here, but it's not needed. I'm going to start doing a bunch of loading with a buddy for his new rifle. I think HE needs to buy a new mold :)

[Dancing Bear]

And I need a new (current) manual!!!!

[Outpost75]

62-grain Saeco and 15 grs. of RL7.

[Larry Gibson]

I suggest a RN cast bullet like the Bator, 225462 or the MP 227-65 of 55 - 65 gr (fully dressed) for reliable feeding and functioning. What twist barrel does your AR have? If a 7 - 9" twist barrel you want the heavier bullet and a medium burning powder to keep the velocity under 2000 fps and have reliable function, especially with a 7" twist barrel. The 4895 will work fine as does the 4227. Varget is also and excellent choice with 9 - 12" twist ARs. Here are recent 100 and 200 yard groups shot with Varget under the 225462 out of my 12 and 9" twist ARs. The 9" twis is the more accurate rifle but since this load was right at the RPM threshold for the 12" twist AR (gave the better accuracy) the accuracy wasn't as good in the 9" twist AR as the load was slightly over the RPM threshold for that rifle.

Larry Gibson

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[donovansn585]

My ar has a 16" 223 wylde stainless barrel with a 1-8 twist.

[donovansn585]

So can you pretty much use any powder with projectiles that you can with jacketed projectiles just a different charge weight? I am thinking of ordering 8lbs of cfe223 cause it really works well in my gun and very accurate with 40 and 50 gr. vmax. If I can also use it with cast that would be awesome.

[Boolseye]

So can you pretty much use any powder with projectiles that you can with jacketed projectiles just a different charge weight?

In my limited experience, yes. I almost always load under starting loads for jax when shooting CBs. with H110/296 you must not use charges more than 3% under published loads. In the case of the .223, CB loads are way under published jacketed loads. For instance, my go-to load with a 55 grain CB in .223 is 18 grains of 4895, or about 15 grains of RL 7. Compare those loads to jacketed data and you'll realize a large savings in powder. With some other rounds (handgun in particular) data will be similar or the same for jax vs. CB. The variable with rifle CBs is usually velocity (see Larry Gibson's table on boolit RPM).

[Larry Gibson]

So can you pretty much use any powder with projectiles that you can with jacketed projectiles just a different charge weight? I am thinking of ordering 8lbs of cfe223 cause it really works well in my gun and very accurate with 40 and 50 gr. vmax. If I can also use it with cast that would be awesome.

I have not used CFE223 yet so I can't comment. Some ball powders and some slower extruded powders do not give good ignition at the lower pressures with cast bullets. This is especially the case with 55 - 60 gr cast in ARs when wanting to keep the velocities under 2000 fps. Those cast bullets do not offer the mass or the resistance to entering the bore as do equal weight jacketed bullets. Thus the psi does not get high enough for efficient burning. Only way to know is to try it.

Extruded powders in the 4227 - Varget burning range are good know performers.

Larry Gibson

[donovansn585]

Just ordered the two cavity bator mold it was actually in stock now if someone could please tell me a good person on here to get gc's from I would appreciate it

[Idz]

Hornady makes 22 cal copper checks. Or you can easily make your own out of aluminum.

[runfiverun]

Blammer.

[donovansn585]

Hmmm I thought there was plenty of people on here selling gc's I like to support people on forums

[donovansn585]

Ahhh blammer gotcha

[MBuechle]

I use the MP 227-65 in my 16" 9 twist with 18.5 gr. H4895 with good result. 100% cycling and about 1.75 MOA @1900ish fps. Larry G. turned me on to this load and it was instant success. Lube is BAC.