.22 cast for .223 Remington

[salvadore]

Is there some type of consensus on which type of cast bullet works best in the 223 Rem. I used to shoot RCBS' 55 gr in a Ruger #1AB quite successfully. I now own a CZ 527 with a 1 in 12 twist. Has anyone tried the Lee Bator. What is the thinking of Lyman's 225646? Any input would be appreciated.

[cheetah]

I really like the Lee. No sizing, no check, ebay's x-lox, and I accidentally tried 4.0 Unique and 3.9 Bullseye for 1450/1490 respectively and did slightly worse than one minute, (contender 23"/12t). Accuracy and laziness have to come together for me.

[Calamity Jake]

I have shot both the 225646 and the 22-055 in my RRA AR15 with 1-12 twist, the 22-055 shoots
like this:
http://photos.gunloads.com/images/CalamityJake/rralar15cast003.jpg
at 100 yrds. while the 225646 shot groups about 1/2-3/4" larger.
So I shoot the 22-055, don't have the bator so can't comment.
I have the NOE 70gr rn but haven't shot any yet.

[jdrslyr75]

I own the bator mold and have cast many bullets with it, but I have yet to load any. I do recommend the mold though. For 20 bucks, it deserves a try

[Slow Elk 45/70]

Yup, for the money--the bator is good nuf for me

[Jack Stanley]

I've been working with a 527 chambered in the two two three and three different styles of bullet . When using the Lyman 225462 it has to be seated very deep so it doesn't run into the rifling . Accuracy is good with very light charges of Bullseye and 700-X . Haven't got acceptable accuracy with Unique , Blue Dot and 2400 yet , overall length is 2.057" . Next up the RCBS 22-55-FN , haven't shot very many of them though I think it may do better than the last one . Then the RCBS 22-55-SP , only used light loads woth Bullseye but the groups are very tight I either need to get a sight shorter than the number one front sight . Or , boost the charge with a slower powder such as the ones the Lyman style doesn't like .

The other bullets I haven't tried in this rifle so I can't help you there .

Jack

[osteodoc08]

I have shot both the 225646 and the 22-055 in my RRA AR15 with 1-12 twist, the 22-055 shoots
like this:
http://photos.gunloads.com/images/CalamityJake/rralar15cast003.jpg
at 100 yrds. while the 225646 shot groups about 1/2-3/4" larger.
So I shoot the 22-055, don't have the bator so can't comment.
I have the NOE 70gr rn but haven't shot any yet.

I also have a RRA AR-15 and was wondering about cast in a DI system. Any issues with this?

Nice groups BTW. Irons or glass?

[salvadore]

Jack, did you have to load the Lyman 225462's base below the neck?

[Larry Gibson]

Here's how I seat the 225462s for my ARs and my bolt guns.

Larry Gibson

95872

[JeffinNZ]

LARRY: I am taking my Rem 700 loaded with 225462 HP's hunting wallabies tomorrow. ACWW at 2300fps.

[Jack Stanley]

Jack, did you have to load the Lyman 225462's base below the neck?

Yes sir I do otherwise it bumps into the rifling and accuracy is less . Look at the picture Larry put up and I'd say mine are about twenty thousands shorter than that . I decent groups with less than four grains of 700-X and no gas check but that's about all so far .

Jack

[Larry Gibson]

LARRY: I am taking my Rem 700 loaded with 225462 HP's hunting wallabies tomorrow. ACWW at 2300fps.

Wish I was there to go with you! Get one for me.

Larry Gibson

[MaryB]

Soon as my right wrist is healed up a bit from over using it I am going to cast some Lee Bator for my Savage Axis 223 1:9 twist.

[leadman]

The current Bator is shooting good for me. I need to load some loads at lower velocities to try improve accuracy but have shot it to 3,619 fps avg. in my 223 Rem. Contender 23" bull barrel. Accuracy was 2.9" at 100 yards for 5 shots, no leading.
I also have shot the Lyman 45gr RN in my Contender and my son's AR15 with decent accuracy and no leading.
I'm coating the boolits with the HI-Tek Red Copper and using heat treated linotype with a modified baking routine to maintain the boolits at 32 BHN.
I'm gong to load some starting at about 1,600 fps and work my way up until accuracy deteriorates. Seems like there is always so much else to do lately I haven't gone shooting much.

[salvadore]

I cast RCBC 55 gr mold with lino and loaded them with 4227 @ a claimed 2300fps for my #1AB 25+ years ago. They worked well on ground squirrels because I believe they were shattering on impact. I'm currently casting for two rifles, my 32 spec. Tanker 94

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm297/farcla/DSCN0229_zpsf073600e.jpg (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/farcla/media/DSCN0229_zpsf073600e.jpg.html)

and a newish Marlin 94 32/20.

I appreciate the insight on the various cast designs for the .22, this forum is a great source of information.

[trixter]

Here's how I seat the 225462s for my ARs and my bolt guns.

Larry Gibson

95872

What is the COAL of this in the photo?

Thanks

[chsparkman]

I load the Lyman 45 gr. over 5.7 gr. of Green Dot for a very accurate load in my Ruger #3. It did a great job on squirrels this past fall.

[max it]

hmm, i want to jump in this thread. as a former cast boolit maker and newby to rifles i now possess a Delton AR15 with a 1>8" twist. As is my custom i dove in without checking the bottom for rocks: only to find that rifle loading is much more than handgun straight wall case loading. Oh well i am just about over the hump on that one, I hope.
anyway i am thinking ahead to when i want to cast for my new rifle. And as op mentioned it is possible without gas checks. So where would i start? What die, what powder?? Or should i be happy buying surplus projectiles here and there? maybe i ought to start my own thread with this....
much obliged,

[quilbilly]

My 223 likes that new Lee Bator. It seems to shoot best at about 2100 fps with a slower burning powder like 3031.

[Iowa Fox]

Here's how I seat the 225462s for my ARs and my bolt guns.

Larry Gibson

95872


Its telling me invalid attachment.

[Minerat]

Me too.

[autopilotmp]

Probably because this thread is from 2014

[trixter]

I have the old (very round nose) Bator and the newer longer flat nose Bator 55gr boolit molds, and I'm sorry I've not been able to shoot them enough (too much winter in the weather) to tell which one I like the best, I'm going to shoot them in my Mossburg MVP .223 bolt rifle.

[GhostHawk]

My .223 Ultra Handi Rifle loves the Bator. I shoot mine unchecked over 4.6 grains of Red Dot.

Accuracy is better at 50, but I think 4 out of 5 would still hit a squirrel head at 100.

Darn good replacement for .22lr with a bit more oomph downrange and still quiet.

[trixter]

G H, how are you lubing your Bators?