Thinking about buying a 0.224 mould

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

for my 223. I've never cast anything smaller than 0.356. And I've never shot cast in my 223. Any thoughts?

[nhrifle]

There are several good threads about casting and shooting .224. It can be quite frustrating at time and in my experience, the reject rate is quite high, as I was still getting wrinkles and incomplete fill of the cavities even with a hot mould. Breathe deeply and stay calm when you apply the gas checks (tiny little buggers!). Get the best mould you can afford, or maybe get some samples to try before you embark.

[Boolseye]

A lot of us really dig the NOE 22-055 RCBS clone, a 55 grain FN pill. Mine weigh about 60 gr. w/ lube and GC.

[trixter]

Also look into the Lee Bator mold. I got the 6 cavity and could not be happier. I did a quart jar full in one afternoon, and that was after culling anything that was not perfect. Ho yeah, putting the gas checks on is a fun time. I had to get out my 3X fly tying glasses on so I could see them litter critters. ENJOY!

[762 shooter]

+1 on the Lee bator 6 banger.

I had that puppy pouring out bullets like a rabbit with diarrhea. Pellets going everywhere.

762

[chsparkman]

The NOE molds mentioned are great, as is the Lyman 225438 if you want to try a lighter boolit (45 gr). Sizing to .225 is best for my Ruger #3.

[Larry Gibson]

for my 223. I've never cast anything smaller than 0.356. And I've never shot cast in my 223. Any thoughts?

SS, bolt gun or gas gun?

Larry Gibson

[Garyshome]

Natchez has the Lee Bator mold's in stock Right Now!

[Mk42gunner]

I have the Lyman 225438 double cavity of fairly recent production, and it isn't all that hard to make good boolits with. Once the blocks get up to temp, it is easy to see if the mold completely filled out or not once you cut the sprue (I was using straight WW).

The next time I cast with it I will put in a little bit more tin, just to ensure the alloy flows well. With good technique, I really don't see why people say it is a PITA to cast .22 boolits. Installing gas checks and lubing, on the other hand, are a PITA.

Robert

P.S. I had better mold fillout by using an RCBS ladle than by bottom pouring for the tiny little boolits.

R

[Bigslug]

I'd heard the stories of how difficult little slugs were to cast, so I approached it cautiously. Hope this helps--> http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?240576-Casting-22-s-with-NOE-s-Mold-Thermometer

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

ss, bolt gun or gas gun?

Larry gibson

m&p ar15

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Natchez has the Lee Bator mold's in stock Right Now!
Actually, it's a Midsouth exclusive...Not available anywhere else.
I recommend the 2 cav version as it's easier to keep the mold up to temp to cast quality boolits. I'll add, that while many members like these in the AR...IMHO, it really is a poor design for it. It works great in a 22 hornet bolt gun...and probably other caliber boltguns.
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0000622BATOR

Look at HM² for a great designed boolit mold for a 5.56 AR

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

Okay. I'm officially rethinking my thinking. I might be better off just buying factory. Thanks to all.

[Whitespider]

I have an old Ideal #225438 single cavity for my Hornet.
I had read here how difficult casting those little buggers were... but I didn't have any problems whatsoever. I did preheat the mold, and after dropping the first two or three in the sprue collector, I started dumpin' one after another as fast as I could rotate the ladle. My reject ratio was... well, I didn't have enough rejects worth mentioning.

Seating gas checks and lube-sizing was a bit slow at first... but once you get your technique and rhythm goin' it weren't all that bad. I ended up seating/crimping checks by running them nose first into the sizing die, using a modified nose punch and a wad of aluminum foil in the die to protect the noses... than I ran them base first into the die for lubing.

Here's some links to the old threads I started during the project that have a lot of info and input in them...

.22 Boolit Project (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=50531)
.22 Boolit Project, Part 2 (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=53637)
.22 Boolit Project, Part 3 (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=54892)
.22 Boolit Project, Part 4 (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=55516)
.22 Boolit Project, Part 5 (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=56355)
.22 Boolit Project, Part 6 (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=56796)

[Pinsnscrews]

Midsouth shipped my Bator 2c mold yesterday. Expected arrival is Saturday...now all I need is a Pot and lead...
(TC Contender in .222Rem/.222RemMag)

[donald duck]

I have two old Lyman moulds that the last three numbers are 415. I believe the bullets are around 52 grains. Shoot them in Browning A Bolt Medallion .223 and in my Contender 10 inch barrel. Does not require much powder. good powders are 4198, WAP, Accurate # 5, RL # 7, and Unique. dd