My First Pound Cast and results...

[Pinsnscrews]

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c167/wyckedflesh/Mobile%20Uploads/67E3AE27-31A4-4944-97FC-8783D848D10D_zps4fi1cgnj.jpg

.222 Rem TC Contender 8" Octagon Factory Barrel
Bore: .2245~ (approximate)
Groove: .2250 (3 measurements all came up the same, three different points on the cast)
Throat: .257

Bore slugged at the same time and came out the same as the chamber cast. Groove, which I can accurately measure came out to .2250 on the nose. Bore is an estimate as I don't have any way to measure that small a spot except with Calipers.

Could someone advise what I should have my Lee push through sized to? .225 or .226?

My Lee Bator mold drops Pure at .225 average of 25 boolits.

I plan on using Pistol powders and dacron for a 100% fill as I am wasting a lot of IMR4227 from the 8" barrel, and the next fastest powders I have are Alliant Steel and Longshot. I did find the thread with load data for Longshot in the .222

I intend to use this both for small critter and IHMSA Half Size as well as just all around plinking.

Any analysis of the cast would be appreciated!

[Pinsnscrews]

I feel like I must have hit this nail on the head and just didn't realise it...

would there be a better mold than the Bator to go with this throat?

[geargnasher]

Throat? Where? I'd say it needs one, badly.

Gear

[1Shirt]

Like Gear says, t'aint much throat there!
1Shirt!

[Pinsnscrews]

Would you shoot it as is and just stick with Spire point varmint rounds and jacketed, or have a new throat cut? To give the smith more metal to work with, it could also be rechambered to .223 easily.

This is a TC barrel that came with my used frame. The barrel looks like it was shot very very little. It came with a headspace issue, factory ammo (Hornady, Fiocchi, HSM)and brass consistently seats .003 below the rim of the barrel. It is enough movement to cause misfires as well as popped primers. To get around this I sized down .223 brass by hand until the case headspaced flush with the rim of the barrel. I need to work up a load that is accurate out to at least 100 yards, with a 50+gr boolit between 1500 and 2K* out of it's 8 inch length. Twist is 1-12". I do intend to work up loads using either Longshot or Alliant Steel to get the intended velocity, otherwise, I will find a faster rifle powder than IMR4227 as that powder leaves a lot unburned.

Thank You for any advice.

*Local Range has a 2K cap on velocity for IHMSA to avoid damage to targets/Half Size Rams are set 100 yards out.

[45-70 Chevroner]

Are you sure it is an 8" barrel. All the octagon barrels I've seen were 10". Maybe someone cut it down to 8". I think I would just have it recut to 222 as it is more accurate than the 223. I guess though, if all you are going to shoot is cast, maybe a 223 would be better because of availability of brass.

[Pinsnscrews]

Sorry, your right, I keep referring the useable bore length from trying to determine a good powder.