Any 50 BMG Casters in here?

[luckygunner87]

Im going to get into casting 50 bmg.Need input on a good heavy mold for a 1:9 twist.

[kryogen]

realistically, shooting 50 BMG less than a km away is pointless isnt it?
Can a cast bullet really make it max velocity out of a 50 bmg and have match accuracy at 1000 meters or more?

Is there really a point?

[texaswoodworker]

realistically, shooting 50 BMG less than a km away is pointless isnt it?
Can a cast bullet really make it max velocity out of a 50 bmg and have match accuracy at 1000 meters or more?

Is there really a point?

I wouldn't say it's pointless at all. Many can't shoot out to 1000 yards. It takes a very skilled shooter to do that. Others may not have access to a range that long. I see no issue with shooting it at 300-800 yards. It's good practice.

As for lead making it out that far, I've heard of people back in the old west shooting targets 1000 yards out with black powder cartridges of the era. A modern 50 BMG should be able to manage it with the right bullet and the right charge.

[slim1836]

Watching with interest, never know when I may hit the lottery and be able to buy a 50 BMJ.:smile:
Off to buy a ticket.

Slim

[rockrat]

kryogen
What does shooting cast out of a BMG at less than 1Km have to do with it or getting max velocity or match accuracy @1000 yards have to do with shooting cast? Your argument is worthless and pointless. texaswoodworker has it right.

You will have to be careful with your 1-9" twist. Thats turning those large slugs pretty fast, unless you want to keep it below about 1800fps. Then you should be OK. Been there, done that. NOE has an 850gr. boolit design that should work for your application. You will want to use a good alloy. Don't think WW's, even water cooled will work for you. Maybe something like "hardball" or something between WW's, and #2 alloy and water quenched. Now, if you want to keep it around 1600 fps or less, wcWW's MIGHT work for you. Each gun is different. You can get up to 1600 fps with Trailboss, at least I have. Mine is a 1-15" twist though. I size to .513" and use an "M" type die when loading cast.

[kryogen]

kryogen
Your argument is worthless and pointless.

It's not, I'm just questioning, we are here to learn and teach, chill out.

[bobthenailer]

A friend and i looked into casting & swedging bullets for his Ma Duce but came up with a better option for him !

Being that he ownes and operates a machine shop , there is proven technoligy to make your own bullets using some special soft steel alloy cantaining some lead in its compostion .
You purchase raw stock in a certian dia rod and set up & tweek a program and turn the switch and the machine makes the bullet , simular to a Barns profile including 3 relief resesed rings , he even copper plated them . we have not shot them as yet, all he needs in componets & equipment is about 36lbs of powder to load 1,000 rounds .

It takes some serious cash to get the equipment & componets to load the Big 50 as just about everything you currently have for reloading will not work !

[Screwbolts]

It's not, I'm just questioning, we are here to learn and teach, chill out.

I agree with Rockrat completely, I believe you need to look in the mirror kyrogen and you need to abide by your words, " Chill Out " IMHO, Just questioning and telling the OP'er it is, " pointless isnt it " are two (2) different things.

Do you kryogen have a BMG or 2? I do have 2 , they are a pleasure to shoot at any distance. I to have shot cast, both of mine are 1x15 .

OP, rockrat has pointed you in the right direction, Have fun.

Ken

[kryogen]

Arent you getting any leading?

I would really be scared of having to clean the lead out of a 3 foot 50 bmg barrel. It's already hell to clean a 4 inch pistol barrel.

[Screwbolts]

kryogen, There are several threads here on cast in 50BMG, a search will find rockrat's works and results.

Ken

[groovy mike]

A friend of mine took a different route - he bought several thousand 50 BMG projectiles that had been incinerated. All that was left was the jacket - the lead cores had melted out. These were CHEAP - really, really cheap. He just plain refilled them with lead and reloads 50 BMG with them. And they work!

[dondiego]

They might have been spent tracer jackets. I have some of those that have been refilled.

[flyingmonkey35]

I would live to see one powder coated. That should help with leading.

Just like any other boolit gas check is the key when you push past 1800 fps.

And dam I would love to be playing with one.

Of course you could always start building a swaging press for it.[emoji7]

[Moonie]

Arent you getting any leading?

I would really be scared of having to clean the lead out of a 3 foot 50 bmg barrel. It's already hell to clean a 4 inch pistol barrel.

If you are getting leading then you have other issues that need to be fixed. You should not have leading issues.

[Catshooter]

Arent you getting any leading?

I would really be scared of having to clean the lead out of a 3 foot 50 bmg barrel. It's already hell to clean a 4 inch pistol barrel.

Back before the info in this forum existed, I too could get leading. But not now. I shoot lead through Glock OEM barrels, rifles, all manner of things. Zero leading.

And during load/alloy work up, if I do get leading it's a snap to clean with the data I've learned here.

You might want to just apologize to the OP. Start reading and learning.


Cat

[Plastikosmd]

Great thead! I have not considered this. I use bore riders from cutting edge
http://site.cuttingedgebullets.com/pages/bullet_description

now to look for a mold

[NavyVet1959]

Hmmm... Let's see... A 700 gr WFN at 1800 fps would be a bit over 5000 ft-lbs... Yeah, that would make a good hog gun for the brush around here. I wonder how many hogs I can get to stand in line for that single shot?

I don't think I'm going to be firing that into my garage bullet stop...

[Digital Dan]

Im going to get into casting 50 bmg.Need input on a good heavy mold for a 1:9 twist.

Baffled by your 1:9" twist. A 16" twist in .50 caliber will stabilize a 850 grain bullet. Why you want to spin them up like that?

[rockrat]

Some of the early guns, IIRC, had that 1-9" twist. Early State Arms guns had that twist. I have a mould that throws a 933gr boolit and at about 1850 fps, the boolit would come apart at around the 50yd line. Just a greyish puff in the air. Some would make it to the target, but they were in the minority.

kryogen--I took your post ,not as questioning, but belittling the OP's post and responded as I thought appropriate.

and NO, I don't get leading. I have deposited lead on the muzzle brake, but the bore was fine. My barrel now has a loonng throat, but with Goodsteels help, that will soon change.

Guess I will have to start all my testing all over again with the new barrel. DARN!!!! Lifes rough, but someone has to do it!!!:)

plastikosmd----NOE has the 850gr mould and accurate has some lighter designs.

[luckygunner87]

It will actually be for 50 hushpuppy so I will only be pushing cast to around 1200 fps.I think I'm going to get the CBE 975 anyone have this mold?

[Digital Dan]

Perhaps I miss the point. The twist and bullet weight I referred to is quite common for BP target guns that are shooting around 1100 fps at the muzzle.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/muddler/Guns/Black%20Powder/DSCN3202_zps4dffc135.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/muddler/media/Guns/Black%20Powder/DSCN3202_zps4dffc135.jpg.html)

[Deadpool]

Yeah I shoot and cast 50 BMG. I bought my mold from Veral, spoke with him about what to do and how to do it. Veral from LBT, that is. Ask for 675gr, it's about the max size for those little blocks.

You want a .512 - .514 mold, get it custom made. The little bit of extra $$ is worth it. Get a GC design if you're lubing (get a lube rated for 2700+ fps like red carnauba, or get what Veral recommends) or ask for a PP mould (nose-pour only!!!) without any driving bands for POWDER COATING. This round is great for hand powdering, and stand them up in an oven tray. Get a box of disposable gloves. Veral's moulds are the best, just follow directions and you'll get consistent weights and fillout. I don't know what he thinks of PC, but I like it. Mine's GC and I PC them (after GC)(and then size) with great results.

Or get both. I'll probably soon get one made without any bands.

If you do PC, you may want two sizing dies.. One at .510 and one at .511 to use after PC. If for size & lube die (or just size), get a .511. I just soften my carnauba red in my hands like putty, and smear it into the grooves, then take a spent 50 BMG brass cut in half and force them into the mouth to scrape off the extra wax. They come out perfect. This is a round you want to spend the extra time on, and it won't bother you to spend 10 minutes on each from beginning to end. Yeah I've shot them PC'd and lubed, but getting better accuracy with lubed.

I shoot these over 2600fps. I might try for 3000fps, barrel is 29" so I could maybe.

[luckygunner87]

Yeah I will PC the bullets I cast so I won't worry about lube. But I do need the heaviest mold I can get because they will be subsonic.Im running a 16" barrel http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/16/789e0a9ca14b751972ae66cf74b8e10e.jpg

[Deadpool]

Yeah I will PC the bullets I cast so I won't worry about lube. But I do need the heaviest mold I can get because they will be subsonic.Im running a 16" barrel

NOE has a 850gr GC mould, .513". That might work better subsonic. I was warned about reloading 850gr, something about maximal load for unsafe pressure spikes. Going subsonic I don't think you'll have a problem, especially if PC'd. Polyester coating is like butter!

[luckygunner87]

NOE has a 850gr GC mould, .513". That might work better subsonic. I was warned about reloading 850gr, something about maximal load for unsafe pressure spikes. Going subsonic I don't think you'll have a problem, especially if PC'd. Polyester coating is like butter!

Hmm wonder what the unsafe pressure spikes they are speaking of? I'm currently running 22 grains of blue dot with a m33 ball 650 seated to 3.100 coal

[Deadpool]

seated to 3.100 coal

what did you do to the case? 12.7x99mm means the case is 3.9"

[flyingmonkey35]

Quote Yeah I've shot them PC'd and lubed, but getting better accuracy with lubeed


Just for fun I'd love to see some of those powder coated. If you have any pics.

[luckygunner87]

what did you do to the case? 12.7x99mm means the case is 3.9"

Actually the case is 1.7

[Deadpool]

Quote Yeah I've shot them PC'd and lubed, but getting better accuracy with lubeed


Just for fun I'd love to see some of those powder coated. If you have any pics.

Couple of pics. The white PC is washing out under the flash, so I tried darkening the first with contrast and gamma a little.
In this order: Moly Disulfide (unlubed), carnauba red, white polyester, plain. All GC'd.

134192134193


Actually the case is 1.7

Oh ok, so it's not a 50 BMG then. 50 beowulf?

[flyingmonkey35]

Thanks

[luckygunner87]

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/16/796c1faa17e832fa92e70ceb269923a0.jpg. 45acp on the right for scale

[Deadpool]

Thanks

What, you didn't believe me?

[flyingmonkey35]

Nope [emoji13]

Deadpool lies. And is also insane soo......

[Deadpool]

Nah. People just can't stand the truth.

https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/8160903168/h14051972/

[luckygunner87]

Hydra lol

[luckygunner87]

Would any of you be interested in selling me some boolets for testing to see how they shoot?

[Deadpool]

You can buy a box of 20 A-Max 750 for around what, $50? Pick a mould, and for the cost of a short afternoon of shooting you have an infinite supply of that boolit, whether it's mediocre or awesome. What's good in a 50 BMG may not be what's best for the Beowulf, but it'll work and you'll end up buying 1 or 2 more moulds anyway, as you learn and determine better ballistics. For 675gr, that's 10.37 per pound of lead alloy, with a cost of alloy running about $0.79/lb. So that's 7.6 cents per boolit of invested lead. I don't think anybody would sell, but maybe someone would give.

[luckygunner87]

It's not 50 beowolf it's 510 wsm I'm just afraid my twist will be too much for short heavy boolets

[rockrat]

As said, you twist would be GTG to just shy of 1800 fps I believe..

Black powder guns with the 1-9" twist would be fine at 1100 fps. You must understand that my velocities of the 850gr NOE boolit range from 1600 to 2200 fps. Once I get another barrel installed with a more reasonable throat/leade, I hope to get 2500fps out of the 850gr.

[luckygunner87]

Ok thanks rockrat I will go for the cbe 975 and the noe 850 then

[Whiterabbit]

Would any of you be interested in selling me some boolets for testing to see how they shoot?

call me. I get back to the states on the 21st, or 28th depending on what my manager says (korea)

You're talking about NOE850? GC or PB? :)

[Digital Dan]

As said, you twist would be GTG to just shy of 1800 fps I believe..

Black powder guns with the 1-9" twist would be fine at 1100 fps. You must understand that my velocities of the 850gr NOE boolit range from 1600 to 2200 fps. Once I get another barrel installed with a more reasonable throat/leade, I hope to get 2500fps out of the 850gr.

When did you get mad at your shoulder? :razz:

[rockrat]

2200fps isn't too bad, but I suspect the 2500fps one will put a pretty good smak on my shoulder. We are hoping to get a 1000 yd range built around here and REALLY want to try cast at that range and just see what it will do.:bigsmyl2:

[redbullitt]

Still looking for a mold for my 510 cal thumper. Got the dies, waiting on a barrel now.

1/9.5 twist here, so similar to the OPs. Should be just dandy subsonic as the bullets are not going to spin past 80k rpm at 1050 FPS. Should be able to stabilize pulled surplus bullets as well for jacketed shooting.

I have been eying that NOE 850 as well, but I have seen a few "pointy" single cavity molds that look interesting.

If you intend on going for suppressed and quiet consider running under 1000 FPS if your twist will allow. Depending on bullet it can make a big difference in sound FWIW.

[redbullitt]

Just looked at those CBE molds... Definitely something to check out I think. That hollow point version of the 975 would be a heck of a hunting slug from a big whisper!

Anyone have any other feedback on the CBE stuff for us?

[luckygunner87]

I shoot the m33 650 grain ball bullets right now but they limit you on power at subsonic speed.

[rockrat]

As said, look at Accurate moulds. He makes some good 660 to 700gr designs. Now, with NOE, ask Swede if he has any moulds made from the 850gr cherry, but you end up taking the gas check area off and end with a boolit of about 750grains
shoots very well in my 50AK. He probably doesn't have any as he made mine when he was running a batch of 850gr moulds. He just doesn't run the cherry down in as far.
I had the CBE mould. It shot great! But, had a hard time getting boolits to release from the mold. Was afraid I was going to break the handles or the mould. That and 7 booits to the pound.!!!

[luckygunner87]

Rockrat did you smoke the cbe mold? I have never used a brass mold.

[rockrat]

smoked it, kroiled it, lapped the cavity, used NEI mould prep. Nothing helped. Communicated with others who had the same mould, and they didn't have the same problem. I just had a lemon I guess. Must have had a slight burr that I missed, that would cause it to not release. CBE, to their credit, offered to look at it and replace it if warranted, but I just quit using it.

[luckygunner87]

Ohh ok thanks for the info. I like the NOE 850 I just don't think the ogive is right for my magazine guess I will just pony up the cash and get the CBE