.223 Plinking/Target Loads

[OldFogey]

I'm very new to casting my own boolits. Have been reloading those "J" things for over 40 years. I have a Savage 111, chambered in .223 which I have been loading 55gr sp. and 69 gr HPBT.....velocities from about 2800 - 3200. My barrel is a 1-9" twist. Simplified, in jacketed, the longer the projectile the faster the required twist to stabilize.

Fast forward: Looking for advice on mould selection, load data, etc for cast using COWW alloy. Not expecting the velocities I am used to with jacketed. Looking for a plinking/ target load. Not sure what to look for in boolit length with the 1 - 9" twist and the wheel weights. What kind of limits on velocity should I expect?

My wife and I are both disabled and on a very limited budget, so can't afford to buy multiple moulds.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

[runfiverun]

rcbs 055-s.
11 grs of 2400.
weight sort your boolits..
size to 225 or 226 [pick one i like 226]
use the same primers your using now.
neck size the cases.

[OldFogey]

Thank you, sir. I am assuming 11 grs of 2400 is your max charge?

Should I start at around 9.5 or so and work up? Dont' have a lubrisizer will have to get by with the Lee push through dies in my press for now. Lee doesn't show a 226, so will have to try a 225.

Have been using Winchester primers with the Varget. So, will follow your advice and stick with them.

[joesig]

OldFogey, what powder(s) do you have? The RCBS/NOE mold runfiverun mentions is great. I would suggest you experiment with some slower (read more available) powders too. Not apples to apples but in a 221 Fireball I've had great luck with H335.

PS. It's not hard to polish out a Lee die to .226. If you get leading in the Lee die, I would suggest you at least try some 600 grit. How to polish/open a Lee die has been mentioned a few times on this forum

[Wally]

I have a Rem 700 .223 Rem...I use the RCBS 55 SP-GC w/ 8.0 grains of Unique sized to .225". The Lyman 225462 also works quite well. I get 2,100 FPS Muzzle Velocity. I have also used std Small Pistol primers with excellent results. On a good day I get 2" groups at 150 yards.

[OldFogey]

Looks like the rcbs/Noe 55-sp is popular.

JoeSig, Will have to buy some powder. Right now, all I have on hand is 231 (1/2 lb that I have been hording), Varget, and IMR-3031. Figured I would have to change from Varget to something else for the 223. Can't believe I didn't think of polishing out the Lee die. I guess it goes with getting older and not necessarily smarter.

Wally: Unique would be great to have, but haven't seen any of it for a long time. I would be more than satisfied with 2100 fps with cast. Heck, I would be happy with 1700 if it shoots well in my Savage.

Thanks to all who have responded. BTW, this forum is great! I have spent many hours over the last couple of months reading the stickies and other posts. A wealth of knowledge here beyond what is found in the books and manuals.

[runfiverun]

I can go up another grain with the 2400 load but 11 grs should get you started you can go down some too.
if you have a faster pistol powder like red-dot/700-x/green dot, 6.5 grs of that will get you in the 1800 fps area,and will shoot well also. [your 231 would work]
I like a bit harder alloy in the 223 [similar to lyman no-2] alternately 2% tin in the ww alloy and water dropping will help too.
linotype is just too hard and not needed.
the 225 diameter should be okay if that's what you can get for a sizing die.

[OldFogey]

runfiverun. Thanks for the load info. I think I will try the 231, since I have some. Was thinking of ordering a little tin from rotometals, so you confirmed that for me. I am using wheel weights because that is what I have been collecting for a couple of months. Smelted three buckets a couple of weeks ago and got 102 lbs of pretty little muffins of COWW and 22 lbs of SOWW. May seem like a piddling amount to most of those here, but I sure feel good about it. Now to continue slowly accumulating the other items I need to start casting.
Thanks,
OldFogey

[Harter66]

You have to start somewhere.
Gas checks are needed also . I have just started my quest into cast 22s and have the NOE RCBS 22-55 that ends up right at 65 gr . The bolt gun will be easier to get going than a gas gun .