lyman 225462

[44mag1]

I have a lyman 225462 mould that I would like to start using. Anyone here shoot these. I have a remington 600 mohawk .222 and a tikka 595 22.250 that I will be shooting these out of. I would like to get as much velocity I can with resonable accuracy. Any thoughts?

[Larry Gibson]

225462 is an excellent bullet for use in both cartridges. I used it years ago (early '80s) in a 12" twist .223, 14" twist .223 and .222 and a 22-250 with 14" twist. I also found it a really good bullet for a 10" twist .223 Mini 14 I had. Like a dummy I let the mould go with a M788 .222 and regretted both for years. I recently picked up another DC 225462 mould and am looking forward to working with it again. I also don't have any loading notes from back then for that bullet and have no idea where they went. I do recall that that bullet shot best at higher velocity in the long necked .222, my M700V with worn throat and the Mini 14 because the bullet could be seated out so the GC was just barely below the case neck. I found 4895 to give the best accuracy in both the .222 and .223s. I'm not sure about the 22-250 though. I was getting velocities with very good accuracy (1 1/2 moa or less) in the 2000-2200 fps range with the 12" twist and up into the 2300s with the 14" twst barrels. Chronographing was done on a M10 Oehler with M61 sky screens back then. I'm going to work with the 22-250 more this year. Keep me posted on your findings and I'll do the same.

Larry Gibson

[JeffinNZ]

I shoot this bullet in my Rem 700 .223 with a 1 in 12 twist.

6gr Green Dot for 1700fps; air cooled WW.

23gr W748 for 2600fps; oven heat treated WW.

Very good accuracy for both however I do have to run the bullet nose first into a .224 sizing die to size the front band in order to seat no deeper than the bottom of the case neck. Bullet is then run base first into a .2255 die for lubing and gas check seating. Leaving the front driving band at .226 'as cast' the bullet is too stout for the leade and the chambering process pushes the bullet deeper into the case.

[44mag1]

Thanks for the info,what kind of lube are you using?

[JeffinNZ]

I am using my own brew. Focus on getting your alloy right and the bullet diameter correct and things will work. Too much importance put on lube in my opinion.

[HORNET]

44mag1,
You didn't mention what powders you had handy. I couldn't get consistancy out of the 4895's until I went to using a dacron filler(which is a PITA to get into a .22 case neck). I've had good results without a filler with a R-P 6-1/2 and loads around 12.2 of 4759, 12.5 of either 4227, 14.5 of either 4198, and around 15.5 of 3031 with the boolit sized .225 and seated firmly into the rifling.

[44mag1]

I think Ill start with W748, but am wiling to try any that work for the 222.

[44mag1]

I have tried to lube these little guys and the top punch im using wont push the bullet in far enough to let the lube in. is the correct top punch going to fit inside the sizing die? even if the bullet is flush with the top of the sizing die its still not far enough down.

[garandsrus]

44mag1,

What type of sizer? I would think that the correct top punch will fit inside the sizing die. If you have a lathe or know someone that does, you can make a top punch for the sizer.

John

[44mag1]

lyman 450

[WKAYE]

I have that mould and it's one of my favorites. The correct top punch is 438.

[44mag1]

I loaded up 20 rounds today just to see how these things shoot,well the first shot out of a clean barrel was about an inch out of the group from the next 6 which were in a 1 inch cluster at 50 yrds. Then they started flying all over the place. the load was 10 grains of steel lubed twice with jpw. I looked down the barrel to see if there was any lead and the bore looked fine, a bit of powder fouling but not too bad. I shot some jacketed through it just to see and they were all on sight and touching. This is out of a remington 600 .222. Any thoughts. Ill definatly use a more suitible powder next time but steel works great in all my other rifles, even the 6.5x55.

[44mag1]

OK I have the correct top punch now and loaded these with 18 grains of 335. they dident shoot too well. about 3" at 50 yards. are these cast 22s harder to get shooting good. Ive had no trouble with any of my other rifles shooting lead,even with my 264 mag and my 6.5x55. Ill keep trying until I can use these cast bullets for prairie dogs. any advise would be appreciated. Id like to keep the velocity as high as I can and still shoot straight. 2200+fps

[Larry Gibson]

You've now found out that H335 and most other medium and slow burning ball powders do not burn (ignite) efficeintly untill a certain pressure is reached. That pressure is usually way beyound the practical limits of the lighter weight cast bullets in most cartridges. You need to go to a powder that ignites easily over a broad range of pressures and the ball powders just don't cut it most often unless heavier bullets are used to get pressures high enough.

Try H4895; start at 18 gr and work up in 1/2 gr increments. Accuracy will be toast before you max out pressure wise. Don't forget to use a 1/2 gr dacron filler over the powder. Happiness awaits you.

Larry Gibson

[Chunky Monkey]

You've now found out that H335 and most other medium and slow burning ball powders do not burn (ignite) efficeintly untill a certain pressure is reached. That pressure is usually way beyound the practical limits of the lighter weight cast bullets in most cartridges. You need to go to a powder that ignites easily over a broad range of pressures and the ball powders just don't cut it most often unless heavier bullets are used to get pressures high enough.

Try H4895; start at 18 gr and work up in 1/2 gr increments. Accuracy will be toast before you max out pressure wise. Don't forget to use a 1/2 gr dacron filler over the powder. Happiness awaits you.

Larry Gibson

What Larry said +100,000,000 :-D