lyman or RCBS in a 22

[part_timer]

I'm in need of a mold for my 223 encore and was wondering which one y'all use? Is the RCBS worth the extra money?

This will be the 55gr out of an 11"bbl. I've never tried to cast boolits this small so I expect for there to be a learning curve.

Thanks

[DanM]

I was expecting trouble from my 55 Lee .22Bator mold, but had none at all. I am shooting them from my .223 Contender with excellent results. Haven't done a lot of load work yet, just 2400 for 2010fps thru the 14" tube. Accuracy has been MOA or better so far. This mold is sold through Midsouth, and you will likely have to wait for a backorder. Even if you deceide to get other molds first, I suggest you go ahead and backorder one from Midsouth, since they cost only about $18.00, and work very well....

[Calamity Jake]

I have both the RCBS and Lyman 22 molds, both are about 55gr's I use them in a LAR15, they shoot equaly well. so take your pick.

The object to casting eddibiddy boolets is keeping the mold hot, when I cast 22-25's I use one mold at a time.

[part_timer]

Thanks guys,

I will put a lee on backorder at midsouth that is a great idea. 4 month wait but oh well.

I was going to get a RCBS but I was poking around on hollowpointmold and found a 225462 that I can have hollowpointed and sent to the house for what an RCBS cost so I ordered it and a 35891 in a hp. that ought to keep me experimenting for a bit.

Thanks for the info
Tom

[orygun_native]

I was expecting trouble from my 55 Lee .22Bator mold, but had none at all. I am shooting them from my .223 Contender with excellent results. Haven't done a lot of load work yet, just 2400 for 2010fps thru the 14" tube. Accuracy has been MOA or better so far. This mold is sold through Midsouth, and you will likely have to wait for a backorder. Even if you deceide to get other molds first, I suggest you go ahead and backorder one from Midsouth, since they cost only about $18.00, and work very well....

What's the deal on Midsouth's website about the .22Bator being for experienced caster's only? I'm just getting into this but would like to try to cook up some .223s for my AR. Is there something I need to know?

[carpetman]

I have used the RCBS and like it. I have also had good results with it not using a gas check. This is in .222's and 22-250. My .223 will not shoot it--.223 is a bolt action Win mod 70.

[MT Gianni]

Ray, Do you know the twist rate on your 223?

[carpetman]

Mt Gianni---Somewhere I have a chart that gives twist rate and don't remember which book. Anyways it is .223 in Win mod 70--I'm guessing 1-12??? Im sure someone that knows will log on.

[Calamity Jake]

"What's the deal on Midsouth's website about the .22Bator being for experienced caster's only? I'm just getting into this but would like to try to cook up some .223s for my AR. Is there something I need to know? "

22 cal. molds can be hard to keep hot enough to maintain good fillout, there's a lot of mass in the mold blocks and not much heat with them eiddy bitty boolets,
When I cast 22's, I use only one mold, run the pot at 800° and cast pretty fast.

[Wayne S]

Could someone post a picture or drawing of this 22 Bator and the item # from Mid south, seams nothing exists there unless it has an item #

[45nut]

006-22bator

reloading / lead bullet casting / special order moulds

[seabat0603]

I have a question. I have an encore as well and am planing to get a barrel in 22-250. Which bullet is better at 22-250 speeds, a gas check or a none gas check?

[Bullshop]

seabat
If you intend to shoot boolits at 22/250 speeds I think you are in for quite a learning experiance, with or without gas checks.
BIC/BS

[seabat0603]

I need you to be a bit clearer on that bullshop. I have no exp. in this area and if you do, please grab a cup of coffee or a pot if it's gonna take you a while to explain it to me. If ignorance is bliss, in this area I'm a happy man.

[9.3X62AL]

Seabat--

The small-caliber castings exaggerate ANY imperfections far more so than do larger caliber boolits. This is a complication when the moulds that create the boolits don't maintain temperature well, as in the case of aluminum blocks. Lee's mass-produced moulds aren't smaller than 7mm, and I suspect that is done to minimize warrantee return/customer relations issues. I have one 22 caliber mould in aluminum, an NEI item. "Fast and hot" is the word.

[HORNET]

Seabat,
It's not so much a problem of boolit size asa matter of velocity. At the risk of starting yet another twist rate war, you can get good accuracy out of a 14" twist .22 fairly easily around 2000-2200 fps. You can get good accuracy a little faster with a 16" twist (if you can keep them stabilized) at a little higher velocity (think 225438 at full throttle in a Hornet). At faster twist rates, you usually have to start slowing down to keep reasonable groups. Some claim that these limits can be exceeded and you can do so to some degree if everything works out right, but I wouldn't count on it.
At .22-250 speeds, even some jacketed bullets are marginal for staying together, despite a copper condom that's much harder and stronger than even heat-treated cast boolits. I really think that you'll have problems keeping cast on paper much above 3000 fps whereas the .22-250 is capable of much higher velocities.

Note: Must be getting near spring, the cast .22 posts are starting to come out. I think it relates to Groundhog Day.......

[Larry Gibson]

Mt Gianni---Somewhere I have a chart that gives twist rate and don't remember which book. Anyways it is .223 in Win mod 70--I'm guessing 1-12??? Im sure someone that knows will log on.

Depends on when you got it. I've a M70 XTR .223 with a 12" twist I got back in the mid '80s. The later ones, especially the heavy barreled ones, have 9" twists.

Larry Gibson

[orygun_native]

"What's the deal on Midsouth's website about the .22Bator being for experienced caster's only? I'm just getting into this but would like to try to cook up some .223s for my AR. Is there something I need to know? "

22 cal. molds can be hard to keep hot enough to maintain good fillout, there's a lot of mass in the mold blocks and not much heat with them eiddy bitty boolets,
When I cast 22's, I use only one mold, run the pot at 800° and cast pretty fast.

Thanks for the response. I was thinking of buying two of these molds and alternating to cast but it sounds like that I'd do better just to cast hot and fast using only one. I'm liking the idea of some casting some boolits for my 1:9 AR. I've seen a few things on this and it looks to be feasible.

[Boomer Mikey]

If you're happy shooting your AR as a single shot; cast will work fine, but most of the time the pressures required to cycle the AR will be too high to get accuracy with cast bullets and those high pressures dictate the use of gas checked bullets as well.

I'm using the RCBS 22-55-SP and Lyman 225-415 bullets in my TC Contender 10" 22 Hornet; however, unless you get a great deal of satisfaction or enjoy a challenge .22 Jword bullets make life much easier for loads over 2400 fps.

I haven't had any problems keeping the molds hot enough... I crank the pot up and cast rapidly, adjust the casting rate/temperature as needed. With a bottom pour pot I can get frosty bullets.

Check out these articles on castpics about shooting the Hornet and 223 with cast by Beagle.

http://www.castpics.net/memberarticles/Cast%20in%20the%20.223.htm
http://www.castpics.net/memberarticles/Cast%20in%20the%20.223,%20Part%20II.htm
http://www.castpics.net/memberarticles/Cast%20in%20the%20.223,%20Part%20III.htm

http://www.castpics.net/memberarticles/Cast%20Bullets%20in%20the%2022%20Hornet.htm

This is a fairly good intro by George Carlson on the subject:
http://www.castpics.net/memberarticles/.22%20and%20.25%20Bullets.htm

Boomer :Fire:

[Charlie Sometimes]

Great info Boomer Mikey- I needed to see that info on the 22 Hornet.
http://www.castpics.net/memberarticl...2%20Hornet.htm
That is exactly what I am going through with mine- I am mentally on the same track.
What a time saver!

THANKS A HEAP!