Cast Boolits for .243

[JSAND]

Hello,
I am just getting into the casting/reloading lifestyle and was wondering if any of you knowledgeable individuals could help. I did not know that you could even cast boolits for the .243 cal until I started researching this site.

I have a little Rossi .243 with a 23" barrel and 1:10 twist. Today I ordered from buffalo arms: .245" 84 Grn. RNGC Lyman 2-Cav. mould. Have any of you guys cast with this and reloaded rounds for a Rossi? Is this a good boolit for this rifle? and finally what data do you use to reload it.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[GabbyM]

I have that Lyman Loverin bullet and the Saeco.
Haven't' done any load work up with either of them yet. Spring is about here so that should change.
Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook has load data for the two Loverin they made. Lyman has a new book coming out this spring. For some reason Lyman claims best accuracy stops at 1,700 fps but I'm not to game on that one. Have some RX7 and 4895 to play around with. Both my 243's are AI chambered with 26” barrels. Both are new 10” twist barrels right now. Plan to start with 21 grains of RX7 which books at 2092 fps @ 20,200 CUP. Then try 25 grains of 4895 for 2126 fps @ 17,300 CUP and start working up and see how fast they'll go. I can see no reason why I can't shoot 6mm as fast as my 22's. 2200 to 2400 fps . I may be in for a shock.

If you're 243 has many miles on it you may want to slug the bore. It's amazing how big a 243 barrel can get after only 1200 rounds of those 3,800 fps J bullet loads. You should be able to make that Loverin fit it. Since you have no bore ride nose to worry about.

Book shows powders starting with Red Dot slowing all the way down to IMR 4320. Chances are you've something needing burned up.

[MT Gianni]

I shoot that boolit and the RCBS 95 gr. Start either over 12 gr 2400 and go to 14 Gr. You should find your sweet spot. Mine is at 13 gr but I am using a ER Shaw bbl from 1982. I am after accuracy first rather than speed but you can whack a few gophers with it @ 13 gr.

[JSAND]

GabbyM & MT Gianni,
Thanks for the info, I appreciate it. The rifle hasn't had more than a hundred rounds put through it, as I bought for my oldest boy and he just never took to it. My daughter is a shooter just like me, she loves shooting everything from pistols to shotguns, I had to buy her a little .36 pocket police just so I could shoot mine when we go out shooting. Was thinking of a light, accurate load for her. You gentlemen have got me started. The more I read the more I learn, and have seen many post regarding the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook so will absolutely being getting one of those. Thanks again for your time. John

[docone31]

Paper patch that little casting, and you will not be restricted to "sneeze loads".

[JSAND]

docone31,
haven't read up on any paper patching as of yet, so have no idea. I will look into it, as I am new to this way of life, everything is a possibility, and everything is of interest, thank you for the suggestion. John

[docone31]

I only wrap as small as .30cal. However, if my results are any indication, it is the way to go.
Pdawg might be of help. He wrapped the small ones.
You will need to size down to .240, then wrap and size down to .244, or .245.
I can stack several touching at 100yds with .30s.
Try it, you like it.
I use a cigarette roller. I am not sure I could do it any other way.

[JSAND]

docone31,
Thanks will definitely look into it, bought 2,000 GC when I ordered the mould, after reading all the stuff on here and 25.00 looked like a pretty good deal, for a box, thought I had better get 2. But I am very interested in anything that will make me less dependent on the manufacturers. Self sufficiency appears to be the way to go in the years to come. I’m not a doom and gloom guy, just don't like having to depend on others, so slowly moving away from it a little at a time. Thanks again, will definitely look into paper patching...... John

[GabbyM]

GabbyM & MT Gianni,
Thanks for the info, I appreciate it. The rifle hasn't had more than a hundred rounds put through it, as I bought for my oldest boy and he just never took to it. My daughter is a shooter just like me, she loves shooting everything from pistols to shotguns, I had to buy her a little .36 pocket police just so I could shoot mine when we go out shooting. Was thinking of a light, accurate load for her. You gentlemen have got me started. The more I read the more I learn, and have seen many post regarding the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook so will absolutely being getting one of those. Thanks again for your time. John

The Third edition Lyman hand book was first published in 1980.
The new book about to be released includes articles from our friend Mike Ventura.
Book is supposed to include loads for some competitors bullets. Hopefully in calibers Lyman has stopped making moulds for. 6mm being one of them. Buffalo Arms has the Lyman 6mm Loverin but it's not cataloged by Lyman anymore. I ask them about that on the phone and they were all mater of fact about it. Best I can figure is they have them made to order. One I received cast as pretty a bullet as any mould I have and I've many moulds. Rifles I have are medium Varmint weight 26” barrels. One Shillen and One ER Shaw. With 20 and 24 X scopes. I'll just have to go for it. But even 1,800 fps would be fun.

[JSAND]

GabbyM,
Thanks for the info, I plan on getting the Third edition and the new one, Can't have too many books for this stuff, as I am learning. Can't wait to get back to the states and get knee deep into all of this. Have everything sitting in boxes just waiting on me. I'm very excited to be getting into reloading/casting and you guys are a wealth of knowledge and a tremendous help. Can't wait until I am actually asking questions about the boolits I am casting and the loads I am loading, until then I'll keep reading and soaking up the knowledge. John

[BerdanIII]

[My comments]

From: Loading Cast in the .243 Win., Mike Mohler, The Fouling Shot 158-10

"Lyman 245496 - A multi-grooved Loverin design that weighs 88 grs. It casts .246". By sizing to .243" it can be seated out into the throat and shoots nicely for small game. Eight grains of 700-X gives 1560 fps. The bullets fall easily from my old single-cavity mould. Thousands of these bullets have gone through the Husqvarna I use in the Offhand Postals. In spite of much effort, it is the least accurate bullet tried and not recommended for benchrest."

"IMR 700-X - A bulky powder for its speed. Best results have been with 6.6 to 7.0 grains with the 85-grain bullet. I've had poor results with bullets over 90 grains.
IMR 4756 - Dropped due to light leading showing up on cleaning patches. It showed promise with light bullets.
AA 5744 - Though position insensitive, both my father, using a .308 and myself using the .243 had mediocre results.
IMR 4227 - An excellent powder. Use 14.5 to 16.0 grains with any bullet.
IMR 4579 - Not as good as 4227.
Reloder 7 - Very good results in cool to moderate weather. Groups opened badly when the temperature approached 90°."

From: Cast Loads for the Sixes, Jim Carmichel, Varmint and Small Game Rifles and Cartridges, p. 134 [Loads below were fired in .243 WCF.]

Lyman 245496 (85 grains) - linotype - sized .243" - seated with all lube grooves covered
Reloder 7 - 15.0 - 1785 fps - moa at 100 yds.
Reloder 7 - 17.5 - 1965
Reloder 7 - 20.0 - 2160
Hercules [now Alliant] 2400 - 13.0 - 1900
Hercules [sic] 4895 - 30.0 - 1938
Hercules [sic] 4895 - 31.0 - 2220
Hercules [sic] 4895 - 32.0 - 2480
Norma 204 - 30.0 - 2060
IMR 4064 - 30.0 - 2387

"For pure accuracy, light charges of fast burning rifle powders such as RL No. 7, 4198, 2400, etc., will do best with top grouping being found in the 1600 -1900 fps range. If, however, you want more velocity, go to heavier charges of medium to slow burning charges of 4895, Norma 204 or even 4831. The slower powders tend to accelerate the bullet less rapidly and urge lead alloy bullets to top velocities with less damage from temperature and pressure."

From: Lyman No. I-don't-know-'cause-the covers-are-missing-but-maybe-Cast Bullet Handbook No. 1 [The manual with loads used by shooters and their comments, bullet profiles in blue bars.]

Lyman 245496
.244" - 85 gr - "hard" alloy - Fed. 210 primer - 1" @ 100 yds - Ball C [probably Ball C-1] - 20.0
For squirrel shooting with this bullet in the .243, a good load is 7.0 grains of Unique.
.244" - 85 gr - "hard" - West. 9½ - 1" @ 50 yds - SR4759 - 15.0
I also found 14 grains of 2400 gave fair to good grouping.
.244" - 85 gr - "hard" - West 9½ - 2.5 to 1.5" @ 200, 100 yds - 4064 - 30.0
.244" - 85 to 87 gr - "medium" - Win 120 - 1.5" @ 100 yds - 4227 - 12.9
All bullets weighed to ± 0.1 gr., use neck expander .001 smaller than diameter of bullet.
.244" - 87 gr - "hard" - Cascade - 1.5" @ 100 yds - 4198 - 24.5
I find sizing nearest to actual barrel dimensions proves best for me. Also, hard alloys will take more velocity and size better.
.243" - 85 gr - "hard" - Rem 9½ - 2.5" @ 100 yds - SR4759 - 13.0

From: High Speed .243 Loads, Bruce Judson, The Fouling Shot 86-9

"With Rx 19 [Reloder 19], my 2,200 fps load is 31 gr. The cases are Remington and are unsized. My Saeco mould [probably #243, an 85-gr. TCGC, but not stated in the article] casts bullets that are oversize, and are loaded as cast. They are "glued" in place by Lee Liquid Alox lube and are loose in the case neck. The bullets are made of wheel weights plus 1% tin, and are heat treated after the checks are added. I use Winchester primers and a grain of Dacron on the powder charges.

With Rx 15 [Reloder 15], the first load I tried was 27 gr. All other load specs are the same. Over 40 shots (8x5) the velocity averaged 2,326 fps and the groups, including foulers, averaged 1.44" at 100 yards.

I had also assembled some loads with 30 gr. of Rx 15. 40 shots gave these averages: 2,562 fps and groups of 1.83. Not bad for a load almost 400 fps faster than cast bullets are supposed to be able to go. Both of these loads burn very cleanly. The bullet holes show none of the powder residue smudges common to other loads and no unburned powder remains in the bore. Maybe the clean burning characteristic of Rx 15 is helpful in getting good accuracy at high speed."

[JSAND]

BerdanIII, thank you very much, alot of valuable information. Thank you most of all for taking the time to help a new guy out a little and put him on the right track. I ordered me a copy of Lymans cast bullet handbook 3rd Edition last night and Midsouth is showing an expected arrival date for the fourth edition on the 3rd of March, so can't wait to get that one as well. Again thank you for a great post. John

[JSAND]

Well no 4th edition yet, Midway says 22nd Mid South says should have been in warehouse already, I thank everyone who took time to give me some advice here, I aprreciate it greatly.

[MT Gianni]

JSAND, as a heads up I have had absolutly dismal results with the Lee Universal expanding die at sizes under .308. There was about 1/8th of a turn adjustment between shaving the sides and falling through the neck. Get a Lyman M die for .244 and you will be a lot happier.

[Casting Timmy]

I just shot the 245496 over 11gr of Unigue this weekend, and it's a great plinking load. A little lower point of impact than my jacketed, but I'm definitely going to be loading up some more soon. I really liked shoting the load.