If you could only have one rifle to cast for, what caliber would it be, and why?
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If you could only have one rifle to cast for, what caliber would it be, and why?
45-70 Marlin. Because I couldn't afford to shoot it if I had to buy jacketed.
The Old Man's duffle cut 1942 98k, it was the first rifle I carried deer hunting.
7x57 cuz it was the first caliber I ever shot in a centerfire rifle and it just seems to get the job done. Super-versatile and just one of those great calibers that BEGS one to handload due to the "low-pressure" ballistics of most factory ammo.
So, a little versatility, a little nostalgia and a little bit of just plain fun!!
PSP
RNH -
HOwdy !
.35 Rem for me. Amazingly accurate & flexible. Can shoot .358" cal rifle or .357" cal handgun lead boolits. And even shoots well w/ J-words.
Heck... I've shot .35 Rem in my Marlin M-336 XLR w/ the case necks cut clean off ! Used Dead Center Duplex .35" calibre 195 SPBTs, "patched " w/ Dymo label tape. The shoulder on the rebated boat tail sealed against the flat opening of the case " mouth", and was held there by boolit being engaged into the rifling @ the other end. Got it to group half-way decent @ 100yd ( this was w/ a reduced load of IMR4759.
All great fun !
With regards,
357Mag
338/06. Medium large bore that has the ability to take groundhogs up to elk, a decently made 225 - 230 gr. boolet does nicely. Can be made up on any Mauser, Springfield or U.S. Enfield action besides any `06 sport length action.Robert
.35 something.
Thanks for your input, but I meant more for a casting point of view. Neck length, case capacity, etc..
30-30 Winchester Marlin. Good variety of moulds. Lots of case neck. Decent case capacity for cast. Max pressure and velocity is very accessible to cast.
If there was ever a cartridge that screamed to be shot with cast it is a 30-30.
Tough one! Toss up between 30-30 and 308, with druthers on the two going to 30-30 because of savings on powder with smaller charges. Now to add to this thread, I would say if you had only the one, what mold would you choose and why. For me, it would be the 170gr. Ranch Dog-------How about the rest of you?
1Shirt!
.30-30 or .45-70 Marlins.
I had an answer all prepared and then I read the others.
I really think I enjoy shooting cast in my 22 calibers the most.
if I had to make do with just one caliber for everything I shoot it would be my 358 Winchester.
I can do from p-dogs through elk with it.
Being new to boolit casting, right now it'd be the 300blackout. Versatility of subs, supers, bullet weights, and across numerous platforms make it ideal for a new caster.
9.3x62 with a 285 grain GC will take down the biggest critter I am likely to run in to and have horse power to spare, with light loads will take rabbits cleanly,
Robert.
.30-'06. Most versatile cartridge on the planet. It's not only capable of but excels at more different things than any other I can think of.
And that's just with cast boolits.
Gear
I have to agree with geargnasher on this one, 30-06 in a bolt gun. With all the various 30cal cast bullets and powders that are suitable for it. The options are pretty much endless everything from mouse-fart to moose killers to long distance it will do it with cast boolits.
45/70 I can load it down or even load shot in it if I needed to.
First choice would be a heavy barreled .32/40 on a single shot platform for strictly cast bullet experimentation at 100 and 200 yards. Please let it have a tight chamber and throated for breech seating, and if cost were no object a false muzzle too. Two different stock sets: one for off -hand work and one for bench work. Windgauge tang sight and globe front, with a 15x Unertl as backup.
One can dream, can't one?!
.30-06 here too. But I'm torn between the Garand and the Smith-Corona 03. Second would be the .45 colt 94 Winchester due to the fact that I can use the same ammo in my Blackhawk.