Titan ReloadingLoad DataRepackboxLee Precision
WidenersReloading EverythingRotoMetals2Inline Fabrication
MidSouth Shooters Supply
Page 9 of 9 FirstFirst 123456789
Results 161 to 175 of 175

Thread: AR-15 500 Round Cast Bullet Test

  1. #161
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Peoples Republic of Kalifornia
    Posts
    4
    Interesting read. Thanks.
    NRA Patron Member; SCI Life Member; RMEF Life Member; NSRPA Life Member; NAHHC Life Member; HHI Member; Cast Bullet Association Member

  2. #162
    Boolit Buddy parkerhale1200's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    The Netherlands Europa
    Posts
    209
    The voodoo i use for GC....Is my wife! and she does a great job. She does also the lubing/sizing for all the boolits, resizing and primer the cases, I do casting, the powder and the seating, we shoot both.

    First run for the GC: She put in the GC in the lube/sizer and then the boolit on top of it, when she did a couple of 100("dry sizing"), then they go back in for a second run in the lube/sizer, this time with the heating plate and pressure on the lube.
    With this trick, (we found this trick somewhere on this site), some problems where "melting like snow in front of the sun".
    Sinds then, we had no more GC that where lose and/or had lube under the GC.

    So with the AR i do the "prone" shooting with a fixed site, with the Parkerhale I "sit" (not on a chair), how is this called?, I use a jacket with a belt and glove.
    And yes some times I use a bench.

    My groups are indeed 3,5 to 4 inch, 8 cm to 10 cm, but i still have to shoot some more boolits with differend loads, to fine tune. Yesterday it was 65F/20C colder then it was normal, so this test was not good for summer boolits, temperature has indeed a big affect on the boolit behavior, it really matters.
    They told me several years ago and i thought it was a "wax nose", but no....its dead serious!
    In my "resulting tables" i am going to add temperature.
    The smallest group i had yesterday was 2 by 2,5 inch with 15,5 D060

    Back to GC...You really need GC above speeds of 1500 fps, to controle obturation of the boolits base.
    With gasport systems you can not get lower speeds, or the gun will not function properly.

    With bold action rifles you can get as low as you can with out GC.
    If your alloy is really hard 30-35bhn you can shoot without GC, full jacket loads.
    For normal use, normal bhn(18 in this case) needs GC. No matter what brand mold you have.

    GC type from what i understand, they are coming from the same factory now.
    In general I dont think (I think this) it matters withs type of check you are using, commercial or homemade.
    At least in my Parkerhale1200 i did not notice any difference between commercial checks and my own home made, not even copper or aluminium.

    I wish i could obtain one in 223.

  3. #163
    Boolit Buddy parkerhale1200's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    The Netherlands Europa
    Posts
    209
    I hope this is of some help, I think my translations are correct, feel free to correct me where i am wrong.

    I would like to have the file in this post, but I failed to figure out how.

    Date
    Dia best 8
    Powder residue
    Gun powder
    Amount powder
    Bullet type
    Bullet weight
    Leadtype/bhn
    Number loaded
    Brand and length case
    Crimp
    Sized at
    Temperature
    Remarks


    I think that those subjects are important to keep on track for those kind of things, for load developments.

  4. #164
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    KY
    Posts
    3
    This is a great thread. The OP did a great job on getting real data. I am glad to see others continuing the discussion with their load development. To that regard, I am planning on working up some loads for my 5.56 NATO (AR-15 style) and 223 Rem (AK style). I have CFE223 and BL-C(2) powders. I can get other powders locally, those are what I use for jacketed bullets and have on hand. I have the 55 grain 6 cavity Lee mold for cast bullets. I will be using Smoke's Bacon Grease for powder coating. Looking at Bama's post for the 308 load, I will first apply a gas check, then powder coat followed by sizing.

    Does anyone have any suggested starting loads for cast bullets with one of those powders? Or should I use a different powder altogether?

  5. #165
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Posts
    10
    Quote Originally Posted by Arson View Post
    Does anyone have any suggested starting loads for cast bullets with one of those powders? Or should I use a different powder altogether?
    I am working along some of the same lines as you are. Somewhere along my research I found someone's load for CFE223 which is 19.6 grains. I plan to start my load development there.

    I was supposed to do my initial firing today but things didn't work out. As soon as I get my initial testing done I plan to publish a report here.

    Thanks

    Fyrd

  6. #166
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    AL
    Posts
    330
    Great write up! I use lyman 225415 gc bullet over 20 gr h335. gun functions great, no leading. chronoed this load in 26 in barrel at 2772 fps. getting 2.5 in groups with both rem 700 and ar 15. water filled milk jugs explode at 100 yds like they were hit with jacketed loads.

  7. #167
    Boolit Master
    JBinMN's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Goodhue County, SE Minnesota
    Posts
    3,080
    Good read! Thanks to all who contributed good info!


    And I am still wondering why no AR15 sub forum... Unless it is hidden somewhere. I did not see it..
    2nd Amend./U.S. Const. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

    ~~ WWG1WGA ~~

    Restore the Republic!!!

    For the Fudds > "Those who appease a tiger, do so in the hope that the tiger will eat them last." -Winston Churchill.

    President Reagan tells it like it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6MwPgPK7WQ

    Phil Robertson explains the Wall: https://youtu.be/f9d1Wof7S4o

  8. #168
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Posts
    10
    Project report: Cast slug in 5.56/.223 AR rifle.

    Goal: Realize reduction of costs, (estimated to be about 36%, from $.2930 each to $.1882 each) while maintaining full function of rifles and adequate accuracy.

    Goal Modifiers:

    1. Be reasonably as accurate as factory and other handloads with little or no change in point of aim (No sight adjustments needed).

    2. Require little or no adjustment of Dillon 550B head to change from cast to jacketed slugs.

    {My apologies to my metric friends for my lack of conversions. I am certain that your conversions from English to Metric will be much more accurate than mine. If you are ever in Kansas, I will buy you a beer.}

    The slugs:

    Mold: Lee #: 90459, 6-Cavity Bullet Mold C225-55-RF 22 Caliber (225 Diameter) 55 Grain Flat Nose Gas Check.

    Gas Checks: Hornady #: 7010 Hornady Gas Checks 22 Caliber Box of 1000

    Sizer: Lee #: 90036 Bullet Lube and Sizing Die Kit .225

    Metal: straight linotype. I have to say that using clean ‘virgin’ metal to cast with was an unexpected delight. (I usually us reclaimed wheel weights.)

    It was strange casting slugs that were smaller than the sprue. Lee’s aluminum molds worked well. Per my usual procedure I run my pot on the hot side and dropped them from the mold approximately 12”-16” into a bucket of water.

    I had to put on my Optivisor to see to start the gas checks onto the heels. I then put them through the sizer to set them.

    I know I said that I wasn’t interested in powder coating, but that changed. I got set up to powder coat using shake-n-bake Harbor Freight powder and did my learning curve on some 158g semi wadcutters at .358.

    Once I had seated the gas checks I did a visual sort to cull out the less than perfect from the much less than perfect and used red for my ‘good’ and white for my ‘plinkers’. I then went ahead and tumble lubed them with Lee #: 90177 Lee Liquid Alox Bullet Lube. It isn’t expensive or time consuming and the extra lube can’t hurt, (right?).

    With this process I ended up with an average weight of 54.5 grains each plus or minus about .3 grains. That is a wide spread for the match grade projectiles I usually weight so I don’t know if that is good or not for cast.

    Case:

    I had about 400-500 fired cases. I deprimed them and put them in a tumbler with walnut hulls for several days. I then sized and trimmed them on a C-Press with a Dillon Rapid trimmer. If you reload for semi autos in quantity these are well worth the investment. I trim all my rifles to exact book length, (in this case 1.760”) and trim after each firing. This maintains consistency from lot to lot and also keeps me from having to adjust my Lee Factory Crimp, which I intend to put on every rifle I have set up on the Dillon.

    I sorted cases by head stamp and ended up with 126 pieces of Lake City brass. I have more Federal, but in my experience Lake City is heavy/thick. If it is a safe load in LC, it is safe in other brass. Once we have a working load we will double check it with the FC.

    Reloading machine: Dillon 550B

    Since I size in the trimmer, I placed the Lee #: 90798 Universal Neck Expanding Die in station #1 of the Dillon tool head and belled the case to accept the cast slug. I am lucky that the belled case will still fit into the powder die in station #2. Station #3 is an RCBS #: 11138 .223 REM Seater Die. Station #4 is my trusty Lee #: 90817 Factory Crimp Die.

    Test Fire Day: 3/17/2018. Altitude of the range is 2011 feet above sea level.
    Beginning End
    Humidity 70% 51%
    Temperature 38 Degrees F 46 Degrees F
    Barometer 30.04 rising 30.02 dropping
    Visibility 10 miles 10 miles


    I planned on two test rifles, three bench mark loads and one test load.

    Rifle #1 = My own Stag Model -15, M-4 config, 5.56 1/9 twist w/ > 1K rounds, with a Center Point (Wally World?) 3-9x40. Has ~8" gas tube. Freshly cleaned and lubed. I fired 10 factory loads before testing to foul the system.

    Rifle #2 = My son’s new Del-Ton DTI-15 M-4 config, 5.56 1/9 twist w< 200 rounds. With a Tasco 3-9x40. Has ~ 8" gas tube. I did not clean and lube this personally which may have been a mistake.

    1st benchmark load = Factory Federal American Eagle Tactical AE223J 55 grain FMJ

    2nd benchmark load = Handload: LC Brass; 55g Hornady FMJBT, CCI 400 SR primer, 25.6 grains Varget.

    3rd benchmark load = My current standard handload: FC Brass; 68g Hornady BTHPM, WSR primer, 23.5 grain CFE223.

    TEST load: LC Brass; 54.5 Hard Cast Lee w/GC and PC. WSR primer, 19.6 grain CFE223.

    Test rifle #1’s results were encouraging. I fired 5 shots for speed and accuracy at 25 laser measured yards.

    1st benchmark averaged 2860 FPS, 1.125” group; 6 o’clock from Point of Aim (POA) and 2” low.

    2nd benchmark averaged 2857 FPS, .75” group; 6 o’clock from POA and 2” low.

    3rd benchmark averaged 2823 FPS, .75” group; 6 o’clock from POA and 1.5” low.

    TEST LOAD averaged 1874 FPS, 1.75” group; 6 o’clock from POA and 1” low to covering the POA.

    While expected the low velocity I didn’t expect the POA to be as close as it was.

    Test rifle #2’s results were dismal. To keep moving the chronograph to a minimum I fired my test shots in backward sequence to #1.

    5 shots of benchmark #2 went off without a hitch. However, when I went to fire the TEST LOADs I ran into trouble. The first shot fired fine, the second one only went ‘click’. When I went to rack the action it was stubborn, but the shell finally came out, no dent on primer. Loaded the next round in the magazine, ditto.

    I switched magazines and ran about 15 or so rounds of factory through Rifle #2 without a hiccup. Went back to the TEST LOADs, first one fired, and then we went back to ‘click’, sticky extraction, no primer dent.

    I put the three shells that didn’t fire through Rifle #1. One of them went click one time, but all eventually fired. I don’t know if there is a cleaning/lubrication issue, perhaps Rifle #2 has a slightly tighter chamber than #1 and my reloads are slightly oversized, Rifle #2 isn’t completely broken in yet or some combination of things but I quit testing Rifle #2.

    In fairness to me, all TEST LOADS were run through a Dillon head space /case length gage before I took them to the range.

    At this point I had 15 rounds of TEST LOADS. I put them in the magazine and fired them rapid fire from the bench @ at 12” gong 100 yards way. 12 of 15 rang the gong and I suspect that had I fired them slowly that might have been improved.

    So far the project appears to be successful. I haven’t run enough loads to evaluate cleanliness so that will be left for later tests. It will be at least 2 months because the range I use is closed for the duration of Turkey season.

    I do have some questions for the list:

    1. I am surprised that 55 grain loads at 1874 FPS are shooting the same point of aim as those at 2800 FPS. Is this normal or a fluke that I can’t count on?

    2. What should I look for when I move testing from 25 yards to 100 yards?

    3. Any comments on Rifle #2?

    Thanks,

    Fyrd

  9. #169
    Boolit Buddy parkerhale1200's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    The Netherlands Europa
    Posts
    209
    Fyrd, excellent write up, its to bad my english is not so good.(still to basic).

    I have had the same problems as you, I want to give some positive feedback, and answers to the questions of course.

    For the costs I think my components are cheaper over here, I can reload for 11 euro cents a 223 and a 308.
    Instead a euro each.(I can buy 1,22$ for 1 euro).

    Your goals are perfect:
    1. You can get decent accurate with it, work your loads up with 0,2 grain, some say 0,3.
    When you have some thing, take 0,5 grain back, and work up with 0,1.
    When you think you have it, do the ladder 4 times more, cous the human behind the gun is the most challenging factor, to be consistend.

    2. Bit of advice, in my opinion. Buy a other (bigger) neck expander.
    Seater in a 550 i am not sure.
    You are working with bigger in diameter bullets. Again IMO.

    With wheel weights I use extra tin to lower the surface tension and get better mold fill out.
    Worked perfect in my ar15.

    Aldo I think you are a "steady" experienced caster, here is what i do:
    I cast with three buckets, (with the same level of water), after a 100 or so, I start to drop them in the second bucket.
    Then I am sure they are more uniform, but I doubt.

    Optivisor?????I use my wife, see does a really great job (-:

    With PC I can not help sorry, I have to learn myself first.

    If you have an electronic weighing scale, weigh your boolits, before and after pc/lubing.
    With lube make always sure, that you have enough lube on it before it leaves the bore.
    In an ideal world, when the boolit exit the muzzle, it must shake of its last 0,00000001gr of grease.
    Its more of a challenge to get a 55 grainer the same than 210 grainer, with a 0,5% in difference is the 210gr more forgiving than a 55gr and the 210gr is easier to sort by weight.
    209.9/210.0/210.1 ect//54,9/55.0/55.1 ect...in percents the difference is way bigger with the 55gr than the 210gr.
    I hope I explained it correct to understand.

    With brass its very simple: For match and testing, use the same case for one gun alone!!!And use new brass.
    With one time fired brass, make sure they were shoot out one gun alone, and the same lot!
    With different lots and shot from different guns, well.......your target will tell you the rest.
    I also let my rifles decide on with length they want to have the brass, if you have some fouling on the side of the brass its to short, in my experience, but indeed you are correct to keep them at the same length.

    I NEVER lube my gas tube, there is a chance that the vapors will be in the chamber. In my opinion its a to big risk, I dont even want to have the smallest drop in it.
    Keep well dated track on with boolit does what in witch gun on the target, I to bring a book and measuring stuff to the range.

    For your test loads....no panic, use a little more gunpowder, the load was not strong enough.
    For your stuck loads, just take out the clip and open up your rifle, pull the hammer back or cock it by hand, close youre gun and fire.
    Make also sure that the chamber is fully closed.
    I dont believe that youre firing pin needs cleaning, I thing youre firing pin drops out at an angle of 45 degrees.

    After firing, lets say 50 lead casts, just take a paper patch to look for a dull gray wipe on the patch.
    As long you have youre fit right and not over 3000fps you are fine.

    An other word of advice, use only lead OR only jacket bullets in a giving gun.
    Why???? thats an other chapter.
    If you have a new gun, it will be a poor lead shooter, the boor must be "polished" a little.
    Why????? that an other chapter.

    Turkeys on the range??????, perfect target practice, IMO, ha
    (Loud on the speakers......Ladys and gents....LOAD and make ready.....)

    Questions:
    1. Its not a fluke, its normal.
    2. Take youre time, and continue as you are doing now, slowly building up you loads.
    I dont say you must take my advice at some points, but take it in consideration, its my experience, maybe others have the same, or the opposite....
    3. I dont know that rifle, sorry

    I hope this will help you and others a lot forward, first walk then run...good luck.

  10. #170
    Boolit Buddy parkerhale1200's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    The Netherlands Europa
    Posts
    209
    @Arson,
    Can you obtain Lovex D060? Or Accurate 5744?
    Both will work very fine in 223 and 308.
    Suggested starting load with both powders 15,0 and work youre way up.

  11. #171
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Posts
    10
    Quote Originally Posted by parkerhale1200 View Post
    I hope this will help you and others a lot forward, first walk then run...good luck.
    Thanks for the feedback, I will apply it as the project progresses.

    Fyrd

  12. #172
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Rock Springs, WY
    Posts
    26
    I thought I would share my next project here. I am building a designated cast bullet AR15. I recently ordered a custom barrel with the following specs: Lightweight contour, 20", 1 in 12" twist, chrome moly barrel with a pistol porting gas system, 5.56 Wilde chamber. I will use an adjustable gas port and a free floated forearm. The barrel manufacturer, McGowan Precision Barrels initially replied to my order that it was highly unusual that a 20" barrel was ordered with a pistol length porting. I explained that I would be shooting my LEE 55 gr cast GC bullets over 10 gr. of 2400 which chronoes at 2000 fps in my bolt .223/5.56 guns. This load only generates about 20K psi peak pressure. After I explained what I was doing via E-mail I heard no reply and must surmise that they understand what I am doing. I may have to enlarge the gas port hole to get the weapon to cycle reliably but with the adjustable gas port, this should also allow full power jacketed rounds to be fired in the weapon as well. The barrel order is a 12 week delivery so I don't anticipate receiving the barrel until late October. By the way this load shoots to less than 1" in both my Browning A-Bolt and my Rem 788. Is great on ground squirrels and Jacks out to 200 yards. Cost me about 7 cents each to load. I'll keep you posted when I get the barrel and test it out.

  13. #173
    Boolit Buddy parkerhale1200's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    The Netherlands Europa
    Posts
    209
    Sorry could not resist to give a update, little late but I had a lot of work on my hands.

    It seems that I found the recipe for my rifle to shoot some good points.
    10 shoots within 2 inch at 110 yards. Every time
    No fouling and normal operating.

    D060 15,6 grain with a rcbs cast boolit, size to 225 and around 22-25 bhn and with a alu home made gascheck.
    The rifle is a standard ar15 from dpms, iron site. Twist rate?
    Did prone shooting(lie down on the ground) no bipod or other help

    I went with the powder up to 18 grain with poor results.
    I put almost 500 boolits thru the barrel, no lead, no where.
    Only some normal carbon built up in the bold.

    One problem, if you want to do some rapid semi auto fire, try not to think of the time you spend making those little buggers.

    Thanks for sharing everyone and thanks for starting this thread oldsgm.

    Good shooting for in the new year

  14. #174
    Boolit Master

    Hamish's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Edge of The Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
    Posts
    3,569
    "One problem, if you want to do some rapid semi auto fire, try not to think of the time you spend making those little buggers."

    So! You are not only saving money, you're saving time too! Skol!
    More "This is what happened when I,,,,," and less "What would happen if I,,,,"

    Last of the original Group Buy Honcho's.

    "Dueling should have never been made illegal in this country. It settled lots of issues between folks."- Char-Gar

  15. #175
    Boolit Master
    JBinMN's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Goodhue County, SE Minnesota
    Posts
    3,080
    Thanks for the update! & Happy New Year to you!
    2nd Amend./U.S. Const. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

    ~~ WWG1WGA ~~

    Restore the Republic!!!

    For the Fudds > "Those who appease a tiger, do so in the hope that the tiger will eat them last." -Winston Churchill.

    President Reagan tells it like it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6MwPgPK7WQ

    Phil Robertson explains the Wall: https://youtu.be/f9d1Wof7S4o

Page 9 of 9 FirstFirst 123456789

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check