Which bullet?

[Doug Humbarger]

Hi everybody. I'm new here & this is my first post.
My latest project is a 375JDJ on a Handi-rifle frame.



I want to start shooting cast bullets (more cost effective that jacketed)

I know diddly squat about what cast bullet I want to try other than I know that I will need to have a gas-check. What do you guys recomend in the bullets say 255 grain & under? Thanks in advance.

[Good Cheer]

The Lyman and RCBS gas checked 38-55 class molds are good ones. Would probably end up a tiny bit over 255 grains. I use the old Lyman 375296 which is virtually identical. Over kill on bambis at 2053fps with 283 grains of wheel weights.

[x101airborne]

The Lyman and RCBS gas checked 38-55 class molds are good ones. Would probably end up a tiny bit over 255 grains. I use the old Lyman 375296 which is virtually identical. Over kill on bambis at 2053fps with 283 grains of wheel weights.

No such thing. The more gun i use, the less i have to crawl through catclaw and mesquite brush. I love the 375 cal's and love the stock on that NEF. Besides, my 243 jacketed bloodshot more meat in one season than my 45-70 has in the last 10 years.

[excess650]

My suggestion to start with would be the Lyman 375449 which weighs 280gr in my alloy with GC. Its very similar to the 375296 except drops a smaller diameter bullet.

I generally look for "heavy for caliber" designs in cast bullets. Your singleshot might be better with a bore ride design with shorter shank due to the short neck of the JDJ. Likewise, you may want to tailor it to the bore/groove/throat/twist of your rifle.

Go to the NEI website and look at the various designs and then go to Mountain Molds to draw it up and have it cut.

[onesonek]

I would go heavier as others have suggested, before going 255 gr or lighter. Just my thoughts, as it is natural to slow things down abit with cast, I would like more momentum working for me. 265 gr. would be the lightest I would go, but still would go heavier.

[RobS]

Welcome Doug!!!

BABore's 375 design is now what I shoot. He's a forum member here (located in the sponser section) who does cherry cut molds; his work is very good and is highly recommended. I used the Lyman 375449 before this bullet and it was a good one but I just never liked the multiple lube groove design. The BABore design is more accurate from my 375 H&H and I also had him make me a HP in one of the cavities so I now have two designs.

Here is the design 378-275-GC:

[Doug Humbarger]

Thanks for al the help guys. RobS I can't find BABore in the sponsers links. I must be looking in the wrong place. I like the design in your post. should work well for the 375 JDJ due to the short neck.

[RobS]

Doug:

Here is a link directly to his site:

http://www.brp.castpics.net/R1.html

[Doug Humbarger]

Thanks Rob I appreciate that

[82nd airborne]

My old man shoots a 375JDJ ALOT, I will ask him what moulds he uses and get any reloading data for you if you're interested. PM me if so.

[white eagle]

I am not sure what boolit to use but I would like to say that is the nicest Handi
I have seen
what did you do to the stock and did you have the metal re-blued
very nice

[fryboy]

i have to agree - nice wood !
so far i have tried the rcbs and the lee 250-ish grainers , both are non checked designs ( i'm really fond of the speer 235 j-words in this caliber btw ) i'm sure the comparable lyman design is much the same , ie; decent if held within the velocity/hardness limitations , i recently received a few various cast ( with gas checks to try out ) havent worked up a load yet ( soz ) while i agree that a heavier boolit has more energy the 250 grainer has considerable more thump than a 30-30 with 170-200 grainers and both of those work well for deer , for short range the 250 grainers aren't to be sneezed at and offer at least as much punch as the venerable 38-55 and win 375 ,and many many deer, elk etc have fallen to less , sadly gas checked designs in 250 or so grains are rare sans custom jobs ( nice boolit rob !! wanna sell/trade for a few as cast ?) worse my two 375's seem to prefer the upper velocity spectrum - something that isnt conducive to cast loads [bummer] but i'm eagerly going to watch this thread !!!

[Doug Humbarger]

The JSJ is a stub job useing a Shilen barrel.
It started like this. Yes I blued it.

[82nd airborne]

Hey I was just about to start an encore bbl that way to avoid welding. Thinking about marketing them in odd calibers. If I run into problems, would you care if I contacted you on it?

[Doug Humbarger]

sure no problem.