Cast Bullets in .22 centerfires?

[lefty_red]

Does anyone make a .22 cal mold for 22Hornet, .223, and the .243?

Has anyone tried them?

Lefty

[454PB]

Yes, I have an RCBS that casts a 50 gr. (in linotype) gas checked boolit. I can't tell you offhand the mould number, but I've shot these in .222 and 22/250 with surprisingly good results up to 2500 fps.

[Johnch]

I hunt tree rats with the 223 .
A 55 gr bullet about 1600 fps

2 things .
22 cal gas checks are *%&$)^* small and tough to handle with the big stubby fingers I have .
Also it seems as the bullet di gets smaller , it is a little tougher to find a good shooting load

I found straight Lino works best for me

Have fun

Johnch

[JeffinNZ]

I have had a lot of joy in both .22 Hornet and .223 with Lymans 225415 at 200fps. Good rabbit/hare dropper.
Presently working with Lymans 225465 in the .223. Showing good signs.
If you can get lino I agree with above and would run with that. Casts beautiful bullets and will respond well to higher pressures/velocity.

[lefty_red]

So as long as I don't go over 2500fps, mostly stick to 2000-2300fps, I'm ok.

Has anyone ever casted for the .243? I stumbled on one for MO deer.

Lefty

[drinks]

I cast for .243, with the Lyman 87gr gc, have run it at 2400 with good accuracy, but at 2500, it really starts to open up.
I also have a Lee .22 Bator, aka soup can 53gr GC, these are available fom Southern Shooters Supply, look in the custom mold dept. on their site, last time I checked, they were out but were awaiting a new supply, at about $18, a nice plinker.
I am getting good results at 2200fps in a .223 Handi with the new 1/9 pitch barrel, would likely do well a little faster in a 1/12 pitch barrel.

[David R]

I am getting just over one inch at 100 yards and 5 inches at 300 with 225646 of pure linotype in a 22-250. AV 2684. Most accurat gun I own. LAR45 Lube.

It took a long time to find that load, but the folks here helped me out a lot.

I also have a 45 grain Gas check I load for my 222. I agree way too small for my fat fingers. This one will only shoot 1 to 2 inches at 50 yards. It opens up to 8" at 100. Its a Savage 24V my squirrel gun with a reciever sight.

Carpetman shoots a 243.

David

[lefty_red]

Shots will be 100 yards or less, for small game. I was wondering if s RN, FP, or HP would be better?

Lefty

[felix]

Pick the most accurate boolit configuration in your gun. The smallish boolit of a 22 will either mushroom considerably or blowup at a 2K+ strike velocity. ... felix

[Dale53]

I believe strongly, when hunting small game with a cast bullet at modest velocities, in the flat nose design. My choice for the .22 Hornet (3.0 grs of Unique) and the .221 Fireball (4.0 grs of Unique) in both pistol (TC) and rifle is the Lyman 225415. I cast in straight linotype and use the gas check.

I have not chronographed either load. However, they give 1/2" groups at fifty yards and work EXTREMELY well on squirrels and rabbits. They do a much better job than the .22 rimfire in my opinion. Good killing power without excessive meat damage when I have to take a body shot.

Dale53

[lefty_red]

I really don't have a bunch of 22 caliber bullets to try in my rifle. That's why I'm asking for a general idea. And I can't afford to go out and buy several molds to try this out.

I was thinking about the RN also. And mostly I'll keep the speed down to around <2000 fps. That should give me enough for a clean kill on groundhogs at around 100 yards.

Lefty

[Four Fingers of Death]

I cast for .243, with the Lyman 87gr gc, have run it at 2400 with good accuracy, but at 2500, it really starts to open up.
I also have a Lee .22 Bator, aka soup can 53gr GC, these are available fom Southern Shooters Supply, look in the custom mold dept. on their site, last time I checked, they were out but were awaiting a new supply, at about $18, a nice plinker.
I am getting good results at 2200fps in a .223 Handi with the new 1/9 pitch barrel, would likely do well a little faster in a 1/12 pitch barrel.


Southern Shooting Supplies doesn't seem to have a website that I can find. I wouldn't mind getting one of those 22 moulds. Mick.

[SharpsShooter]

Southern Shooting Supplies doesn't seem to have a website that I can find. I wouldn't mind getting one of those 22 moulds. Mick.

I think he intended to say Midsouth Shooting Supplies. Here is the link to the 22 mould http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0000622BATOR


SS

[DonH]

I bought the Lee Bator mould from Midsouth Shooter;s Supply. I believe they are out and have mulds on order.

[David R]

Lefty Red,

I was trying to get my 222 to shoot at RF velocity, but it wouldn't. I tried all kinds of things until I finally got an accurate load which happened to be around 21 to 2300. This doesn't mean your rifle will shoot the same.

I ended up using unsized 45 grain round nose in a lovern style lubed with lee liquid alox and a gas check. I tried a bunch of powders but the only thing that would shoot accuratly is 8 grains of unique which happens to be a max load for that powder.

This gun has a long chamber and no boolit will reach the rifling, so I load them with grease grooves in the case.

Just experment until you find the right combanation with your rifle.

David

[9.3X62AL]

Not much work with the 22 centerfires (yet), but VERY good luck with the RCBS 95 grainer and 12.0 grains of 2400 in the 243. 5-shot/one inch-class groups are the norm. At the ranges you specify, it anchors ground squirrels and jackrabbits abruptly without much meat destruction--although these species are only table fare for coyotes, you understand. I would think these loads would work for 'chucks at 100 yards.

[carpetman]

For .22's I use the 58 grain RCBS which is gas check designed. I have shot them both with and without a gas check in .222's and 22-250 from about 2000 to 2200 fps with good results----great on jackrabbits. I use wheelweights and you'll get told several times to add tin for fill-out. Not my experience--adding tin only flattens your wallet--the straight wheelweights work just as well. My .223 refuses to shoot them even though it is one of my most accurate rifles with jacketed bullets. I also use the RCBS 95 grainers in .243 also a gas check bullet. Up to 2900fps in fact. They dont work worth a darn on deer. I cast both of these in bottom pour. If I hold the mold against the spout my sprue is pinhead size and doesnt want to turn loose---have to use a pick to get it off. Trying to use an air gap to get a bigger sprue is tricky. Sometimes I use the contact pour and then add a tad on top of the pin head sprue so that there is enough weight for it to release. Your pot doesnt empty very fast anyways.

[lefty_red]

I wished I asked these questions last year! I feel pretty good about getting a 22 centerfire now.

Actually I got a .223 Handi with a HB and picked up a .243 HB in trade. I shot my 30/30 with cast bullets, but didn't know about the 22s. I figure I can get alot more enjoyment out of small game hunting this year with my own "rolled" ammo.

Thanks again guys, I should have a range report within a month.

Lefty

[drinks]

Pardon the fox pass, it is Midsouth and I am well past 60 with both CRS and Oldtimer's,
;D

[Will]

I have a 340 savage 222 that I bought 50yrs ago it has always shot MOA with factory or jacket reloads but I could never get over about 1900fps from lead without keyholing. My best load was a case full of 4831 and a 48gr 225450. I know 4831 is too slow for the 222 but it works for me. Does leave some unburned grains in the gun and I'm going to try mag primers to see if they help. anyone have any suggestions?

[six_gun]

I shoot cast bullets in my 10 inch Hornet barrel in my contender and they are very accurate. I use the Lyman 225450, which is a pointed, gc, bullet. I shoot alot of these in NRA Hunter pistol compitition.

Alloy is soft. I use range lead from my clubs indoor range. It is mostly 22 LR lead and I throw in a couple of handfulls of drippings of 40/60 sodder from a radiator shop. I always use gas checks.

The load is 3.7 gr of Titegroup with a CCI small pistol primer. They go about 1650fps.

Like I said, they are really accurate and I have brand new trophy in my living room to porve it. It says that I won the Idaho State Championship Hunter Pistol Silhouette match this year. I was the only one using cast bullets but interest in shooting them improved after the match and some of the other shooters have been testing cast now.

Sixgun

[Bullshop Junior]

I shoot a lot of cast out ff my 223. I probly have not run 300 jacketed thought it sence I got it 2 years ago. I have probly more then 1000 out off the rifle in cast. I have alot of loads, but I will just post the best ones.
where is my green data binder. here it is. here we go.

PRIMER: CCI #450 SRM
POWDER: 11.0gn of Longshot
BOOLIT: Lee 50gn bater FNGC @.225"
CASE: Mixed 223

PRIMER: CCI #400 LR
POWDER: 5.8gn of Unique
BOOLIT: 55gn CBE FNGC @.225"
CASE: Mxed 223
OAL: 2.1875"

PRIMER: CCI #400
POWDER: 19.0GN IMR-4895
BOOLIT: 55gn CBE FNGC @.225"
CASE: Mixed 223
OAL: 2.1875"
I have close to 10 other loads. If you want the others let me know.
You will have to mess with the OAL becouse this is made to tutch the lands and grooves on a remington 788 with a realy long thought.
DANIEL/BS JR.
:castmine:

[lefty_red]

Thanks guys! I can't find anone to do the metallic silhouette game with locally, but at least I can mess around with all of my single shot rifles! And I can load them down enough to hunt small game! I should have known!

Lefty, who is just "gigglely"!

BTW- BS Jr, I'll get ahold of you on some more loads.

[Four Fingers of Death]

Thanks man. Mick.

[Trigger44]

I love casting bullets for the 22 centerfires. I actually built a 11 pound 22 BR to shoot mostly cast bullets. Right now I am loading for both a TC Encore Hornet and the 22 BR. I have the NEI #2 45gr, #4 55 gr, the Lyman 225438 and 225415. Also
the RCBS 55 gr. I have been casting since 1959, back then for a 222 Rem.

On order now is a 30 BR from Jerry Stiller with one of his Predator actions and
a Bartlein target barrel stainless barrel. This is for cast and jacketed bullets.

The TC Hornet was a fun project for load development. It took 3 - 4 months
before I had a subsonic load for squirrels, several good loads in the 1600 FPS range and several with 55 gr at about 2200 FPS. Much of this was done at 50 yards. Anything under .5" is a good load int the Hornet. I felt at times this break open action may have been a limiting factor on some of the grouping, hence the
22 BR project.

I have only had the 22 BR for about one month and I think the limiting factor now is the Leupold 6-20x40 scope. This will shortly be replacedwith a Zeiss Conquest 6-20x50 fine cross hair, my 68 year old eyes need the best. So far though the 55gr RCBS is shoothing .3" 50 yard groups with 18 - 22gr IMR 3031.

Anyone interested in the details can email me at reddog044@alltel.net

[Bullshop]

I was reading last night through an old Handloader article by layne Simpson. He gave a rundown of equipment used in the Coors Schuetzenfest for that year. Most were shooting 32/40's but one fella, a shooter after my own heart was shooting a 22 hornet using 87gn spitzer boolits. Dont ya love it? Did he know sumthin? When BS mom gets home God willing I will post some favorite hornet loads and pics'. She called early this morning, water broke, still waiting! Cant blame the kid, if it was me I would stay where its warm till spring.

BIC/BS

[Bullshop Junior]

Lefty red,
I thought that I had more loads, but I remebered that I went though them and deleted the ones that I did not like. I still have 4 that I did not give you, so here you go.

PRIMER: Federal #205
POWDER: 4 .0gn of bullseye
BULLET: NEI 45gn FN W/O GC @.225"
LUBE: Bullshop Speed Green
CASE: Mixed 223

PRIMER: Federal #205
POWDER: 11.0gn Longshot
BULLET: Lyman 55gn FNGC @.225"
CASE: Mixed 223
LUBE: Bullshop Speed Green
FPS: 2739

PRIMER: Federal #205
POWDER: 18.9gn H-4895
BULLET: NEI 55gn Spitzer GC @.225"
CASE: Millitery 223
LUBE: Bullshop speed green
FPS: 2390

PRIMER: CCI #400
POWDER: 19.0gn IMR 4895
BULLET: Saeco 60gn Spitzer GC @.225"
CASE: Mixed 223
LUBE: Bullshop Speed green

My faverant load is the last one I posted yesterday.
PRIMER: CCI #400
POWDER: 19.0GN IMR-4895
BOOLIT: 55gn CBE FNGC @.225"
CASE: Mixed 223
OAL: 2.1875"

DANIEL/BS JR.

[felix]

Will, try 3 grains of 3031 on top of the primer for a primer extension. In that small case, you don't need a forceful primer that could possibly push the boolit foward too quickly. You are after more heat. If that combo does not do any better, and the accuracy is still there, change the primer to another brand, not type. You might even use 5 grains of 3031. Use big stick powder, not short cut for the primer extender. ... felix