Saeco 221 mold

[GT27]

I cast up some wheel weight boolits,casts at 225x62, and tried 16-18 grains of IMR4198,and 18-19 of IMR4895, Sage alum. gas checks,Rem BR primers, double dip of LLA lube, and so far not very impressed MOpieplate at 25 yards,which is equivalent to32MOA,unfreaking acceptable!!!!!!Anyone have any ideas,or better results with cast in the AR?:groner: At this charge they would cycle,but it was like shooting a BP rifle!!![smilie=b: There is 1 positive though...no leading!!!!

[Larry Gibson]

Twist of barrel?

Larry Gibson

[GT27]

1-9 twist (Stag 3) 16"barrel

[Larry Gibson]

Make sure your WWs are CO's and add 2 % tin to them. AC'd BHN after 7-10 days should be in the 14 - 17 range.

WQ the bullets of the +2% tin alloy out of the mould. This will make for a harder bullet with the BHN in the 20 - 24 range after 48 hours.

Try the Hornady GC or make some out of .014 brass shim. Your aluminm ones may not be holding up or may be coming off. A knownperformer like the Hornady's will quickly tell if that's a problem.

If sizing with a Lee sizer it should be no smaller than .225 but preferably you should lap it out so it just touches the cast bullets at "as cast" diameter and crimps the GCs on. I prefer to size, lube and GC my own cast bullets which drop at .227 for the AR with a .228. H&I die.

Drop back a couple gr with each powder and work up until the load is just functionally reliable. Your best accuracy with those components and barrel twist will probably be right there.

If all goes well there you might consder a slower burning powder to bump up velocity while maintaining reasonable accuracy.

Larry Gibson

[fcvan]

I'm thinking 4198 is not a good powder for that boolit. I have used 4198 for 55gr FMJ quite successfully. although I don't have the Saeco 221, I have been shooting a lot of the Lyman 225-415 which has a flat point. 14 grains IMR 4227 has been working quite well through a Mini 14 and an AR 15. This load is supposedly 2193 fps at 23200 CUP according Lyman #49.

I have been working up a load with SR 4759 which Lyman #49 says 9.3 to 11.4 grains with a max of 2195 fps and 24200 CUP. I worked up from 9 to 11 grains in 1/2 grain increments. The cases ejected but did not pick up the next round from the magazine. I will try working up some more rounds a 1/2 grain at a time and see what I come up with.

So far I'm liking 4227 because it meters better and I know it works. I only tried 4759 because it was a couple grains lighter on the charge and a buck a pound cheaper. If this doesn't work out I'll try it in a couple other projects. You don't know until you try! Frank

[GT27]

I think I found a lot of the problem,I seated some more of the 225x62s then rolled the loaded shell on a flat surface(LC11) brass and the necks on some were not concentric,wobbled like a flat tire! I culled through,loaded the ones that looked good...Next range session I'll report back with hopefully at least decent results,thanks for the great input! GT27