Cast bullet rifle

[cdet69]

What rifle and caliber would be your custom build cast bullet rifle. We are talking cast bullets to feed it and nothing else.

[Oreo]

I'm very short on real knowledge here but it seems to me the answer will vary a great deal by performance category. With that said, we know that larger diameter, slower velocity rounds are easier to achieve relative good results with.

I think for me, it would be a 45-70. Simple versatility being my reason. 1000m distance? Yep. Black powder? Yep. Smokeless? Yep. Mild shooting? Can do. Kill anything that's ever lived? BTDT. Ald its a straight wall case which makes things a bit easier too.

[Artful]

Well, lets see - most earlier cartridges were designed around Single shots shooting cast boolits,
The 45-70 38-55, 32-40, etc were all favored by hunters and target shooters and survived to today.
- Lots of traditional Pistol Cartridges 38 Special, 44 Special, 45 Colt but not for big game
Newer versions of the same like 450 Marlin, 444 Marlin, 375 Big Bore, 357 Maximum,
357 Magnum, 44 Magnum, 454 Casull - Even more traditional bottle neck cartridges like 30-30.

The Ruger No.1 action can handle any of them - When I went looking I choose 375BB in a Ruger #3
and it's shot well and taken Deer Size game without a problem and recoil isn't near as bad as #3 in 45-70.

But that was for timber hunting in Oregon - I was looking light, short, handy and powerful enough for black bear as largest critter. 45-70 certainly will handle larger (Brown Bear, Griz) without a problem.

Looking at the Boolit side - most available selection 30, 35, 45 caliber. You have another thing to think about
if you start with say a single shot in 30-30 the same action and extractor will work with 38-55 or 375 Big Bore, or Wildcat your 30-30 to say 35-30.

Well, those are my thoughts for ya. It will depend upon what you want to do with it, Punch Paper, Critter Gitter, or Wall Hanger - you have to decide for yourself.

[Outpost75]

If buying an off the shelf, factory rifle, which requires no gunsmithing, the .375 H&H is a good choice as it works well with cast over a wide range of velocities from subsonic bloopers to buffalo stompers.

If for target and benchrest only, with no intention to hunt with the rifle, a 7.62x39 with 13" or 14" twist Hart, H-S Precision, Obermeyer or Krieger barrel with Lapua style chamber, glued into a McMillan stock, using your favorite benchrest action is hard to beat.

For a pure cast bullet hunting rifle, go back to first paragraph!

Otherwise, quit the mental masturbation and just learn to dance with the girl you got. A .30-30 or .30-'06 also work, as will a 7.9x57, .303 British, 7.62x54R, etc.

People over think this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[reed1911]

I think I would have to opt for one of the classic rounds, 45-70, 45-90, 45-120, 30-30, 38-55, etc...

[rking22]

Interested to watch this develop. Like Artful, I think you need to post what you like to do withit , or maybe what you aren't interested in doing with it ! For me , I like 30 caliber and enough capacity to get a 180is gr boolit to 2000 fps at lowish pressure. Efficient with powder and lead .No faster wist than necessary to make it easy and alloy forgiving. Depends on the type rifles you like also ,for me I like single shots and vintage walnut and blue steel, so give me a rim. 30-30 for me and my uses , I'd love to find a #1 in 30-30 on a deal! Right now it's he rimless version in a Rem 141 but I'm thinking on a long necked 300 BO in a Sako L46 from the 50s. Love to see everyones thoughts on their preferences , gives me ideas on more ways to spend the kids inheritance : )

[Char-Gar]

It all depends on what you want to do with the rifle. I have plenty of rifles that do well with cast bullets and choosing one is just a matter of preference. I tend to favor 30 caliber rifles, so I have 30-30s (4), 30-40s (6), 308s (4) and 30-06s (6). I also have quite a few other calibers that do well with cast bullets. In point of fact, I don't have a rifle that does not do well with cast bullets.

If, I were going to build an all purpose rifle (for my needs) it would be a 30-06 with a 1-12 twist barrel. But, I already have 6 30-06 rifles so I don't need another. There is however on my bench a Springfield 1903 with a new 1/12 twist barrel in 30-06 that I am building for my son.

[williamwaco]

Bolt: .308 or .358

Lever: .30-30 or .38-55

Single: any of the above.

[cbrick]

What rifle and caliber would be your custom build cast bullet rifle.

Impossible to answer that for you, there are too many possibilities to list. Narrow it down by letting us know what it will be used mostly for. It will be a completely different answer for 100 yard paper shooting than it would be for woolly mammoth at 700 yards.

Side note: I've looked around and there isn't a woolly mammoth to be found anywhere. :mrgreen:

Rick

[Idaho Sharpshooter]

A short perusal of the cast bullet assn. record book will show that the Savage BV-12SS in 308 Win OWNS the stock category records for small groups.

Solid bottom single shot bolt action. It can also be had as an action w/trigger in right bolt, left port. Very rigid.
Heavy laminated stock. Can be planed to near optical flatness for a better ride on the front rest.
Accu-Trigger, that can be adjusted down to the 5oz range.

Mine will stack NOE 311365 at 100yds all day. Recoil is light with a 12lb scoped weight.

When I got into Hunter Class Benchrest about 1989, I wanted a 25 caliber wildcat. The BR gunsmith told me, "start with what the winners are shooting. When you start beating them, then you can play around with your own designs..." That was sound advice then, and it remains so today.
Buy or Build a 308W and spend the next five years sorting out molds and powders.

Rich

[cbrick]

Mine will stack NOE 311365 at 100yds all day. Recoil is light with a 12lb scoped weight. Rich

How fast are you shooting the 311365? I have the NOE mold I bought for my 308 & just haven't had the chance to do much with it yet. I figured with the nose shape it'll be a fairly low velocity round but that's ok by me, I'm not looking for those elusive woolly mammoth critters. As long as it makes it into one side, goes clear through and comes out the other side of the paper I'm good to go. Stacking them even better yet. :mrgreen:

Rick

[williamwaco]

Impossible to answer that for you, there are too many possibilities to list. Narrow it down by letting us know what it will be used mostly for. It will be a completely different answer for 100 yard paper shooting than it would be for woolly mammoth at 700 yards.

Side note: I've looked around and there isn't a woolly mammoth to be found anywhere. :mrgreen:

Rick

Actually, I saw one on TV last week. He was pretty small. Wouldn't make much of a trophy.