Suitable AR-15 .223 mold? RCBS 22-055-SP 22 or Lyman 225646 or something else?

[cpy911]

I am looking to start casting for my AR-15 carbine. I have coww that I want to use with a mold I have yet to purchase. I have purchased a .225 lubrisizer and gas checks. However, I am concerned about which mold design will work with my rifle or maybe they all work the same? Anyhow, I have it down to RCBS 22-055-SP 22 or Lyman 225646.

Anyone happy with those molds? Is there something better? Does anyone have any samples I could try out? I will pay shipping. They don't need checks or lube, I can do that. Anyhow, I have seen some old posts here and there, but I wanted to get the latest take on .223 molds. I want to push about 2500FPS or less so they don't blow apart. This is all for plinking at 100 yds, nothing special.

Thank you!

[Larry Gibson]

Couple things;

What barrel twist does your AR have?

.224 may be a tad small but never know until you try.

Try adding 2 % tin to your COWWs for a better alloy; both in casting and in bullet performance.

If your barrel twist is 9" or faster I suggest looking at the MiHec MP227-65 mould.

Pushing to 2500+ won't cause them to "blow apart" but accuracy will be very, very poor. You might want to be satisfied, especially with the faster twist barrels, with 1700 - 2000 fps with functional reliability and plinking accuracy to 100 yards.

Larry Gibson

[cpy911]

Barrel twist is 1:9.
I have no problem running them around 2000fps.
I want to seat gas checks on them as well.
Will check out the MiHec mould....never heard of them, so thanks for the tip.

Actually, the more I think about it, a 55gr at 2000fps has not so great of trajectory, might as well buy a 300 AAC Blackout barrel and convert to cast .30 caliber? The trajectory is the same but you have bigger boolits...makes casting for AR-15 a whole thing to think about.


Couple things;

What barrel twist does your AR have?

.224 may be a tad small but never know until you try.

Try adding 2 % tin to your COWWs for a better alloy; both in casting and in bullet performance.

If your barrel twist is 9" or faster I suggest looking at the MiHec MP227-65 mould.

Pushing to 2500+ won't cause them to "blow apart" but accuracy will be very, very poor. You might want to be satisfied, especially with the faster twist barrels, with 1700 - 2000 fps with functional reliability and plinking accuracy to 100 yards.

Larry Gibson

[leadman]

There is a vendor here, Heavy Metal, in the vendor classifieds that is selling a 62? gr boolit mold. Reports I have read have been good. He might even supply samples if you ask.
Midsouth Shooters Supply also has some of the Lee special order molds in stock. One is a 6 cavity, the 22cal. 55gr "Bator", cost is $39 plus shipping. Just cast some samples today with mine that arrives yesterday. Search here for Bator and you should find some posts.

[cpy911]

Does that Bator mold make boolits that feed in an AR-15?


There is a vendor here, Heavy Metal, in the vendor classifieds that is selling a 62? gr boolit mold. Reports I have read have been good. He might even supply samples if you ask.
Midsouth Shooters Supply also has some of the Lee special order molds in stock. One is a 6 cavity, the 22cal. 55gr "Bator", cost is $39 plus shipping. Just cast some samples today with mine that arrives yesterday. Search here for Bator and you should find some posts.

[leadman]

I don't have an AR so will have to borrow my son's to test these, but maybe the search will turn up the information on this. The Bator style boolit has been around for awhile so I am pretty sure that someone here has tried it.

[cpy911]

How about a Saeco#221???

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?products_id=78

[cheese1566]

How about a Saeco#221???

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?products_id=78

I just bought one of those to try in my 16" AR. Have some loaded, but not tested yet.

Send me a PM if you want some to try.

[oldandslow]

cpy, 12/8/13

I use a NOE 70 grain mold for my LMT 1:7 twist AR with wheel weight type lead alloy. I have 750 trouble free rounds through it so far with no problems unless I load them faster than 2000 ft/sec. Good luck.

best wishes- oldandslow

[cpy911]

What happens if you load them faster than 2000 ft/s?


cpy, 12/8/13

I use a NOE 70 grain mold for my LMT 1:7 twist AR with wheel weight type lead alloy. I have 750 trouble free rounds through it so far with no problems unless I load them faster than 2000 ft/sec. Good luck.

best wishes- oldandslow

[Wayne S]

AND , just why would you want to push an alloy bullet past 2000 fps ??
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?27-CB-Loads-Military-Rifles

[cpy911]

Looking for flatter trajectory with less holdover.
Maybe 2200 to 2300 fps range.

AND , just why would you want to push an alloy bullet past 2000 fps ??
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?27-CB-Loads-Military-Rifles

[Larry Gibson]

What happens if you load them faster than 2000 ft/s?

Accuracy goes south is what happens, at to all of us except a couple who lay claim to otherwise. There is an RPM threshold with normal cast bullets and it is quite low with a 7" twist barrel. You can get decent plinking accuracy out to 100 yards or so with the 1800 - 2000 fps but since you mention "flatter trajectory with less holdover" I assume you mean 200 - 300 yards? A 12" twist barrel will give you excellent cast bullet accuracy (with the right cast bullet and load) for 200 - 300 yard shooting in the 2200 - 2300 fps range.

With your 7" twist barrel a lot depends on your accuracy expectations at the max range you expect to shoot at.

Larry Gibson

[cpy911]

Looking to ring 10" gong or milk jugs at 100yds with 1:9 twist and not have to adjust sights too much from jacketed 3000fps load. Plinking only.
Accuracy goes south is what happens, at to all of us except couple who lay claim to otherwise. There is an RPM threshold with normal cast bullets and it is quite low with a 7" twist barrel. You can get decent plinking accuracy out to 100 yards or so with the 1800 - 2000 fps but since you mention "flatter trajectory with less holdover" I assume you mean 200 - 300 yards? A 12" twist barrel will give you excellent cast bullet accuracy (with the right cast bullet and load) for 200 - 300 yard shooting in the 2200 - 2300 fps range.

With your 7" twist barrel a lot depends on your accuracy expectations at the max range you expect to shoot at.

Larry GibsonWill use COWW and Lee Alox w check.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I assume you have an AR-15 with a 5.56nato chamber.
If so, the reasons why you want a HM² mold are in this thread.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?178680-Would-you-buy-this-Mold-223-5-56gr-GC&highlight=

go to his website to order one.
http://heavymetalmolds.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=8

Good Luck,
Jon

[Larry Gibson]

With the MP227-65 or similar design or even the 225462 (if you can find one) the 9" twist with the right load will get you into 1800 - 2000 fps. The HM2 bullet also appears to be a good one but I've no experience with it.

I suggest you add 2% tin to the COWWs and WQ. Use the LLA as per instructions. An elevation adjustment will probably be needed but each rifle is unto itself with zero's. You should do fine on the gong and milk jugs if you cast and load correctly. I suggest 4895 or Varget powder. Start at 16 gr and work up to 20 gr in 1 gr increments and use a 1/2 gr Dacron filler. Look for functional reliability and accuracy, they will come very close to each other.

Larry Gibson

[runfiverun]

http://s417.photobucket.com/user/_DnA_/media/1ab1.jpg.html?sort=3&o=110
http://s417.photobucket.com/user/_DnA_/media/1ab2.jpg.html?sort=3&o=109

yeah they go all funny like these.
the velocity is over 2700 fps.
one from my 7 twist stag 6-H, and one from my ruger 223 varmint rifle.
littlegirls standard stag AR [1-9] generally shoots 1.5-2.0 inch groups with a scope.
oh those are at 100 yds.

[cpy911]

That is excellent for a 1:7 twist at 2700 fps at 100 yds. What mold? What lube? What powder? What size?


http://s417.photobucket.com/user/_DnA_/media/1ab1.jpg.html?sort=3&o=110
http://s417.photobucket.com/user/_DnA_/media/1ab2.jpg.html?sort=3&o=109

yeah they go all funny like these.
the velocity is over 2700 fps.
one from my 7 twist stag 6-H, and one from my ruger 223 varmint rifle.
littlegirls standard stag AR [1-9] generally shoots 1.5-2.0 inch groups with a scope.
oh those are at 100 yds.

[Wayne S]

That is excellent for a 1:7 twist at 2700 fps at 100 yds. What mold? What lube? What powder? What size?
AFTER what Larry posted about speed , rpm, and alloy threshold and your above post, YOU are ignoring a lot of cast bullet knowledge. IMHO you should save yourself a whole lot of grief and go to classifieds or MidSouth and buy a bunch of bulk 224 J bullets, because to persist in your thinking that you can drive .225 cast bullets like you do J bullets AND expect to hit anything other that the back stop is pure folly, and is burning up precious powder & primers, But to each his own.
NOTE the loads and est. speed. As to my group, the 4 holes outside the group were from a shorter bullet that didn't like even the 1-9 twist..
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?196431-Noe-225-70

[Doc Highwall]

cpy911, is your carbine a flat top? If it is you can consider having a second scope dedicated to plinking rounds.

[cpy911]

Flat top. I could to a red dot for plinking and flip up sights for jacketed or vice versa.
I thought about that too.

cpy911, is your carbine a flat top? If it is you can consider having a second scope dedicated to plinking rounds.

[cpy911]

So how did runfiverun end up with such good accuracy? I see the data and even looked at the tables for RPM threshold, so this makes no sense.
Bulk 224 jacketed bullets are hard to come by these days, just like powder and primers, so we all are looking for alternatives. Go look at Midsouth http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/department.asp?dept=RELOADING&dept2=JACKETED%20RIFLE for jacketed projectiles....not much in stock.

This guy is driving them to 2300 fps with some success. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4dbbihg3Dk


AFTER what Larry posted about speed , rpm, and alloy threshold and your above post, YOU are ignoring a lot of cast bullet knowledge. IMHO you should save yourself a whole lot of grief and go to classifieds or MidSouth and buy a bunch of bulk 224 J bullets, because to persist in your thinking that you can drive .225 cast bullets like you do J bullets AND expect to hit anything other that the back stop is pure folly,
Also, I am not saying I want to drive to jacketed velocities. I originally said 2500 fps or less. The FMJ are ran about 3000+ fps and no way I expect to run that fast.


and is burning up precious powder & primers, But to each his own.
NOTE the loads and est. speed. As to my group, the 4 holes outside the group were from a shorter bullet that didn't like even the 1-9 twist..
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?196431-Noe-225-70

[Larry Gibson]

So how did runfiverun end up with such good accuracy? I see the data and even looked at the tables for RPM threshold, so this makes no sense.

I you think you can do that then by all means go for it. Most ARs can't do that consistently with jacketed. But, like I said, go for it with cast at 2700 +fps and lets know how you do and how much "sense" it makes.

Larry Gibson

[cpy911]

I never said or have no intention to push it that fast. I originally said 2500 fps or less. Probably 2000+ fps. I am curious how runfiverun came up with what he did and wanted some details.

I quote myself again when I made the first original post. I never said I wanted jacketed velocities nor do I believe it good practice so PLEASE understand.


I want to push about 2500FPS or less so they don't blow apart. This is all for plinking at 100 yds, nothing special.
I did not know that it is accuracy loss vs disintegration at high RPMS but had sense to know not to send it at jacketed velocities of 3000 +fps.


So how did runfiverun end up with such good accuracy? I see the data and even looked at the tables for RPM threshold, so this makes no sense.

If you think you can do that then by all means go for it. Most ARs can't do that consistently with jacketed. But, like I said, go for it with cast at 2700 +fps and lets know how you do and how much "sense" it makes.

Larry Gibson

[Larry Gibson]

My suggestion was to try for 2700+ fps with that kind of accuracy at 100 yards. When you don't get there or even at 2500 fps draw your own conclusions. Or....save the frustration and stick to your goal of 2000 fps.

PM me.

Larry Gibson

[runfiverun]

not gonna argue with Larry.
the work involved is seriously an outlet for my ocd tendencies.

the 1.5-2.0" groups from little girls stag rifle were shot in front of several cast boolit members at the Nevada shoot 2 years ago. [ several consecutive 5 shot 1.7-1.9" groups were shot back to back to back in 100-f heat which was much higher temps than the loads were developed in]
the groups were measured by other site members.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

not gonna argue with Larry.
the work involved is seriously an outlet for my ocd tendencies.

the 1.5-2.0" groups from little girls stag rifle were shot in front of several cast boolit members at the Nevada shoot 2 years ago. [ several consecutive 5 shot 1.7-1.9" groups were shot back to back to back in 100-f heat which was much higher temps than the loads were developed in]
the groups were measured by other site members.

Holy Schnikes, he has witnesses too :killingpc

[Boolseye]

When I started with CBs in my new AR (that I'd assembled and was all proud of) I wanted to shoot them fast.
I have the NOE 55 grain RCBS clone, and I loaded them with 22 grains of VV530–I might have even gone higher.
Anyway, those things were going from between 2500 and 2700 fps, and at 40 yards they were hitting what I aimed at.
Barrel stayed clean, too. Now I cast them hard and water dropped them, sized at .224 with a GC. Larry said the same thing to me, and I agree with him, for the most part. I'm sure if I did accuracy tests at 100 yds, those screamers would suffer compared to their dawdling (if 6 football fields in a second is dawdling) 1800 fps pills that result from a more alloy-appropriate load. The conclusion I came to was 1) I have no need for most of them to go that fast, and 2) I prefer to save my brass, powder and gun and go for more loads with less steam. In my 16" carbine, the action will cycle at remarkably low levels–15 grains of RL 7 under that same 55er will run the gun, I believe will even hold back the action. Can you shoot CBs fast in an AR? absolutely. Will they be as accurate as their slower counterparts, over the long haul? Probably not. The beautiful thing about the .223 (and the AR platform, for that matter) is its versatility. I recently assembled a 300 BLK upper, too–let me tell you, the velocity and energy range with this gun is broad, to say the least.

incidentally, barrel twist is 1/9., 16" carbine.

[MrWolf]

cpy911 - go to Brownells for the bulk Hornady 55gr 6,000 count for $495. In stock

http://www.brownells.com/reloading/bullets/rifle-bullets/hornady-bulk-rifle-bullets-prod55232.aspx

[mikeym1a]

I just put together an AR with a 1/9 barrel. In anticipation of casting for it, I slugged the bore, and it measured .227 grove diameter. I plan to do it again, before I do anything else. No need to order the wrong parts until I'm sure. I'm no expert, by any means, but, I want to do things right. Midway also has some .223 hardball, but only in 100ct boxes. If I find it at a reasonable price, I'll get a box or two, just to have, until I get up to several thou. Sounds like a lot, but really isn't. Sure seems to go fast. Happy Shooting! :-D

[felix]

I have no idea what the problem here is. If 140,000 is Larry's threshold value for his 308 guns, then 192,000 would be the threshold for 224 guns. The surface speed would be identical (2.25 inch/sec), meaning the velocity of the 224 would exceed the 308 substantially. ... felix

[45 2.1]

Holy Schnikes, he has witnesses too :killingpc

Yep.... and some people stick to their dogma. On one of the MiHec 22 Nato GB's, Hamish visited me with the intent on seeing what it would do in his scoped 9 twist AR-15 since I've had the mold longer than anyone in the US. He brought his own chrono and I loaded the ammo (my cases, boolits and powder) in front of him..... he shot them at 100 yards over the chrono.... results were a 1-1/8" five shot group at something like 2,442 fps IIRC. People can argue all they want, but some folks know better.

[cpy911]

Does anyone have some RCBS 22-055-SP (or commercial copy equivalent) boolits? I would like to try some samples. Don't need them sized, lubed, or gas checked. I can cover shipping cost.
I got some samples of Saeco #221 (thanks to generosity of cheese1566! A great guy!) and am wanting to compare the RCBS mold before buying sumthin'.
Thank you!
cpy911
OP

[Larry Gibson]

Yep.... and some people stick to their dogma. On one of the MiHec 22 Nato GB's, Hamish visited me with the intent on seeing what it would do in his scoped 9 twist AR-15 since I've had the mold longer than anyone in the US. He brought his own chrono and I loaded the ammo (my cases, boolits and powder) in front of him..... he shot them at 100 yards over the chrono.... results were a 1-1/8" five shot group at something like 2,442 fps IIRC. People can argue all they want, but some folks know better.

Yes, some do stick to "dogma" alright.......which MiHec GB mould? What alloy?, What lube? What sizing? What GC? What cases? What powder? What load? Any filler? What AR? What sights?.....never the details.....always the claims........

Perhaps Hamish can provide the information?

Larry Gibson

[leadman]

I tested some of the Lyman 45gr RN sized .225" in my sons AR. Hard to read the stamping but it is either a 7 or 9 twist. I cast these of linotype and heat treated it. Coated twice with Hi-Tek lube with E-2 Catalyst. Measured bhn of some other boolits with same alloy after coated and baked in the same ovens and they started at 35BHN and after baking the were 30 to 32bhn. Can't measure the bhn of a 22 cal. bullet in my SAECO tester.
I shot 3 shot groups with 5 different powder charges of H4895. The top average velocity was 2,700 fps and group was 1 1/8". No leading at all.
I shot higher powder charges in my Contender 23" 223Rem barrel and hit about 3,465fps for and average with groups about 2". Still no leading but could not get anymore powder in the case. Top load was 27grs. of H4895.
I bought a 22 Bator mold recently and have some loaded for my Contender but am waiting for the pain to go away in my cheek after recent surgery. I may set it up as a pistol and shoot it that way. I want to also shoot some of these in my son's AR.
My goal is to hit 3,000 fps with moa accuracy in my Contender.
The difference between my Contender and my son's AR with the same load is about 300 fps.

[Screwbolts]

Yes, some do stick to "dogma" alright.......which MiHec GB mould? What alloy?, What lube? What sizing? What GC? What cases? What powder? What load? Any filler? What AR? What sights?.....never the details.....always the claims........

Perhaps Hamish can provide the information?

Larry Gibson

Larry, all the details you ask for are clearly listed in the very first thread of the 65 gr nato boolit thread, first or second page of that thread.

Ken

[Larry Gibson]

Larry, all the details you ask for are clearly listed in the very first thread of the 65 gr nato boolit thread, first or second page of that thread.

Ken

Ken

Appreciate that but can we be a bit more specific? I've run a "search" on 65 nato and come up with a loth of threads due to "nato". There is a thread on the 75 gr NATO cast bullet; is that it?

Larry Gibson

[Larry Gibson]

leadman

Excellent example of how to harden a cast bullet to withstand the stress of acceleration. Unfortunately some (not you) don't seem to understand the "dogma" regarding the RPM threshold applies to regular cast bullets of a ternary alloy. Would they read the fine print they would see we all explain ways to push the RP threshold higher. Hardening the bullets via WQ or heat treatment for example. The hitech coatings you are using seem to be working well as another or in conjunction with HT'ing. Using slower burning powders for the bullet weight is another. Using different alloys Linotype, monotype, Ideal #1 or others) is another. Using a proper bullet design (you did just that) is another. Numerous ways as mentioned ad nauseum.

Excellent example of how to put minimal information/detail in a post and much appreciated.

Not being critical of you but simply trying to stay on the OP's topic. Perhaps others should note; spy911 did after all ask; "I have coww that I want to use with a mold I have yet to purchase." The OP asked about "coww" alloy? So all that hitech stuff aside it still doesn't alter the fact that a bullet just cast of normal COWWs, COWWs + 2% tin, Lyman #2 alloy, etc. are not going to give good accuracy above the RPM threshold, dogma not withstanding. That was the object of my answer. Seems some just want to take off on tangents for personal reasons. I prefer to stay with the OP's question and help there if I can.

Now if we want to discuss the hitech aspects of bumping up the RPM threshold then let's have at it. But anyone doing so please add some detail to the discussion as leadman did. There are an awful lot of threads and posts out there on this topic. Some of us are not mind readers so if you reference information that is in another thread or post and don't want to regurgitate it would be appreciated if the "shortcut" to that thread or post at least is included. Not too much to ask, is it?

Larry Gibson

[AABEN]

cpy, 12/8/13

I use a NOE 70 grain mold for my LMT 1:7 twist AR with wheel weight type lead alloy. I have 750 trouble free rounds through it so far with no problems unless I load them faster than 2000 ft/sec. Good luck.

best wishes- oldandslow
Do you drop them in water? I was think about doing this to harden them a little more.

[AABEN]

Looking for flatter trajectory with less holdover.
Maybe 2200 to 2300 fps range.

Then you will need a heaver bullet and longer one. Your twist is a target twist that they use 69 Gr up to 80+ Gr

[runfiverun]

linotype is not the right alloy.
you still have to match alloy up to the rifle [as well as the right boolit design]
I use softened ww alloy in my 10 twist 308 at 2400 fps, but move to a 4/6 alloy in the ar and other 22 cal rifles.
looking directly at just modifying or hardening the alloy is not the answer.
you have to go full out with case fit powder speed and ignition as well as other issues.
many of these issues were dealt with directly when the 30XCB chamber reamer was designed.
there is still work to be done on the brass to make it a correct fit.

[Larry Gibson]

Here's what two of my ARs (12" and 9" twist barrels) do with the 225462 cast of Linotype/lead at 80/20 and AC'd. They weight, fully dressed 56 gr. Hornady GCs, lubed in a .228 H&I die as they drop .227 with Javelina (NRA 50/50). Loaded over 19 gr Varget with a 1/3 gr Dacron filler. 100% reliable functioning in both ARs. Velocity is 2250 fps for 135,000 RPM in the 12" twist and 180,000 RPM in the 9" twist. Load was developed for the 9" twist to push the RPM threshold with the softer alloy (18 BHN) and groups really begin to get larger with 19.5+ gr Varget. Can be tweaked further with a slower burning powder but just showing results with Varget.

92180

First AR is an M16 upper with a milspec 20" chrome lined M16A1 barrel with 12" twist. Lower is a LMT. Sight is an EoTech. The 10 shot 100 yard group is 2.25" which is comparable to M193 accuracy in this AR. The 200 yard group is 4.55" and exhibits very good linear dispersion from the 100 yard group. This is good as this load is under the RPM threshold for this 12" twist. Very good and usable accuracy to 300 yards with this load.
92181

Second AR is a pre-ban Colt HBAR Match (flat top) with a Leupold 3.5x10 police sniper scope on it. The 20" barrel has a 9" twist and it is capable 20 shot sub moa with match ammunition. The 100 yard group (only 9 shots) is 2.45". While that seems comparable to the LMT ARs 100 yard group consider this rifle is capable of 1/3 the size groups as the LMT AR. The group size is indicative the RPM threshold is being pushed. The 200 yard group for 9 of the shots looks good but the flyer out there at 12 o'clock is telling us the RPM threshold is being really pushed as the group dispersion is becoming non-linear. All 10 shots were called good BTW. With that rifle and the 10X scope I would know had I pulled that 12 o'clock high. Still this load in this rifle is also usable to 300 yards depending on the target I expect to hit.

92182

Just ordinary cast bullets AC'd of ternary alloy with normal lube. No weight sorting, no WQ, no heat treating, no magic elixir for a lube, no jumping through hoops just normal loading of cast bullets to make them usable in ARs. No claims of the worlds best accuracy either, just very usable accuracy to at least 300 yards using plain old "dogma".

Targets are 50 yard pistol targets with 8" bull for reference.

Larry Gibson

[runfiverun]

that's pretty indicative of being able to control the groups by eliminating the flyers through the controls Larry mentions.

except maybe the super special lube part... I got a lube that will throw super tight groups then fling them vertically right before purging and squeaking the groups back down again...
it's pretty predictable but not worth the hassle.

that's a super nice round group in the top pic [except for the 2 off left flyers which could have been prevented with weight sorting]
that is the type of group you are looking for [as a good baseline load] when starting to search out your load development.

[Larry Gibson]

runfiverun

[except for the 2 off left flyers which could have been prevented with weight sorting]

That group is pretty typical for me with the totally non tricked out AR and the EoTech dot sight. No magnification and even though they say it's a moa dot I find it's more like 2+ moa with my old eyes. That's about the best I do with that rifle with 10 shot groups. I've snuck a few smaller 5 shot groups but that's normal for 10. I have put an original handle mounted Colt scope on it and with my good Speer 52 HP or Sierra 55 gr Blitz Kings loads it will keep 10 shots under 1.5 moa, put the EoTech back on and its a 2moa rifle. Just me and the dot with my old eyes. My grandson shot a 1 1/2 moa 10 shot group with the Eotech on it a couple months ago. Now me and the Colt HBAR Match with that Leupold on 10X is a totally 'nother story:-D

There's some days (not too many) I might think about weight sorting those bullets for use in my M700V or my Savage 110 Competition bolt action rifles.....but for the AR? Naw, not a chance. The above is quite good for what I use cast in it for. In the 12" twist LMT I could certainly make a coyote dance out to 200 yards but the Speer 52 HP at 3100 fps does a lot better.......my cast AR loads are mostly for plinking/"blasting" and practice on "E", B-27 or IPSC targets to 300 yards. I prefer to keep the casting/loading procedure as simple as possible which provide adequate results. Which it does.

Larry Gibson

[runfiverun]

I really like how you have that colt set up.
it is set up like my stag 6-H, which I use for ground squirrel and rock-chuck "spot and stalk" hunting.

[Larry Gibson]

I really like how you have that colt set up.
it is set up like my stag 6-H, which I use for ground squirrel and rock-chuck "spot and stalk" hunting.

Popped a few coyote and rock chucks with mine also. Managed a nice 4 point mulie also. Hadn't seen anything larger than young 2 pointers so I left the '06 in camp and went on a coyote walk about.......lo and behold there was the 4 pointer! Used a Winchester 64 gr SP at 2950 fps, did the job at a little over 200 yards.

Larry Gibson

92395

[cpy911]

My buddy bought the RCBS 22-055-SP 22 mold and gave me a bunch to try out. I had IMR 3031 sitting around from shooting my 30-30, so that is what I used. I was going for a starting load that would cycle my home build Franken-AR with a Bushnell 3 MOA red dot and 16" 1-9 twist barrel. Everything cycled fine. For my next outing, I will reduce my powder charges and do another test at lower charges than my initial guess. Still, I am satisfied with the results I got. I am just looking to plink milk jugs at 100 yards, so nothing special. Here is a video closeups of the targets. http://youtu.be/_PZb0_PVdt0

Pictures


First image is at 50 yards
95257

Second image is at 50 yards
95258

Moral of the story....keep velocity and RPM down. Results at 50yards are different than 100yds as Larry said.