375449 First Run

[TXGunNut]

Started the year off right breaking in a new mould, the classic Lyman 375449 that I stashed in my casting equipment box a few months back. I don't use a double cavity Lyman mould very often so it was a welcome change from the two Lee six-bangers I ran for awhile last night.
First off I gave it a good soap & water scrubbing, then let it soak and scrubbed it again while the pot was coming up to temp. I generally ladle pour my Lyman moulds but decided to bottom pour today just for grins. Alloy was COWW w/ 2% tin and 2% hard shot. After the mould was dry & up to temp I poured a few, actually about six pours, added a bit more tin, dropped the initial boolits back in the pot, and then things really came together! Cadence was a bit slow, found myself wishing I had another set of Lyman mould handles so that I could replenish my 454424 supply by running two moulds in succession.
They were a bit frosty but all of a sudden the mould started dropping near-perfect boolits, culled less than 20 as things were cooling down. Diameter is .377-.378, boolits are slightly oval shaped but I don't think my 94 Big Bore will notice. Boolit weights run 270-272 grs nekkid. Barrel is stamped "375 Winchester" but I'm going to pretend it's a 38-55.:wink:
Can't recall ever getting a new mould to settle down and cast acceptable boolits that quickly....wonder what I did with that sizing die? :drinks:

[waco]

Sounds like a good day!

[AlaskanGuy]

94749

The 375449 does cast a purty boolit dont it.... I just love mine.

[TXGunNut]

Yes it does, AlaskanGuy. Yours are purtier than mine, tho. Noticed your sprue hole is a bit off center, just like mine. Has your rifle noticed?

[TXGunNut]

Sounds like a good day!

Any day casting is a good day! I managed to sneak in two of them this past weekend! :drinks:

[Catshooter]

That's the boolit I use for lever action silhouette. Wonderful boolit.


Cat

[AlaskanGuy]

My rifle dont care one bit... So far. I must admit I was a bit worried first time I cast with the mold though, but they are nice and round, so who cares. Boolits are shiny cuz i shined them up just for that pic... :) ... The rest of the time they look like this....

94832

Working out to 200 yards tomorrow at the range.. Fine tuning things for my bear loads...

How are you loading yours???? Larry got me using h4350 in mine... Working much better then the 4064 I was using.... I am using a gas check.... Seating the boolits till they touch...

Casting for the 375 has really got me having fun the the "Ouch & Ouch" again.. Mine is very manageable with cast and i dont start getting sore till about shout 65 or so... :drinks:

AG

[TXGunNut]

How are you loading yours???? Larry got me using h4350 in mine... Working much better then the 4064 I was using.... I am using a gas check.... Seating the boolits till they touch... AlaskanGuy

I honestly don't know, haven't even lubed and GC'd them yet. I'm considering everything from Holy Black to 2400. I don't think I'll be using 4350 or 4064 but in my 30-06 anything 4064 or Varget could do H or IMR 4350 could do better. My case capacity is probably about 60% of yours so I'm needing a faster powder. I'm thinking RL7 or 3031 but was thinking about a plinking load as well. I only have a Lyman sizer die for this boolit, 4500 is full of SPG so lots of options here.
I've been known to cast a few shiny ones for photo ops but I generally like them frosty. I'll be finishing my current project (35 Whelen) soon and will then get serious about my 375 Winny project.

[TXGunNut]

Found my sizing die, it's a Lyman. Now I need to decide how many grooves to lube, SPG is in my 4500 so I'm thinking two. I'll be shooting it in my BB94 over a medium speed smokeless powder to be named later w/ a velocity goal of 1800 fps. Suggestions?

[AlaskanGuy]

At first, I been lubing all my groves till I collected a bunch from the snowbanks to see how the lube was holding up... there was lube still in a couple of the groves, so I now lube all but the top 2 grooves.... I use 50/50 JPW and Beeswax for lube with a crayon for color.... Seems to meet my needs just fine....

AG

[TXGunNut]

Two it is. Seems I should have ordered a top punch. 424 worked OK, a bit too big but it was flat. Never used a GC boolit in my Lyman before, only thing that sizer touched was the GC and occasionally a seam. Think I'll load a few before supper. :-)

[AlaskanGuy]

Heck.. If you hurry, you can load and SHOOT them before supper... Lol

[TXGunNut]

Probably not, rifle's too pretty to take outside in this weather. ;-) Not really sure where it is, still need to order a receiver sight and blank anyway. Guess I better find it for chamber check.

[AlaskanGuy]

I found a top punch for mine, number 449 by just putting in the want to buy section...

[Catshooter]

I also lube just the first two grooves. I shoot mine at about 1700 to 1800 out of a 26 inch barrel. Zero leading after 500 rounds or so. :)


Cat

[TXGunNut]

Midway finally got the sight I wanted for this rifle in stock, just added the 449 to the order along with a sight blank.
Two grooves is correct; to achieve the Lyman specified COAL I crimped into the second groove from the top. Cycled nice...can't recall why this rifle hasn't seen the light of day in over 25 years. Coupon in the die box expired 30 yrs ago, lol.

[skeettx]

I lube all the grooves but am shooting in a 375 H&H,

[AlaskanGuy]

I shoot the 375 h&h as well, but am now leaving to top 2 unlubed... I keep finding a bit of lube left in the grooves, so guess i dont need it much...

[TXGunNut]

Hmmmm.....this boolit does seem to be more suited to a 375 H&H or maybe a 375 Ruger. See them pretty reasonable around here from time to time. Almost a shame we don't need anything that big here in Texas. ;-)

[AlaskanGuy]

Here is a pic of some recovered 375449's from a snow bank...

96548

See how there is lube left in all the grooves?? Tells me that my lube is awesome, and that I can slack off filling all the grooves... I am using 50/50 jpw and beeswax with a red crayon...

AG

[TXGunNut]

I hope the SPG lube holds up as well as yours, would hate to have to get another 4500 for a second lube. OTOH I've gotten 2400 fps out of LLA with no lube related issues. Just need a Lee sizer.

[AlaskanGuy]

I dont think your gunna get a lee sizer for the 375 unless you ask buckshot to make one for ya.... I was gunna go that route before i lucked into a lyman 450 sizer.... I think he charges 30 bucks but dont hold me to that....

AG

[runfiverun]

look for a 38-55 sizer.
I run the 375449 in my 375 Winchesters at .379 anyway.

[TXGunNut]

I dont think your gunna get a lee sizer for the 375 unless you ask buckshot to make one for ya.... I was gunna go that route before i lucked into a lyman 450 sizer.... I think he charges 30 bucks but dont hold me to that....

AG

That may be why I have the Lyman sizer. I haven't slugged this rifle yet, thought I'd try the .379 and see how it went before I got creative.

[TXGunNut]

Wow, boolits worked great! No leading but that 280 grainer is a bit hard on the shoulder. Think I'll size & load a few more in case I want to abuse my shoulder again soon, lol.

[AlaskanGuy]

Lmbo... The 375 h&h diddnt get the nickname 375 ouch & ouch for nuthin.... Mine is muzzle broke, or I would be saying the same thing... I can shoot 50 or 60 rounds through mine with just a bit of a sore shoulder the next day....

[TXGunNut]

In decades past I fed my BB Hornady 220 grn j-words, don't recall them being very unpleasant to shoot but I was younger and tougher then, lol. Got 70 GC'd, sized & lubed. Think I'll take a nap before I load up 20 for tomorrow....or some other time. :-)
Glad I didn't order the 359009 for my 35 Whelen project.

[AlaskanGuy]

I bet your shoulder says "amen" to that thought... lol

[armorer59]

I've been using a Lyman 375248 in the Trapdoor I re-barreled to .38-56. Low recoil and shoots well with Goex cartridge grade BP. Lubed with Thompson Center bore butter

[TXGunNut]

I've been using a Lyman 375248 in the Trapdoor I re-barreled to .38-56. Low recoil and shoots well with Goex cartridge grade BP. Lubed with Thompson Center bore butter

First I've heard of that boolit, sounds like a good choice in the 375 as well. Thanks!

[TXGunNut]

I bet your shoulder says "amen" to that thought... lol

Just can't think of anything in Texas that needs to be hit that hard, to be quite honest....including my shoulder! Loaded up 20, looking forward to shooting the 32-20's and 32WS tomorrow. The 375 Win....not so much. Mebbe I'll shoot a nice hog with it someday.

[starmac]

Are you starting to remember why that 375 sit in the safe all those years. lol

[TXGunNut]

Are you starting to remember why that 375 sit in the safe all those years. lol

Quite possibly, lol. Abused myself again today. Initial load shot quite well again. Think I'll load up 50 rounds and instruct the executor of my will to give it to someone I don't like very much, lol. Seven pounds of rifle and a couple of tons of muzzle energy is fun for a little while, just not for long.

[RAD57]

That 375449 is probably what I'm looking for my BB 94 375. I'm shooting LBT 380-225 GC sized at .379 but am looking for something nearer 280 grains. Just not thrilled with current Lyman quality, maybe a group buy someday.