cast in the AR

[lunicy]

OK, I have almost enough courage to cast for the AR. Please inform me an pros and cons. Gimme any tips you got. While you guys are at it, could you recomend a good .223 mold. I don't ask much :)

[HotGuns]

Not a good idea.
The gas port that operates the bolt will shave off minute bits of lead and eventually restrict the gas port, causing very sluggish operation. Keep shooting it with cast and eventually the gas port will clog up to the point that the rifle will not cycle.

The only way to fix that is to remove the front sight and the gas tube and to take a drill bit and ream out the lead deposits. You'll also need to take some pipe cleaners dipped in lead removal wash and clean out the gas tube.

Its a lot more trouble than its worth.

[crabo]

Does this mean I need to give up on the idea of shooting cast in my 9mm AR?

[hotwheelz]

Does this mean I need to give up on the idea of shooting cast in my 9mm AR?



No the 9mm carbine is a direct blow back desing it doesnt use the gas system so keep blazing away I do.

[GrizzLeeBear]

Not a good idea.
The gas port that operates the bolt will shave off minute bits of lead and eventually restrict the gas port, causing very sluggish operation. Keep shooting it with cast and eventually the gas port will clog up to the point that the rifle will not cycle.

The only way to fix that is to remove the front sight and the gas tube and to take a drill bit and ream out the lead deposits. You'll also need to take some pipe cleaners dipped in lead removal wash and clean out the gas tube.

Its a lot more trouble than its worth.

Actually, there are some people who have shot a lot of cast boolits in an AR without these problems. I haven't shot any through mine (yet), but do some searches here and you should find some good info on cast in the AR. Making sure there are no burrs at the gas port and limiting the velocity with boolits of proper hardness and size seems to be the key.

[Redleg99]

Here are a few threads discussing shooting cast boolits in ARs:

http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=11529
http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=19339
http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=4421
http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=21018
http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=20822

Not AR-15 specific, but still informative:
http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=20622

I havn’t done it yet, but it’s on my list of things to do.

ETA: the boolit I’m looking at for my AR-15s is the Saeco #221