.225 winchester

[bensonwe]

I have some questions that I need some help with. I'm shooting a .225 winchester using a Lyman 255438 44 grain g/c boolit, and Winchester 748 powder. I've tried many combinations. Boolit in and out, powder charges, primers, lubes, crimps. I got it from spraying all over the target at 50 yards to consistently shooting 3 in groups ar 50 but not any tighter. With the jacketed things, it will shoot half inch groups. ( but who wants to shoot those things?) My questions are what are my next steps? Is this the best I can expect with cast? Thanks for any thoughts.

[Bullshop]

Wrong powder for boolits. Maybe you should consult a Lyman cast bullet load data book.

[GOPHER SLAYER]

I am also trying to work up loads for the 225 Win. I cast bullets using the RCBS 55 GRN GC. The RCBS cast bullet loading manual lists several powders for the 225, one was 13 grains of 4198. I started with that load since I have several pounds of that powder. I don't look for much but I will keep you advised.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Another source for loads for that cartridge would be to look in older manuals for .219 Ackley Improved Zipper loads.

That is exactly what the .225 Win is.

Randy

[ShooterAZ]

Well for what it's worth, the only powders listed for the 225 Win in both the Lyman 49th Reloading, and 4th Cast Handbooks are fast burning pistol powders. Red Dot (6-9), 700X (6-9), and Unique (7-10) are listed with starting charges of 6-7 grains. I would advise starting with the minimum loads and work up carefully. This data was for the Lyman 225415 55 gr boolit. For the record, I use very light charges of Titegroup in the 223 Rem with excellent results with the RCBS 22-055, but I can't help with any data for the 225 with it.

[tonyjones]

The 225438 may be too short for your chamber's throat. Is the bullet being engraved? The RCBS Cast Bullet Manual No. 1 shows charge weights of 748 from 15 to 17 grains giving 1,734 and 1,981 fps respectively in a 225 Win. Model 70 with 24", 1:14 twist barrel. The bullet was a RCBS 22-055-FN. Also, is your sized bullet/loaded round large enough in the neck area to properly line the bullet up with the centerline of the bore?

Regards,

Tony

[bensonwe]

I've finally have gotten it shooting 2" at 50 yards consistently. I've gone to 18.3 grains of 748 and oal of 2.240. I also paid more attention to the gas check. I may have been not seating them properly but have since corrected. I also switched to magnum primer from standard primers. I'm happy with the result but I think with this boolit this may be as good as it gets. I'm going to try a few more ideas but not expecting much. I may try a 55 grain boolit that has more bearing surface but need to purchase it. And by the way, the hardness is 15 and heat treated. Thanks for all the input.

[Whitespider]

Just a thought...
The original .225 factory loads were a 50-grain "varmint(?)" bullet and a 60-grain "hunting(?)" bullet. Early production barrels utilized a 1:12 twist to stabilize the 60-grain bullet... later the 60-grain load was dropped and a 1:14 twist became the common "standard".

It could be that you have a 1:12, and that little 44-grain RN boolit is being over-stabilized. Any flaw in the casting, sizing, gas check seating, or whatnot is gonna' be highly magnified if that tiny boolit is over stabilized... especially as velocity increases. Really, even a 1:14 twist could be "problematic" with the 225438 if everything ain't close to perfect... it does real fine in a 1:16 though. I ain't sayin' it can't work, or be used, in a faster twist... I'm just sayin' it may tend to be somewhat finicky about technique and velocity.