Indiana Whitetail 2014

[Djones]

I started hand loading in 2012. It wasn't until early 2013 that I started casting. Last year I wasn't ready to hunt deer with cast rifle so I stuck with my muzzleloader and 44 mag SBH. I did well with both.

This is year it is a different story. I've been tinkering with all sorts of combos in my 35 rem 1.790" case length.

Last year I used a hornady ftx. It ran along at 2150 FPS and seemed too tough for it didn't expand any on the deer I shot with it. IN legal on the right.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt124/duckwhackercmon/874757DB-5BC5-4294-AE69-A805A213DB82.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/duckwhackercmon/media/874757DB-5BC5-4294-AE69-A805A213DB82.jpg.html)

Nonetheless I anchored a great 140 inch buck one very frigid nov morning.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt124/duckwhackercmon/dajhunter/0CA9F191-8C05-4704-8B84-35AD407399E5.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/duckwhackercmon/media/dajhunter/0CA9F191-8C05-4704-8B84-35AD407399E5.jpg.html)

This year I'm going with the RCBS 35-200 and 40 grains of leverevolution.
Legal on the right.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt124/duckwhackercmon/1163FAEA-3BC8-4285-8E73-E0C178D75A4B.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/duckwhackercmon/media/1163FAEA-3BC8-4285-8E73-E0C178D75A4B.jpg.html)

[Djones]

I decided to do some comparison of the FTX vs my water dropped 35-200 96-2-2 alloy.

80 yards 4 1 gallon water jugs into a bag of old clothes.

The FTX lost ~25% weight very little expansion.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt124/duckwhackercmon/F2F97DCB-0927-4AAE-881F-1F4EE09DAB20.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/duckwhackercmon/media/F2F97DCB-0927-4AAE-881F-1F4EE09DAB20.jpg.html)

my rcbs lost ~5% and expanded nicely to 0.680" diameter.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt124/duckwhackercmon/42856857-605E-447C-84E0-8BDB3033B4D8.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/duckwhackercmon/media/42856857-605E-447C-84E0-8BDB3033B4D8.jpg.html)

here is a side by side.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt124/duckwhackercmon/ED27F897-1F77-4D4B-B7FE-B9CEFB2F261C_1.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/duckwhackercmon/media/ED27F897-1F77-4D4B-B7FE-B9CEFB2F261C_1.jpg.html)

[Djones]

And here is the potential icing on the cake for all of my time invested into pursuing the perfect hunting boolit load.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt124/duckwhackercmon/872A4C8F-FEF1-4AE8-A6C3-EDCFA118A265.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/duckwhackercmon/media/872A4C8F-FEF1-4AE8-A6C3-EDCFA118A265.jpg.html)

now if between my 20 month old daughter and son to be born in Aug if I could only make it out into the woods!

thanks to the many members who helped me out along the way.

[bruce drake]

Good Luck! I'll be using a shortened 358 Winchester with a Lyman 200gr this year myself in a scoped mauser 98.

[richhodg66]

I'm using the NOE clone of that bullet in a .358 Savage 99. I think it's going to work great. I'm glad we don't have the restrictions on what you can use that Indiana has, but it looks like you've made the best of it.

Good luck on getting a shot at that bruiser.

[harley45]

Good luck I'll be using my 45 Colt this year. I'll be in White County and you?

[Djones]

Any critiques good or bad maybe alloy or anything else for that matter? My marlin now has a Williams FP receiver rear sight and a skinner front blade I painted a white stripe on.


Good luck I'll be using my 45 Colt this year. I'll be in White County and you?

I'll hunt Hancock, Hamilton, Putnam and maybe Shelby/rush counties.

[MBTcustom]

Any critiques good or bad maybe alloy or anything else for that matter? My marlin now has a Williams FP receiver rear sight and a skinner front blade I painted a white stripe on.



I'll hunt Hancock, Hamilton, Putnam and maybe Shelby/rush counties.


Man, that is awesome!
Tell me, what's the deal with the "legal" version on the right? Some janky hunting regulation?

[John Allen]

That is a nice buck. I wish we could use centerfires around here.

[DIRT Farmer]

Man, that is awesome!
Tell me, what's the deal with the "legal" version on the right? Some janky hunting regulation?

Indiana has a case length restriction. Several cartridges are being used when shortened. There are a few wildcats being built mainly on the WSM cartridges in .357

[Djones]

Man, that is awesome!
Tell me, what's the deal with the "legal" version on the right? Some janky hunting regulation?

Here is the description from INDNR FAQ page:

What are the rifle cartridge size requirements for Firearms Season?


"Cartridges must fire a bullet of .357-inch diameter or larger and have a case length between 1.16 and 1.8 inches. Examples of legal cartridges now include the .460 Smith & Wesson, .450 Bushmaster, and .50 Beowulf as well as the .357 Magnum, .38-.40 Winchester, .41 Special and others."

Over the last few years I have used 45-70, 35 rem and 44 mag. Dad has used .357. I like the new regs because I can cast, reload and practice all year long and not break the bank, making season last all year long.

[44man]

I don't quit get it to shorten brass if it is used from the same rifle????

[Djones]

I don't quit get it to shorten brass if it is used from the same rifle????

you must not be a congressman

[harley45]

We don't get it either and we live here. Another example, 357 magnum legal but 10mm not because the case is to short!

[06ackley]

Yep I don't get it either but I will be using my cut down 358 win this year with the rcbs 200gr boolit.Hopefully I can get my first cast harvest.

[leadeye]

44 mag Marlin with the RD 265 brought this down last season. I'll be back out there again.

[Djones]

Here is a better picture.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt124/duckwhackercmon/2014-08/DA273339-4D57-444C-B6DF-49C411843A2F.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/duckwhackercmon/media/2014-08/DA273339-4D57-444C-B6DF-49C411843A2F.jpg.html)

[DougGuy]

Bud there ain't NOTHIN shabby about that cast boolit performance. I doubt you will recover one from a deer. Looks like a great start to the season already!

[Djones]

44 mag Marlin with the RD 265 brought this down last season. I'll be back out there again.

I used the same boolit out if my 5.5"SBH with 17.4 grains of 2400 to harvest this big girl.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt124/duckwhackercmon/dajhunter/0B9971C2-5D03-42CC-BCD8-826C00C90B50.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/duckwhackercmon/media/dajhunter/0B9971C2-5D03-42CC-BCD8-826C00C90B50.jpg.html)

Good of luck this year.

[Djones]

Bud there ain't NOTHIN shabby about that cast boolit performance. I doubt you will recover one from a deer. Looks like a great start to the season already!

Thanks for the pat on the back. I think it will work great. I tend to keep away from the shoulder so this should really do the trick!

[MBTcustom]

Here is a better picture.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt124/duckwhackercmon/2014-08/DA273339-4D57-444C-B6DF-49C411843A2F.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/duckwhackercmon/media/2014-08/DA273339-4D57-444C-B6DF-49C411843A2F.jpg.html)

Ah yes waitress?
I'd like the cast boolit on the right please.
Yes, that's right, the one that's twice as big as the jacketed bullet on the left.
1/10th the cost? Perfect!
Thank you.
LOL!

[nekshot]

in all fairness to Hornady, tests have shown that bullet needs to start at 2200 or higher to open up.

[MBTcustom]

in all fairness to Hornady, tests have shown that bullet needs to start at 2200 or higher to open up.

Hmmm, doesnt look to me like it had problems opening up at all.
Also, I dont think pushing it faster is going to do anything to help it hold onto the weight it lost.
I wonder if we could talk Djones into providing the scale weights of both projectiles so that the truth can be known about weight retention.

[Djones]

Hmmm, doesnt look to me like it had problems opening up at all.
Also, I dont think pushing it faster is going to do anything to help it hold onto the weight it lost.
I wonder if we could talk Djones into providing the scale weights of both projectiles so that the truth can be known about weight retention.

I provided pictures of the bullets on a scale after shooting.

The FTX started life out weighing 200 grains. My RCBS 35-200 weighed 214 grains.

Does that answer your question?

[Djones]

in all fairness to Hornady, tests have shown that bullet needs to start at 2200 or higher to open up.

Muzzle velocity out of my marlin 336 35 rem with 20" barrel using factory Leverevolution ammo is 2140 FPS.

[MBTcustom]

I provided pictures of the bullets on a scale after shooting.

The FTX started life out weighing 200 grains. My RCBS 35-200 weighed 214 grains.

Does that answer your question?

Forgive me. I woke up with a bad case of the stupid.
LOL!

[nekshot]

Not interested in proving a point but I have done a ton of testing jbullets at reduced velocities basically starting from recommended speed and reducing till they don't open sufficiently. When bullets stop opening up properly the tip simply peels back at the sides with little expansion, but heck what do I know things can change over the years. The cast sure leaves a good reason to go with cast!

[DougGuy]

Exactly what is your 96-2-2? And about what hardness would you say it was?

Excellent performance btw.

[Djones]

Exactly what is your 96-2-2? And about what hardness would you say it was?

Excellent performance btw.

Lead-tin-antimony. All approximate values. Wheel weights cut one to one by weight with soft lead sheathing. Then 2% pure tin added by weight.

Bullets were cast at around 700-750F and water dropped. Hardness was around 15 BHN with a lee hardness tester.

I was impressed also with the performance. Thanks

[Djones]

Not interested in proving a point but I have done a ton of testing jbullets at reduced velocities basically starting from recommended speed and reducing till they don't open sufficiently. When bullets stop opening up properly the tip simply peels back at the sides with little expansion, but heck what do I know things can change over the years. The cast sure leaves a good reason to go with cast!

Im not trying to prove any points either just sharing my data and results.

[taco650]

Djones,

Congrats on your CB success!

Looks like IN needs to elect some lawmakers with some common sense.

[Markbo]

I don't know much but if MY gun were shooting THAT lead bullet here is a list if things I'd change:






Right...absolutely nothin`!

[roverboy]

Djones, it looks like you got a possible sledgehammer there. The 214 cast should be good. I knew Indiana had made some changes but, didn't know exactly what had changed. I'm really glad that they have.

[taco650]

I don't know much but if MY gun were shooting THAT lead bullet here is a list if things I'd change:






Right...absolutely nothin`!

Agreed. "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"

[DougGuy]

Exactly what is your 96-2-2? And about what hardness would you say it was?

Excellent performance btw.


Lead-tin-antimony. All approximate values. Wheel weights cut one to one by weight with soft lead sheathing. Then 2% pure tin added by weight.

Bullets were cast at around 700-750F and water dropped. Hardness was around 15 BHN with a lee hardness tester.

I was impressed also with the performance. Thanks

Most would call this 50/50+2% am I right? 50% coww 50% pure lead + 2% tin?

I use that same alloy in all my deer loads, but air cooled, bhn12 or so. I can dig a thumbnail into it and it is probably the best of all worlds for hunting thin skinned game such as deer and black bear. One of these days I will recover a boolit and see how it expands.

[bruce drake]

check that book larning math you got there ;)

[Djones]

check that book larning math you got there ;)

I don't understand your English.

[MBTcustom]

It's cast boolit math. 50+50+2+20+1 still = 100% LOL!

[DougGuy]

O that book larnin math? Hit hain't what it's cracked up to be..

I was explaining certain logic to a welder buddy, a tellin' him about tungsten. No matter how short or long it is, it's still tungsTEN. If you buy 2 pieces, you still got tungsTEN. If you break each piece in half, you still got tungsTEN. It's the only substance in the universe that you cannot change the quantity of. No matter what process you subject it to, you still got tungsTEN.

[bruce drake]

Goodsteel got it. Thankfully since he runs a lathe and machinist math is usually worth double! ;) .001" is actually .002"...

[Anonym]

Fantastic! Yup, Indiana laws are pretty ridiculous. I typically stick with my black powder rifles, but been working on a 45 Colt load as well. Here's my new cast boolit hammer for 2014 Deer Season!

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu49/Anonym_photos/20140815_072238_zpsf077b94a.jpg (http://s632.photobucket.com/user/Anonym_photos/media/20140815_072238_zpsf077b94a.jpg.html)

That's a 330gr Gould Express boolit, casting about 340 grains with my alloy and sized down to .454 to be loaded in a 45 Colt case. I am getting ready to pick some brains on a good load for my 16" Contender Carbine, but was pretty impressed with my first attempt using 9.2gr Unique. Blew through 10-inches worth of seasoned maple and left a half-dollar hole in the back!

[Djones]

Great looking bullet Anonym!

Let us know what kind of load you end up with.

what kind of buttstock do you have on your contender?

[Anonym]

Thanks! It's just the factory plastic stock. Perfectly utilitarian!

[taco650]

Fantastic! Yup, Indiana laws are pretty ridiculous. I typically stick with my black powder rifles, but been working on a 45 Colt load as well. Here's my new cast boolit hammer for 2014 Deer Season!

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu49/Anonym_photos/20140815_072238_zpsf077b94a.jpg (http://s632.photobucket.com/user/Anonym_photos/media/20140815_072238_zpsf077b94a.jpg.html)

That's a 330gr Gould Express boolit, casting about 340 grains with my alloy and sized down to .454 to be loaded in a 45 Colt case. I am getting ready to pick some brains on a good load for my 16" Contender Carbine, but was pretty impressed with my first attempt using 9.2gr Unique. Blew through 10-inches worth of seasoned maple and left a half-dollar hole in the back!


10" of seasoned maple? Sounds like your load is more than enough for deer, elk or bear!

[MBTcustom]

Fantastic! Yup, Indiana laws are pretty ridiculous. I typically stick with my black powder rifles, but been working on a 45 Colt load as well. Here's my new cast boolit hammer for 2014 Deer Season!

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu49/Anonym_photos/20140815_072238_zpsf077b94a.jpg (http://s632.photobucket.com/user/Anonym_photos/media/20140815_072238_zpsf077b94a.jpg.html)

That's a 330gr Gould Express boolit, casting about 340 grains with my alloy and sized down to .454 to be loaded in a 45 Colt case. I am getting ready to pick some brains on a good load for my 16" Contender Carbine, but was pretty impressed with my first attempt using 9.2gr Unique. Blew through 10-inches worth of seasoned maple and left a half-dollar hole in the back!

It's like we've unleashed a panther........

Your picture moves me. I really must try a contender some day. Never would have given you $50 for one, but then I shot with CBrick (XP100 and a Freedom Arms revolver), and thus began a different understanding of what a handgun is, and I find myself giving the 'Tenders a second look......

[TXGunNut]

....Your picture moves me. I really must try a contender some day. Never would have given you $50 for one, but then I shot with CBrick (XP100 and a Freedom Arms revolver), and thus began a different understanding of what a handgun is, and I find myself giving the 'Tenders a second look......

A couple of my most accurate "rifles" are Contender pistols. It's a mind-boggling thing.

[Weaponologist]

Thanks For the Post. I recently bought a 357 Ruger Carbine and was going to load the FTX for hunting season. Now, I'm glad I only picked up one box...
The Hornady looked as if it may do the job. But it's obvious it's not worth all the hipe I've been hearing.... Thanks Again...