Cast bullet expansion?

[Cedric]

Is there any information available about the suitability of cast bullets for hunting with regard to their expansion properties?
In particular the .22 Hornet. It is normal to use expanding ammo (here in the UK at least) for foxes, hollow point, soft nosed, ballistic tipped. I was wondering about the efficiency of a 40gr solid lead bullet driven at over 2,000 fps. at ranges of 80 -150 yards.

[Tatume]

Welcome to the list. You will find lots of information on this list concerning hunting with cast bullets. There are numerous approaches. Some like hollow points, some like bi-metal casts (soft nose and hard body). Personally, I like monolithic bullets at about 12 BHN for hunting, but I don't hunt with bullets as small as you do. It sounds like an interesting project, and I plan to follow this thread with interest.

Take care, Tom

[35remington]

A simple ACWW bullet of 12 BHN will expand well at such velocities to your intended range and meplat size does not particularly matter.

[Cedric]

Apart from the gas check the bullets are very similar to .22lr except, with Lilgun, I can shoot them fairly accurately at over 2,100 fps, perhaps a bit more. I suppose the real test (when the foul weather clears up) is to go out and dot a fox, then I will find out if the bullet has any tendency to go right through. A heart shot will still kill it even if it passes through.

[35remington]

A tender little fox hasn't a prayer of stopping the bullet but it will kill just fine

[Digital Dan]

Cedric,

.44/300 grains/1600fpsMV/pure lead/deer/dead

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/muddler/Guns/PaperPatchDeer009_zps3a52d58c.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/muddler/media/Guns/PaperPatchDeer009_zps3a52d58c.jpg.html)

Hardly expands at all I've heard.

Advice received from Larry awhile back about the Hornet bullet: 50/50 linotype/wheel weights/bit of tin, cast and shoot. It was good advice. 2400-2500 fps, dead nuts accurate with a Lyman 225438 mould, 44 grains, gas checked. That alloy won't expand a lot if any, but you can reach your velocity objective with much softer alloy.

http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/bullet-casting/select-mould-rifle.php?styleRef=cat01

[gray wolf]

45 acp H P about 825 FPS 60/40 lead WW129049129050

[w30wcf]

From a .22 Hornet 50 yard impact approx. 2200 f.p.s.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o25/w30wcf/Collector%20Cartridges/2254155.jpg

w30wcf

[altheating]

Here is a pic of a red squirrel taken at about 80 yards. Dont know about the expansion, but explosiveness yes. That flat point really transfers energy to the target. Not much left. That was a BRP 226-47 at about 2550 fps from the K Hornet. Water dropped WW and a little lino. Sorry pic is sideways. 129116 One of these days I'm going to try that boolit on some water jugs to see if I can recover the expanded boolit.

[Screwbolts]

Is there any information available about the suitability of cast bullets for hunting with regard to their expansion properties?
In particular the .22 Hornet. It is normal to use expanding ammo (here in the UK at least) for foxes, hollow point, soft nosed, ballistic tipped. I was wondering about the efficiency of a 40gr solid lead bullet driven at over 2,000 fps. at ranges of 80 -150 yards.

I think you can find lots of good reading on the subject here on CBs, as you wrote " In Particular the 22 Hornet" . Well in particular what 22 hornet are you referencing? The reason I ask is, H&R made some with fast twist barrels, if yours has the old great standby of 1-16 then as Altheating has shown 2500 is easily doable and deadly. I to shoot the BRP designed boolit from Hornets That have been K'd. But the regular version will quite nicely do very close to the same.

Ken

[Cedric]

It's a CZ 527, 1: 16 twist, 16 1/2" barrel.
The pic from w30wcf was very interesting - thanks.

[Blackwater]

The best way to get quick/devastating expansion in your Hornet is probably to shoot hollow pointed bullets. Moulds can be made for this, but they're pretty much a custom proposition. How much expansion you'll get depends on what alloy you're using, of course. When loading for higher velocities (above normal Pistol level velocities) lube becomes a prime consideration as well, to prevent leading and for getting top accuracy. Lots of variables here to deal with and balance out. If one lube leads for you, try another, and if all lead, you need a harder alloy. Note too, that the harder the alloy you use, the larger/deeper your H.P. should be to get the devastating expansion typical of a varmint type caliber in a rifle. But it CAN be done. It just might take some significant experimentation, but even the solid bullets should kill well for you. Flat points also help, especially if you can't HP them. I think they initiate expansion a tad quicker, impart more shock (imagine karate chopping the water in a swimming pool, vs. hitting it with the flat of your hand) and some say they tend to be more accurate, day in and day out. That last is "iffy," but I think cast will serve you better than you've imagined. Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

[quack1]

Exit holes of a 51gr. 22 caliber Lyman 225462 (bullet hollow pointed on a lathe), air cooled wheel weights at a little over 2000fps. One shot through the head, one through the body, both between 75 and 100 yards. Both ground hogs were 5-7 lbs.


http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll300/1quack1/firstcasthpkill22-25075yds.jpg
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll300/1quack1/51grhpcast22-25020yds.jpg

[Tatume]

Quack1, that pretty much says it all, doesn't it?

[35remington]

Well...they didn't suffer! That's what it's all about.

[JeffinNZ]

QUACK - I have the same mould HPed and in ACWW at 2300fps rabbits quite literally rattle after being shot.