.223 HP Mold

[detroitcharlie]

I'm ready to graduate to casting some .223 HP's and was wondering what kinda of molds people recommend. Before I jump into swaging I thought I'd try casting up some HP's first. Also, aside from the mold, what do y'all suggest for alloy mix that gives good expansion but can still be fired gas checked and not lead at the same time. Appreciate the suggestions...

[MT Gianni]

Buy a 35 cal HP mold and work out your frustrations for a year or two. A 6mm HP mold was enough to convince me of the difficulties of keeping a set of pins warm Cramer style, RG style or conventional Lyman style that have such a small mass. Beagle does it succssfully and a few others but a very few. A quick scroll through NOE's catalog shows their internal HP molds [RG2 or RG4] start in 30 caliber. There is a reason for that. It looks like then a 22 cal HP mold is a custom proposition. You say you are ready to move to them, IMO if a 35 cal pistol bullet is a High School advanced class a 22 HO is a Doctorate level class. Good luck.

[JeffinNZ]

I sent my Lyman 225462 to Erik (http://www.hollowpointmold.com/) and had him convert one cavity.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/JeffinNZ/Shooting%20stuff/DSCN1878_005.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/JeffinNZ/media/Shooting%20stuff/DSCN1878_005.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/JeffinNZ/Shooting%20stuff/DSCN1880_003.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/JeffinNZ/media/Shooting%20stuff/DSCN1880_003.jpg.html)

Casting hollow points can be a challenge. The secret is to keep the pin HOT and run the alloy a spot warmer than you usually would. One of my lead pots has a hole in the top edge of the body from where I removed the bottom pour mechanism (I am a ladle man now) and when I am casting I remove the pin from the mould and put it in the hole in the pot body to keep it hot while I am ejecting the bullet etc.

I shoot the above bullet HPed in my .223 cast in air cool clip on WW at 2300fps and it performs like a jacketed varmint bullet. It's a grenade. On my bench right now, ready for testing at the range, is a batch of Linotype bullets that I hope to get to shoot well into the high 2000's.

[Gunslinger1911]

I'm going to keep an eye on this thread - I was thinking of wanting a 22 hp in my 22TCM and Hornet.

[detroitcharlie]

Buy a 35 cal HP mold and work out your frustrations for a year or two. A 6mm HP mold was enough to convince me of the difficulties of keeping a set of pins warm Cramer style, RG style or conventional Lyman style that have such a small mass. Beagle does it succssfully and a few others but a very few. A quick scroll through NOE's catalog shows their internal HP molds [RG2 or RG4] start in 30 caliber. There is a reason for that. It looks like then a 22 cal HP mold is a custom proposition. You say you are ready to move to them, IMO if a 35 cal pistol bullet is a High School advanced class a 22 HO is a Doctorate level class. Good luck.

Great advice, I appreciate it.

[detroitcharlie]

I sent my Lyman 225462 to Erik (http://www.hollowpointmold.com/) and had him convert one cavity.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/JeffinNZ/Shooting%20stuff/DSCN1878_005.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/JeffinNZ/media/Shooting%20stuff/DSCN1878_005.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/JeffinNZ/Shooting%20stuff/DSCN1880_003.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/JeffinNZ/media/Shooting%20stuff/DSCN1880_003.jpg.html)

Casting hollow points can be a challenge. The secret is to keep the pin HOT and run the alloy a spot warmer than you usually would. One of my lead pots has a hole in the top edge of the body from where I removed the bottom pour mechanism (I am a ladle man now) and when I am casting I remove the pin from the mould and put it in the hole in the pot body to keep it hot while I am ejecting the bullet etc.

I shoot the above bullet HPed in my .223 cast in air cool clip on WW at 2300fps and it performs like a jacketed varmint bullet. It's a grenade. On my bench right now, ready for testing at the range, is a batch of Linotype bullets that I hope to get to shoot well into the high 2000's.

Wow- I'd love to know how that works out... no leading?

[square butte]

Jeff - Looks like that might be a great bullet as a flat nose. Make up a pin with no HP tip and cast them as solids with a flat point.

[Leadmelter]

I am going to contact Eric about doing my RCBS 22-55gr.
Leadmelter

[detroitcharlie]

I am going to contact Eric about doing my RCBS 22-55gr.
Leadmelter

Are you going to have him configure for HP ?

[TCFAN]

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx200/TCintheOzarks/Cast%20Boolits/DSCN8319225415HP.jpg (http://s755.photobucket.com/user/TCintheOzarks/media/Cast%20Boolits/DSCN8319225415HP.jpg.html)

225415 HP'D by Eric. Cast from linotype and shot at 2500fps from 222.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx200/TCintheOzarks/Cast%20Boolits/DSCN8314225415Hpin222at100yds.jpg (http://s755.photobucket.com/user/TCintheOzarks/media/Cast%20Boolits/DSCN8314225415Hpin222at100yds.jpg.html)

water filled soda bottle shot at 100 yards with 225415 hp.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx200/TCintheOzarks/Cast%20Boolits/DSC_2341.jpg (http://s755.photobucket.com/user/TCintheOzarks/media/Cast%20Boolits/DSC_2341.jpg.html)

Exit wound on a Ground Hog shot at 50+ yards with the 225415HP cast out of linotype at 2500 fps.
I don't find the 22 cal hp boolits hard to cast. It is just a slow process..............Terry

[jsizemore]

That works real good.

[detroitcharlie]

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx200/TCintheOzarks/Cast%20Boolits/DSCN8319225415HP.jpg (http://s755.photobucket.com/user/TCintheOzarks/media/Cast%20Boolits/DSCN8319225415HP.jpg.html)

225415 HP'D by Eric. Cast from linotype and shot at 2500fps from 222.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx200/TCintheOzarks/Cast%20Boolits/DSCN8314225415Hpin222at100yds.jpg (http://s755.photobucket.com/user/TCintheOzarks/media/Cast%20Boolits/DSCN8314225415Hpin222at100yds.jpg.html)

water filled soda bottle shot at 100 yards with 225415 hp.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx200/TCintheOzarks/Cast%20Boolits/DSC_2341.jpg (http://s755.photobucket.com/user/TCintheOzarks/media/Cast%20Boolits/DSC_2341.jpg.html)

Exit wound on a Ground Hog shot at 50+ yards with the 225415HP cast out of linotype at 2500 fps.
I don't find the 22 cal hp boolits hard to cast. It is just a slow process..............Terry

Great post. Curious- pure lino for HP's? Are you really getting "expansion" or is that tumble and cavitation of the round. I'm experimenting with a 50/50 mix of double fluxed range lead and Linotype Alloy Ingot (4%-Tin, 12%-Antimony, and 84%-Lead). I'm hope with GC's and well lubed with powder pushed down to 2100 fps I shouldn't have any leading. My primary goal is good expansion of the boolit.

[TCFAN]

detroitcharlie
The Linotype not only makes casting hp's easier but in the 22's at 2000 fps. or better they shatter on impact. In shooting through milk jugs I have never recovered a complete boolit. Just little pieces.To me it seems like they act like the old Hornady 22 cal SX bullets............Terry

[detroitcharlie]

detroitcharlie
The Linotype not only makes casting hp's easier but in the 22's at 2000 fps. or better they shatter on impact. In shooting through milk jugs I have never recovered a complete boolit. Just little pieces.To me it seems like they act like the old Hornady 22 cal SX bullets............Terry


Wow, interesting, it does make sense due to lino being so brittle. What Lino alloy mix, super hard or the softer alloy mix?

[TCFAN]

This is some old linotype that I got in a 500 pound lot 40 years ago. It is in letter form individual and line strips.I only use it for 22's mostly.......Terry

[detroitcharlie]

This is some old linotype that I got in a 500 pound lot 40 years ago. It is in letter form individual and line strips.I only use it for 22's mostly.......Terry

Curious what the antimony content is...

[TCFAN]

No idea. It was used lino.............Terry

[richhodg66]

Impressive results with high velocities, gentlemen.

A few months ago, I acquired an old 225415 mold that was either factory or professionally hollow pointed, haven't cast with it yet. The only .22 ceterfire I've loaded cast in has been .22 Hornet and slow loads even for that. Have any of you fellas cast such bullets from much softer alloy and used them at lower velocities for edible small game?

[Gunslinger1911]

I see Lee has a new mould - C225-55-RF - 2 or 6 cav.
Anyone have one yet ? If so, what's the length on the bullet ?
Hoping to HP it and use in a 22TCM.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

This is some old linotype that I got in a 500 pound lot 40 years ago. It is in letter form individual and line strips.I only use it for 22's mostly.......Terry


Curious what the antimony content is...
Just thought I'd butt in here.
typical lino has 12% Sb and I'd imagine an old lot of used word strips will be real close to that...within a point or two.

The individual letters should be a higher percentage near 19% and maybe 23%

now if TCFAN blended them, it'd be somewhere in between.

http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm

[TCFAN]

Yes I "blend" them.....I just grab a couple of hands full and throw them in the pot. That become one lot. Doesn't take much to make several hundred 22 cast boolits.......Terry

[detroitcharlie]

Just thought I'd butt in here.
typical lino has 12% Sb and I'd imagine an old lot of used word strips will be real close to that...within a point or two.

The individual letters should be a higher percentage near 19% and maybe 23%

now if TCFAN blended them, it'd be somewhere in between.

http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm

Interesting... thanks!