H&g #20

[avogunner]

I just got a very nice mold from ebay, a 2C Hensley&Gibbs #20 (nice price too). It's a checked, 169gr spire point and looks similar to a Lyman 311413. Does anyone have experience with this mold? I read somewhere that H&G cut these to drop at .308 (with Lino), is this true? I'm looking to use this in the '03 and the Garand and I like .310 or .311 so I hope it drops a bit bigger.
Thanks

[Jack Stanley]

I have a Cramer that makes a bullet very similar to that one . As I remember it shoots very well but I have kept the velocity down .

Jack

[avogunner]

Thanks Jack. I hope to get a chance to cast some soon and when I can load em, I'll keep that in mind.
Semper Fi

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[madsenshooter]

I've tried several versions of the Squibb bullet, B&M 311169, Hensley #20, the original with an extra driving band up front, and the Lyman 413. With all of them accuracy went away above 1500fps. Harder alloys and slower powders didn't seem to matter. The old Hensley got about the wildest, though I expected it to do better than the others. Now I'm down to the B&M alone. I think the bands on my Hensley #20 cast .312. I didn't get to play much with the #20 before selling it, but at 1450fps or so, a friend and I was shooting my scoped Krag at golf balls at 100yds and hitting them pretty regularly! Oh, that was with the B&M. I see the newer #20 is a bit more streamlined, more like 413. Chart here: http://www.hensleygibbs.com/casting/hgmoldchart.htm Shows bands dropping at .314.

[avogunner]

I finally got to cast some this weekend. What a pleasure to use this old mold was - they just fell out after every pour. With my blended version of Lyman#2, they dropped at .313. I sized to .311 and now just load and shoot.
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[avogunner]

Well I got around to shooting a few this weekend. Still a lot of development to go but for the initial outing, I'm quite pleased. While I didn't chrono this trip, I did try to keep the velocity down (as recommended) and just had a modest load of Unique. Shooting my 1920's vintage 1895, my groups measured just at an inch (maybe a hair less) at 50 yds. Here's the best one:
181684
Semper Fi.

[junkbug]

That is outstanding. With a 1895 to boot. Peep sight or irons?

[avogunner]

Junk, I wish it had a Lyman 21 but it still wears the stock iron sights. Probably would have tightened the groups up a bit with a peep but ......
I'm going to continue development with the 1903 to see how she does but it looks promising.


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[Jack Stanley]

It looks to me like it's doing just fine for itself and the rifle you're using it in .

Jack