Cast Boolits

[Johnw...ski]

This site has been a wealth of knowledge for me, I started here earlier this year
and had been sucessful at casting already for pistol and some casual rifle shooting. After an 18 year break in shooting I got the itch again and am shooting again. This time I have been seriously trying to refine my loads for the best accuracy I can get. I quickly found out that my cast rifle boolits needed help.
I mentioned in an earlier thread that I was having problems with cast in my .35 Whelen, after a lot of checking of my lead inventory I determined that I had little or no antimony in any of my stock. After rectifying that situation I made a pot of alloy and cast some boolits. They came out close in weight (241 gr. vs. 245 gr.)
14 BHN as cast and have age hardened to 16.6 after 2 weeks. I have a few opther projects going right now so it will be some time before I get to try them, but I'me sure they will be a vast improvement.

Also, my 45-70 and 38-55 are shooting MOA now, it would have taken me a lot longer to get here without you guys.

Thanks

John

[leftiye]

Second this. I believe that you must understand the operant factors as well as you can before you'll get the best results, and this site has been a major help for me.

[cbrick]

Diddo, I've been casting for decades but have learned ton's of tips, tricks and ideas right here on cast boolits. Much to be learned here for the newest newbie to the most experienced among us. Cast boolits is a tremendous resource.

Rick

[jleneave]

I totally agree with you. I too joined this forum back earlier this year. I had never cast bullets before joining this site and probably never would have had it not been for all the help and information I received from the good people on this site. There is no one around where I live that I know who cast bullets who could have helped me get started. Without this web site I would not have known where to even start!! So, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you who contribute to this website, if it were not for ya’ll I would have never got into this great hobby. With that being said, Thank you.

Jody

[John Boy]

Also, my 45-70 and 38-55 are shooting MOA now
John, what recipes are you using and MOA at what distance?

[Johnw...ski]

The 38-55 MOA is at 200 yds. using a cast boolit from a Paul Jones 335 gr. Creedmoor mold over a .06 veg. fiber wad and 28 gr. IMR 3031 lit with a CCI BR2 primer. This one just happened with little load development but I will work on it more later.

The 45-70 has required some load development and is still evolving. The best load so far is just an inch at 100 yds. and I fully expect to shrink it in the future.
I had started out with modest charges of 35 gr. IMR 3031 and 36 gr. of H4895 with 535 gr. boolits and was not pleased so I went back and started at the beginning to find a load that shot well and determine a velocity range where it did. I might add that 43 gr of H4895 with a 425 gr. R45-405 FN gas check boolit from Glenhills Cast Bullets gives me MOA at 200 yds. but its the 535 gr. that I really am trying to make work. So, I am currently getting MOA at 100 yds. with a cast boolit from a Steve Brooks 535 gr. Origional Postell mold over a .06 veg. fiber wad and 39 gr. IMR 3031 lit by a CCI BR2 primer. I beleive there is more to be had here and when I tighten it up will go to 200 yds.

John


John, what recipes are you using and MOA at what distance?

[John Boy]

Thanks John ... you might want to try some original gunpowder and maybe you'll get a Lucky target like this one using Postells:

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd220/Meadowmucker/Targets/PDRM2558.jpg

14 bullets went through that ragged hole

[1Shirt]

John Boy, Do you by any chance have a smokless load for your postell?
1Shirt!:coffee:

[Johnw...ski]

Got to the range today and continued my load testing. Looks like 39.0 gr. of 3031 with a .06 vegetable fiber wad, CCI BR2 primers and the 535 gr. (they are weighing in at 530 gr.) Steve Brooks Origional Postell boolits will do it for me.

Got this group which made me smile, it's much closer to 3/4" than 1" at 100 yds.
I know this is only one group but I have been consistantly getting groups slightly less and never over 1" at 100 yds. with this load. Time to strech out to 200 yds.

John

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk166/JohnWski/45-70Load50B001.jpg

[John Boy]

Do you by any chance have a smokless load for your postell?
Shirt - No because I'm a BPCR shooter but Lyman's 49th does:
Min - 23gr XMP5744 @ 1101 fps
Max - 28gr XMP5744 @ 1310 fps

John: NICE GROUP. :drinks: I believe you'll be pleased with your 200yd groups too. Then ya have to stretch that bullet out to 1000 yds - THE TRUE TEST! [smilie=1:

[runfiveswife]

i have learned alot here on the site everyone is very informative

[Johnw...ski]

I only wish there was a 1000 yrd. range nearby, 300 yds. is probably the most I will get to shoot in R.I. Anyway don't forget I am shooting a scope, I think 400 yds. would be a stretch without running out of scope adjustment.

I have shot it offhand to 200 and 300 yds. and was very pleased, the tight groups are probably why.

It took a lot of load testing and a new barrel but I have a real shooter now.

John


Shirt - No because I'm a BPCR shooter but Lyman's 49th does:
Min - 23gr XMP5744 @ 1101 fps
Max - 28gr XMP5744 @ 1310 fps

John: NICE GROUP. :drinks: I believe you'll be pleased with your 200yd groups too. Then ya have to stretch that bullet out to 1000 yds - THE TRUE TEST! [smilie=1:

[1Shirt]

Thanks John Boy. Will order a new Lyman ASAP.
1Shirt!