Lyman 287405, opinions please!

[Dutch4122]

Just thought I'd ask for opinions of the Lyman #287405. Been looking for something to feed that new (to me) 1908 Brazilian 7x57 I picked up a couple weeks ago. Can anybody give an opinion based on acutual use of this boolit?

[45 2.1]

Oldfeller is running the 7mm Soup Can in which I opted for a supersize version that is meant to fit the military 7mm throats. As others have found, most all of the military throats are large and need a 0.289" bullet to fit. Mountain Molds can produce one of those also.

[Dutch4122]

Yep, I have a check in for the 7mm Soupcan; which I was planning to use in 7-30 Waters. I was thinking of something a little heavier to go with the 7x57. Maybe a 150 grn or so and stumbled across the Lyman #287405 on Ebay so I just thought I'd ask. Thanks for the quick lesson on what these rifles need to shoot boolits. No need to bid on a mould that probably won't be worth it anyway.

Something along the lines of the 7mm Mauser (El Longo?) design that was out for discussion before the 7mm Soupcan appeared was what I had in mind. Any more plans for that one? I'd asked C1PNR about it and he was unsure at the time.

[crazy mark]

I've used that bullet in a 7x57 Mauser, 7mm tcu and 7-30 waters T/C. My mauser has a .287 bore and my mould drops .287-.288 bullets. They shoot fine out to 50 yds, I haven't tried them out to 100 yds as my Mauser (1916) has the issue sights.

[Buckshot]

..............My copy doesn't cast as large as 45 2.1's. I size to .285" and that's what the groove is on my Brazilian and a 1897 Rem RB. The RCBS 7mm-168 is my favorite slug in the 7mm and it comes in at about 172gr with lube & GC and a 14 BHN alloy.

The Lyman 287405 is an excellent slug and I have about 18 lbs of them cast up and on hand now. They're 18 BHN and weight 147grs dry.

http://www.fototime.com/51033A5247B82E1/standard.jpg
The above 2 targets were fired from the M98/08 Brazilian with the RCBS 7mm-168. The powder used and velocity with the ES are written next to each target. The range was 50 yards and the rifle had issue sights and trigger.

The charges for both powders were 60.0grs and a 24" drop tube was used to get the charge into the cases. The cases were also necksized only. Both targets are 1-3/8" for the 5 rounds.

http://www.fototime.com/F3E012F96D480D9/standard.jpg
Both of these groups were fired from a 1897 Remington rolling block. The boolit was the Lyman 287405. The powder and charge was surplus WC872 @ 57.7grs, and the velocity was 2550 fps. The rifle had it's military issue sights and trigger. Distance was 50 yards.

Group at left was 2-1/4" and the right was 1-1/2". You can barely tell in the photo but the some of the slugs showed evidence of tipping.

I have a ton of other targets shot with other powders at a more sedate velocity then these :D. My favorite load for the 7x57 with either of these slugs is 21.0grs of H4198. The heavier RCBS slug moves from a 29" barrel at about 1775 fos and the lighter Lyman runs about 1830 fps.

With unscaled visually inspected slugs and thrown powder charges I can expect 5 shot groups off the bench at 50 yards to run an inch or under. One may get a bit out to open that up some but I've also had 3-4 rounds clump up so you could cover them with a dime. Pleanty good enough 50 and 100 yard offhand folling around or against targets of opportunity.

..................Buckshot

[Discus420]

sorry to bring back such an old post but I am searching for information no what EL Longo is?? as it pertains to rifles. This is the only post I can find the term used in???

[MT Gianni]

The 7mm "El Longo" was a proposed name for a group buy bullet that never went past the drawing stage.

[nitro-express]

Just thought I'd ask for opinions of the Lyman #287405. Been looking for something to feed that new (to me) 1908 Brazilian 7x57 I picked up a couple weeks ago. Can anybody give an opinion based on acutual use of this boolit?

I have used this bullet in a Brazilian 7x57 and in a Ruger #1I. No problems. Sized @ 285 because that is all I had. I don't think this bullet is particularly fussy. The bore on the Brazilian was resurrected with valve grinding compound, pitted and slightly large, didn't seem to matter.

I also tried a 287346, not nearly as user friendly.

In the past I avoided the Louvrin designs, just looked too ugly. Sorta a fan now, just found a 311466, can't wait to try it in the 308 Win and 30-06.

[Good Cheer]

Just asking...

Anybody tried precision grinding ala Erik down through the center of the mold to reduce the depth of the grooves?
Thought it might make a better caster and a great boolit for Lee lube, powder coat or maybe for paper patch for large barrels.