Successful cast in an AR

[Burnt Fingers]

I been wanting an AR platform to shoot cast in for quite a while.

I have a 9mm and might be building a 45 ACP soon.

However I want a bigger thumper.

I bought a BCA 300 Blackout upper that won't shoot ANY cast bullet I've run though it. I have some gas checked bullets on the bench to try in it next.

So my real question is what cartridge, other than pistol, have you have success with in an AR?

350 Legend?
450 Bushmaster?

Those are the two I'm really looking at right now. I want a load that will function the rifle and keep around 2" accuracy at 100 yards.

Or should I build a 10mm rather than a 45 ACP?

Thanks!

[lar45]

I bought the Ruger AR 450 Bushmaster and have had some luck with cast.
Here is the MP 45-320 Ruger Only PCd with HF Red and Kawasaki Green, loaded with IMR4227
http://www.lsstuff.com/pics/450bushmaster/mp45ruger-02.jpg

[Texas by God]

Last fall I built an AR-15 in 7.62 by 39 mm. With its one in 10 inch twist it was brilliant with cast from the get-go. Not really the definition of a thumper, but definitely above the 300 Blackout or the 5.56 mm. this group was fired at 40 yards; the same load would shoot three shots into one and a half inch at a hundred yards. A good friend talked me out of it for profit so it is gone now. If I build another one it will be with a lighter weight Barrel. I'm sure I won't jack around with the Oddball 350 Legend, but the 450 Bushmaster certainly is interesting. By the way that 7.62 by 39 mm was Flawless in operation and would even shoot the cheap steel case Russian ammo very well.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200626/39575537ee3b69c964234e980fa3b4d1.jpg

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[mehavey]

However I want a bigger thumper.
See http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?387647-350-Legend-and-Cast-Boolits&p=4806699&viewfull=1#post4806699
is 350 Legend/240gr/357 cal OK?

[blikseme300]

I have cast success with 300BO, 7.62x40WT, 300HAMR, 458 Socom, 450 Bushmaster, 7.62x39, .30HRT, 223Rem. If you can't get a 300BO to work well you probably need to work on your casting and loading method.

[Lloyd Smale]

try the rcbs 130 spitzer gas check bullet in your 300. It shoots inch and a half 5 shot groups at a 100 out of my 16 inch ar and does at least the same at 50 out of my two ar pistols in 300. Cast them hard and use a gas check. They run right at 2000 fps out of my 16 inch gun. By the way they were all pc'd. Maybe not moa but plenty good for casual work.

[Burnt Fingers]

I have cast success with 300BO, 7.62x40WT, 300HAMR, 458 Socom, 450 Bushmaster, 7.62x39, .30HRT, 223Rem. If you can't get a 300BO to work well you probably need to work on your casting and loading method.

Thanks for the smart assed comment.

My casting and loading process is just fine.

I have a 300 BO barrel that just won't shoot cast. I've tried over 70 different loads through it and none of them will group.

[Burnt Fingers]

I like to try that RCBS 130 but it appears they have discontinued that mold. It's no longer offered on their website.

I'd order a gas checked mold from NOE or MP but they are both out of molds too.

[Minerat]

Just a thought, have you tried J words to see if it is just cast or maybe the barrell?

[Conditor22]

I agree with you about that comment being uncalled for, he doesn't know all the facts about your situation.

I never saw your response on the slugged diameter of your barrel.

try loading the largest boolit that fits and go between 16 and 20 BHN and let us know how that works. some barrels can just be stubborn.

I had the get my AR 300 BO rifle barrel throated because my sub and fat boolits had to be seated deep to go into battery, they fit fine in my pistol length barrel.

[gnostic]

I have a theory about semi auto's, AR's, Mini 14/30, Garand and HK91. I haven't been able to make mine shoot lead accurately, no matter what load I tried. I'm convinced bad things happen when the bullet passes the gas port. I'm in the process of assembling a 9mm, blowback AR upper, I'll see how that goes. With military bolt, or lever action rifles, lead shoots as well as jacketed....

[bruce drake]

today
AR-10 chassis
100 yards offhand with a 4x scope
fireforming necked-up 22-250 brass into 6.5 Creedmoor
25gr IMR 4895 using Lyman's 266455 127gr louverin bullet gas-checked and polycoated.
last 9 shots of a 50 shot string of fire for the day.

[bruce drake]

Same 6.5 CReedmoor AR10
First 15 shots for the morning for fireforming brass.

[Lloyd Smale]

https://www.amazon.com/RCBS-82022-Bullet-7-62mm-130-Spl-Casting/dp/B0063I605C also available as a back order from midway and optics planet.
I like to try that RCBS 130 but it appears they have discontinued that mold. It's no longer offered on their website.

I'd order a gas checked mold from NOE or MP but they are both out of molds too.

[popper]

2 308W AR10s, 2 300BO ar15 (one is pistol) no problems with cast in any. B.F. I go to the Garland range, we could probably get together and sort out the problem.

[Burnt Fingers]

Just a thought, have you tried J words to see if it is just cast or maybe the barrell?

It will shoot jacketed and plated just fine.

I've shot some pure lino through it with the same problems.

I've been attempting to use plain base boolits. I have the RCBS mold on order. I had been looking at the list at RCBS.com in the 30 cal section....duh...it's a 7.62.

Once I have that mold on hand I'll cast some up and see if the gas checked versions work. I went ahead and ordered some copper checks from Sage, I had some aluminum ones on hand but wanted to shoot both.

The barrel slugs at .308, I'm sizing to .310.

[Burnt Fingers]

I have a theory about semi auto's, AR's, Mini 14/30, Garand and HK91. I haven't been able to make mine shoot lead accurately, no matter what load I tried. I'm convinced bad things happen when the bullet passes the gas port. I'm in the process of assembling a 9mm, blowback AR upper, I'll see how that goes. With military bolt, or lever action rifles, lead shoots as well as jacketed....

The HK 91 doesn't have a gas port.

My Ruger PCC and my PSA 10" pistol eat my cast boolits like a fat kid on candy.

[Dapaki]

I have a theory about semi auto's, AR's, Mini 14/30, Garand and HK91. I haven't been able to make mine shoot lead accurately, no matter what load I tried. I'm convinced bad things happen when the bullet passes the gas port. I'm in the process of assembling a 9mm, blowback AR upper, I'll see how that goes. With military bolt, or lever action rifles, lead shoots as well as jacketed....

Nope, I dont think so....

264168

[mehavey]

Dapaki.... Load/Rifle/Range details please (!)
(Inquiring minds want to know)
:bigsmyl2:






post: nice dial calipers.
(in joke from another board)

[Burnt Fingers]

Has anyone ran the 350 Legend in a 10" barrel?

Or the 450 BM?

[Dapaki]

Has anyone ran the 350 Legend in a 10" barrel?

Or the 450 BM?

No, sorry, just a 16".

[P Flados]

I have been working for a similar goal for a couple of years now.

The cost of a custom 357AR barrel was steep, but eventually I got 2 MOA with cast. Getting it to feed and shoot right was a challenge but I am satisfied with it now. Shooting 180s & 200s at 1900 fps to 2000 fps from a 16" AR is a bit more than I like when I am shooing paper "just for fun". It also goes through powder (it likes WC 680 and my supply is limited) and lead at a pretty fast pace when volume shooting.

I tried everything I could think of but could not get cast boolits happiness with a couple of 300 BO barrels. My boy got a factory 7.5" barrel in 1-7 twist that does ok with J words, but does very bad with cast. I tried to make my own slower twist barrel, but that did not work out. I eventually decided that I had put enough effort into 300 BO and gave up.

My current "cast boolit AR fun gun" effort is 7 TCU. It seems promising, but I am still waiting for the outdoor range to re-open to finish testing. See my thread at: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?402909-AR-just-for-fun-boolit-gun-7-TCU

[mto7464]

what grain boolits and what powders have you tried in the BO? My best luck has been heavy subs using lil-gun. CFE black just did not seem to like my upper. 1680 was good too but I ran out of it. Currently using Miha's BO mold.

[popper]

264332
AR10 39gr 4895 168gr GC PC ~ 80 yds, freezing weather prone. 310.
264333
300 BO 1:10 carbine 145gr PB PC ~ 2100 fps. 3085.
Both HT after PC, ~4% SB 0.5% Cu.
Neither of My BO will take 310 sized. Seems to me harder alloy needs closer to bore sizing.

[Dapaki]

I have been working for a similar goal for a couple of years now.

The cost of a custom 357AR barrel was steep, but eventually I got 2 MOA with cast. Getting it to feed and shoot right was a challenge but I am satisfied with it now. Shooting 180s & 200s at 1900 fps to 2000 fps from a 16" AR is a bit more than I like when I am shooing paper "just for fun". It also goes through powder (it likes WC 680 and my supply is limited) and lead at a pretty fast pace when volume shooting.

I tried everything I could think of but could not get cast boolits happiness with a couple of 300 BO barrels. My boy got a factory 7.5" barrel in 1-7 twist that does ok with J words, but does very bad with cast. I tried to make my own slower twist barrel, but that did not work out. I eventually decided that I had put enough effort into 300 BO and gave up.

My current "cast boolit AR fun gun" effort is 7 TCU. It seems promising, but I am still waiting for the outdoor range to re-open to finish testing. See my thread at: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?402909-AR-just-for-fun-boolit-gun-7-TCU

I too was going down that road for a while but stopped and went another direction until the 350 Legend came out. I am SO glad I waited, the Legend is SO much fun!

[Burnt Fingers]

what grain boolits and what powders have you tried in the BO? My best luck has been heavy subs using lil-gun. CFE black just did not seem to like my upper. 1680 was good too but I ran out of it. Currently using Miha's BO mold.

I tried Miha's 311410 clone in both hollow point and solid. NOE 311-158 FN, NOE 311-198 SP, and the MP 235 HP.

Powders include 1680, 300MP, H110, CFE Black, Heavy Pistol, Lil Gun, Accurate 11FS, and RL7.

The 311410 won't shoot at all. I had high hopes for the 235, started light and worked up. Won't group at all. No matter what velocity.

I just got the RCBS 130 SP 7.62x39, I've got copper and aluminum gas checks. I'll get out and cast some of those to try. Maybe I just need a gas checked bullet?