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Hills of texas
01-08-2021, 07:55 PM
Well I loaded my first cast rounds today. 223 loaded over a starting load of 6.8 grains of Alliant unique powder. Overall length of 2.20. Found out gas checks can be very finicky. Some were ok but a large part kinda dragged on one side. Very frustrating. I’m eager to see how they preform. I tried to powder coat a few with the black harbor freight powder but I couldn’t get it to stick. I have some powder coming from Eastwood so I’m hoping it sticks. The mold was a lee 225-55. I’m looking foreword to learning more and shooting my own rounds.

gbrown
01-08-2021, 08:24 PM
You just have to be patient, figure out what works. Don't shortchange yourself using inferior stuff. The object of reloading is to shoot more, not necessarily cheaper. By the time you get primers, powder, bullets/boolits, cost is nearly the same, but you have more product for the buck, plus sustainability.

David2011
01-08-2021, 08:42 PM
Apparently Eastwood is good powder coating. Smoke4320, a member here, sells only tested powders and has a big following. I’ve used three of his colors with excellent results.

Hills of texas
01-08-2021, 08:45 PM
I had found out about smoke after I purchased the HF stuff. I’ll have to look him up in the future. I think I’d like to try the powder coating

memtb
01-08-2021, 11:14 PM
Well.....you only started with one of the more difficult and unforgiving calibers. Little stuff is usually challenging! Good Luck in your endeavor! memtb

Three44s
01-09-2021, 01:29 AM
I always steer folks to larger bores to cast for in the beginning but you are in “for a penny or a pound” so here’s to good luck!

So hang in there and get the very best powder coat you can find. It will ease your transition.

Three44s

Land Owner
01-09-2021, 08:23 AM
A 223 caliber Handi-rifle (single shot) is very forgiving with cast boolits. A semi-auto AR, not so forgiving. Driving cast boolits toward jacketed bullet velocities can be frustrating. Getting the right combination of boolit and powder for cycling the semi-auto action, not leading the barrel, and down range accuracy does not come together quickly. Expect some more frustration.

Hills of texas
01-09-2021, 10:34 AM
I’ve got semi auto rifles but I prefer to shoot a bolt gun. If I can get a realistic group at 100 yards I’ll be happy. Most of my hunting needs are closers to 25 to 50 yards.

foesgth
01-09-2021, 03:52 PM
I used to get frustrated with gas checks. I started casting with 38spl. no gas checks! After fighting checks I bought one of NOE's gas check seating dies. I no longer fear checks. I don't do .223 cast but I do .243 and those go on straight and flat with Al's magic die.

brewer12345
01-09-2021, 11:01 PM
Eh, shoot em, have fun, and see if they work. If not, try again. Once you get your coating/lubing and loading down, try a ladder test with gradually increasing charges from min to max.

Smoke's powders are great.

gbrown
01-10-2021, 12:18 AM
I've got a 55 grain mold, seems to come a little heavier with my alloy. I've shot it out of semi's and singles and it works well .

brewer12345
01-10-2021, 12:50 AM
Wow, a triple tap!

bedbugbilly
01-10-2021, 10:37 AM
I have never PC'd so can't speak to the trials and tribulations of it - but have shot PC'd and even as an "old guy" - that new fangled stuff is pretty neat.

Don't get discouraged on the gas checking, etc. - it takes time to get a system down that works for you. I added .223 to th line up (have a bolt rifle) and I cast the same Lee boolit you are working with. Those itty bitty mouse droppings of lead can be tricky to handle at times with fumbling fingers - I speak from experience! I have a mold for a 45 grain gas check the is even smaller and I manage to fumble those twice as well as the 55 grain. LOL

I had a friend let me shoot his AR - I'm not a AR person but see why folks like 'em - but i feel in love with the 223 cartridge - never thought I would ever be loading it. Don't get discouraged on the gas checking or powder coating - you'll get it figured out and the important thing is to have fun and enjoy and learn from the loads you shoot!

Three44s
01-10-2021, 10:57 AM
I share your frustration about checks not wanting to behave.

I have not tried this but others have: Take a drive punch with a small blunt nose or a bolt and custom grind the nose such that it opens the flange of your gas checks just enough to slip on easily.

Then seat them.

Best regards

Three44s

GasGuzzler
01-10-2021, 11:56 AM
Yeah, .223REM is not the easiest at all. .38 Special is about the simplest there is.

gbrown
01-10-2021, 12:13 PM
Yeah, fat fingers and my alter ego, Stoopid, leads to a triple tap. LOL I would agree that 38s are a lot easier to handle, I use them in a Rossi and 357 Herrett, their fun to reload. The 357 Herrett is a hog thumper.

Conditor22
01-10-2021, 01:56 PM
I have large hands so I built a gas check applying jig for each caliber I GC
https://i.imgur.com/3Vo1l7C.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Rw31V6K.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/1gbMeM1.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ygTGJld.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/0c9GSrL.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/u46FRWv.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/wTcgaJL.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/7txbp5J.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8mbL2cu.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/mmBZkfb.jpg

Land Owner
01-11-2021, 06:27 AM
Slick as an eel's back Conditor22. High volume and unique!

With a deburred and chamfered 223 case (knife edge) in any hand fed press, it is imperative to GO SLOW with that tiny little Bator pill or perhaps lose a "coupon" of finger flesh as you close the die over the bullet and case. That'll ruin your day...

drizler
01-11-2021, 01:35 PM
I’ve seen that the temperature of the lead cam make a difference in the bullets size . Don’t let the pot get too hot ( why dedicated electric is best) or you can start getting slightly oversized. That might affect your gas checks fit . Dumping straight from the mold into a glass of hot water helps harden them a tad as well.


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Hills of texas
01-11-2021, 02:25 PM
All great info. Thanks guys. I’m going to keep at it.

popper
01-11-2021, 02:45 PM
Dumping straight from the mold into a glass of hot water helps harden them a tad as well. NOT! Cold H2O will. If you have a proper top punch just use it to tap the GC on, base on a steel plate. Hold the mould handles tight while the alloy is cooling so the shank doesn't 'grow'. If the shank is large, a punch or NOE tool will open up the mouth of the GC. Do NOT cram the GC onto the shank. That tiny bullet any blob of alloy distortion on the base will ruin accuracy. Think of dividing the bullet into slices. Each slice has rotational energy. The base has the most mass and off-center will cause inaccurate bullets. I always GC first before PC, PC and size again.

dverna
01-11-2021, 04:17 PM
Nice job Conditioner!

Silvercreek Farmer
01-11-2021, 04:37 PM
Welcome to the affliction! Have you shot them yet?

Silvercreek Farmer
01-11-2021, 04:44 PM
What rifle and twist rate are you using?

Hills of texas
01-11-2021, 07:19 PM
What rifle and twist rate are you using?

No I haven’t been to the range yet. The gun is a savage 12 fv. 26 inch barrel. I don’t remover the twist off hand.

Silvercreek Farmer
01-11-2021, 09:46 PM
No I haven’t been to the range yet. The gun is a savage 12 fv. 26 inch barrel. I don’t remover the twist off hand.

Looks like most are 1:9. If they don't shoot well at 6.8 grains, try dropping back a grain or two.

high standard 40
01-11-2021, 09:54 PM
I share your frustration about checks not wanting to behave.

I have not tried this but others have: Take a drive punch with a small blunt nose or a bolt and custom grind the nose such that it opens the flange of your gas checks just enough to slip on easily.

Then seat them.

Best regards

Three44s

This is what I do. I have made gascheck flaring punches in 22, 7mm, 30, 35, 44, and 45. I used the 22 punch to flare 1000 gaschecks today. I used long bolts. I cut off the threaded section and the hex head, then chuck them in a drill to spin them. I Use a file to rough shape the nose, then a stone, and finally 400 grit sandpaper to polish. No more issues seating gaschecks.

Hills of texas
01-25-2021, 06:36 PM
Well I was finally able to shoot a few of my first 223 loads. 25 yards was about 1 inch 50 yards was maybe a hair over an inch and 100 yards was maybe a three inch five shot group. One of the 100 yard shots disappeared somewhere between the gun and target. Have no idea where it flew off too.

10x
01-26-2021, 09:04 AM
Well I was finally able to shoot a few of my first 223 loads. 25 yards was about 1 inch 50 yards was maybe a hair over an inch and 100 yards was maybe a three inch five shot group. One of the 100 yard shots disappeared somewhere between the gun and target. Have no idea where it flew off too.

You did not mention the diameter you were sizing the bullet too when seating the gas check.
With every 22 caliber gas checked cast bullet I have fired, sizing to 0.225" has given me a smaller group than sizing to 0.224" I have sized to 0.226" for some guns with a large enough neck diameter in the chamber.

22 caliber centerfire can be a challenge.
Your missing bullet is a concern, there is a reason it did not hit the target, if it happens again you will have to figure out which shot it was in the string, and why it was different.
A chronograph is very useful when working up these loads.

Hills of texas
01-26-2021, 10:34 AM
Ive been using a lee sizer at 225. I have had some issues with the gas checks fitting properly when run through the sizing die. I have a feeling and oblong gas check could be responsible for the flyer if I had to guess

SSGOldfart
01-26-2021, 11:11 AM
Guess you'll never know,but that flyer might not have been a flyer at all,maybe it just hit the hole of another boolit. Good luck

10x
01-26-2021, 11:51 AM
Ive been using a lee sizer at 225. I have had some issues with the gas checks fitting properly when run through the sizing die. I have a feeling and oblong gas check could be responsible for the flyer if I had to guess

A bit of 320 grit emery paper to put a slight chamfer on the sharp edge where the bullet enters the Lee Size die may well take care of this issue.
Which brand of gas check are you using?

Hills of texas
01-26-2021, 01:14 PM
A bit of 320 grit emery paper to put a slight chamfer on the sharp edge where the bullet enters the Lee Size die may well take care of this issue.
Which brand of gas check are you using?

They are Hornady gas checks.

AlHunt
01-26-2021, 07:38 PM
I've got both the Lee push through and an old Lyman Lubrisizer. I find the latter easier to get the checks on square and straight. I'm also doing the same Lee bullet, PC and gas checked. I've used Gator checks and recently came into a Pat Marlin gas check maker which I'll be using going forward.

I'm interested that you're using 6.8 of Unique. I've been using 25ish grains of 748. Unique would really cut the powder cost. Unless I misunderstand something ...

10x
01-27-2021, 12:55 AM
They are Hornady gas checks.

Hornaday gas checks crimp on. A small chamfer may a great deal

Land Owner
01-27-2021, 07:20 AM
A chronograph is very useful when working up these loads.
...and if you have not already, prepare, with gas checks, to literally "shoot" the chronograph as gas checks will at times come off and fly around momentarily (within 15 feet anyway) at near boolit velocity like a mad wasp...sorry for thread drift.

10x
01-27-2021, 09:25 AM
...and if you have not already, prepare, with gas checks, to literally "shoot" the chronograph as gas checks will at times come off and fly around momentarily (within 15 feet anyway) at near boolit velocity like a mad wasp...sorry for thread drift.

My first two chronographs were "Chrony®" - the first one died at a club pre season sight in day.
The second one died from a 37 grain cast bullet, plain base because of (my) operator error.
My last chronograph is a Labradar. Expensive but reliable, accurate, and easy set up.

Hills of texas
01-27-2021, 10:31 AM
I've got both the Lee push through and an old Lyman Lubrisizer. I find the latter easier to get the checks on square and straight. I'm also doing the same Lee bullet, PC and gas checked. I've used Gator checks and recently came into a Pat Marlin gas check maker which I'll be using going forward.

I'm interested that you're using 6.8 of Unique. I've been using 25ish grains of 748. Unique would really cut the powder cost. Unless I misunderstand something ...
This is what my Lyman’s cast bullet manual has listed. There’s several sets of data but this is the powder I have on hand