Land Owner
03-22-2021, 05:28 AM
I bought the mold seven (7) years ago, in April of 2014. Has it been that long? In April of 2015 I got around to casting a few, which was early in my learning curve for casting. Those first "plinkers" were weight sorted, wrinkled a bit here and there, few were culled back into the pot, water dropped, gas checked, sized to 0.225", lubed, and shot on a 2" x 2" black with 1" diameter white target. The "best" powder load for boolit weight (50.5 gr.) and bull barrel combination at that time was:
50-yards [2015]
https://i.postimg.cc/RVG65JgX/223-Bator-50yds.jpg
Now, 2021, I have returned to the Bator, pouring them in multiple thousands from a 2-cav. mold with practically no rejects.
For fun, I loaded the last of the 2015 plinker rejects into some set aside cases with improperly "mashed" primers (the military crimp had not previously been removed - another learning curve), measured powder, similar c.o.a.l, and headed to the range to shoot 'em up. Why not put them on paper targets? If the primers go off, OK, if not, meh?
100-yards [2021]
https://i.postimg.cc/bJXHsL0L/2021-03-18-22-Bator-3.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/4dzvttBG/2021-03-18-22-Bator-2.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/qq4sGR53/2021-03-18-22-Bator-1.jpg
I shot the lower 4" x 4" red with 2" diameter white target labeled "1" first, then "2", then "3" adjusting the scope as noted. Not impressive results, which I wasn't expecting, but fun none-the-less. I will follow these at the range this coming week with some very well made Bator rounds. I expect MUCH better results from the current batch of Bators through a Bull Barrel Handi-rifle, and if not with this IMR4227 powder, then I'll find another.
50-yards [2015]
https://i.postimg.cc/RVG65JgX/223-Bator-50yds.jpg
Now, 2021, I have returned to the Bator, pouring them in multiple thousands from a 2-cav. mold with practically no rejects.
For fun, I loaded the last of the 2015 plinker rejects into some set aside cases with improperly "mashed" primers (the military crimp had not previously been removed - another learning curve), measured powder, similar c.o.a.l, and headed to the range to shoot 'em up. Why not put them on paper targets? If the primers go off, OK, if not, meh?
100-yards [2021]
https://i.postimg.cc/bJXHsL0L/2021-03-18-22-Bator-3.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/4dzvttBG/2021-03-18-22-Bator-2.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/qq4sGR53/2021-03-18-22-Bator-1.jpg
I shot the lower 4" x 4" red with 2" diameter white target labeled "1" first, then "2", then "3" adjusting the scope as noted. Not impressive results, which I wasn't expecting, but fun none-the-less. I will follow these at the range this coming week with some very well made Bator rounds. I expect MUCH better results from the current batch of Bators through a Bull Barrel Handi-rifle, and if not with this IMR4227 powder, then I'll find another.