How many are planning on huntin with their own cast boolits this fall?

[O.S.O.K.]

Just curious.

I've decided to use my own cast boolit loads exclusively this fall/winter for deer hunts.

Haven't decided exactly which rifles yet but probably my Marlin 44 with 310 gr Lee boolits that I just cast and maybe my RCBS cast 250 grain .358" boolits in my scoped .356 Win chambered Marlin 336... 1550ish and 2000ish fps respectively.

Or maybe I'll get around to casting the 6.5mm 140 grain (RCBS) pills for my 94 swede.... that'd be fun too - those would also be pushed around 2000 fps.

ETA: Oops, this probably belongs down in the hunting with cast boolits forum.... mods please move when you see this. thanks..

[475/480]

ALWAYS :D

Calibers. All pistols.
41,44,475,500,510

Sean

[Freightman]

Yep! sure will.

[cabezaverde]

Last year I killed 3 deer with Maxi Balls I cast. This year I am going to try with my SBH and the Ranch Dog 265.

[nascarkent]

Yes I plan on 357 lever action ,with a 160 grain Kieth's style.:Fire:

[clintsfolly]

yep!! with a rifle that my brother and i redid. the rifle started life a Savage 110 lh 300 win mag so off with the barrel and rebarrel with and rechamber to 450 marlin make and install a 1/4 rib,banded sling stud and front sight add barrel recoil lug. next reshape the birch stock remove hoggsback slim and reinforce but stock ,wrist ,forearm , glass bed. the stock will later be a pattern for a nice curly maple or walnut stock but for now painted. got load worked up filed in the sights thing looking good a 457122 330hp/aa2230/wlr /hornady brass 3" groups at 200yds. at this time the steel is out to be bead blasted and blued next is to jewel the bolt and reassemble. retest, then go get them! So yes having fun Clint :castmine:

[inuhbad]

I'm certainly HOPING so!!! :)

[peter nap]

Me too!
45LC
45/70
.308

[Blammer]

for me it started about 2 hunting seasons ago, with my Win94 in now 360 DW, I got one deer with my cast boolits, then last year I got one with my 44 SRH and my cast boolits.

I'll probably go agian this year with the cast boolits.. :)

[qajaq59]

We just moved here, but if I can find a spot to hunt I'm certainly going to give it a try.

[doctor45]

I will be , using Lee 310 grain flat points in my 6.5 " 629. I got two last years, and i have never seen a pistol bullet hit harder. I have just gotten good results with my 45 acp, using Lee tumble lube 200 grain swc. They are accurate enough for squierrel hunting in my Smith and wesson Doug Koenig edition 1911.

I lucked into the 1911. It seems to shoot very, very well. Are they "tightened up" by Smith? Or are they just run of the mill with the speed trigger, etc.? I tradedwitht a freind in need to get that gun, and I am glad I did. I would have never bought a gun that expensive left to myself

[waksupi]

I've been hunting with cast for years, quite successfully. Most of the game shown on my profile was taken with cast boolits.

2000 fps in your Swede? Oh, do you have an eye opener coming.[smilie=1::roll::twisted::cry:

[dukenukum]

12 Gauge lee slug
158 grain SWC in my .357 magnum
and if I get the chance to " go north " 168 grain Lyman309329 in my 30-06.

[btroj]

Have for the last 4 years- why stop now. Probably a 405 plainbase in the 45-70 Marlin. But might use the 336 30-30 with the 165 ranchdog. Too many to choose from but all with cast.

[badgeredd]

Just curious.

I've decided to use my own cast boolit loads exclusively this fall/winter for deer hunts.

Haven't decided exactly which rifles yet but probably my Marlin 44 with 310 gr Lee boolits that I just cast and maybe my RCBS cast 250 grain .358" boolits in my scoped .356 Win chambered Marlin 336... 1550ish and 2000ish fps respectively.

Or maybe I'll get around to casting the 6.5mm 140 grain (RCBS) pills for my 94 swede.... that'd be fun too - those would also be pushed around 2000 fps.

ETA: Oops, this probably belongs down in the hunting with cast boolits forum.... mods please move when you see this. thanks..

Like waksupi mentioned, you'll have a surprize trying for 2000fps out of the Swede. Do a search on the forum for the 6.5 Swede...it'll be an eye opening experience.

The 356 with 250 grain RCBS boolit will definitely make you happy, on the other hand.

AND yes I will be shooting my cast boolits during deer season regardless of which gun I use.

Edd

[O.S.O.K.]

I've been hunting with cast for years, quite successfully. Most of the game shown on my profile was taken with cast boolits.

2000 fps in your Swede? Oh, do you have an eye opener coming.[smilie=1::roll::twisted::cry:


First off - wow! Great to hear all of you hunting with cast! I've been shooting cast for many years but always have "chickened out" and gone with jacketed high vel bullets when deer hunting - I don't get that many opportunities.... but this year I'm making the switch.

Now ... waksupi - what about .265" boolits at 2000 fsp? What!!!? :)

I got the mold for this some time ago and have yet to cast any boolits - its a gas check design BTW... so that should be perfect no?

BTW - this is the swede - I got it partially sporterized (beyond restoration) and I then finished it off:
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//500/HPIM1570.JPG

These were designed to shoot 160 grain bullets around 2400 fps.

[hicard]

Yes. Can't decide:
Mihec 296 gr hp in 444 or 44 mag.
Lyman 366 gr lrn converted to hp or my 322 gr gould hp for my 45-70 GG.
NOE 360X180/175hp PB/GC in 35 Rem, 358 Win or 356 Win.
Or perhaps a 311041 hp out of one of my 308's (worked good 2 years ago on a 2X3).

Too many decisions.

[waksupi]

First off - wow! Great to hear all of you hunting with cast! I've been shooting cast for many years but always have "chickened out" and gone with jacketed high vel bullets when deer hunting - I don't get that many opportunities.... but this year I'm making the switch.

Now ... waksupi - what about .265" boolits at 2000 fsp? What!!!? :)

I got the mold for this some time ago and have yet to cast any boolits - its a gas check design BTW... so that should be perfect no?


As was mentioned, do a search on the Swede, you will see many long and sad tales relating to shooting it. In the military twist, your limitation will generally be around 1700 fps. A few of us have bettered that, but not by all that much. I have killed a couple deer with the Swede, at the 1700 fps speed.

[canuck4570]

http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww57/michelmongrain/DSCF0007.jpg

I will be using my ruger no 1 scout rifle in 4570
loaded up with 575 gr bullet at 1100 fps
very effective on deer....

[O.S.O.K.]

As was mentioned, do a search on the Swede, you will see many long and sad tales relating to shooting it. In the military twist, your limitation will generally be around 1700 fps. A few of us have bettered that, but not by all that much. I have killed a couple deer with the Swede, at the 1700 fps speed.

Now, that's weird. The twist rate is around 1:8" - its a metric twist and anyway is designed for 160 grain bullets (which are looooong) going around 2400 fps originally. So, I'm very surprised that the 140's at 2000 fps would be an issue.

I hope mine is the exception!

Now I have to try this out...

[6pt-sika]

I've already pounded a pair of whitetails with cast bullets in a pair of 444's .

These were both with DCP's but they still count I think and they are in the freezer now [smilie=1:

Have 5 other 444's with variouse cast bullets I wanna blood this year as well as another 45-70 . Maybe a 35 REM as well .

Then after I'm done with those I'm gonna have fun with the 338MXLR shooting rubber tipped bullets and my 264 WIN MAG with Hornady 129 grain SST's :drinks:

[outdoorfan]

Yep!! 30-06 and 45 Colt

[waksupi]

Now, that's weird. The twist rate is around 1:8" - its a metric twist and anyway is designed for 160 grain bullets (which are looooong) going around 2400 fps originally. So, I'm very surprised that the 140's at 2000 fps would be an issue.

I hope mine is the exception!

Now I have to try this out...

That's what I like to see! Optimism!!! :drinks:

[ktw]

I've shot my share with home cast round balls and REALS in the muzzleloaders. I have yet to shoot a deer with cast from a cartridge gun. I plan to make a point of doing so this year.

Probably with a 94 Trapper in 45 Colt. I've had this carbine out hunting in years past, just never took a shot on a deer while carrying it.

-ktw

[BCB]

Yep…

358429 in a Marlin 1894…

45-270-SAA in a Ruger Blackhawk…

Both are cast from pure lead and hollow-pointed with the Forster Hollow Pointer…

BCB

[Gray Fox]

.54 Lyman Great Plains & .54 TC Hawken, cast round ball and maxi hunter (big flat HP!)
Scoped 7.5" .45 Colt Blackhawk
.45 Colt octagon Bbl Rossi rifle
.45-70 Ruger Nr. 1
Going after deer, hog and bear here in GA, but have more guns than I've got places to shoot them. I'm hoping the blackhawk will work in places I don't want to try to drag my crossbow through (when the season allows, of course. We'll see how the season goes. Best of luck to all the boolit slingers.

[kbstenberg]

If i get the Ruger i ordered in April i will definitly be useing it. Im getting more impatient as the months go by. 44 mag

[303Guy]

... I'm very surprised that the 140's at 2000 fps would be an issue.

I hope mine is the exception!

Now I have to try this out...Check out what the paper patching folks have to say. You might be pleasantly surprized! You could be looking at a lot more than 2000fps with a 140gr boolit. And there are no leading issues!

Take a look at this. Not 6.5 Swede but very fast - it gives the idea of potential accuracy with paper patching.
http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo327/303Guy/100ydPP22.jpg
:drinks:

[leadeye]

I'll be taking the old Marlin 1894 out with Ranch Dog 265s to look for deer this fall.:-D

[btroj]

How many of you have a bigger question. Not if you will hunt with cast but rather what firearm? Rifle or handgun? Lever or bolt? Too many choices for me. Most likely the Marlin 1985 45-70 again but who knows. 405 plain base with 22 gr 2400 shoots really well. not very fast but I only shoot at 50yards or less where I'll be hunting.

[303Guy]

Now, that's weird. ....
Now I have to try this out...
O.S.O.K., If you are of a mind to hunt with your Swede, you might consider what I did with my 303 Brit. I made a mold to cast a boolit that filled the throat. The boolit base ended up bigger than the throat so as to seat in unsized case necks and tapered down to the nose. I used 'waxy-lube' to both lube and hold the boolit in the case. The waxy-lube engaged the rifling but not the boolit. These could be unchambered with no problem. My first grouping with these was very impressive indeed - MOA. MV estimated at around 1900fps, 225gr boolit on top of Varget/AR2208. I got no leading at all from 8 shots. This boolit should represent a 'scaled up' 6.5 160gr boolit. Check out my thread; "Controlled Expansion Cast Boolit "

[O.S.O.K.]

Ok, I just checked my "inventory" and found that what I actually have is a Lyman 266673 mold. This is a 150 grain .264" gas check mold.

I have the gas checks already (Hornady) but need a sizer die - so I'm going to place and order for that... .265 or .266 depends on what they've got - probably .265"

This is what the boolit looks like: http://www.grafs.com/pictures/128/ly2660673.jpg

Its a bore-rider like my .314" and .309" molds which shoot very well in my enfields and 30 cal rifles.


303guy I'll check that thread - thanks!

[Ekalb2000]

My 10yr old daughter wants to hunt with the Win 94 and the lee 310. I think I will let her this year as I have never hunted with a pistol. And since I recently got a SBH, I think I will use the same load. Of course I have to load some up and test them at least once a week to tweak the load...well that is what I will tell my wife.
If I dont use the pistol, I will use the Garand with a 200gr gc'ed sized to 309. I know these are good to 200yrds.

[O.S.O.K.]

I ended up having to order a custom sized sizer die from Lee for the swede bullet. Now I wait.... I can cast the boolits any time of course but then have to hold tight for the sizer die to arrive - unless they're really nice right out of the mold... you never know.

Ekalb - your daughter must be pretty tough! My Marlin 94 bucks pretty good with the 310 Lee bullets - but I'm running them around 1550fps... (21 Gr. H110, CCI350 primer)

And I'd think that'd work great out of the SBH too - I'm going to test it in my 5 1/2" SBH and see how it likes that load.

ETA - after doing a search and reading up on cast boolits and the swedes - looks like 1800 fps is a more realistic goal for decent accuracy (2 MOA)...

It still seems strange that the twist of the swede rifle wouldn't stabalize a 150 grain boolit at 2000 fps... just weird.

Maybe I need to think the other way - I'm not really wanting to look at the paper patched route as I've already got my mold.... but I could use straight linotype and go faster...

One thing that's really weird is that the formula that somebody put up - Don Miller's indicates that a swede mauser will not stabalize a 150 grain 1.19" boolit even at 3000 fps - which is just plain horsehockey.

My Swedes shoot anyting from 120-160 jacketed excellently... like I said, I need to experiment with this. :)

[jwhite]

I hope to use my .348 with a 220gr LBT with the nose pre-split with tinfoil placed in the mold during casting. I have used plain WW and softpointed two alloy bullets and now I want to try the tinfoil in the nose trick. I also plan on a 10 year old nephew taking his first deer this year with a mini-mauser chambered in 7.62x39 loaded with a 160 grain LBT LFN, cast 2 alloy softpoint going 1900fps. He shoot this rifle very well and should be with in 50 yards when the shot comes.

[EMC45]

I busted 2 deer on opener last year with a 45-70 405gr. Lee over 14.4gr Unique in a Handi. Killed them quite dead and didn't recover any lead from them! I plan to use all lead this year too. I have jacketed bullets out the ears, but I like makin' 'em......Maybe the SBH 44 or the Camp Carbine with a 230gr. TC Lee bullet over a stiff charge of Unique. Maybe the FR8 with a 160gr. Lee bullet???

[KCSO]

Once again for rifle season I will be toting either a Krag or a M94 in 38-55. I use the 38-55 with iron sights for walking the brush and the Krag for low light situations. The Krag is loaded with my own bullet a 220 rnfp from Mountan Moulds. It had dropped every deer shot at but I have yet to recover any bullets from game they have all went right through. From the holes left behind I am getting good expansion and in wet pack the bullets are nickle size. The rifle will shoot under 5 inches at 200 yards and that is farther than I have ever shot a deer. The 38-55 shoots a 260 grain rnfp at 1850+ fps, nuff said.

[19112TAP]

30-30 with LEE 150gr gc Marlin 336
44 mag with 325 gr gc Winchester 94 trapper
357 mag with 150gr keith Ruger old model blackhawk
32 H&R with lyman 311008 Marlin 1894 & Ruger Bisley
32-20 with lyman 311008 Marling 1894cl & Winchester 1892

[bob208]

took one with a 30-40 krag carbine with a 311299
one with a 92 winchester in 38- 40

the last few years i have been using a sharpes carbine in 50-70 loaded with black.

[docmand]

took 1 last year with 30-06 rem single shot lee 180 w nose filed flat will use that and a blr in 358 win with rcbs 200 fn this year

[kjg]

i busted 1 deer last year with my cz75 and a cast 162 gr semiwadcutter, could not miss she was standing right under mt stand maybee 20 feet, right through the brain pan, going to play with my .303 brit and 311299 and 30 grns of big game, or 7.62 idf same bullet 5 grains less same powder, as well as my m-48 , and last but not lest 45-70 and 15 grain unique and a 405 lee , it real accurate out of my handi.

[Glen]

Why would I hunt with anything else?

[fatnhappy]

this is what's left of a 311290 last year
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h152/lhsjfk3t/103_0010.jpg

the results
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h152/lhsjfk3t/103_0011.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h152/lhsjfk3t/021.jpg

I think I'll use CB's again this year

[DLCTEX]

I took my first deer with cast last year and plan to take deer with 30-30 and 45-70 Marlins, 54 cal. Muzzle loader, and Ruger Old Army with 255 gr.

[jack19512]

I will be using my Ruger 454 Casull, a Marlin 44 mag, and a Marlin 45/70 with my cast boolits.

[TDC]

Hoping to take a 6th bull elk this year with a handgun.

I've been using a S&W 29 6 1/2 in the past but this year I'll be using a S&W 500 for the first time. If my MiHec mould makes it in time I expect that boolit will be my choice. If not, I'll be using either custom 535 gr. custom cast boolits from Ranger Rick or Lee 440 gr SWC's. This will be a preliminary test for a moose hunt in Alaska.

There is something very special about taking game with your own cast boolits and handloads..... I'll be wishing everyone on this board good luck with this hunting season. I hope everyone reports back with details of their hunt. It's fun to read about the adventures and experiences - successful or not...

:drinks:

[Ron.D]

Assuming I'll get to hunt this fall, it'll definitely be with cast. A 358627 @ 2080'/s for deer in my 358 Savage99 or a 400 gr. in my 71/84 Mauser for black bear which is what I used for the last one. Texas heart shot wound up in the neck muscles. Unless I hunt the wide open prairies, it'll be cast for the rest of my life. Why not?? Ron.D

[303Guy]

O.S.O.K. you might consider surface lubing the bore-rider section of that boolit for a little more velocity with straight WW.

This is a knurled example. There is no leading with this method provided there is no gas leak which did occur once resulting in flame cutting and leading!
http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo327/303Guy/MVC-617F_edited.jpg

[cbrick]

Why would I hunt with anything else?

No kiddin!

I've been reading this thread and don't understand "hunting with cast bullets" . . .

Are you guys saying there is something else?

Rick

[waksupi]

No kiddin!

I've been reading this thread and don't understand "hunting with cast bullets" . . .

Are you guys saying there is something else?

Rick

I agree. I have used cast for so many years, I look at jacketed bullets with distrust. After all, they are trying to make the modern bullet do what a boolit ALWAYS has done.

[Gussy]

Browning mountain rifle, .50 cal, for elk this year. Maxi ball and 85 gr 2 F Goex.

Sharps, 45-100 (2.6), 405 gr bullet with 85 gr 2 F Goex, for deer, bear, cougar, ??????? What ever gets up when I'm hunting and has a bad day.

Saw a really nice black bear last evening!!!!

[Blkpwdrbuff]

Yep! 50 Cal Maxi ball 90 gr FFFg Goex in T/C Hawken.:cbpour:
It doesn't get any better than this...[smilie=l:

Blkpwdrbuff:bigsmyl2:

[clodhopper]

Tipped over 3 deer last fall with RCBS 200gr in 35 whelen.
For speed goat hunting this fall I will use jacketed, 6.5s, bought tags for an area 300 miles from home and time will be limited.
Deer will get recycled wheel weights @ .358.

[bcp477]

Yes, certainly. I have taken two whitetails previously, with my paper-patched 8 x 57 Yugo Mauser.....so I know that the rifle and loads work well. I recently shortened the barrel to "carbine" length, which is how I always wanted it....so I had to re-work my load. However, I am able to use the same bullet....just with a faster powder. I am even getting about the same velocity, as before. I'm in the process now of finding a new place to hunt, or ideally, several places to try. If that goes according to plan....then I'll be out on opening day....or shortly thereafter.

[redneckdan]

I'm hopeing to get out deer hunting this year. With this el nino forecasted, snow making season will hopefully hold off til after deer season. Not sure what I'm going to use yet. I have a buffalo classic that launches paper patched 405gr flat noses at 1800fps really nice. Also have a CZ-550 in .375 H&H on the way, might use that depending on how load development goes. All I have loaded for that so far is 20 rounds of 200gr jacketed at 3000FPS. Do ya'll think I might be undergunned for eastern whitetail deer? Do I need to kick the loads up a notch? [smilie=f:

[500MAGdaddy]

I've just recently began pouring my own (about a year ago) and look forward to trying them in the field during this years deer season. My 8 year old son will be shooting a 44 marlin with my own poured...Me with my mdl 29, and I look forward to the bear season when I can check out the Lee 440gr in my 500. Also may try the 375gr Lyman in 500. Either one should kill an old black bear!

[RANGER RICK]

Been putting grub on the table for awhile now with the silver stream of life (cast bullets)
My wife and I are leaving this friday eve on a drive up to Fairbanks Alaska .
We are flying out to do a 16 day ( + - ) float hunt for Moose,Caribou,Grizz and black bear with the option of Wolf and Dall sheep .
I will be using my 500 Cyrus CCM with my 700 Grain WFNGC and my S&W 500 with the same 700 Grain Thumpers.
My wife will use her 338 ( 275 Grain Herters ,not cast ) and will have her 44 mag side arm with my 360 Grain WFNGC .

Should be fun .
Hope to bring back at least one critter for the pot .


RR

[superior]

I'll be using my Enfield no5 mk 1 or my Santa Fe jungle copy stoked with Lee c-312-185's at 2200fps+. 40 grains of h4895 will be pushing my homemade softpoints. So far, I haven't been able to get the no5 mk1 to group but this load is very accurate in the tighter barreled jungle copy. Open sights should get the job done as my shot probably wont be longer than 50 yards.

[shdwlkr]

I am in the process of switching from jacketed to cast and yes I still have a lot of jacketed bullets and will use them until they are gone. But I really like the idea of being able to make my own bullets and then to hunt with them. Might get a chance to cow elk hunt this fall and if so that will be muzzle loader in 54 caliber and my own maxi ball bullet. I have even been mixing my own mix of lead for them when time permits which this summer didn't and now fall is here and I just might get a few minutes to play.
My over all goal is to have one good lead mold for each and everyone of my firearms and then jacketed bullets are only for seeing how close my lead bullets come to them in performance from my firearms.

[atr]

I am...for deer....308Win / savage 99C / 180 gr RN ......good out to 100 yards

[Boerrancher]

I fully intend to as I have for years during firearms deer season. I also plan to take a few during archery season with a homemade long bow,and homemade arrows fitted with flint or obsidian points.

I have learned a great deal about archery during this endevour and have dispelled many of the myths that I had been told were truths, kinda like all the fables about cast boolits.

Best wishes from the Boer Ranch,

Joe

[Red River Rick]

I'm headed up to Northern Manitoba for my annual Caribou hunt, again. I'll be using CB's in my 45-90...................

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/RedRiverRick/2008%20Bou%20Hunt/2008CaribouHunt161x.jpg

RRR

[O.S.O.K.]

Cool. To me, going with my own made boolits just adds to the whole experience.

I'm going to try and get the 6.5 Swede going but if that proves too challenging, I'll put that on the back burner and go with some 250 grainers out of my 356 Win - chambered Marlin 336 - again, around 1950-2000 fps.

For deer hunting, its pretty much stand hunting and the bucks like it dark - so you tend to get your shots at 6:00-6:30 and a scope is required to have a shot.

303Guy - you are the cutting edge caster! Knurled bore-riders! :)

I don't know if I have enough focus to go that route - I'm a little too ADD for that. I do good just getting the basics done ;)

[hseaver]

Cool. To me, going with my own made boolits just adds to the whole experience.

I'm going to try and get the 6.5 Swede going but if that proves too challenging, I'll put that on the back burner and go with some 250 grainers out of my 356 Win - chambered Marlin 336 - again, around 1950-2000 fps.


I just got done reading the whole 6.5 swede cast boolit thing before coming across this thread, and I must say that it looks like some very savy people have tried a lot of different things to get 6.5's to stabilize at speeds faster than 1700 and pretty much failed. And it's not leading, as some people here seem to think. It's a matter of the twist being just too fast in the swede mausers (and some other 6.5 guns) --- seems like the rifling maybe loses its grip on the bullet when the rpm gets too high. But that doesn't mean you can't still kill deer with those guns. I just ordered one of the "cruise missle" 170 grain moulds and a 170 grains at 1700 fps still has plenty enough knockdown power for deer. Heck, I killed my first few deer with a single shot .218 Bee, so I know it don't take all that much to drop them.

[303Guy]

All this talk of hunting with cast! I would like to drop j-words from my inventory altother. I haven't shot anything sustantial with a cast boolit but I have come to that place were I don't actually see the point of shooting with j-words. (For me, that is). Each boolit I load up has a fair amount of 'history' behind it. I designed, experimented, made the molds and cast the boolits! That's what makes it so much fun!

So yes, I am planning on hunting with cast/patched boolits. I am planning on varminting with cast/patched boolits too!:castmine:


I don't know if I have enough focus to go that route - I'm a little too ADD for that. I do good just getting the basics done It's the one thing I can focus on! (Sort of ... But it takes me fore-ever! I'm very ADD).

Say, O.S.O.K. I have no doubt you will get your 6.5 to work!

Something to be aware of with 'cruise missile or torpedo' type cast boolits - they bend on freezing in the mold! Sometimes noticeably.

[waksupi]

Say, O.S.O.K. I have no doubt you will get your 6.5 to work!

Something to be aware of with 'cruise missile or torpedo' type cast boolits - they bend on freezing in the mold! Sometimes noticeably.

Huh? I have had them go bananas if dropped from the mold too quickly, but IN the mold?

[bcp477]

All this talk of hunting with cast! I would like to drop j-words from my inventory altother. I haven't shot anything sustantial with a cast boolit but I have come to that place were I don't actually see the point of shooting with j-words. (For me, that is). Each boolit I load up has a fair amount of 'history' behind it. I designed, experimented, made the molds and cast the boolits! That's what makes it so much fun!

So yes, I am planning on hunting with cast/patched boolits. I am planning on varminting with cast/patched boolits too!:castmine:

It's the one thing I can focus on! (Sort of ... But it takes me fore-ever! I'm very ADD).

Say, O.S.O.K. I have no doubt you will get your 6.5 to work!

Something to be aware of with 'cruise missile or torpedo' type cast boolits - they bend on freezing in the mold! Sometimes noticeably.



Ah, yes......303 Guy. When you reach the point at which you can well and truly kiss the over-priced copper-clad bullets goodbye..... that will be a great day. I reached that point around two years ago, I think...... and my life has been all the better for it !

[hseaver]

Something to be aware of with 'cruise missile or torpedo' type cast boolits - they bend on freezing in the mold! Sometimes noticeably.

Well, I have quite a bit of pure linotype sitting around, and that's what I'll be primarily using for my 6.5 loads. I doubt that it will warp, and I'm hoping that it possibly will let me bend that 1700 fps barrier a little. For hunting, I'll give them a soft nose by dropping a 30-40 grain ball of pure lead in the mould first -- keeping the mould hot by letting it sit partially in the molten pot --- then pouring the linotype in on top of the lead so they fuse together. That will give me the area up ahead of the driving bands being totally soft lead, then linotype for the part that contacts the rifling. I've killed deer (and one moose) with pure linotype bullets, but with a much bigger bullet, a .40 caliber.

[kjg]

you muzzleloader guys are pansies, get a real bunch of balls and go smooth bore and 750 grains of round ball, yes boys a .75 cal brown bess musket, if ya use black go with the big balls, and flintlock.

[303Guy]

Huh? I have had them go bananas if dropped from the mold too quickly, but IN the mold? Maybe that's what happened. It didn't seem it though. Mmmmm....... Still, something to be aware of.

Thanks for the 'soft point' tip, hseaver.

[Butcher45]

Just bought my very first boolit mold from Dale53 not to long ago (four cavity #454424), and will be using it to cast up slugs to use for predator hunting this fall. Hope to kill my first bobcat, and a bunch of coyotes with a self-cast boolit, shot from my .456 air rifle.

No big game with air rifles in Oregon.......yet. Give me a couple of years to get that done.

[303Guy]

.456 air rifle.That's interesting! Would you happen to have pictures of it?

[Butcher45]

That's interesting! Would you happen to have pictures of it?


http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=54511

[303Guy]

That's cool! Thanks for the link Butcher45.

Way cool picture, Red River Rick!

[303Guy]

Here is a boolit I am considering hunting with.

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo327/303Guy/MVC-226F.jpg

It's from a mold I had forgotten about since I was doing paper patching but I just discovered that this 245gr topedo fits my MkI Lee Enfield just perfectly. I have also enhanced the 'graded' hardening effect of the mold as can be seen by the difference along it's length. Now if I can just get it to shoot without leading at 1800fps ..... [smilie=1:

Here's the rifle.
http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo327/303Guy/MVC-607F_edited.jpg

This is how this rifle shot a shorter, 225gr casting from the same mold. (50yds - not quite bench rest but still).
http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo327/303Guy/MVC-457F_edited.jpg

[vanilla_gorilla]

I hope to connect using both of these, this year.

358429 and RCBS 44-250-K
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b53/vanilla_gorilla911/casting051.jpg

[GLynn41]

.41 /.41GNR,.41GNR#2. .358 win--- first time for the win:cbpour:

[GLynn41]

BTW good looking bullets VG and a good lookin .303 Is that rifle braked?

[DanWalker]

I'll be toting the 45 Blackhawk again this year. The load is my old standby of 18.5 grains of 2400 under a 454424 SWC. The only difference is this year I had my mould converted to a cramer style HP with faceted pins.

[303Guy]

303 Is that rifle braked? No, it's just a false crown. It covers where the bayonet lugs and foresight used to be. It is very light and mounts right back. Can't say it makes any difference to muzzle blast but probably helps throw the blast forward some. (I hope).

[SharpsShooter]

45-70-500 in a Rolling Block, 45-70-360 in the 1895 Marlin and a 260gr Keith SWC in front of 35 gr of Swiss in the Blackhawk. Any of the above is a candidate for the fall hunt,

SS

[Thumbcocker]

Keith 429421 HP 50-50 ww and pure. For several years it was the Lyman 525 grn sabot slug cast of pure lead. Between the two they have filled the freezer for many seasons. Before them it was a .490 rond ball cast of pure lead. There was a dark period when I used (scuffing foot in dirt and looking shame faced here) German shotgun slugs. I have been baptized and in the hot silver stream and am born again and shall never again stray into my former factory ammo past.

[O.S.O.K.]

Well, I am currently wating for the .265" Lee sizer kit.... but in the mean time, I've tested the .356 Win with the 250 grain Seaco boolits and it worked great! I got 2" +/- groups at 100 yards - at around 2000 fps - gotta chrono that to see exactly where it is - the load is 40 grains of W748. The boolits are ww and a little tin added alloy, sized to .359" and lubed with LLA.

Now, while that was good performance, the groups were stringing vertically, so after reading a post about that on another forum, I decided to check my Marlin for any binding or pressure on the barrel. Long story short (I posted about this in Leverguns forum) I found binding and fixed it.

So, I'm hoping for even better grouping now.

But I definately have a good hunting load set for this coming season...

The swede awaits, but it may end up being pushed to 2010 season...

[Johnch]

I will be using the 44 Ruger RH with GB HP for deer
If I get back to Mi for deer , I will take the 35 Wellen with cast

Already got 4 tree rats this fall with the 32 muzzel loader
Using my cast RB's

Stilll working on a slug load

John

[Leadforbrains]

I took a doe last season using a cast RCBS-.32-170 boolit and my son killed a hog with a .44 Lyman devastator Hp boolit.
My son and I both took other deer and hogs last season with Jword bullets, but the cast boolits were alot more fun to shoot and hunt with.

[stubshaft]

You bet! 45/70 1895G with RD boolit and 500 S&W with Lee 440. Didn't know you could actually shoot J word boolits at game... Wouldn't even if I did!

[big boar]

I've taken a few with a 35Whelen and several with a 450Marlin, all cast, at ranges of 50-150yds. Excellent performance in all cases, typical "golf ball" hole without excessive meat damage. I may try the 303Brit this year and it HAS to be cast, either 314299 or LBT 314-180. There is something special about taking a deer with a bullet you cast and loaded and God sent your way.

[303Guy]

Didn't know you could actually shoot J word boolits at game...I know! It's heresy!:violin:

There is something special about taking a deer with a bullet you cast and loaded and God sent your way. Well, I've come to that point that I don't want to soil my rifle bores with J-words! (I will still do it for a while untill I have a decent 'real thing' up and running - or maybe I'll spend my shooting and loading time developing my hand made boolits, then only, go hunting!)

I am still on the lower, steep end of the learning curve and I can say it's a heap more fun than J-words!:castmine:

[Marine Sgt 2111]

I haven't hunted deer with anything but cast since 1976, be it in a pistol, rifle, shotgun(buck shot or RB) or muzzle loader. For pistol, .357, .41 or .44 mags and rifles I use 50/50 ww and PL. For buckshot and shotgun round ball, heat treated WW (in ten gauge) and in the muzzle loader WW or WW and PL (50/50) in a saboted cast sized to .448.
I gave my neighbor some cast(PL) Lee .50 REAL bullets after he lost a nice doe 2 years ago using "j" saboted bullets and he is now a convert.

[Coyote Roper]

This year I will be using Win 94, 38-55 black powder cartridge with 255 grn Big Lube bullets. I started casting this year after reading about it and leaning from folks on this and other forums.

Can't wait!!

[part_timer]

My daughter and I hunted the Indiana youth season this weekend. 180grhp 357mag in a 357 Maximum contender carbine. All we saw was bucks no does. Since you can't shoot bucks in the youth season we just sat and watched them for 30 minutes or so. 25 yards away on the ground, taylor was breathing so hard I thought she was going to pass out. A great weekend.