How accurate is accurate with a cast boolit?

[hansumtoad]

First trip to the range today with two of my hunting rifles. You know, the J-bullet stuff.

Both are MOA - sub MOA rifles. 300 Win Mag with Lyman 311467 (.310) and 10 grs of Unique went into 1 3/4" at 50 yds. .375 H&H did 2" at 50 with Lyman 375449 (.377) and 15 grs of Unique. Both boolits water quenched WWs. 10 shot groups ( ths cast stuff is FUN!). And zero leading issues.

a. What should I reasonably expect accuracy wise?

b. any suggestions on powder and charges for the next round?

[damron g]

Your 375 load is a good one i use as well.The 300 mag load is also good(but a bit light,try the same charge as your 375) and i also like about 27g of 4759 in the big case.
My Ruger #1 is good for 5 shot groups of 1.5 to 1.75 with the 375449 @ 100 yards.it does 1"-1.25" with jacketed.The plain base Lyman 375248 and 12.0 of Unique is a classic load also worth trying.Take the GC off the 375449 and it will do as well and save money with the 12.0g load.
My #1 300 mag(i no longer own it) would shoot 1.5"pretty regular at 100 for 5 with the 4759 load and the RCBS 180sp.I never tuned these loads up much,they were just first try hunting practice loads.

George

[Dutchman]

5 shots, 50 yds into one hole isn't unheard of.

I put 10 of 14 into one hole at 50 yds with a 8x58RD Swedish rolling block and cast bullets.

Dutch

[shooting on a shoestring]

Hansumtoad...I think its like asking whats good gas mileage. I've actually been trying to answer that on my own for.....well a long time.

I've worked with my scoped .22 Hornet Ruger #3 with cast for half dozen years or so. It now shoots cast as good as it did jacketed. That is, 1.5" @ 100yds anytime I do my part, with a scattering of 1.25" or less groups. Oh, and running at 2300 to 2500 fps.

My scoped 8mm'06 has several loads that get 2" groups regularly (100 yds, 13 to 18" at 300 yds), and at running at 1800 to 2400 or so fps.

My iron sighted Winchester 30/30, best I've got is 4 inches at 100, usually more like 5 to 6".

I'm currently working with a Ruger M77 in .223. Its shot lots of 2 to 4" groups with only one or two below 2". It does drop pairs on the target that are sometimes touching, sometimes 1/2" apart. I've got hopes of getting 1" groups out of it, but it might take a couple of years, or decades, or I might go back to shooting revolvers more.

[NSP64]

It is what you make of it.

That is good for plinking ammo in my book. Hunting I would try for better. That is where the fun is.

[waksupi]

Shooting one of my .358 Winchesters last week ,the first three shots went in the same hole at 100 yards. The next two shots, with the barrel heating, each raised about one inch.

I did have a .223, that would consistently group at around 1 3/8" at 2680 fps. Got rid of it, my fat fingers didn't get along with them bitty boolits.

Actually, any rifle I have that won't shoot under 2" at a hundred with cast, goes down the road. And I DO have a few rifles.....

[Bret4207]

I expect my cast loads to equal factory jacketed. It doesn't always happen because it takes time and some guns are far easier than others to get shooting right. You have to find your own point of satisfaction.

[qajaq59]

In my 30-30 Winchester they are very good. But I put the effort in to make it that way. And there are guys that shoot cast out to 600 yards, so there must be a way to do it right.

[Shiloh]

Lots of variables.

Casting techniques and parameters, firearm capabilities, and the person squeezing the trigger.

Shiloh

[John Boy]

How accurate is accurate with a cast boolit?
Toad, here's some target proofs that cast bullets are even accurate with iron sights (a vernier)
http://www.shilohrifle.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=13911
As already said though - your reload - eyes and trigger squeeze add to the equation also

[jlchucker]

take a look at some pictures of Harry Pope's targets from back before the turn of the 20th Century. As I remember from reading an old Gun Digest article, the groups those guys shot were offhand, at 200 yards or so. quite a feat. They didn't use J-word bullets back then, either.

[cast367]

hansumtoad,
30-06 , 180 grs lead, 22 grs Acc no 9. Gascheck. 2 inch group at 100 meter .
Sometimes smaller. For 300 WM , start with 25 -30 grs , depends the bullit weight

[hansumtoad]

Thank you, Damron. I appreciate the suggestions. Upping the Unique and trying some 5744 were next. Then going to two different boolits. Trying a 190 gr 311334 and a 375366 next.

I assumed this was no different than finding a load for a J-slug. I just didnt know what to expect as far as results. If sub MOA is possible with cast, then we will try and try again until the results are close to J-slug performance. The .300 Win LOVES 225 gr Barnes originals and 78.5 gr of 7828 over a Fed 215. Groups average .6 CTC. Equaling that will be a challenge although anything around MOA is plenty good enough.

If I get stuck anywhere before there, I'll post for help.

[hansumtoad]

And thank you, 367.

[XWrench3]

my rem 700, 300 win mag was (before i wrecked the barrel) shooting .462" 100 yd 5 shot groups with a lee 160g cast boolit. better than i could get with jacketed bullets. i am hoping that i can get close to that with the new barrel.

[qajaq59]

b. any suggestions on powder and charges for the next round? I don't use those calibers. But I can definitely recommend The Lyman Cast Bullet Manual if you don't already have it.

[cast367]

Hansumtoad,
The Lyman cast handbook write by 300WM , 150grs CB, 18-22 grs Unique.
For 375 H&H , 250 grs CB, 13-18 grs Unique.

[jimb16]

I used to have a 700 BDL that loved cast. It shot a 40 round 1.25 inch group at 100 yards! 11.5 gr unique using a 311291 hard cast alox lubed bullit. (.308) sized .310. Don't know why I ever sold that rifle. Am still kicking myself!

[RU shooter]

if you can shoot 1moa with jacketed you are capable of that same level of accuracy with cast in most cases

[AZ-Stew]

At the 2010 Nevada Cast Boolit Shoot, the winner of the long range rifle match gonged a 12 x 18 inch steel plate 5 out of 5 with, obviously, cast at 400 yards using a metallic-sighted rifle. Take my word for it, it was windy that day, too.

Regards,

Stew

[MT Gianni]

At the 2010 Nevada Cast Boolit Shoot, the winner of the long range rifle match gonged a 12 x 18 inch steel plate 5 out of 5 with, obviously, cast at 400 yards using a metallic-sighted rifle. Take my word for it, it was windy that day, too.

Regards,

Stew

Matt's first day with that rifle was the day before. It helps to have young eyes and a steady hand.

[Eagles6]

Out of my 30-06 I get 1 1/2" groups at at 100 yds Lyman #311291 over 17 grs of Unique.
Out of .357 Mag and 9mm I get accuracy equal to jacketed. This is not any competition type shooting but it works for me.

[stephen perry]

I expect my Cast bullets to hit the target I'm shooting at.

Stephen Perry
Angeles BR

[felix]

Perfect, Stephen! Make the target bigger or closer, whichever, until satisfaction is achieved for that day. ... felix

[1Shirt]

Hansomtoad, Both of my 375H&H's eat the 375449 in both standard and Hollow point with great gusto. At 50 yds, with 4759, will stay well under 2" and is pleasant on the shoulder. Am of the opinion that the Hollow Point version of almost any flat nose cast blt will be a bit more accurate. They are of course more difficult to cast but worth the difference in accuracy. Good Luck!
1Shirt!:coffeecom

[fatelvis]

Personally, I have yet to equal jacketed bullet accuracy. It seems try as I might, the jacketed bullets always come up with a little tighter group. But for me, thats part of the fun of casting, is surpassing the "control"!

[qajaq59]

One contribution that cast bullets make to accuracy is that they are so cheap that the cost of practicing drops dramatically. For a guy just learning to shoot rifles they are a great help. Rifle ammo is very costly. And with a little fussing, cast shoots well enough to make the practice worthwhile.

[Charlie, AKA The Deacon]

I have not been casting a lonnnnnng time like some, but I would expect jacketed results it seems you have to work with them a little more to get it. I have a 45-70 that is well on its way and several pistols that are doing well also. just my 2 cents

Charlie

Also, I find people want instant results with shooting, for me it takes alot of range time.

[Doc Highwall]

My record group at 100 yards for five shots is .305"

[qajaq59]

Perfect, Stephen! Make the target bigger or closer, whichever, until satisfaction is achieved for that day. ... felix Hmmm, sounds like sound advice. I think I'll try that too. LOL

[Blammer]

this seems to be my average for my 30-06 and 311284 boolits.
inch and three quarters I think
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Targets/311284.jpg

and this is my one hole group at 50 yds

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Targets/File0089.jpg

yea, that's one shot. :D

[Von Gruff]

This is 5 shots from my 404 Jeffery with 350gn GC HT 90/10 ww/lino at 2416fps over 87gn ADI 2209 ( H4350) 55yds with aperture.

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/404Jeffery073.jpg

Shots taken from here

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/404Jeffery078-1.jpg

My 7x57 will get five into 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 in at 100yds so I would use it for hunting out to about 250yds.

Von Gruff.

[ricksplace]

I'm new here, but I do have 40+ years of handloading and casting experience. I just spent a great evening at the range with cast bullets in a 30-30 Marlin 336rc, a custom 375 H&H, and a custom .458. All of them deliver acceptable accuracy for me. They all deliver about 1.5 - 2MOA with cast. Any further load development isn't really warranted since I can't hold any better than these guns can shoot. I just bang away and listen for the "clang". The plate at my range is about 12X18", at 300m. I hit it three times in a row tonight with a 30-30 with iron sights. Bang! Wait for it... tink.

[1Shirt]

Doc Highwall, A tip of the hat to you for a 5 shot group at .305. I have been able to get close to that with 3 shots a couple of times, but #4 always seems to blow out to screw up the group to an inch or better. Have a couple of 5 shoters just under an inch, and with old eyes am satisfied with them. Have one 3 shot group with a 375H&H that is a perfect cloverleaf as pretty as you could draw. Am probably most proud of that one.
1Shirt!:coffee:

[Doc Highwall]

1Shirt, that .305" five shot group was shot last year after more then 300 shots were fired through the gun and this year my brother in law shot it with over 500 shots through it and put 4 shots in .150" with the fifth shot going out opening the group to .633". I am just finishing today making special dies for the gun I will write up a article when I get a chance.

[1Shirt]

DocHighwall, Really look forward to your report on that. Four in .15 is just slightly short of spectlamuss, even if #5 did open up. Always seems like with me it is the #4 shot in a 5 shot group that goes out, and then the last one comes back in to what the first three were, or very close. That seems to be true for me in a number of rifles from 22K hornet to 45-70. One of these days I will try spaceing shots 2 or 3 min apart using a stop watch to see if that 4th shot is heat dispurshion.
1Shirt!:coffeecom

[Doc Highwall]

1Shirt, actually that is what happened the wind caught him on the fourth shot and the fifth went in where the first three went, I was watching through my spotting scope when he was shooting. Talk about a killer group.

[dhaid-06]

1903A3, 180 gr. Lee Mold, gas checked, sized to .309", tumble lubed, 17.0 gr. 2400 in HXP cases, 1.5" @ 100 yds 5 shot group repeatable (fired from bench). The last CMP vintage bolt match I shot a 100-5x slow prone at 200 yds.

Yep, them things'll shoot.