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Thread: My first go with 223 cast

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy BC17A's Avatar
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    My first go with 223 cast

    Assembled my first AR with PSA parts last month. It's a 16" with a carbine length gas system. After running several hundred rounds of FMJ factory and reloaded ammo through it I wanted to move on to cast boolits. Managed to catch Midway with some Lee 55gn molds in stock so I thought I'd give those a try before committing to a different mold and heavier boolit.

    These were only out to 27 yards, it's a start, but I plan on mounting a scope and moving out to 50, 75 and 100 yards next time out. The 2230 loads cycled fine, but 4227 12.5gn load only cycled twice out of the five rounds. The orange target stickers are 3" by the way.


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  2. #2
    Boolit Master
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    I’m curious why you’re using 4227? I don’t know anything about 2230.

    Also, what do these weigh with gc and pc and your alloy?


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  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy
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    It probably won’t cycle the gas system but try 4.2gr of bullseye. Right around 22 magnum velocity and pretty accurate.

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy BC17A's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by sukivel View Post
    I’m curious why you’re using 4227? I don’t know anything about 2230.

    Also, what do these weigh with gc and pc and your alloy?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    I saw 4227 in the Lyman cast handbook and thought it may be about the fastest powder that would cycle the AR. Looks like it may do just that as 13gn is max. I've also got some IMR4198 and 2460 to try out next time. Boolits weigh right about 57 grains with PC and check.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
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    Don’t you love putting those GC on!
    Looks like the same boolit I use from NOE.


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  6. #6
    Boolit Master Thumbcocker's Avatar
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    I had good results with 4895. I have read that reloaded 7 will cycle the action but ran out of boolits before I could try it.
    Paper targets aren't your friends. They won't lie for you and they don't care if your feelings get hurt.

  7. #7
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    There will be a narrow margin of the gun cycling and accuracy...and some powders will have no line.

    H4895 is what I tried first, upon recommendation from those who know more than me, and I was pleased with the results.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
    ― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jal5 View Post
    Don’t you love putting those GC on!
    Looks like the same boolit I use from NOE.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    I have the NOE mold also, mine drops around 60 gr.

    BTW, both Lee and NOE copied the RCBS 22-055-SP
    https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.c...ain-semi-point
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
    ― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001

  9. #9
    Boolit Buddy BC17A's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jal5 View Post
    Don’t you love putting those GC on!
    Looks like the same boolit I use from NOE.
    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Between making the checks, and getting them on the boolits, I've dropped several on the floor of my shop. My wife even found one in the house and asked me what it was. That one must have gotten a ride in on one of my shoes.




    Quote Originally Posted by JonB_in_Glencoe View Post
    There will be a narrow margin of the gun cycling and accuracy...and some powders will have no line.

    H4895 is what I tried first, upon recommendation from those who know more than me, and I was pleased with the results.
    I picked up a pound of IMR4895 last week. From what I've read, H4895 is better for cast as it can be safely reduced. I guess I'll use the IMR for the J words.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by JonB_in_Glencoe View Post
    There will be a narrow margin of the gun cycling and accuracy...and some powders will have no line.

    H4895 is what I tried first, upon recommendation from those who know more than me, and I was pleased with the results.
    That narrow line of accuracy vs cycling is no joke. I use 19.0 of H335, cycles great but accuracy is barely decent to the point I stopped casting for it. I think it’s just to fast. H4895 would be alot slower, what load are you happy with?


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  11. #11
    Boolit Master Bad Ass Wallace's Avatar
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    My 223 Rem loads are a 55gn RCBS GC/PC with 21.5gn of 3031.

    Hold Still Varmint; while I plugs Yer!

  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy
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    Quote Originally Posted by JonB_in_Glencoe View Post
    I have the NOE mold also, mine drops around 60 gr.

    BTW, both Lee and NOE copied the RCBS 22-055-SP
    https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.c...ain-semi-point

    Wow!, is $115 the normal price for a 2 cavity RCBS mold? I’ve been wanting to cast for my 5.56 ARs but so far I’ve only loaded pistol rounds and 300 blackout, didn’t have much luck with the 300 yet.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bashby View Post
    Wow!, is $115 the normal price for a 2 cavity RCBS mold? I’ve been wanting to cast for my 5.56 ARs but so far I’ve only loaded pistol rounds and 300 blackout, didn’t have much luck with the 300 yet.
    I just googled & grabbed a link for the photo...but it seems like it's the current range of new 2 cav Iron molds.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
    ― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by sukivel View Post
    That narrow line of accuracy vs cycling is no joke. I use 19.0 of H335, cycles great but accuracy is barely decent to the point I stopped casting for it. I think it’s just to fast. H4895 would be alot slower, what load are you happy with?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    I ended up right near 21 gr.
    I am not able to access my paper notes, but I found my post about this from 5 years ago.

    https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...=1#post3714049
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
    ― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by BC17A View Post
    SNIP...

    I picked up a pound of IMR4895 last week. From what I've read, H4895 is better for cast as it can be safely reduced. I guess I'll use the IMR for the J words.
    According to Runfiverun,
    He actually had better luck with IMR, but he used a powder positioner, which I assume is a puff of Dacron to hold the powder against the primer, which adds more work to reloading.
    same thread as I posted above to sukivel, Runfiverun responded by my post about H4895
    https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...=1#post3714059

    If you need some good instructions about Filler...
    https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...use-of-fillers
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
    ― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy BC17A's Avatar
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    More fun scheduled for tomorrow. This time all brass and boolits separated by headstamp and weight. COAL all within .002".

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  17. #17
    Boolit Master mehavey's Avatar
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    See also https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...=1#post4472544 and AA2495 (4895 1st cousin)

  18. #18
    Boolit Master
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    great thread!

  19. #19
    Boolit Grand Master
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    https://www.armorally.com/shop/horna...r-spire-point/

    They have them in FMJ too.

    At less than $9/100 it is not bad during "the panic", if you place any value on your time. I bought them at $7/100 before the panic. With gas checks currently selling for $3+/100 why bother?

    If doing it for "fun" have at it.
    Don Verna


  20. #20
    Boolit Buddy
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    Quote Originally Posted by dverna View Post
    https://www.armorally.com/shop/horna...r-spire-point/

    They have them in FMJ too.

    At less than $9/100 it is not bad during "the panic", if you place any value on your time. I bought them at $7/100 before the panic. With gas checks currently selling for $3+/100 why bother?

    If doing it for "fun" have at it.
    Thanks for the tip, Don!

    I just picked up the same Lee 55 gr mould but the Hornady 55 SP has been my go-to bullet for .223. Almost out so I grabbed a K for the shelf. I also remember the $7/100. Should have bought more than the 4K I did BITD.

    Be safe!

    John

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check