looking for a cast load that will work the action on a mini 14 thanks clint
looking for a cast load that will work the action on a mini 14 thanks clint
Hi,clintsfolly,15 grns. H4198 will cycle the action on my Saiga in .223,and gives about 2250 fps. with Lymans 225646.I'm sure it'll operate your Mini-14
Those that live by the sword get shot by those that don't,
18.5gn of H-4895 And a 55gn cast
Daniel/BS Jr.
I don’t have quite exactly the data that you are looking for, but I have a few scraps of information that you might find helpful.
I have a handwritten note in my Speer manual that says IMR4895 or 4198 are recommended for the mini-14 with jacketed bullets. I don’t know where that recommendation came from originally. I am guessing that those powders have the correct burn rate to cycle that action. I haven’t loaded for a mini-14 myself. My Lee book shows those powders at charges of 23.1-26 grains & 18.8-21.5 grains respectively for a 55-grain jacketed bullet. I don’t have cast boolit data for those powders.
My Lyman cast bullet handbook shows a 54 grain GC #2 alloy #225462 boolit being pushed from a 24” barrel by 13.7-18 grains of H-110 for 2120-2699fps with a CCI 450 primer producing 41,600Cup max.
The Lyman book also lists the same boolit with 748 at 19.8-26 grains for 1902-2697fps producing 32,000Cup max. That might by my first pick for a powder to try if I was going to try loading for the 14.
The Lyman book also has a Mini-14 specific note. They say to use a positive crimp to avoid boolit setback during feeding & a subsequent squib blocking the bore.
The paperwork that used to ship with Ruger .44mag semi-auto carbines used to recommend against using cast boolits in that gun for fear of clogging the gas tube. I don’t know if that also applies to the mini-14 or not.
Funny, I am getting ready to start loading some cast for the mini as well. I am tired of looking at it all sad sitting in the corner of the safe!
enjoy the article,,hopefully it is readable
Bill
If you want I can email it,,PM me if you do
Bill
I'd like to read that article too!
I found some more info in the archives here –
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=3345
I just found this. I think that its from that same handloader article -
http://www.loaddata.com/members/sear...44&MW=&PM=&PT=
Unfortunately, it seems to be linked to some sort of pay site.
wasn't able to scan today try these
Hey that one works. You can definitely read the print on those.
I tried the first run of 4064 with a 22 Bator yesterday. 21 grains was enough to function the action, and accuracy looked okay at 50 yards. I only fired 20 and was sighting in also, but it looks like a 1.5 inch group so far. I did have a few that failed to feed from the mag, the factory five rounder. It may have been a fluke so I am going back this morning to try some more. Will post later.
Bill
If you're doing that with WW's and it's not smearing lead through the bore, you're almost there..
Problem with the big guy from Montana's article is he used lino. I kinda think that's cheating, and not the real challenge that is getting it to work with a form of WW cast process.
The other thing tha's working against you is the 1-9 twist, that you have as well as mine also- with the light bator. Someone here mentioned they made a cherry tool and made a pointy nose on their bator, and the accuracy shot way up. Be interesting to try that one in the mini.
Tried again today, 21 grains is leaving unburnt powder and the chambers and case are getting dirty. I may try 21.5 and see if the case seal up in the chamber better. I see verticle stringing at 50 yards. So to me it seems like I have to get the powder in the right pressure range. But I don't want to start leading too bad.
I'll try 21.5 next and go from there.
Another way may be to go to a heavier bullet so the velocity stays under control.
But that will be another mold.
It will be a nice load when it gets there.
Bill
My mini loves 62gr copper bullets.
I'm thinking this one may be a winner from NEI:
Last edited by PatMarlin; 03-17-2008 at 07:57 AM.
keep the info coming thanks clint
According to these guys, changing the gas port bushing allows more or less powerful powder charges to work the action of a mini-14. That might be worth looking into for use with lead loads.
http://perfectunion.com/vb/showthread.php?t=43577
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 |