Want to cast my own bullets

Katitmail · Jun 4, 2018

I got CVA Optima in 50 cal. (1:28 twist rate) I use this rifle in alternative season.
Always wanted to cast bullets(I do reload my pistol calibers) and now I got some free lead so no excuse not to do it

Between 38spl and 50cal I think it makes sense to learn casting on muzzleloader. Ideally I'd like to use it for hunting and practice so I don't have to get Power Belts. Cheaper and more fun to hunt with your own.

Anyway, can't find much info on what will/won't work. So far I found that Lee R.E.A.L. mold is probably what I need. They have only one mold (320 grain). I plan on keeping using pellet powder.

Questions:
1. Did anybody use this mold in similar muzzleloader?
2. After casting, any lube used?
3. Sized after casting?
4. Should hardness be controlled, soft lead OK? (My lead is all from plumbing pipes, flashing, etc. No wheel weights)
5. What accuracy I should expect? With Power Belts with 100gr of powder I get 3-4 inch groups at 100 yards. Really want to stay somewhere in a same accuracy.
6. Should I expect cleaning problems?
7. I also seen plastic "jackets". I think Idea is to cast 44 bullet and insert into this plastic thingy (not sure what the name). Will that be accurate? Good/bad?

rodwha · Jun 4, 2018

My rifle is a 1:48” quasi traditional type muzzleloader so it will differ from you a bit. Beer do indeed need to be lubed. I use Gatofeo’s #1 lube that you make yourself.

I’m not sure how well the 320 grn REAL would work in the fast twist. It works well I believe in mine using 70 grns of 3F Triple 7, but I’ve only shot a handful once. I bought the mold when I had a few shots nearly touching at 50 yds.

Some times it seems a felt wad is needed. My first shot without one keyholed and was nearly a foot left and a bit low.

No sizing after casting. Each band is a different diameter. The first band fits easily and each one after grabs more rifling. Because of this you want soft lead.

robhof · Jun 4, 2018

Katitmail said:
I got CVA Optima in 50 cal. (1:28 twist rate) I use this rifle in alternative season.
Always wanted to cast bullets(I do reload my pistol calibers) and now I got some free lead so no excuse not to do it

Between 38spl and 50cal I think it makes sense to learn casting on muzzleloader. Ideally I'd like to use it for hunting and practice so I don't have to get Power Belts. Cheaper and more fun to hunt with your own.

Anyway, can't find much info on what will/won't work. So far I found that Lee R.E.A.L. mold is probably what I need. They have only one mold (320 grain). I plan on keeping using pellet powder.

Questions:
1. Did anybody use this mold in similar muzzleloader?
2. After casting, any lube used?
3. Sized after casting?
4. Should hardness be controlled, soft lead OK? (My lead is all from plumbing pipes, flashing, etc. No wheel weights)
5. What accuracy I should expect? With Power Belts with 100gr of powder I get 3-4 inch groups at 100 yards. Really want to stay somewhere in a same accuracy.
6. Should I expect cleaning problems?
7. I also seen plastic "jackets". I think Idea is to cast 44 bullet and insert into this plastic thingy (not sure what the name). Will that be accurate? Good/bad?

Your twist rate is definitely for sabots, lead bullets will cause leading and accuracy problems with moderate to high loads, light loads will work and be surprisingly accurate to 50 yds, at least I've found that to be true on my 1 in 32 twist barrel gun. If you can find a cheap source for sabots, I've gotten large lots on Ebay for cheap and use them with cast 44 or 45 bullets depending on the sabots.

Katitmail · Jun 5, 2018

Hmm.. Seems like sabots is the way to go. What weight bullet would you suggest in 44/45 for my purpose? If you can point to the specific mold - would be great. Is there chance I can use 45 ACP mold? I have 1911 and may share same bullet

Loyalist Dave · Jun 8, 2018

Yes the 1:28 twist would work (on paper) for an all lead, non-sabot bullet...it works in the Pedersoli Jaeger for example..., but in your case (iirc) the rifling is a bit shallow in the Optima to use the older tech of an all lead bullet, hence the skirt on the power belts.

You might try .452 soft lead bullets, OR cast some soft lead bullets in a .452 bullet mold, and use these https://www.midwayusa.com/product/4...d-rib-sabot-for-45-caliber-bullets-pack-of-50. Here is the Hornady version https://www.midwayusa.com/product/798950/hornady-50-caliber-sabot-for-45-caliber-bullets-pack-of-50. Thompson center has a similar product, AND you can also get bullets along with the sabots from TC https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2...240-grain-lead-hollow-point-bullet-pack-of-20. If you get a Lee mold I wouldn't go lighter in .452 than 200 grains, and there are a lot of choices in the 228-230 grain family, so you should find one that works well. They are not hollow points, so I think with soft lead you will find good performance, similar to what I get with a soft, lead, patched, round ball. :thumbup:

I don't think they will need to be swaged, nor lubed, since they are not coming into direct contact with your barrel wall. You might find you plastic sabot grips a bullet with several shallow lube grooves rather than a bullet that has a single, deep groove. So something like this from a Lee mold https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...diameter-230-grain-tumble-lube-truncated-cone

LD

paul harm · Jun 8, 2018

When TC first came out with their Hawken it was a 1 in 48 twist and had around 4 to .005 deep rifling. A true round ball barrel would have deeper rifling - say .010 to .015 depth so the patch can really engage it. The 1 in 48 would have been about the fastest and some guns had 1in 66 up to 1 in 72. TC was marketing their gun for RB or their Maxi Ball, which was a bullet. So your faster twist is made for bullets, you just have to find out which one will work the best. Use a lube made for black powder, soft lead is fine, no sizing necessary, and can't answer your question about accuracy. It can vary by how much powder is used, length of bullet, and probably any number of other things. Good luck. Paul

edwardware · Jun 8, 2018

Before you invest. . . post a WTB add here and over at CastBoolits (yes, they really do misspell it) and buy a handful to test.

While casting is easy, it's not simple. Unless you know the product will satisfy your need, you'll find it to be a lot of investment for an uncertain payoff.

robhof · Jun 8, 2018

Katitmail said:
Hmm.. Seems like sabots is the way to go. What weight bullet would you suggest in 44/45 for my purpose? If you can point to the specific mold - would be great. Is there chance I can use 45 ACP mold? I have 1911 and may share same bullet

I have a variety from 190 Gr. to 260 Gr. and seem to have best accuracy with the heavier wt. bullets in my rifle, but all guns aren't the same, you have to experiment to get the best for your specific barrel. I've bought small lots of cast or even jacketed bullets for testing, before investing in a mold, once I found what works best, I buy a mold and cast up a bunch.

Want to cast my own bullets

Katitmail

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rodwha

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robhof

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Katitmail

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Loyalist Dave

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paul harm

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edwardware

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robhof

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