.223 bolt action...

[Cannibul]

Hornady 55 gr FMJBT are 0.07 each. Why on earth would you want to use cast at that price? Are you running on SNAP?

No disrespect cause I know some folks that are but they don't shoot.

Because I want to. A cast .22 cal projectile runs me less than half a cent. Besides, I don't want to shoot 55 gr FMJ. I want to shoot 37 gr cast bullets.

I can load a .223 cast round for less than you pay for the bullet alone.

Bullet is less than half a cent, powder is just over a penny and the primer is two cents. Let's call it $0.04 a round. If I run a gas check I have to add another penny.

 

[MCMXI]

I can load a .223 cast round for less than you pay for the bullet alone.

Bullet is less than half a cent, powder is just over a penny and the primer is two cents. Let's call it $0.04 a round. If I run a gas check I have to add another penny.

The powder for your .223 Rem loads is just over a penny a round? Really? 26.0gr of Varget is a typical load for a 36gr bullet so assuming that you buy an 8lb container of Varget from Powder Valley which will probably be the cheapest option for most, then you add in the hazmat fee and $0.50 insurance that comes to $26.65 a pound. You can get 270 rounds out of a pound of Varget so that comes out to just about $0.10 of powder per round. Primers are at least $0.03 each even from places like Powder Valley so unless I'm missing something, you're paying $0.14 per round. Still not a bad price but more than 3x what you state it costs. So what's your trick?

 

[CoalTrain49]

Because I want to. A cast .22 cal projectile runs me less than half a cent. Besides, I don't want to shoot 55 gr FMJ. I want to shoot 37 gr cast bullets.

I can load a .223 cast round for less than you pay for the bullet alone.

Bullet is less than half a cent, powder is just over a penny and the primer is two cents. Let's call it $0.04 a round. If I run a gas check I have to add another penny.

I doubt it.

Primers are running 3-4 cents.

If you put 20 grs of powder in a .223 case that's going to cost you at least a nickle probably more. You must have some powder from the 70's or maybe your're making it yourself.

Looks like you haven't purchased any reloading supplies in awhile.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I have seen RedDot used in a 223 with a cast bullet i think the load was 5 or 6 gr under a 50 gr cast bullet

 

[CoalTrain49]

I have seen RedDot used in a 223 with a cast bullet i think the load was 5 or 6 gr under a 50 gr cast bullet

That will only fill up about 20% of a 223 case.
Red Dot is an extremely fast shotgun powder. Rifle powders are much slower. Those fast shotgun powders are OK for low pressure pistol cartridges but I wouldn't want to experiment with them in a rifle case. I like all of my fingers.

How far is one willing to go to save a buck? I guess the skies the limit.

 

[MCMXI]

I have seen RedDot used in a 223 with a cast bullet i think the load was 5 or 6 gr under a 50 gr cast bullet

Maybe that's the trick to shooting a rifle for $0.04 a round but having a bunch of free space (> 50% in this case) in a rifle or pistol case makes me nervous . Is it common to add a filler of some sort?

 

[HankC]

Red Dot for cast bullets is common and Lyman Reloading HDBK has load data for 223 cast bullet with Red Dot or Unique. If you cast your own, 4 cents a pop is doable while only 5 gr of powder needed and S&B primer is 2 cents/rnd. Would be cheaper than 22LR but too much trouble! I load 308WIN, 123 gr coated cast bullets with 9 gr of 700X, a lot of empty space, no filler needed.

 

[someguy2800]

My old man load 223 plinkers with blue dot. He uses something like 13 grains for a 50 grain bullet and gets like 3000 fps of velocity. Kind of neat. There is load data out there for this sort of thing.

 

[Cannibul]

Red Dot for cast bullets is common and Lyman Reloading HDBK has load data for 223 cast bullet with Red Dot or Unique. If you cast your own, 4 cents a pop is doable while only 5 gr of powder needed and S&B primer is 2 cents/rnd. Would be cheaper than 22LR but too much trouble! I load 308WIN, 123 gr coated cast bullets with 9 gr of 700X, a lot of empty space, no filler needed.

Ahh... someone who understands how it's done and it shows that many people here are reloaders and not handloaders. There's a big gap between the two.

Remember people, I'm not after .223 ballistics. I'm going after .22 Mag to .22 Hornet ballistics.

S&B primers for $17.50/k from a few years back.
Red Dot or Promo powder
Cast bullet

That makes it very easy to hit that $0.04-$0.05 cent mark.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...own-223-loads-with-blue-dot-or-unique.446724/

 

[Offfhand]

The most accurate sporter weight .223 rifle I've ever owned was an old Remington M-722 which I rechambered from its original .222 to .223. The accuracy of the 722 is legendary, which is due to a number of factors, but one of the main reasons this rifle was so accurate was the 1/14" twist. Which of course was the standard rate of twist for the .222. With Sierra's 52 grain match bullet, 5-shot groups were consistently close to the accuracy level achieved with my heavy benchrest rifle, and with other bullet weights from 45 to 55 grains delivering accuracy nearly as good. So good in fact that when I ordered a Remington 40-X rifle in .223 caliber I specified that it have a 1/14" twist rather than their standard 1/12" for the.223. My purpose being for shooting bullet of 55 grains and lighter. Like the old converted 722, the accuracy of the 40-X with 1/14" twist has been so superb that if I were to order the same rifle again I would probably specify a 1/15" twist. Which would be even better for bullets like the .45 grain Sierra spitzer, and really great for .22 caliber cast bullets.

 

[bluzman]

I have a cz527 carbine. Warne quick release rings and a Leupold 2-7 compact. Micro Mauser action is sweet on these guns. Very accurate and with this setup I can bounce between scope and open sights. Only down side is magazine are close to 40 bucks. The rifle isn't as cheap as the Americans or savages, but is every bit as accurate and alot more classy!

I have a .223 CZ 527 also (1:9 twist) with a 3-9x32mm adjustable objective scope (bipod has been removed). It's very accurate (5 shot group at 100 yds, called the flier ).

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

Nice shooting what weight bullet did you use

 

[flashhole]

What do you mean nice shooting? He missed the dime 5 times!

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

See that's how some people see it he was trying to get as close as possible

 

[262madmike]

I shoot a renovated Interarms .223 Bolt action.

 

[CoalTrain49]

I have a .223 CZ 527 also (1:9 twist) with a 3-9x32mm adjustable objective scope (bipod has been removed). It's very accurate (5 shot group at 100 yds, called the flierView attachment 759302 View attachment 759304 ).

I have a Howa 223 HB (1 in 9) that will group like that. Yeah, I know the accuracy vs precision definition. Darn, can't hit a dime at 100 yards, what good is it?

Not much hope for cast bullets to group like that There are trade offs for economy. Everybody has a goal.

 

[bluzman]

Nice shooting what weight bullet did you use

American Quality Ammunition remanufactured 55 gr soft point.

 

[Davek1977]

Not sure if I missed it or what, but not sure why you want the 22 hornet. I enjoy the "fast moving" 22's of old...currently on the hunt for a 22HP savage 99. I just like that stuff.
.

As I've mentioned elsewhere, I was passed on several firearms from my uncle. The guns were held as the estate was settled, but I was given access to his reloading/gun room and told to take what I wanted....lo and behold, I found a box of .22 HP factory loads, a box of reloads, and some empty cases. I was hoping against hope this meant my grandpa's 99 in .22 HP would be among the goodies. Sadly, it was not, and my next best guess is its residing with my grandpa's .270 Remmy 721 at my other uncle's. While I understand this, I find it sad as well, because he's not a "gun guy" and while they are probably adaquetly taken care of, I doubt they'll be shot much if at all, and personally....knowing my grandpa....I think he'd want them put to use, not gathering dust. I wish I was on better terms with said uncle, but, unlike his brother, he's never taken much of a liking to me for whatever reasons, so I doubt talking to him about them would accomplish much other than letting him know how badly I wanted them.

 

[Clark]

I have a number of bolt action and AR15 type 223s.

The one I like is a Ruger #1V falling block. Thousands of rodents have died.

While I used Blue Dot for years, as it keeps the barrel cool up to 100 shots per hour... but no more. Too many case head failures.

 

[fpgt72]

As I've mentioned elsewhere, I was passed on several firearms from my uncle. The guns were held as the estate was settled, but I was given access to his reloading/gun room and told to take what I wanted....lo and behold, I found a box of .22 HP factory loads, a box of reloads, and some empty cases. I was hoping against hope this meant my grandpa's 99 in .22 HP would be among the goodies. Sadly, it was not, and my next best guess is its residing with my grandpa's .270 Remmy 721 at my other uncle's. While I understand this, I find it sad as well, because he's not a "gun guy" and while they are probably adaquetly taken care of, I doubt they'll be shot much if at all, and personally....knowing my grandpa....I think he'd want them put to use, not gathering dust. I wish I was on better terms with said uncle, but, unlike his brother, he's never taken much of a liking to me for whatever reasons, so I doubt talking to him about them would accomplish much other than letting him know how badly I wanted them.

I hear what you are saying....people get....well for lack of a better word....mean, nasty, stupid, selfish, greedy, aholes....or just jerks after someone dies.

What I would do just in passing is say....hay if you ever decide to get rid of grandpa's ole 99 give me a ring.....and just leave it at that....nothing more.

Find out today if I get lucky on the 99 I am currently hunting in 22hp....next target is a 220 swift.....and you know the funny thing, I only hunt paper and metal.

 

[RussellC]

As I've mentioned elsewhere, I was passed on several firearms from my uncle. The guns were held as the estate was settled, but I was given access to his reloading/gun room and told to take what I wanted....lo and behold, I found a box of .22 HP factory loads, a box of reloads, and some empty cases. I was hoping against hope this meant my grandpa's 99 in .22 HP would be among the goodies. Sadly, it was not, and my next best guess is its residing with my grandpa's .270 Remmy 721 at my other uncle's. While I understand this, I find it sad as well, because he's not a "gun guy" and while they are probably adaquetly taken care of, I doubt they'll be shot much if at all, and personally....knowing my grandpa....I think he'd want them put to use, not gathering dust. I wish I was on better terms with said uncle, but, unlike his brother, he's never taken much of a liking to me for whatever reasons, so I doubt talking to him about them would accomplish much other than letting him know how badly I wanted them.

Cash is a great mediator. Unless he is flush...some folks just cant resist converting something they dont use into cash. Given the situation, I would be prepared to pay full market value.

Russellc

 

[Cannibul]

I think I found my rifle.

CVA Scout Compact. Comes in .223 with a 1:10 twist. Just over $200. I don't mind the single shot aspect of it either.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

That will only fill up about 20% of a 223 case.
Red Dot is an extremely fast shotgun powder. Rifle powders are much slower. Those fast shotgun powders are OK for low pressure pistol cartridges but I wouldn't want to experiment with them in a rifle case. I like all of my fingers.

How far is one willing to go to save a buck? I guess the skies the limit.

Red Dot is a popular powder for cast bullets in rifles. In general, you want a small charge of fast-burning powder to cause the bullet to upset quickly and seal the bore.

 

[clearcut]

I find a light pistol or shotgun powder load to be a lot of fun with all kinds of rifles with cast bullets.Cheap too!

CC

 

[CoalTrain49]

Red Dot is a popular powder for cast bullets in rifles. In general, you want a small charge of fast-burning powder to cause the bullet to upset quickly and seal the bore.

I must be living in the wrong part of the world.

Although I've only been actively shooting HP rifle for about 3 years at a range I've never seen anyone using lead in a .223. I have seen some in slower rifle cartridges, mostly 30 cal and larger.

We have a pretty good cross section of shooters at my club, about 550 members.