Cast Bullets For .30 Mauser

[MI2600]

I was going through my reloading data and found some recipes for cast bullets in the 84 gr range, with velocities of 1100 fps and higher. I always thought 900 or so was the limit for cast.

Has anyone shot cast bullets in their Broomsticks at these velocities? Also, where might they be available? Or, are they home cast?

 

[rcmodel]

The .357 & .44 Magnum revolvers were invented & perfected with cast bullets at way higher pressure & velocity then that.

As were all the old black-powder rifle cartridges of 100+ years ago.

And also consider the lowly .22 rim-fire.
1,100 to 1,400 FPS with soft-swaged lead bullets.

You can push cast bullets to 1,800 plus, if the alloy, lube, sizing, and powder choice is right.

rc

 

[MI2600]

What hardness would be needed for 1100-1400fps?

 

[oldandslow]

mi,

I cast for several rifle calibers (30-06, 30/30, .223/556) as well as shotgun slugs and a variety of pistols. It is quite possible to get rifle velocities of 2000 ft/sec and retain accuracy. The downside is it takes a lot of work- usually heat treating your alloy to get a higher BHN (but not too hard as the boolit becomes brittle), gas-checking, lubing and getting the proper size mold so there is no leading of your barrel. Take a look at the cast boolits forum at www.castboolits.gunloads.com. They are a great help.

best wishes- oldandslow

 

[rsrocket1]

I shoot my Lee C309-113-F cast bullets at 1700 fps without gas checks, just pan lubed in 2:1 Beeswax/Vaseline and sized with the Lee push through sizer. 10g Unique and 1" groups at 50 yards without bothering to do load development. Really fun plinking load with very little recoil. 6 cents a shot is better than 22LR at todays prices. I neck size the cases and they last forever.

 

[MI2600]

I found a vendor, Magnus Bullets, that has 100gr, cast .309 bullets, for reasonable prices. They say they will be fine with the 1100-1400 fps velocity.

Has anyone dealt with them?

 

[MutinousDoug]

I always thought, when I was casting .30 cal bullets, that heaver, longer bullets shot better in my 30-30 and 308 Win than any shorter ones. I have a Lee mold, (I think 170gr or so) gas checked that worked fine at 30-30 velocities (1700-1900fps) for Cowboy Silhouettes out to 200 yds. The Silhouette game is 40 rounds down range starting at 10 rnds at 50 yds, 10 rnds at 100, 10 rnds at 150 and 10 at 200 yds. There was maybe a little leading to clean up afterwards. Admittedly, knocking over a 65# steel ram ( I'm guessing,roughly 24"x30") offhand at 200 yds may not your idea of precision but it could give you an idea of the potential.
Doug