Ugly Sauce
Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2020
- Messages
- 6,180
DISCLAIMER: I have no desire, plans, inclinations or any tendency to shoot a wolf, unless attacked by said wolf. I do not want to shoot a wolf. !!!
I have been casting bullets since forever, but I knew that casting tiny bullets would be a challenge. My first problem was that on the wife's new kitchen stove, it just doesn't get as hot as the old stove, so my melt was under my normal casting temp. This resulted in the bases of the bullets not filling out completely. This was in a round nose, .224" 55 grain GC mold. They dropped from the mold at exactly .224".
So, just for fun, I loaded one case with a newly cast bullet, and just the primer. Expected it to stick in the barrel. However, with hardly any muzzle report, and what sounded like a squib, I broke the action (NEF) and was surprised to see a clear bore. As I did not shoot it at a target, I didn't know if it tumbled or not.
Then I loaded three up over three grains of Unique, planning to load down from there. My "target" velocity that I am "aiming" for is around 800fps. The first shot went exactly to POA at 15 yards, cut a clean hole, but the next two tumbled, and leaded the first inch of the bore badly. !! Dang it. I could tell from the muzzle report that these were much hotter than what I was "shooting" for. !
I then cut three bullets down to a single groove bullet (cut it at the second lube groove) of about 40 grains RN bullet and loaded them over one grain of Unique. Without belling the mouths, these did not seat straight, but did not tumble either. However, they shot into a horizontal spread or group of 3"+, not quite minute of grouse. I may experiment with this load later. If I can seat them straight, they may shoot minute of grouse.
In the mean time, I ordered some bullets from Graff's, I forget if it was a Sierra or Speer, but it's a jacketed 43 grain flat-nose bullet, nice and short, and if I can get it down to 900fps without sticking it in the barrel, (which shouldn't be a problem) I think it would be gentle enough on grouse. I shot some grouse with my .22LR Airlite pistol this last hunting season, with the Winchester 36 grain hollow point load, "normal" .22LR velocity, and they were "gentle" enough. From that three inch barrel I figure the velocity was around 900fps, (?) maybe a bit more, so I think I'll be okay with that velocity out of the NEF/Hornet. I'm going to try it at least before going back to cast bullets.
Thanks for listening, and I'd like to give a shout out to J.Shirley, best moderator in the universe, bar none!!!!
I have been casting bullets since forever, but I knew that casting tiny bullets would be a challenge. My first problem was that on the wife's new kitchen stove, it just doesn't get as hot as the old stove, so my melt was under my normal casting temp. This resulted in the bases of the bullets not filling out completely. This was in a round nose, .224" 55 grain GC mold. They dropped from the mold at exactly .224".
So, just for fun, I loaded one case with a newly cast bullet, and just the primer. Expected it to stick in the barrel. However, with hardly any muzzle report, and what sounded like a squib, I broke the action (NEF) and was surprised to see a clear bore. As I did not shoot it at a target, I didn't know if it tumbled or not.
Then I loaded three up over three grains of Unique, planning to load down from there. My "target" velocity that I am "aiming" for is around 800fps. The first shot went exactly to POA at 15 yards, cut a clean hole, but the next two tumbled, and leaded the first inch of the bore badly. !! Dang it. I could tell from the muzzle report that these were much hotter than what I was "shooting" for. !
I then cut three bullets down to a single groove bullet (cut it at the second lube groove) of about 40 grains RN bullet and loaded them over one grain of Unique. Without belling the mouths, these did not seat straight, but did not tumble either. However, they shot into a horizontal spread or group of 3"+, not quite minute of grouse. I may experiment with this load later. If I can seat them straight, they may shoot minute of grouse.
In the mean time, I ordered some bullets from Graff's, I forget if it was a Sierra or Speer, but it's a jacketed 43 grain flat-nose bullet, nice and short, and if I can get it down to 900fps without sticking it in the barrel, (which shouldn't be a problem) I think it would be gentle enough on grouse. I shot some grouse with my .22LR Airlite pistol this last hunting season, with the Winchester 36 grain hollow point load, "normal" .22LR velocity, and they were "gentle" enough. From that three inch barrel I figure the velocity was around 900fps, (?) maybe a bit more, so I think I'll be okay with that velocity out of the NEF/Hornet. I'm going to try it at least before going back to cast bullets.
Thanks for listening, and I'd like to give a shout out to J.Shirley, best moderator in the universe, bar none!!!!
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