Question about the 50 bmg

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HANDLOADER

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Ok guys and gals I have a small question to ask. In the mighty 50 can you use a cast lead bullet. I know what we are thinking is this guy is nuts but reamber I am the same person that has tried paper patching bullets for the 303 brit when there were a very lage supply of military pull down bullets on the market. It is all about having another thing to do for me. If cast bullets can be used in this caliber then what style do you think I should cast. Also if any one has tried this before please post what you think.

GOD BLESS US ALL


Handloader
 
Hmmm.....

If you could find the moulds would be the question...

There are several 50 caliber moulds out there but they are meant for the 50-70 govt. cartridge and cast out around .515 diameter while the modern 50 BMG bullet is .510 in diameter.

If you could maybe figure out some way to swag them to .510 or .511 you might be set but then with velocities in the 50 BMG running anywhere from 2,600 to 3,100 FPS you would have some pretty bad leading in your barel, even with hardcast stuff...

This 625 grain spitzer would be a good candidate
50003.jpg

Available from here: http://www.pauljonesmoulds.com/50_caliber.htm

Maybe if you could get a custom swagging die, and reduce your velocity considerably, you may be on to a good idea...:confused:
 
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Whew. It would be profitable at those wieghts to send the metal to the commodities market the way things are going.
 
Strange, Hornady seems to think .50 BMG bullets are .510".

Any road, if you call up Paul Jones, he will probably make the mould any diameter you want. So will Steve Brooks.

You might have to twist his arm to cut for a gas check, and then you have to find or make the gas checks, but that would be needed if you wanted much over black powder velocities.
 
There have been guys that have tried cast in .50 BMG, the results were mixed. Accuracy and fouling all depended on how fast you pushed them, there are molds out there for .510 for the .50 BMG.
 
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