Switching to Cast Bullets for Target Loads

[Y-T71]

I loaded these .308 with home cast PC'd and GC'd Lee 170gr for use in a couple of old 1916 Spanish Mausers (converted from 7mm to .308) and a Savage 99 also in .308.

18gr of Alliant 2400 should make a nice plinker for these old rifles for not much more $ than .22lr.

Also, got all the components together to put together 1k rds of 7.62x39 for my Yugo AK with 155gr cast but just haven't got around to it yet.

 

[DMW1116]

For handguns I don’t see a reason not to switch to cast after todays tests. The Gallant cast 125 grain bullets shot a one hole group from 10 yards rested pushed by Silhouette. The HBWC were somewhat disappointing so I may keep loading them in 357 Magnum cases rather than burn more powder and bullets trying new stuff. I was also able to get my cast 9mm to work by seating them a little deeper. I need to shoot a few more but so far they’re accurate and reliable. The remaining test is the 30-30 which I’ll conduct tomorrow.

 

[DMW1116]

And what would it be without pictures.

Best Load w/ Gallant Bullets: 1/4” at 10 yards


Typical of the other loads at 10 yards: 3 together and one low.


And finally a group at 25 yards. It a bit bigger than I’d hoped but it was a different load than the best above.


Looks like the sights need to come right a couple clicks.

I don’t want to post the wadcutter loads. They did not shoot as well as the Gallant 125 grain round nose flat point from 38 Special cases. After this I’ll definitely try the Gallant bullets with the 357 Magnum data for HS-6.

 

[jmorris]

Purely in a cost basis I’m thinking of purposely switching to cast loads for most of my shooting.

That was how I got into casting. I already recycled the brass, like many people staying after matches to recover brass. Didn’t take me long to recognize that no one was going to the berm to recover bullets.

So that’s what I started doing. After a rain, they are all right there on top for the picking.



Then I built the casting machine that uses regular single and double cavity molds.

And used various tumble lubes, finding a water based lube that worked fairly well but when Donnie (Bayou Bullets) started selling Hi-Tek and I tried it, my search was over.



Then it was just a matter of automating the processes enough to where I could do the various operations concurrently, reducing the amount of my time and work it requires.



I won’t lie to you and say they are as or more accurate as quality JHP’s but I have loaded many thousands of rounds for little more than the cost of primers, powder and the coating. Until my supplies run out or I buy more that’s about $40/1000.

 

[AJC1]

High quality 9mm jacketed bullets cost around $0.11 each with shipping from RMR. I can see casting if you are retired, already have tons of lead/molds, and have FAR more time than money... but it's not worth my time to cast vs. buying a superior jacketed bullet from RMR.

What I can see... is a prepper wanting an unlimited supply of bullets he can make himself. Several hundred pounds of wheel weights, along with all the molds it takes to make those bullets might be a fun project.

This is what I consider mostly accurate... should you be shooting stuff that rmr makes then they are absolutely the best option... I Shot their 9mm when I had one and currently shoot their 69 smk clone...

Casting in a prepper ideology is to narrow of a focus... cast to have a consistent supply of the same bullet not requiring constant workups is a good component saving maneuver. Casting for bullets that are not widely available cheap is more get in where I fit in... .355 is everywhere cheap in every configuration. .358 used to be as popular is now much more difficult to find.

 

[Y-T71]

This is what I consider mostly accurate... should you be shooting stuff that rmr makes then they are absolutely the best option... I Shot their 9mm when I had one and currently shoot their 69 smk clone...

Casting in a prepper ideology is to narrow of a focus... cast to have a consistent supply of the same bullet not requiring constant workups is a good component saving maneuver. Casting for bullets that are not widely available cheap is more get in where I fit in... .355 is everywhere cheap in every configuration. .358 used to be as popular is now much more difficult to find.

Don't discount the fact that I (and probably many other) just simply enjoy casting

 

[AJC1]

Don't discount the fact that I (and probably many other) just simply enjoy casting

I'm a strange bird and enjoy the casting and reloading more than shooting.... my dream job would be lead mechanic on a formula 1 or motogp team... technical success his very fulfilling

 

[n2omike]

This is what I consider mostly accurate... should you be shooting stuff that rmr makes then they are absolutely the best option... I Shot their 9mm when I had one and currently shoot their 69 smk clone...

Casting in a prepper ideology is to narrow of a focus... cast to have a consistent supply of the same bullet not requiring constant workups is a good component saving maneuver. Casting for bullets that are not widely available cheap is more get in where I fit in... .355 is everywhere cheap in every configuration. .358 used to be as popular is now much more difficult to find.

I can see this... especially if you're into 45 Colt or something where the bullets are going to be harder to find and more expensive to buy. That, and some people just like to cast as a hobby. I use to cast round balls for muzzle loaders on the kitchen stove years ago... and that was kind of fun. They worked fine, but store bought swaged ones made for the best accuracy. Definitely good technique, dedication and extra steps beyond simple casting for best results. lol

JMorris... That Youtube video is AMAZING! You 'da MAN!

 

[Seedy Character]

99% of what I shoot is POWDER COATED.

.30-06 and .30-30 are outstanding, using 120gr and loaded to 2600 and 2300 fps.

I haven't shot .223 because I don't have any.

I buy mine. I don't have equipment or time to cast. Powder coated some. I would rather buy them ready to load.

 

[Y-T71]

I'm a strange bird and enjoy the casting and reloading more than shooting.... my dream job would be lead mechanic on a formula 1 or motogp team... technical success his very fulfilling

I'm right there with you!

I've probably given away more home cast (and PC'd) bullets to my friends than I've shot.

And they love it...

ETA: and that's paid off because every now and then there's a bucket of wheelweights, pile of lead flashing or lead water pipe sitting by my garage door when I come home from work.

 

[EMC45]

I cast for everything I shoot. For the savings and the variety.

 

[DMW1116]

The powder coated 135 grain load for my 30-30 turned in another excellent performance. Three shots in 2 holes and one I pulled due to sloppy trigger finger placement. Thanks to my new Williams sights I finally got the cast loads to zero.

I may need another Skinner front Patridge sight blade. In my effort to zero my old sights I may have filed off too much to the point I can’t zero for jacketed bullets now. Some full power loads were about 16” higher. The rear sight might go back down enough to zero them but I’ll need another trip to find out.

 

[P Flados]

DMW,

Congrats on finding cast loads that you are happy with.

 

[DMW1116]

I have to scrub the 336 tomorrow but so far it seems these are consistent. The one on the left at the bottom picture is the one I pulled. The holes in the middle are the 3 shots in 2 holes. The one on the right is 110 grain full power load. It’s the one shooting about 16” high.

 

[DMW1116]

It looks like we have a winner. I cleaned the 336 and it took 3 patches to clean plus another dry to wipe and oil the bore. Nothing compared to the marathon session I had with my first attempt at cast loads. I found 3 flecks of what was probably lead but the first time I tried the patches came out looking like black glitter.

So now I suppose I’ll shoot cast for probably everything but my ARs. I do need to check and see if the H335 load will maybe shoot the same or a little better. It showed promise in testing the first batch but I only made 6 rounds so it wasn’t enough to really know. That might be a good powder to try with some Missouri Bullet Co. 165 grain Marlin sized bullets.