Cast Lead Thread ?

[338MAN mk2]

The big hollow ensures a big hole at subsonic speeds.
The mold has 3 nose pins to make a big hollow 330gr, a shallow hollow 350gr and a 360gr flat nose.
I think the 350gr cup point shallow hollow will be good for moderately super speeds.
The 330gr hp is giving up a bit of paper figures smack at subsonic but has an advantage of needing less powder to push it and then has less noisy gas. Surprisingly quiet out of a suppressor

[Oldbloke]

I was given about 300 GC'd 224 lubed bullets. 54gr IIRC.

I tried them in my 223 with 7.0gr AS50n. 7.5gr works well with jacketed bullets for close work. But these cast ones were all over the target. I figure it's because they are fairly soft.

So, thinking try again with abt 5gr AS50n to slow them down.
I figure will be about 1600fps.

But will I need a filler?
If so, any suggestions?
Any other suggestions?

[Marty Henry]

1600fps is still approaching the upper limit for gas checks and way too fast for lead, even hard alloy, so they are probably stripping in the bore. You need to get down to 22lr velocities in my opinion. No filler is needed

[Oldbloke]

Yeh, I figure they will be stripping.

I'm just guessing the 1600fps.

No filler. Mmm,,sort of assumed with such light loads I would need it. Guessing the case will be less than half full if I went,,, say 4gr.

[Oldbloke]

Just looked.
Lyman says, Green dot. 6.2gr 1855fps.
So, 6 is way too much.

I'll try 3gr & 4gr. I've never tried loads that low before.

[Marty Henry]

Try them you'll like them. No filler is needed as the powder is readily ignitable and the flash from the primer is enough to start the projectile into the bore anyway. I think the idea came from making sure the powder was in close proximity to the primer which has been disproved. Possible detonation another reason given, is also evidently untrue. The filler if choice Dacron fibre melts and puts a microscopic later of itself on the bore. Ive never used fillers except with reduced black powder loads, that's usually just oatmeal and even that's probably not needed but the guy who taught me hand loading 50 years ago used it in his Snider's .

[No.3]

Red dot or similar speed powders are another option, slightly quicker than Green Dot...

[Tokoroa Cast Projectiles]

Red dot and 700X are nearly as bulky as Trail Boss, the problem is the .222 and .223 cases are too big for subsonic loads just about any amount of powder
will be supersonic,
my Lyman cast bullet manual has a 54gr bullet 4.3 grains of 700X at 1510 fps and 4.7 grains of Red dot at 1590 fps in a .222 they are start loads
the case needs to be at least 50% full of powder to be safe,
plain lead without GC can handle up to 1400 fps the barrel needs to be super clean any copper will rip lead from the bullet.

[Oldbloke]

Ok, great info.
The only fast powders I have are;
AS50n & Unique. Both pretty similar speed wise.

So,, filler is just an old wives tail?
And since they are fast should be ok to drop down to say, 3 or 4gr?

[Tokoroa Cast Projectiles]

Ok, great info.
The only fast powders I have are;
AS50n & Unique. Both pretty similar speed wise.

So,, filler is just an old wives tail?
And since they are fast should be ok to drop down to say, 3 or 4gr?

With cast bullets nearly everything is old wives tales and voodoo, unless it is stuff you have done personally doubt it,
drop your load in small increments like 2 tenths getting a stuck cast bullet out is not that hard but a jacket gunsmith only
Subsonic with jacketed is a waste of time unless using the new specially designed ones
Cast bullets are good hunting projectiles, at velocities from 1200 to 1800+, to get more power increase the bullet diameter
.30 cal is really the smallest to consider stepping up to .35-.38 is better with bullets 200 pus grains

[akaroa1]

With cast bullets nearly everything is old wives tales and voodoo, unless it is stuff you have done personally doubt it,
drop your load in small increments like 2 tenths getting a stuck cast bullet out is not that hard but a jacket gunsmith only
Subsonic with jacketed is a waste of time unless using the new specially designed ones
Cast bullets are good hunting projectiles, at velocities from 1200 to 1800+, to get more power increase the bullet diameter
.30 cal is really the smallest to consider stepping up to .35-.38 is better with bullets 200 pus grains

Real hunting projectiles calibers start with a 5 and upwards
If you must you can get away with calibers starting with .45

[Tokoroa Cast Projectiles]

Real hunting projectiles calibers start with a 5 and upwards
If you must you can get away with calibers starting with .45

I am a cheap bugger minimum powder and lead expenditure to get the job done

[akaroa1]

I am a cheap bugger minimum powder and lead expenditure to get the job done

I'm the opposite. Maximum aeration at all times is my objective

That the chest cavity has a sufficient hole that the hide can not seal it, is always my objective .

Sufficient is never sufficient for me

[Marty Henry]

So you should be able to see through them as though there's a "window on their soul" is your thinking on the matter. Admirable

[Oldbloke]

With cast bullets nearly everything is old wives tales and voodoo, unless it is stuff you have done personally doubt it,
drop your load in small increments like 2 tenths getting a stuck cast bullet out is not that hard but a jacket gunsmith only
Subsonic with jacketed is a waste of time unless using the new specially designed ones
Cast bullets are good hunting projectiles, at velocities from 1200 to 1800+, to get more power increase the bullet diameter
.30 cal is really the smallest to consider stepping up to .35-.38 is better with bullets 200 pus grains

No real intention to use them for hunting. Perhaps a rabbit, that would be it.
I have abt 300, intend to use them for plinking.