Cast Lead Loading

[eleaf]

I'm thinking on getting in to some lead casting as a hobby and have a question or two.

For those who use lead cast bullets, do you have a rifle designated as your "lead rifle" so as to not foul up your nice rifles. I have a hard time with the idea of shoving straight lead bullets down the tube of my precision rig.

What calibers do you cast for, and why? I've been thinking 30-30 or .308, but I have a 30 caliber rifle and am looking for something a bit different. I've also considered 218 Bee, but am looking for something that can legitimately be used in the event the end of the world comes and I need to rely on my own bullets. Any suggestions?

 

[Kinsman]

Re: Cast Lead Loading

Leading of the bore is common with cast bullets, but is not necessarily a problem. Hard cast bullets and / or gas checks can reduce the leading significantly. High velocity aggravates the leading problem.
Casting your own bullets is a rewarding hobby, and a reasonably hard alloy is available as wheel weights. Adding linotype alloy will harden it even more.
I have cast many pistol bullets, but do not even own a mold for anything under .459 dia for rifle. I cast for my 45-70, 405 gr and 500 gr. using wheel weights. I keep the velocity under 1400 fps, and the recoil is mild, and no leading.
There are bullets available that are plated with copper. Not really a jacket, but will reduce the possibility of leading.
Finding bullets for under 30 cal might be a problem.
IMHO, shooting cast bullets in your precision rifle would present no problem.

 

[sst04]

Re: Cast Lead Loading

castboolits

Some of the best info on the net for casting

 

[DHDeal]

Re: Cast Lead Loading

I have cast many thousands of bullets for my BPCR's. They are a 40-65 and a 45-70. I use only 20-1 (lead/tin) and only black powder (true gunpowder). Leading is not an issue when proper shooting technique and proper lubes are used. All of my moulds are for heavy bullets, and casting and loading for them is time consuming but I enjoy it.

This is not what you are talking about I believe. In Handloader and Rifle magazines, Mike Venturino has written many articles about casting for and shooting "modern" rifles with cast bullets. Good reads and he describes it in detail.

 

[Tripwire]

Re: Cast Lead Loading

One of THE most accurate bullets I ever shot out of an old BDL .270 was a 130 grain gas checked linotype I cast from a two cavity RCBS mold. Stupid accurate......

IIRC, it was PB powder that gave me the best results.

Bore leading has validity in the argument when you poke hot loads down the barrel, or are using too soft an alloy. Use a good bullet metal (wheel weights ain't the best thing for small bore rifle accuracy), use a good lube, keep your velocities in the realm of sanity, and bore leading won't be the headache that many say it is.

As far as swapping back and forth between copper jacketed and cast...just clean it well before the switch. It's an added inconvenience but most hobbies have that sort of thing anyway.

There's nothing wrong with having a dedicated cast bullet rifle either....

As far as accuracy goes, slug your barrel and get a dimension to have a mold made. You can adjust the diameter of the bullet to some degree with the amount of tin that the bullet metal contains. The best accuracy comes from the bullet that is sized the least amount and is closest to "as cast".

 

[vinconco]

Re: Cast Lead Loading

Accuracy w/ cast bullets can be greatly increased by using a bullet that has the <span style="text-decoration: underline">bore riding forward section </span>as close to bore diameter as possible. The bore diameter is the distance between the lands, not the grooves. My 30-06 had a bore diameter of .300 and all the .30 cal molds I had made bullets with .297 forward section. Most molds produce bullets that are undersized in this area but a custom cut mold can be made to order and will be money well spent if you like shooting accurate cast bullets. In my 30 cal I used a bullet mold for a .303 brit which had a .300 forward section and a .311 in the driving bands. I sized it .309

Lead will stick to jacket fouling so all traces of jacket fouling have to be removed. Cleaning a leaded up rifle barrel will learn ya real good.

 

[eleaf]

Re: Cast Lead Loading

Many thanks for the info.

Keep it comin'.

I still think I'm likely to get a lead-only rifle!

 

[sergeant69]

Re: Cast Lead Loading

as stated above, the castboolits site is the place to go to be overwhelmed by this subject. helps if ur over 60, but not mandantory. so much infor. there on the subject its mindboggling. i had gotten away from in for years but now back for the same reason as yours. and its fun.

 

[HOGGHEAD]

Re: Cast Lead Loading

IMO you want to pick a cartridge where the standard velocities match the best velocities for cast bullets. The 35 caliber is a good beginning point. Not that smaller calibers will not shoot cast bullets well, they will. But it is harder to get an accurate load for the faster cartridges, and the smaller bullets are more difficult to cast. Take a look at the 35 calibers. The 358 Winchester or 35 Remington is a fantastic cast bullet cartridge. Especially in a short barreled carbine.

Also handgun cartridges can be an entirely different animal in a rifle with cast bullets. I really like the 45 Colt cartridge. And it makes a great revolver, rifle combination. You can easily shoot the same load in both weapons, and the rifle really helps the cartridge for longer range performance. The 45 Colt becomes a low powered 45-70 in a rifle. You can easily reproduce TrapDoor loads in the 45 Colt. And everyone knows how effective that rifle was on Buffalo and long range shooting.

Casting can be very addicitve. But casting can also make high volume shooting very affordable. I can load and shoot about 1,000 rounds of 45 Colt for about $100 with the bullets that I cast. Even less if I shoot a faster powder, butI prefer case fill over a faster powder.

If you want to be successful atcasting then be sure to spend a little extra money and buy a good quality lubri-sizer. I like the Lyman. Properly sized bullets are the real key to success in casting. Measure your bore and size your bullets .001 to.002 over the bore and go for it. Keep your velocity in the 1600 fps range and don't concern yourself with gas checks(one less cost). I have pushed properly sized and lubed bullets to 1800fps without leading, but 1600 fps is a good rule of thumb. This is with straight WW alloy. Tom.

 

[polish handgunner]

Re: Cast Lead Loading

I have a few 'dedicated' rifles for cast bullet shooting.

My Swede works well with 6.5 hard cast 'homemade' 150 grain bullets.

My Remington made 03A3 works well with either 150 grain or 200 grain hard cast 'homemade' bullets.

They are all gas checked bullets.

For my handguns i use unchecked hard cast bullets.