First shots with Cast Bullets

[Wolfdog91 7,080]

Well finally got this video all done up. Sorry for the crappy audio I really need to get a better mic

 

[KimE 487]

Nice to see them working. How much cleaning did you have to do? You were pushing the bullets way to fast, did you clean between the test series? Were the failing rounds to long or did you have to light neck tension? As for weapon technology thats almost as good as a Husqvarna model 1860.

[Wolfdog91 7,080]

28 minutes ago, KimE said:

Nice to see them working. How much cleaning did you have to do? You were pushing the bullets way to fast, did you clean between the test series? Were the failing rounds to long or did you have to light neck tension? As for weapon technology thats almost as good as a Husqvarna model 1860.

After the first ten nother really extra. , I had mixed this upper with with my 7.62x39 upper and didn't clean it like I should have. So already had 200 or so rounds on the barrel.That being said when I cleaned it after the first ten I couldn't find any leading. The unburnt powder was a pain but other than that  couple of patches it was just fine.

I did not clean ( the barrel that is) after each set. After talking to alot of target shooters, experienced reloaders and from my experience with regular reloading  if the barrel has to be super clean to shoot good that load is too finicky. 

As far as speed , wasn't really trying to get the super fast velocities. Would have been more than happy with 2300fps but wanted to try the full loads I was reccomeded. Again Hard cast and powder coat is a bit if a different animal than traditional cast.

As far as the failed rounds not sure thinking the first on was seated to far and once it pulled and got powder everywhere it just caused more problems. Not sure what could have happened though. All these should have been seated at the same depth mabye I didn't add put enough pressure on the 2015 set.  Again eveything I did to the first set of Win 748 was the same with the accurate 2015's on difference was powder weight. 

But hay thats part of the fun right lol ? Honestly if I had shot nothing but one hole groups and eveything  worked perfectly I'd probably loose interest

Still haven't cleaned the gun think I'll do that  on another video

[Sausagedog 7,381]

I no longer recommend  seating bullets close to the lands. To much risk of a major stoppage.

Seat them deep. Better initial ignition and well clear of the throat

[Sausagedog 7,381]

Think I would switch to an extruded powder too

[Wolfdog91 7,080]

9 hours ago, Sausagedog said:

I no longer recommend  seating bullets close to the lands. To much risk of a major stoppage.

Seat them deep. Better initial ignition and well clear of the throat

I might but I just don't know, something else has to be going on. If 30 before worked just fine at the same depth something else has to be up

And I'm looking into extruted powder but only thing I think I got right now is Varget and I'm trying to save that, stuff is like a brick of gold now days

[Sausagedog 7,381]

Your issues are very similar issues one can get with spherical powders in rifle.

They like a full case and initial pressure.  Cast and plastic dont offer the initial resistance that a metal clad bullet does and so irregular pressure curves develope that the shooter can hardly detect! A magnum primer may help.

Extruded, other than really slow ones is easier to light up.

A2400 or reloader1. H322, H4227 ( if you can find some).

Even blue dot should work used with caution.

[David.evans 5,323]

You do now your stuff SD , I ant got a clue about your talking about 

Atb mate

[Sausagedog 7,381]

42 minutes ago, David.evans said:

You do now your stuff SD , I ant got a clue about your talking about 

Atb mate

I'm out of date with it all mate.

The last cast bullets I used were in a 30/30 and i used blue dot magnum shotgun powder. They were very accurate.

[Meece 1,957]

Oh how this takes me back to the weeks and months out on ranges and the field loading and testing numerous powders and bullet combinations to come up with best loads for my rifles.  This setup you have is really good.  I had a chronograph but no direct communication with the target end.  We used a pair of walkie talkies with the spotter standing out to the side.  I used to use the back a roll of wall paper and put stickers onto it so as to keep all of the data in one place for comparison.  god knows how much I spent on all of this stuff.  I quite agree with KIM E in that I think that You were pushing the bullets way to fast for a cast load and also out of a short barrel with a 1 in 7 twist to get consistent results.  I know that powders and bullets are in short supply which we in the UK must find surprising. from your previous post I know that you consider this as sort of plinking and good fun but surely the main objective of reloading must be to achieve a super accurate round that is more accurate than the ability of most shooters .  considering the side wind condition I think that I would have brought the truck up alongside to shelter the shooting position from the buffeting.  still a really good vid which is interesting for us to see.  thank you for taking the time and effort to set it all up for us.  From looking back at my own experiments the main advice that I would offer is to really concentrate on writing down very clearly all of the data, date sequence and observations from the test because you will look back at these results and sort of get into a compete muddle with it all and say what the hell did that mean or I wrote down different details which cant be cross referenced to make sense or comparison viable.  Keep going because it's fun. >>> and expensive.  Do you have a bolt action available. 

PS  I never had much success accuracy wise with 748.  it just didn't produce consistent accuracy or fps muzzle velocity.  I try to load the tips about 20 thou off of the lands for the best results.

Edited February 16, 2021 by Meece

[Wolfdog91 7,080]

On 15/02/2021 at 15:21, Sausagedog said:

Your issues are very similar issues one can get with spherical powders in rifle.

They like a full case and initial pressure.  Cast and plastic dont offer the initial resistance that a metal clad bullet does and so irregular pressure curves develope that the shooter can hardly detect! A magnum primer may help.

Extruded, other than really slow ones is easier to light up.

A2400 or reloader1. H322, H4227 ( if you can find some).

Even blue dot should work used with caution.

Hmm makes sense. Had someone suggest I keep using the same load but use some dacron as a filler like in black powder but honestly if I gotta do that much extra meh. I do have some H322 I bought a while back and since I have no real Purpose for it ( gun shop guy sold it to me 75% of and could refuse lol) might have to try that

[Wolfdog91 7,080]

7 hours ago, Meece said:

Oh how this takes me back to the weeks and months out on ranges and the field loading and testing numerous powders and bullet combinations to come up with best loads for my rifles.  This setup you have is really good.  I had a chronograph but no direct communication with the target end.  We used a pair of walkie talkies with the spotter standing out to the side.  I used to use the back a roll of wall paper and put stickers onto it so as to keep all of the data in one place for comparison.  god knows how much I spent on all of this stuff.  I quite agree with KIM E in that I think that You were pushing the bullets way to fast for a cast load and also out of a short barrel with a 1 in 7 twist to get consistent results.  I know that powders and bullets are in short supply which we in the UK must find surprising. from your previous post I know that you consider this as sort of plinking and good fun but surely the main objective of reloading must be to achieve a super accurate round that is more accurate than the ability of most shooters .  considering the side wind condition I think that I would have brought the truck up alongside to shelter the shooting position from the buffeting.  still a really good vid which is interesting for us to see.  thank you for taking the time and effort to set it all up for us.  From looking back at my own experiments the main advice that I would offer is to really concentrate on writing down very clearly all of the data, date sequence and observations from the test because you will look back at these results and sort of get into a compete muddle with it all and say what the hell did that mean or I wrote down different details which cant be cross referenced to make sense or comparison viable.  Keep going because it's fun. >>> and expensive.  Do you have a bolt action available. 

PS  I never had much success accuracy wise with 748.  it just didn't produce consistent accuracy or fps muzzle velocity.  I try to load the tips about 20 thou off of the lands for the best results.

Well thank you very much ! I try to cover all my bases ,and I know what you mean about money. Get asked all the time how much money I save reloading and I just have to laugh. But I love it. Some of my crappiest rounds still shoot better than factory in some of my guns.

As far as pushing them fast I gotta say yes and no. Personally I'd babe no desire to put them at the 2500fps. At least not this Bullet. I think it's just too short to stabilize at that speed with my barrel. The hard cast and PC and handle it duribility was but other than that  I prefer to keep it under 2200. Seems like it's enough to run my bolt and should be good enough at 100-200. Now I do have a 61 grain mold i think will do better at higher speeds and I'm currently looking at a some different molds with longer bering surfaces. The Lee Bullet I'm using only has 2 driving bands that acty grip the rifling and I think that's part of the problem with higher velocities. Think these might be a bit better.

That being said I just talked to one guy who was pushing his cast .223 at 3000fps and got these group at 100yd

But he's using a 1:9 AR and he'd doing a few things that I have no desire to lol.

Now as far as the truck a tried but the wind was kinda doing a swirl type thing and was a pain to try and block.the way I had the truck did buffer a good bit but as you can tell it was a windy day . And yes the whole objective if this is to make a good accurate round with cast that will function out if an AR-15. Also of it is basically just trying to make it work because everyone says it won't lol. Had one "purist" caster tell me I'd never get a group better than 5" @50 and wouldn't be able to run a semi autos you can see I proved him wrong that being said I don't think I could make this perticular bullet and gun to shoot less than 1"@ 100 o know guys with longer barrels and slower twist have gotten 1/2" with the same bullet but just don't think it's gonna be there for me. 

AAnd your right about the notes , I actually need to start a new note book but the videos will help me keep track of everything . I was actually resizing brass yesterday and got confused about some measurements and had to go and re watch the video so I could notate it in my note book lol.

and yes I do have some bold action that I'm looking at  but none in .223. bolt action.223s are actually a little harder to just find in stores ( can have them ordered no problem) than other calibers. Think it's because the AR-15 has basically become THE RIFLE you use chambered in that caliber. That being said I man looking tiny either a Mossberg patriot or Savage axis in .223. their cheap and have lots of after market part I can tinker with  

As far as my bolt guns I have a sporterized M1917 in 30-06 ,a Mossberg patriot in.243 and a sporterized Mosin in 7.62x54r ( which really needs to see a gun smith because the last owner took a hack saw to the barrel  and it really needs a re crown and some tother stuff). Eveything else is a semi auto or,single shot or rimfire.

And yes I know I really need to repaint my wall 

And I'm glad to hear your enjoying the video !

[Meece 1,957]

Don't be concerned about the paint on the wall or sound quality or having a load of different  guns. I'd  rather have  one gun which I  knew that I could take out a rat at 100 paces with consistently and reliably with  one shot than spray and prey with a truck load of random guns of dubious ability. As  you previously stated in an earlier post about people won't lay out the dollar for high end stuff is probably why Remington went bust and CZ have just bought Colt. It's also the same reason that we find that American 22 ammunition is so unreliable and inaccurate.  Still it's all good fun and the interaction with you is great.

[KimE 487]

Dont use daycron or other fillers in bottleneck cartridges it may cause pressure spikes, the same if a metal gascheck come loose inside a bottleneck cartridge. Hogdon trail boss are recomended for low velosity modern cartridges.

You have a pefect object for cast bullets in your Mosin-Nagant  .311/200gr.

Is what rifle against the wall a sportizised SKS?

[Gav 1,708]

4 hours ago, Wolfdog91 said:

Now as far as the truck a tried but the wind was kinda doing a swirl type thing and was a pain to try and block.the way I had the truck did buffer a good bit but as you can tell it was a windy day .

 

Thats called cyclonic 

I want to know more about your target camera set up, I really need something as my old peepers ain't too good out to 300+ yards