Cast bullet question.

[J23]

I am thinking about loading some cast bullets in my winchester 94 30-30. Initially, I was going to buy some pre-cast like oregon laser-cast, ect... to see if I can get anywhere with them, then maybe move onto casting. Here is my question...

will these bullets actually expand in game at rifle velocities... ~1600-1900fps? All of them are listed as Hard cast... and I know that when I cast my own, they will have to be a certain bhn hardness so they dont lead the hell out of my barrel. But will they still expand? Since they are mainly to be used for deer...that is a concern.

Thanks,
Joe

 

[SASS#23149]

not an answer to your question,but...

I"d steer clear of that 1900fps unless using gas checked bullets.Opinions will vary on this,but that is mine anyhoo.

you raise an interesting point on expansion.I'll take some water jugs to shoot...lined up..and see what mine do at the range real soon.

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

You might want to pose the question where there are many veteran casters..

http://castboolits.gunloads.com

-Steve

 

[qajaq59]

The Oregon cast bullets are really hard so you're not likely to get much expansion. However, they are great for target practice when you add a gas check to them because you can push them harder. I use up at least a 100 a week in my Winchester 30-30. I have them loaded so they pretty much hit at the same place as my Hornady jacketed bullets. That way I can practice with the cheaper cast and hunt with the jackets.

If you're going to hunt with cast though I'd suggest a softer lead and a slower speed.

Clean your barrel well when you go from the jacketed to the lead and keep the velocities down. That way you can avoid most of the leading problems associated with the softer lead.

 

[Galil5.56]

Do you know the stated diameter of these bullets? If going plain, I like to see .310"/.311", or even more depending on actual groove diameter. I wonder about the lube used, and if it's made to look nice and withstand shipping, or a bit softer and more effective IMO.

I used a lot of 150 grain plain base cast bullets I made using gallery weight charges of Red dot and Unique, and they did not lead using soft 50/50 Alox and beeswax. These same bullets with gas checks added, and using more potent charges of 2400 resulted in no leading either using WW's alloyed with a little Linotype. No such thing as a chronograph for me 25 years ago when I used these rounds a lot, so I can not comment on actual performance.

 

[Phil A]

I have used Laser cast .30 cal bullets with crimp-on gas checks at velocities of 1600fps to 1900fps. I added a good lube to the last groove just in front of the check. They are fairly hard at about 16bhn so don't expect expansion. I did not notice any leading in my 94 with a finished diameter of .310. Not a bad way to start before you get into casting your own. - Phil

 

[snuffy]

For less than 100 bucks you could be casting your own boolits. Below are three items from lee that would get you started with a 170 grain lead boolit, that's capable of taking a gas check. You do NOT have to put a gas check on it. However you would have to if you're going over 1600 fps. The gas checks are 24.99 for the Hornady crimp on GC.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=645810&t=11082005

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=501819&t=11082005

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=574963&t=11082005

Those laser cast boolits will NOT expand. Period! In order to get expansion from an all-lead boolit, it has to be near pure lead. Then it couldn't be pushed very hard,(fast), so your energy would be lacking. So would the trajectory.

There's been many attempts over the years to make a 2 piece boolit, the driving bands cast of very hard metal, while the nose is cast of pure lead, sometimes with a hollow pointed nose. Then the two pieces are glued or swagged together. Other attempts with a hard alloy is poured first, then a soft alloy is poured while the first alloy is still molten, have been tried. neither was very successful.

Nose configuration is more important than expansion in lead boolits. Wide, flat, meplats cause hydraulic shock waves in flesh.

The lee boolit I linked to above, would be a good one for the thutty-thutty. It could be driven to normal 30-30 velocities, if cast of wheel weights, and have plenty of energy to kill cleanly. You WILL NOT see any bang---flops like you would with jacketed bullets. But the wound channel would bleed the deer out in a couple of minutes.

Everybody knows a deer can run a considerable distance in a couple of minutes, so get ready to track a bit.