What rifle for exploring the joys of casting boolits

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R.W.Dale said:
Yes you cast and then powdercoat the bullets. If properly done it ELIMINATES all potential leading issues associated with cast.

It's a new technique and the limits are still being explored but basically it allows you to drive softer bullets faster with no concern of leading. The only variable left to sort out is accuracy. Hence a the need for a good variable free testbed.

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Wow! It has been 30 years since I cast and shot lead bullets for my .308 and I had no idea people are now using powder coating for lubrication. Fascinating, I hope it works as well for bullets and it does steel gates and doors. Thanks R.W. Dale for expanding my Universe.
 
After speaking with a renounced LGS it looks like the 300bo ruger may be awhile out.

If it's any indication they are still waiting for the predator models introduced a couple months ago.


SO

I happen to agree that a 30-30 for various reasons is a near ideal cast bullet cartridge. If I were to order a 26" MGM encore barrel in the cartridge would a 1-10 twist suffice to run the entire range of weights?
 
In my experience the .30-06 would be ideal for your needs. A bolt action with a reputation for accuracy (Savage, Tikka,etc.) will work. Any BP cartridge such as .32-40, .38-55, .45-70 would be easy to adapt to your needs. The '06 is cheaper to shoot has nearly unlimited load combinations thanks to the many moulds,powders, and loading data available.
Casting "Boolits" under .30 cal for accuracy requires careful technique, and is not easy.
My 2 groove '03-A3 shooting 160 gr Lee round nose, gas checked Boolits over 13gr of Green Dot will print 1" groups at 50 yards. Cost; 10 cents per round. :D
 
In my experience, a rimmed cartridge is a real plus for cast boolits. I say this because if the cartridge headspaces on the rim, you will avoid the incipient case head separations that are indemic to low pressure cast boolit loads when the cartridge headspaces on the shoulder of the case.

A 30-30 would be fun, and with heavier cast bullets you can still shoot higher pressure to eke out good performance without exceeding the velocity limitations that cast bullets bring with them.

Else a 357 magnum, or maybe even a 303 British or 7.62x54r. With that last one you pretty much will want a pretty heavy bullet as it has a relatively large capacity powder cavity.

Have fun.
 
Well you'd all be pleased to hear I ordered a 26" match grade machine bbl in 30-30

In my opinion the long neck moderate pressure, smaller case volume and rim make it the optimal medium bore cast caliber.
 
How about a 7.62x39 (maybe a cz527) or a .303. You could cast them at .308 and the coating would bring them up to .310 or .311
 
Well you'd all be pleased to hear I ordered a 26" match grade machine bbl in 30-30
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For the Encore or Savage bolt gun? If Savage - what bolt face and magazine will you use?
 
For some reason, I had this picture of you taking your Savage 10 and making into a 30/30. :)
 
That was my conclusion - I figured if it was possible you'd have been the one to figure it out. Feeding a rimmed cartridge from a box magazine is also a challenge if the magazine isn't designed to prevent rim lock.

I've long jonesed for a modern bolt gun in 30/30.
 
Who came up with the brilliant idea of calling cast lead projectiles "boolits"??? I don't get it, just sounds stoopid to me.
 
>enter rant mode here<

One that teaches you to drop the childish "Boolets" spelling and to use correctly spelled English? "Boolets" is the shooters version of wearing your pants hanging down to your knees. Everyone but the person doing it thinks it's a stupid affectation.

>exit rant mode here<




On to what I would start casting bullets for: I'd pick a .45-70, myself. Old things for old things, so to speak. Lots of different weights and profiles to play with, and great guns to shoot them with. You might even try some black powder for fun.


Willie

.
 
ok i didn't read all the posts but you have in Encore so just buy a new barrel
and scope it. have MGM make you a barrel me i would get a 30/06 24" full bull
 
neat and obscure caliber for single shot...I would suggest perhaps a 357 Max?

357/44 Bain and Davis?
357 Herrett?

Rifle?

Winchester Model 94 in .32 Winchester Spl?

How bout an old beater mauser and ream the chamber to 8mm/06?

perhaps an 80's to 90's bolt rifle Rem or Win in 25/06? Plenty of quarter bore molds out there to play with if I remember correctly.



My "holy grail" rifle would be a Model 95 in 405 Winchester...I would love to work some cast loads up for that sweetie.

Of course I will have to submit to funding concerns and go with an Encore in 405. :)
 
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I think I got lost in the weeds reading through all these posts, but let me just say that my favorite rifles to shoot cast bullets are an 03-A3 and a 96 Krag (I have a M1903 that I haven't shot cast out of, for some reason). Using the Lyman 311291 and usually 2400, I can easily get 2" at 100 yds off the bench. Recoil is nil, and I love the whole cast bullet thing. My vote would be a 30-06 (which a lot of the posts also recommended) because of the wide variety of bullets available, including the 220 gr 311331.

I have been using coated bullets for years - not the coatings you use, but the graphitic mold dropout spray available from several sources (Midway, Dillon, couple others). I take the bullets as they drop from the mold, stand them up on an old cookie sheet or baking tin, spray them, let them dry, and load them up. Zero leading in any of the rifles I've used (30-06, 30-40, 303, 7.92x57, 45-70) and accuracy is excellent. I am not sure that it is any better than standard rifle lube, but it lets me skip the lubri-sizer & shoot most of the bullets as cast, and they fill the bore better. Just another way to skin the rabbit... :D
 
after casting bullets for years and having many moulds and sizers from .22 to .58 calibure and have enjoyed them as it lets me shoot rare and not often seen firearms at a decent price. but my favorit one has been the .45-70, lots of ex used condition equipment available at good prices at gun shows and the .45 bullets have always been easy to get ex cast bullets. eastbank.
 
I feel you made a really good choice providing you have an ideal throat on the gun. I've gotten to really like casting for a Marlin 336XLR. The 1 to 12 twist of this gun as apposed to other Marlins really shows its superiority.

On another note, the best bolt action for cast that is similar to a 30-30 would be the CZ 527 in 7.62x39. So far I can't make an inaccurate load using the cast bullets I've chosen. That is the Lee 155gr. and 160 gr. offerings sized at .312. I can get full velocity and good effect on game with these choices, and would say its probably a bit easier to do than the 30-30, which is heads an shoulders over my 2 308 Winchesters.

Have fun!
 
I owned a 7.62x39 cz Years ago and while I didn't cast at that time there was no such thing as a crappy load with jacketed


If the throat is less than optimal a throating reamer can easily rectify that.

I will likely make a chamber cast of the throat before I even shoot this bbl
 
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