nody
Member
http://www.zcastbulletz.com/products.html
ZCast bullets are fairly new, with little info out on them, and are the least expensive commercial cast available by far. While not pretty, they are quite consistent, properly sized and (over) lubed, hence accurate.
A pair of ZCast 158 grain SWCs:
Note the messy magna lube and less than square edges. Still, they all mic'd right at .3580 and there was no leading at near max velocities, estimated ~1300-1400 FPS based on manual numbers.
http://www.missouribullet.com/results.php?category=5&secondary=10
For comparison, Missouri Bullet Company's ("MO," an excellent product) offering on the left, and Bulletworks ("BW," junk) on the right. MOs mic consistently at .3585 (no leading, very accurate), while the BW varies between .3550-.3570…too small and hence leaded slightly, shoulders broken down, and accuracy SUCKED!
The MO are $64/1000. The ZCast are $48/1000. 25% is nothing to sneeze at.
I took my four most accurate MO loads and loaded them with ZCast's, then at the end threw in a wildcard load using a few of my new huge stash of commie Tula Small Pistol Magnum primers.
The Tulas BTW, are copper in color (and I assume in content). Winchesters are dark brass, as are Remingtons, while CCI and Federal primers are nickel plated brass. I like the look and smoothness of seating of a non-plated primer better. The CCIs, which most folks seem to consider the gold standard in pistol primers, seated the tightest. The Tulas seated just like the Winchesters, using an RCBS hand priming tool.
The Tula packaging is identical in size, shape and type, of the Winchester box and tray, except for the label and box color of course.
The Tulas are 25% less expensive than CCI/Federal/Winchester, while Remingtons are just flat ridiculous. The Tulas functioned without a hitch.
The use of mag primers is just for availability, except for with the 296 which requires them.
**All loads were carefully developed, and you will have to work up your own. I assume no resonsibility for your loading.**
So how do the ZCast bullets shoot?
The shooting results were better than I expected after opening the box of ZCasts, 500 to a small flat rate box, 4 of those inside a medium flat rate box, for $13 postage, $109 total for 2000 bullets delivered.
Their apprearance was not a surprise. The online pictures and price had prepared me.
After my experience with the BW's, which looked bad, shot bad, and were not even cheap at $38.50/500, I was pleasantly surprised how the ZCast's functioned.
Range 50 FEET, 10 round groups, one chamber blocked, and I wish I owned a chronograph.
BTW, the ZCast appear to not cut the paper as cleanly, but that was only because the target backings were shot out.
6.5 grains of Unique
MO:
ZCast:
9.5 grains of Blue Dot
MO:
ZCast:
15.0 grains Winchester 296
MO:
ZCast:
16.0 grains Alliant 300-MP
MO: (I only have a photo of a 5 round group)
ZCast:
Once again, the quality of the MO shines, but… with the commie primers:
ZCast:
By comparison, since I dumped on BW so badly, here's what I mean.
ZCast bullets are fairly new, with little info out on them, and are the least expensive commercial cast available by far. While not pretty, they are quite consistent, properly sized and (over) lubed, hence accurate.
A pair of ZCast 158 grain SWCs:
Note the messy magna lube and less than square edges. Still, they all mic'd right at .3580 and there was no leading at near max velocities, estimated ~1300-1400 FPS based on manual numbers.
http://www.missouribullet.com/results.php?category=5&secondary=10
For comparison, Missouri Bullet Company's ("MO," an excellent product) offering on the left, and Bulletworks ("BW," junk) on the right. MOs mic consistently at .3585 (no leading, very accurate), while the BW varies between .3550-.3570…too small and hence leaded slightly, shoulders broken down, and accuracy SUCKED!
The MO are $64/1000. The ZCast are $48/1000. 25% is nothing to sneeze at.
I took my four most accurate MO loads and loaded them with ZCast's, then at the end threw in a wildcard load using a few of my new huge stash of commie Tula Small Pistol Magnum primers.
The Tulas BTW, are copper in color (and I assume in content). Winchesters are dark brass, as are Remingtons, while CCI and Federal primers are nickel plated brass. I like the look and smoothness of seating of a non-plated primer better. The CCIs, which most folks seem to consider the gold standard in pistol primers, seated the tightest. The Tulas seated just like the Winchesters, using an RCBS hand priming tool.
The Tula packaging is identical in size, shape and type, of the Winchester box and tray, except for the label and box color of course.
The Tulas are 25% less expensive than CCI/Federal/Winchester, while Remingtons are just flat ridiculous. The Tulas functioned without a hitch.
The use of mag primers is just for availability, except for with the 296 which requires them.
**All loads were carefully developed, and you will have to work up your own. I assume no resonsibility for your loading.**
So how do the ZCast bullets shoot?
The shooting results were better than I expected after opening the box of ZCasts, 500 to a small flat rate box, 4 of those inside a medium flat rate box, for $13 postage, $109 total for 2000 bullets delivered.
Their apprearance was not a surprise. The online pictures and price had prepared me.
After my experience with the BW's, which looked bad, shot bad, and were not even cheap at $38.50/500, I was pleasantly surprised how the ZCast's functioned.
Range 50 FEET, 10 round groups, one chamber blocked, and I wish I owned a chronograph.
BTW, the ZCast appear to not cut the paper as cleanly, but that was only because the target backings were shot out.
6.5 grains of Unique
MO:
ZCast:
9.5 grains of Blue Dot
MO:
ZCast:
15.0 grains Winchester 296
MO:
ZCast:
16.0 grains Alliant 300-MP
MO: (I only have a photo of a 5 round group)
ZCast:
Once again, the quality of the MO shines, but… with the commie primers:
ZCast:
By comparison, since I dumped on BW so badly, here's what I mean.
