Cast bullet loads??

[imarangemaster]

Thanks for the info, guys. I think plated will be the way to go. After I get a barrel and BCG for my next AR build (before they get extinct), I'll accumulate the stuff to reload for the carbine. The weather is awful, so I won't be doing any shooting for awhile.

[imarangemaster]

Well, I have dies (including a LEE factory crimp die) case trimmer, and 1,000 plated 110/.308 bullets inbound. I already have WW296, 2400, and Unique, and 500 small rifle primers. I think I will tumble my brass and check length while I am waiting for the dies and bullets. I'll try the 14.7 of 296 with the plated bullets, and see what I get. I may try some Unique loads, too, just because I have a lot of it on hand.

[Wineman]

Try this article:

http://www.castpics.net/subsite2/ByF...%20Carbine.pdf

I use 11 of Alliant 2400 under the 115 Moly Bear bullet. Just watch the seat depth so that the bolt fully closes, some of the cast have a bit wider ogive and need deeper seating. You can try Unique but pressures will be too high if you try to operate the action. Like the article says, it is good for using the Carbine as a "bolt action", you will have to cycle it manually. Stay with 2400, 4227, 296/110, WC820 and you will have a happy little rifle.

Dave

[imarangemaster]

The vendor I found that had the plated bullets fizzled out. I got an email telling me that it will be 3 months or so until they actually have bullets to sell, even though they processed my payment. They actually tried to get me to send another $12 for shipping now, even thought it will be 3 months until shipping. Needless to say I requested a refund. Rather sorry way to do business, showing them available, then after getting payment, tell you it will be three months or more...

I did find 1,000 of the Bear Creek locally. I picked up another pound of 2400, to add to the half pound I had. I also picked up another 1,000 small rifle magnum primers to go with the 500 i had. Figure I might as well grab enough to load for awhile with the hysteria being what it is.

Wineman, I will try the 11 grains of 2400 load. I assume it operates the action OK, as it should be almost 1750 FPS. I am guessing I will have to use the 200 yard setting on the rear sight, instead of the 100/150 yard setting due to the slower speed and slightly heavier bullet. As long as it is close at 100, that is fine, since I never really shoot farther than that, anyway. Do you know what velocity you are getting from that load? My experience with Bear Creek moly bullets in 44-40 CAS loads is their velocity is slightly more than traditional lead bullets in 44-40.

[imarangemaster]

Loaded up 50 rounds of ammo with Bear Creek 115 grain .309 moly bullet and 11 grains of Alliant 2400, the load Wineman suggested. OAL length is 1.625 inch. That is as long as I could go not to have the chubbier bullet ogive hit the throat/rifling. I'll take them to work this week and do a test fire for function before I load up more. I am also going to load some plated 110s (when I can get them) with 14.5 of WW296.

[imarangemaster]

I was just checking my ballistic calculator, and at 100 yards the drop of the 115 lead at 1725 fps is less than an inch more than the 110 FMJ/JSP at 1925 fps. I am mildly (and happily) surprised.

I used a LEE four position turret press with auto index. First die was LEE carbide sizing/de-capping die, second was a LEE drop through powder charging die, third was LEE seating/taper crimp, and fourth was LEE factory crimp die. The taper die was set to just flatten the case against the bullet, and the factory crimp was set to just barely crimp. The factory crimp die is MUCH more forgiving of case length, but I think it crimps a little too much if you fully engage it. I use a LEE auto disk powder drop. The 2400 meters very well, with a test of 6 charges show no more than + or - .2 grains (11.0, 11.1, 11.2, 10.9, 11.0). Certainly good enough for plinking ammo. Bold edited!

[USGI]

OK, I'll bite. How are you measuring grains in hundredths? +/- a tenth is the best I can do. - Bob

[imarangemaster]

OK, I'll bite. How are you measuring grains in hundredths? +/- a tenth is the best I can do. - Bob

HAHAHAHA! UGH! I meant .1, etc. Using an RCBS scale. and .1 is what I meant. The one charge that listed as .2 over, was actually a heavy .1 grain. It would have been 10.9, not 10.99, also. Teach me to hurry. Basically + or - a tenth of a grain.

[USGI]

Heck, I was hoping you had found some new super accurate scale! I have a conventional RCBS, and a PACT digital. Each one has it's advantages and disadvantages, but I think +/- a tenth is the accuracy spec. on each. It's frustrating to use a powder trickler with the PACT - because you have to keep waiting for it to update. With the digital, you can't see when you are approaching your goal - easy to overshoot it. The tip on checking scales from LEE's Reloading Manual is a handy one - cut small 1/4" - 5/16" squares from copy or printer paper (.004") and then add them to your powder tray one at a time. You should see about a tenth grain increase on your scale with each piece of paper if the scale is responding properly. - Bob

[imarangemaster]

CAST BULLET UPDATE:

I shot 50 rounds of the 115 Bear Creek / 11 grains Alliant 2400 loads tonight. Feeding was 100% from a USGI "J" 30 round magazine. I really could not tell any difference in feel of the action cycling between the 1725 fps 115 grainers and the 1950 fps ball rounds. I was mainly just checking for function and feeding before I load more, and was only shooting at 25 yards using headlights for light, leaning through the open passenger side door of my patrol Wrangler 4X4, resting on the door through the open window .

Best 5 shot group could be covered with a 50 cent piece! Horizontally, it prints identical to 110 FMJ Remington factory. No surprise was that it centered vertically about 3/4" lower (slower, heavier bullets print lower). I am guessing my assumption is correct that I will have to use the 200 yard setting instead of the 100/150 for 100 yard shooting. The only problem I had was two failures to fire. 2/50 dead primers would be unusual, so I looked closely at the rounds. They looked like light primer strikes, which puzzled me, as hundreds of rounds have all gone bang, even 48 of the 50 reloads. I checked the crimp, and both rounds seemed to be crimped too much by the factory crimp die. If it is too crimped, it will screw up the head spacing! I suspect the rounds are too tapered. I really think with the .309 cast bullets, I may just use the taper crimp, BARELY crimping, since the case mouth is sized .307, and the projectiles are snug in the cases already. The LEE factory crimp die seems to put a VERY heavy crimp on it, especially considering the 30 Carbine headspaces on the case mouth.