#65908 - 03/06/10 11:05 PM
Cast Bullets for Hunting with a Handgun
|
Bob R
enthusiast
Registered: 03/02/10
Posts: 335
Loc: Missouri Ozarks
|
Offline
|
|
This is not a Cast vs Jacketed Bullet Post! This is just about lead bullets.
I would like to know what lead bullets you shoot. Do you cast them yourself? Bullet mold used. Bullet weight and caliber. What are you casting them from? #2 alloy, wheel weights, a custom blend you mix or buy, etc.? What bullet lube or combination of lubricants are you using, and how applied? Gas Checks or not? Your opinion on gas checks. What speed are you pushing your lead bullets if known. Accuracy of your load.
I have a Lyman 20# bottom pour pot. I have been using #2 alloy the last bullets I cast. I have a combination of Lee 6 Cavity, RCBS 2 Cavity, Lyman, and one 4 cavity Saeco moulds. Also some muzzleloader ball moulds. I have an RCBS lubricator sizer I bought probably 30 years ago. I have a heater for it that I have not installed so far.
Back to hunting Handgun Bullets. My lone hunting bullet mold is an RCBS 44-240 SWC Gas Check Mould. Bullets have been cast from it with #2 alloy as well as wheel weights. For lube the last I used was Green RCBS #80008 that could be 30 years old, I also have some Tamarack (brown) "Probably need to pitch it", and I just bought some Blue Angel. I also have lots of Lee Tumble Lube and Rooster Jacket. I think I will use the RCBS Pistol Lube in the Lubricator/Sizer, and then coat with Rooster Jacket.
NOTE: I was just on the Missouri Bullet web site. They sell #2 alloy in 66 Pound batches for casters. Handy to know.
I have had a young man with more time than I casting my Pistol Match Bullets using my 357/158, 40/170, and 45/230 moulds.
I have not blown the dust off my equipment in close to 10 years. I think I will change that, and start casting some hunting bullets in the next few months.
Your Turn
_________________________
See You At The Range
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#65912 - 03/07/10 05:50 AM
Re: Cast Bullets for Hunting with a Handgun
[Re: Bob R]
|
wapitirod
Distinguished Master
Registered: 01/19/05
Posts: 5169
Loc: Tillamook, Oregon
|
|
Offline
|
|
I run several hard cast loads all of which are either Cast Performance or Oregon Trail True Shots. I'm actually starting to swing more over to the Oregon trail stuff when I can but they don't have the selection CP does. I shoot a 430 True Shot out of my Marlin 1895 LTD at over 2100 fps and I have no leading problems as the True Shots are very hard with a Brinnel hardness of 24 (I believe CP is 18 but don't quote me on that). Accuracy at a 100yds with with a Williams peep sight is around 3-4" depending on me and I'm sure with a scope it come in under 2". I also load 425gr CP's for my 475's. I'm now using the 425 gr primarily and 25yd groups with my 4 and 5/8ths barreled gun go around 2" with my 6" gun scoped with a 2X Leupold the best I've shot was around 6" at 100yds running these at about 1350. I played with the 375gr CP's and had about the same experience and then I tried some 355gr True Shots and the velocity is 1550 and about 4" groups at 100yds. I'm still playing with loads for my 500's, so far I've only shot the 435gr CP's and had pretty good luck and I've loaded some 187gr CP's in 357 but I haven't tried them yet as I was down to two 357's and now one is a 44spcl and the other is a 454 Casull(ever since I got my machine tools I can't leave anything alone). All the bullets listed are gas checked and I believe they do help in preventing leading but I've never shot their counterparts without checks so I can't speak to differences in accuracy, velocity and such. Hope this helped.
_________________________
I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.- John Wayne http://www.dixiefirearms.net
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#65923 - 03/07/10 10:16 AM
Re: Cast Bullets for Hunting with a Handgun
[Re: wapitirod]
|
Whitworth
Shooting Master
Registered: 01/15/09
Posts: 3816
Loc: Virginia
|
Online
|
|
I cast my own for only two calibers now. I have a 265 grain mould from Ranch Dog (made by Lee) for my .44 mags that actually casts out at nearly 280 grains -- this is the max weight bullet that I steadily feed my Model 29s. It's a nice flat-nosed bullet that has proven accurate and penetrates well.
I also cast my 420 grain AWFNs (Almost a Wide Flat Nose) in .475 for my .475 Linebaugh. This bullet does not use a gas check. We use water-dropped wheel weights and they come out right around 20 BHN. This is a bullet designed by my friend and he made the mould as well. It is extremely accurate (beyond my abilities) and it hammers game very hard. I have taken deer and bundles of hogs with this bullet and it never fails to function perfectly and I have never recovered one. It will shoot at an inch or under at 50 yards all day long.
I use CP 525 grain WLNs in my .500 Linebugh and .50 Alaskan, but soon will be designing our own bullet for these two calibers in the near future to not only optimize the performance of these two revolvers, but to also save some money.
My friend also designed a great 350 grain .45 caliber bullet that I have used in my .454 (when I had a .454) that worked really well.
There are some great cast hunting bullets available commercially, but it is a lot of fun creating your own -- if you have the time.
Edited by Whitworth (03/07/10 10:17 AM)
_________________________
 Semper Fidelis
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#65932 - 03/07/10 10:47 AM
Re: Cast Bullets for Hunting with a Handgun
[Re: Whitworth]
|
KRal
Shooting Expert
Registered: 04/06/05
Posts: 3000
Loc: MS
|
|
Offline
|
|
I use Montana Bullet Works hardcast LBT w/gas check in my 44 & 475. I prefer them over Cast Performance because they're about half the price and have way more weight selections. They shoot very accurate out of my guns.
_________________________
It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#65938 - 03/07/10 11:40 AM
Re: Cast Bullets for Hunting with a Handgun
[Re: KRal]
|
MS Hitman
enthusiast
Registered: 01/18/04
Posts: 228
|
|
Offline
|
|
I sometimes cast my own Lyman/Keith bullets in .357, .44, and .45 Colt and .45 Colt Super Short (.45 Auto Rim). For my big bore revolvers, I have Ballisti Cast molds.
I use Hunter Supply, Cast Performance, and Montana Bullet Works bullets. If I dig around I will also find some bulk cast SWCs for .44 and .45 Auto.
The bullets I cast are from wheel weights mostly, I have mono and linotype if I feel the need to harden them up. I have two sizers set up; one for the hard lubes which require a heater and one for the soft lubes. The hard lube I use is Thompson Blue Angel, and Thompson Bear Cold is the soft lube. I do not own a gascheck bullet mold.
I run my bullets between 1,000 to 1,200 fps. Anymore isn't necessary and does little if anything in improving performance on game.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#65939 - 03/07/10 12:17 PM
Re: Cast Bullets for Hunting with a Handgun
[Re: MS Hitman]
|
cottonstalk
old hand
Registered: 04/16/08
Posts: 986
Loc: North Carolina
|
|
Offline
|
|
I haven't started casting yet but have given it alot of thought and may in the future.I have used Montana Bullet Works,RimRock,Mt. Baldy,Cast Performance,Miester,Hunters Supply,and a local supplier for the local gun shop.My bullets have been 240-320 in 44mag(5 1/2"bl) mostly,and 255-310 in 45colt(4 5/8"bl).Of what I have used 320WFNGC in 44mag from MBW going 1200fps is the most accurate in my bisley,and 255K w/a gc from RR going 1350fps and 310K no gc from Mt Baldy going 1050fps and 1210fps have been the most accurate in my BH.Both guns were shot with iron sights and sitting position for 2"or better groups @ 25yards.
Edited by cottonstalk (03/07/10 12:19 PM)
_________________________
"How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live"
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#65956 - 03/07/10 02:57 PM
Re: Cast Bullets for Hunting with a Handgun
[Re: cottonstalk]
|
TCTex.
Distinguished Master
Registered: 09/01/07
Posts: 5924
Loc: Texas!!!
|
|
Offline
|
|
I have been using 240 SWC in my 44 mag and 264 FNGC in my 375's.
_________________________
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote
Benjamin Franklin
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#66004 - 03/08/10 12:03 AM
Re: Cast Bullets for Hunting with a Handgun
[Re: TCTex.]
|
Bob R
enthusiast
Registered: 03/02/10
Posts: 335
Loc: Missouri Ozarks
|
|
Offline
|
|
I was wondering if my RCBS Green and Blue Angle bullet lube's were a good choice for hunting bullets when I started this post. I went to the cast bullet web site last night and did some reading. Looks like both are good to go.
_________________________
See You At The Range
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#66006 - 03/08/10 12:13 AM
Re: Cast Bullets for Hunting with a Handgun
[Re: Bob R]
|
rlb
enthusiast
Registered: 02/22/09
Posts: 294
Loc: Challis,Idaho
|
|
Offline
|
|
If you go with something like the DGL you won't have to heat it and it works just fine.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#66097 - 03/09/10 07:33 AM
Re: Cast Bullets for Hunting with a Handgun
[Re: rlb]
|
Bob R
enthusiast
Registered: 03/02/10
Posts: 335
Loc: Missouri Ozarks
|
|
Offline
|
|
After all the reading on handgun hunting with revolvers. It seems that most using a revolver in 44 Magnum prefer a bullet heavier than 240. As my only mould in 44 for a hunting bullet is an RCBS 240 SWC Gas Check, I did some looking in the Midway catalog and found a fair looking bullet that is heavier. Lee makes a big old bullet #C430-310 RF. This is listed as a 310 grain Gas Check bullet with a wide flat point. Midway only shows it in a 2 cavity.
I did some searching and found that it is made in a 6 cavity mould which is a much better constructed mould than the 2 cavity in my opinion. I did a search on the 6 cavity mould number (90227) and came up with "The Factory Store" who lists the mould for $38 without handles.
Lyman and RCBS both had a comparible bullet listed as 300 grain.
I think I will give the Lee 310 a try.
_________________________
See You At The Range
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
Moderator: Gary, Dan B., ClayFHT, Gregg Richter
| Portal Sidebar |
|
| 
| | | | | | | |
|
Login
Gerry and Mike's E
Top