Bought a new Savage Axis .243 Win rifle. The main purpose was to have it to shoot cast bullets. I've had limited success with .223 Rem with cast bullets and decided the 6mm caliber would be better. I soon discovered is was correct in that assupmtion. I set up a swinging target on a sand knoll at 175 the 240 yards. My "experiment" was to shoot a string of five shots; I'd then record the hits and details on any "flyers" to determine which load was the most accurate. I don't care for paper punching; I want to see impacts. Using Red Dot, Promo, & Universal I used a Lyman 84 grain Loverin 2245496 and a RCBS 100 SP-GC. My GCs were aluminum and homemade. I loaded bullets long and loaded the rifle single shot. I took my time to shoot as carefully as I am able; making each shot count. I then recorded my results. I then repeated this a few days in a row, to make absolutely certain that my results were the same. I soon ascertained that the 84 Loverin was more consistently accurate, no matter what the powder load was and that 9.0 Promo was the most accurate load using it. Average velocity was just under 1,700.
Some interesting range tests comparing Lee cast bullets vs others
- Thread starter Wallyl
- Start date
I used a can 3.25" x 4.5"...I nested two other cans inside of it...then suspended on the sand berm with the bottom just barely touching the sand... Shooting a single layer steel can will often not show results. As the can barely touches teh sand, when hit it, it will stop oscilating when it makes contact with the sand. I can recover most of my lead from the berm using a 1/4" hardware cloth seive. I shoot from my car roof using an rifle rest on the front and a V bag on the rear. I cannot use a dedicated shooting table as I have no quick way to move it. To incraese or decrease the range, I merely move my car accordingly.
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CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
In 243, two of mine (both now down the road) shot very well with both the Lyman #245496 and RCBS 6mm-95-SP. If they had a preference, I couldn't detect it. I won the NCBS benchrest laurels a couple times using the RCBS bullet atop 12.0 grains of 2400, so the caliber can do good work on paper and vs. small critters.
Maven
Well-Known Member
Wally, I once owned the RCBS and Lyman bore riders, which never equalled the results I got (and still get) from Ly. 245496. Btw, I also chanced upon the hollow point version of -496, but it wasn't quite the equal of its solid nosed brother. All my shooting in .243Win. is with a Ruger #1 with a 26" bbl. and it is one of the better ones according to an article on the subject by C.E. Harris.
Maven....that's my experience.
CZ93X62....Thank you...I thought that was what has to be done. I'll try out the RCBS cast bullet w/12.0 2400 loaded long and let you know. I hope to get to my range after Labor Day.
In the .223 Rem the 225462 also always outperforms the RCBS 55 SP-GC as well...im my Rem 700. The 224462 is also a Loverin style
CZ93X62....Thank you...I thought that was what has to be done. I'll try out the RCBS cast bullet w/12.0 2400 loaded long and let you know. I hope to get to my range after Labor Day.
In the .223 Rem the 225462 also always outperforms the RCBS 55 SP-GC as well...im my Rem 700. The 224462 is also a Loverin style
RBHarter
West Central AR
Someplace here I have a picture of 26 bullets . Few could pick out the Lee's for the Lyman , RCBS , or NOE , if not for the particular designs .
I shoot a only the 324-175 R2 exclusively as .321s are few and pricey . They probably wouldn't fit the old 32 Rem anyway .
I have quite a few Lees but I've found that in some cases other bullets just shoot better .
I misspoke . I also run the 401-175 TLTC because on paper there was simply no difference between it and the LBT 403-175 RF and the 6C makes a lot more bullets faster . Of course the RCBS 40-175 RNFP fell in my lap and I haven't cast it at all yet .
I did a lot of things the hard way in casting . I probably still do some of them the hard way . There's no doubt that a decent production iron mould is easier to cast than a Lee , Mountain and NOE make a more fluid tool in use . Knowing the difference some 12 yr into this madness I find that the cost of an NOE over a Lee is worth every penny . I still struggle the $80 for a single cavity iron mould .
I must say that , and only having 3 HB moulds , I have to say that I really like the Lee system best ......in a single anyway .
Maven
Well-Known Member
Although Lee Precision didn't offer 6mm bullet moulds, they did once make a 6.5mm single cavity (custom I think,~133gr.) and a 6 cavity group buy mould. Both were exceptionally accurate in my "as issued" Swedish Mauser.