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Spindrift

Well-Known Member
Hello, everyone and greetings from Norway!
First, let me thank you all for creating this wonderful and informative forum. And thank you for allowing me to participate. I really appreciate the friendly and polite tone, and I will do my best to act in the same manner. As english is not my primary language, please feel free to ask questions if my meaning does not come across.
I am new to bullet casting, only started a year ago. Bullet casting for bottleneck rifle cartridges is not very common in Norway. In fact, I don´t know anyone else who is doing it (and everyone i know probably think i am slightly weird, which is not to far from the truth).
Not knowing what to expect from cast bullets, I had a slightly reluctant start- using the simplest and cheapest equipment I could find. I rapidly became fascinated by this hobby, and now it seems I am accumulating molds and strange lube ingredients faster than I can test them.
I have been casting for .223 rem, .308 win and .30-06, so far. I have been wanting to try my hand at the 6,5x55. Since Lee does not provide any (standard catalogue) molds/sizers for 6,5, this would mean investing in more expensive equipment. I finally took the leap, got these in the mail today:
 

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Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Welcome to the forum. I am pleased that what you see matches what we were looking to create.

Your English is likely better than that of some of us.
You will like those moulds. Another place to consider, with a smaller selection, is MP moulds. https://www.mp-molds.com/. Shipping may be less for you as youa re far closer to him. Not sure how customs work with the EU but it may be far faster too.

Don't hesitate to ask questions. Lots of people here and someone has likely been there and done that.

What is reloading component availability like in Norway? Can you get the powders we commonly use? What about primers?
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
Welcome Spindrift, happy to have you with us. Not to worry, your English is better than many Americans I know. As to being weird you are among people here that know you are the normal one, it's all those others that are weird. :)
 

Spindrift

Well-Known Member
Thank you for the warm welcome!
Brad; I have access to a reasonably broad selection of reloading components. Viht/Norma/Lovex/Vectan- powders are readily avavilable. Hodgdon powders are available, but quite expensive. Access to IMR and Alliant powders is much more difficult; only a few are available, and when the shop is out of powders it may be years before the next batch arrives...
So, all in all; I have access to many good powders, but really miss a few (like 2400...).

I have good access to primers (CCI, Win, Rem, Wolf, S&B, Fed). Mostly, I have been using CCI. When it comes to brass, I usually use Norma brass. In my favourite cartridges, I find all the brass I can use on the range (beautiful, once- fired Norma cases that someone, for some reason, has thrown away- I give them a better home )

Rick; Feels like I have found a «support group» for us who have discovered the truly interesting things you can do with a rifel!
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
AIRC N-110 is pretty close to our Alliant 2400.
I don't know if it's still available over there or not but Norma put out a little cast bullet data book a number of years back.
 

Spindrift

Well-Known Member
I have a powder related question. It so happens, my local dealer sells Alliant MP- 300 quite cheaply. Now, this is a powder with characteristics that I would not associate with typical «cast bullet»- powder, as it is compact- almost dust- like. Does anyone have any experience with this powder? My cartridges are .223rem, 6,5x55, .308 and .30-06.

The same dealer also has a little stash of SR4756. I have understood that the 4759 is a sorely missed powder in the cast bullet community. I have a mental disorder that I call «reloading component access neurosis», and it really bothers me to work with a component where I know future access is limited. But perhaps the 4756 is so good I should just grab it, and deal with the trauma?
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
I use a few of the Viht powder with N-110 being the most used. Viht powders are more expensive here but I have had such good results with them it's kinda tough to argue about a couple of bucks cost of the powder.

SR4759 will indeed be missed. It's one of my most used cast powders and I'm now down to about 20 pounds of it. Other than cry a lot when it's gone I don't know what I'll do. :(
 

Spindrift

Well-Known Member
Hello, fiver!
I haven´t tried N-110 yet, but I have my sights on it. I was not aware of the Norma book- I will make a Quest for it! Powderwise, I have worked most with IMR4198, since it was the only powder I could get (at the time) that I actually had any data for. I have also used a little Lovex D060 (one of many powders that have been marketed as a5744), IMR PB, Viht N32c, IMR 4064.
 
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Spindrift

Well-Known Member
Over here, the prices in Viht- powders is variable. N140, N150 and N160 is actually among the cheapest powders. N500- series is also quite affordable. 300- series, N110-35, N165-170 is a bit more expensive. But as you say, Rick; results matter more than those few bucks.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
4756 is a bit faster than 4759 was, a good powder in it's own right but it's discontinued, as is P/B [which stands for porous Base] P/B is a little faster than unique almost the same as green-dot.
in revolver type cases 4756 is a good powder [I have used it in my 45 colt Lever gun to shoot a couple of Mule Deer]
MP-300 has been used by a few guy's as a cast rifle powder, but it's still pretty new here and it hasn't really been tested yet.
part of our problem is we have too many new powders to deal with and word hasn't really got around about how they react under different situations yet.
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
Yeah, not just 4759 that's been discontinued, the entire SR line is gone. :(:( To hold out a little hope, this is the third time 4759 has been discontinued and then brought back.
 

Spindrift

Well-Known Member
Thank you for the response!
Maybe I should just stick with the powders I´ve got for now. I really have enough variables to handle as it is...
Sad thing about the SR- line (especially when the «new» powder offerings taking their place seems to contribute absolutely nothing new...)
 

4060MAY

Active Member
Welcome to the board
are molds you show for the 6.5x55, my best load for a Mod 38 Swede was 21.0 grains of IMR3031, 140 grain Saeco bullet sized to .268 with Hornady GC, with issue sights, 1.5-2inch groups at 100yds were possible when my eyes worked
Hogdon Benchmark is a good replacement for IMR 3031
I use Aliant 300MP in my 32-40, 200+grain bullet, Breech Seated, 12grains to 13.5 grains, Winchester Mag Rifle primers, WLRM
I have this powder in a bottleneck case, 308W but have not worked out the load as Reloder 7, and VV N130 work better
good luck
 

Spindrift

Well-Known Member
Thank you, 4060MAY!
The molds are indeed for the x55. I will be working up loads in a Schultz & Larsen M97DL- rifle which is relatively new (completely new to me), where i expect dimensional conformity to industry standard. I have only slugged the bore (.264), as the importance of neck fit has only recently come to my attention (thanks to the knowledge contained within this forum). I think I will start with D060, using a5744- data, and probably drift towards the slower powders later. I will share the results here, but it may take a while...
I actually have a decent amount of Benchmark. Do you use it without filler?
I have not tried N130. Seems I should! Ah, Life is short, the powder burn chart is long....
 

4060MAY

Active Member
Spindrift
I have not used fillers with the 6.5x55
the N130 that I have is very close to H4198, and Reloder 7, in my Savage Model 12, 308Win
I use Benchmark in my K31 Swiss, and the 308Win for 190-205 grain bullets
Benchmark works well in the 308 with the XCB bullet at 200yards
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
I would try the benchmark without a filler first.
if you were using it in a 30 cal. rifle I would think a filler would be in order, but I would try about 22-24grs without one first if things improve with the upper steps and your getting close to the speed you want but not quite the accuracy your expecting [or your seeing quite a bit of vertical dispersion] then I would drop back and use a filler.