Casting and shooting little bullets

[KHornet]

I just cast about 1000 little 37 gr plain base, and about 6-700 37gr. GC's. Have a 3 cav NOE for the PB, and a 4 cav NOE for the GC. These are a joy to cast with these molds, and a 20 lb pot goes a long long way. The fun stops there however, as the little ones are a real pain to check, size, lube, and weigh. This is a time consuming process, but once completed, will not have to do same for quite awhile. The little 37's are ideal for Hornet/K Hornet/218 Bee etc, and will work fine in 221, 222, 223, etc. The older Lyman manuals listed loads
for the 37's, for about all of the 22 centerfires. Just finished loading 40 rds of K Hornet with 3 gr. of Unique. That makes for some real powder economy.
2.5 Gr of Red Dot and 50 yd tack drivers out of my little #3. Lyman dropped the data in all of the more recent manuals.

The little ones are not for everyone, but for those like me who enjoy small bullet economy, and versitality they
can be a hoot. Awhile back I was shooting the red dot loads at the range, when a fellow walked up and said
he didn't think Ruger made a #3 in 22 LR. He was quite fascinated when I showed him that it was a Hornet, and could shoot it cheaper than I could shoot 22LR at todays prices.

 

[RBHarter]

I have a full appreciation for how far the pot goes and how little powder you can burn . At 87 and 120 and 62 gr 25&22s I can pour for an eternity compared to the 200,250,350 gr 45s .

For powder economy I enjoy the 222 and 7x6.8 .

Unfortunately my current exploits are in getting all I can get out of each cast load ......


I loaded some 12ga for a special hunt a few years the trauma of 1/4 lb of Unique and nearly 5# of lead in 50 rounds almost made me cry .

 

[Ian]

Those little .22 bullets really get difficult to handle if you powder coat them. I PC'd about 400 of the ACE 75-grainers yesterday and they're slippery little buggars! The Lee 55s are even worse due to being shorter. I finally ended up rubbing my fingertips and thumbtip on some pine rosin for traction when handling them individually.

 

[KHornet]

I would bet good Yankee dollars Ian, that you are one of the very few to PC the
little ones. Good for you! Think that a bit of pine rosin for traction would work
well. I just finished weighing and sorting over 500 of the little 37 grainers, that
are BR and Bll'd. Handling that many have just the opposite problem due to the
waxy nature of Bll. So I keep a towel handy to wipe my fingers dry. Necessity is
as they say the mother of invention. Would be interested in knowing how those
ACE 75 grainers shoot, and what you are shooting them in.

Paul

 

[Ian]

Suppressed AR-15 1:7" with the gas off. 2.5 grains of Titegroup and no gas check. Consistent 1.25" groups at 50 yards cycled from the magazine by hand. With gas checks and single-loading, groups in 3/4" arena at the same range. I don't weight sort them for this kind of shooting. Could be improved I'm sure, but the fun factor is highest with K.I.S.S. principle at the loading bench for high production and lots of virtually silent plinking fun.

BLL is fantastic for the low-speed .22s, but it made a black tar mess of my gas system and suppressor after a few hundred rounds, so PC it is. Plus, without checks they shoot way better PC'd than with BLL.

 

[Ben]

BLL is fantastic for the low-speed .22s, but it made a black tar mess of my gas system and suppressor after a few hundred rounds, so PC it is. Plus, without checks they shoot way better PC'd than with BLL.

Another good reason to shoot my SAKO L-46, 222 Remington.

Ben

 

[KHornet]

Very interesting Ian and very informative. Thanks for the update.


Great looking SAKO Ben!

 

[Ian]

Beautiful rifle there, Ben, but I can shoot mine inside the house at 2:00 am and not even wake anyone up , which I think is a good reason to powder coat! Besides, shake'n'bake method isn't much more difficult or time consuming than tumble-lubing, even doing what I do by picking each bullet out and setting it on its base on non-stick foil. I think it's fantastic how the internet and these bulletin boards have brought all the different techniques and inventions of clever people together so we have so many options. Adding One Step to Alox and adding Airsoft bb's to a #5 plastic tub to make powder coat work without spraying are two fine examples of that.

 

[Ian]

Very interesting Ian and very informative. Thanks for the update.

Wanna try some? I've got Lee 55, MP NATO, and ACE 75s to choose from, can send a variety pack.

 

[Ben]

Beautiful rifle there, Ben, but I can shoot mine inside the house at 2:00 am and not even wake anyone up , which I think is a good reason to powder coat! Besides, shake'n'bake method isn't much more difficult or time consuming than tumble-lubing, even doing what I do by picking each bullet out and setting it on its base on non-stick foil. I think it's fantastic how the internet and these bulletin boards have brought all the different techniques and inventions of clever people together so we have so many options. Adding One Step to Alox and adding Airsoft bb's to a #5 plastic tub to make powder coat work without spraying are two fine examples of that.

Yes, Ian.........I remember in 1966 when I began to take an interest in reloading, there was 1 fellow in my county that reloaded some. The ability to get access to knowledge on this subject was difficult at best. Would have been great to have the internet then, but that was not the case then.

Young shooters have it very easy today.
They benefit from a wealth of knowledge at their finger tips and keyboard.

Ben

 

[KHornet]

Appreciate the offer Ian, and thank you for it. That said, I think I will stay
with BR & Bll, and will watch your successes with PC. Am an old dog, and
not prone to new tricks. But again thanks for the offer Ian
.Paul

 

[Ian]

 

[JWFilips]

I was witness today to an awesome group shot by my buddy Ed. I had about 25 "Cull"s in a batch of NOE 37 gr Plain Base bullets that KHornet sent me for testing! Since I couldn't get the good weighed ones to shoot better then 2" at 50yd with my 223 I gave the last 25 bullets I had; Marked "Cull's to Ed. Ed is my best shooting buddy but He has trouble shooting cast so I thought it would give him something to do!
So today he shoots 20 of these little pills into 1.125 inch at 50 yds with 3.3gr W231in his Rem 700 221 Fireball! Probably the best group he has ever shot with cast. I watched in amazement & afterwards he was so happy. ( Never really seen him get excited by anything!
Shooting these little ones are something special and to see good success well that was a big plus!

 

[JWFilips]

Another good reason to shoot my SAKO L-46, 222 Remington.

Ben,
Dang that is a pretty rifle!
Jim

 

[KHornet]

I really want to see a pic of that 20 group!

Paul

 

[JWFilips]

Paul I will ask him for a Cell phone Pic!

 

[KHornet]

Super!!!

 

[9.3X62AL]

I have several hundred of Ideal #225438 stored in a bass bug box for the Hornet and other 22 centerfires. Checked, lubed, and sized .225 they weigh about 45 grains in Linotype alloy. Hoping to get my scope on the CZ-527 looking where the bullets hit this week--heat has made me hide out for weeks.

 

[KHornet]

I like the 438, but like the 438 HP even more. Buckshot did it for me way back. It is miserable
to cast, but the bullets when fully formed, are just little slices of heaven. Am also real fond of
the NOE 37 gr. both pb and gc. All of them are a pain to size and lube, but are a whale of a
lot of fun to shoot.
Paul

 

[JWFilips]

Paul,
As Promised: The target photo.
Ed is a good shooter but he can't take a picture worth a darn
Pretty bad photo but I think it is understandable. Just wish he put a coin in shot for comparison!