Shooting .22 cast...
- Thread starter waco
- Start date
smokeywolf
Well-Known Member
I'm still using copper left over from the '50s in the 218 bee; another needed mold. However, I know my father had used straight lino in the 219 zipper. No documentation as to performance, but I remember him mentioning how the bullet would just about disintegrate when it hit pretty much anything.
He sold or traded that model 64 Winchester sometime around 1980. This is all that's left...
He sold or traded that model 64 Winchester sometime around 1980. This is all that's left...
In my Hornet & .222 Rem., I use an alloy of Steriotype metal diluted with pure lead. Hardness is about like the original Lyman #2 I have tried using straight Steriotype..and this stuff is HARD!..much more so than Lino. but all I got were patterns at 100yds...so there is such a thing as too hard even in rifles. I should mention the twist in both rifles is 1-14" and bullets weighed around 50-52grs. Funny thing though..the little 49gr. Lyman 225415 shot quite well with straight Steriotype? Still haven't figured that one out yet..and it's not because rifle won't handle heaver slugs..with the diluted alloy I am able to equal best jacketed match bullet accuracy at 100yds. with a Leeth nose-pour copy of the old Ideal 22536 weighing @ 52 grs.
KHornet
Well-Known Member
22-5-40, The 415 is in all probability shorter than your other bullets in the 50-52's. Don't think weight may be as much of your problem as is length. In my experience, the 225415 is about the longest 22 I can get to shoot with any accuracy and consistency in 1-14, and even 1-12.
Just my opinion.
Just my opinion.
When I first started working with the Hornet, I tried every jacketed bullet..including some expensive match bullets to see what kind of accuracy I could obtain. Groups with some were as small as 3/8" to 1/2" at 100yds. This was my accuracy benchmark for cast. I tried just about every cast bullet I could find but still wan't satisfied. I had found an old Ideal 22636 @ 60grs...probably for the old .22-15-60 Stevens. I cast up samples in Lyman #2 & chucked them up in bench lathe. These were faced off to 50gr. On some, I turned a gas-check shank. Accuracy at 100yds. was better than anything I tried before. I sent off samples of plain-base & G.C. to Fred Leeth at Pioneer Products for nose-pour copies. The other main accuracy inhancer I found was tapering front band to match throats leade angle dia. & taper. Turned up tapered sizing die to fit Lyman #45 sizer. By adjusting depth of bullet nose-first sizing, I can alter 1st. bands dia. Using my diluted Steriotype metal, the Leeth bullets weigh 52grs. I cannot do it every time out to range..but often enough to know it isn't a fluke..I have achieved 3/8" to 1/2" groups at 100yds. 5/8" to 3/4" are the usual groups than can be expected.
F
freebullet
Guest
Interesting indeed!
That is some serious testing effort. Thanks for sharing all. I don't even have a hornet but, learned a bit just listening.
That is some serious testing effort. Thanks for sharing all. I don't even have a hornet but, learned a bit just listening.
KHornet
Well-Known Member
There is also another factor with hornets that goes back to my youth some 60 plus years back. The 222 was just coming in, and not a lot of hornets were selling. Kilborn was making K's out of a number of ctgs, and I believe the K-Hornet was one of the first. A lot of folks who couldn't afford a 722 Rem, in 222, & had a gunsmith K-their hornets, and shot Sisk 35gr. bullets, at well over 3000. Knew a few hornet shooters who swore at the hornets accuracy, but fell in love with the accuracy of the same rifle when it was K'd. Plus they picked up an extra 50 yd potential with the K on woodchucks. (I grew in Western N.Y.) I is a stretch for a K, but have taken a few pdogs between 225 and 250 on . Best I could ever do with straight hornet was about 175. For pdogs with cast, I have limited myself to 150 max loads in the K.
KHornet
Well-Known Member
One of the nicest little ctgs I remember from way back was the Mashburn Bee. A blown out 218 Bee, that offered between 2-3 grain additional powder capacity, with a very short neck. In a sporterized Cadet Martini, it was about as slick a little varmint rifle as one could ask for.
Never owned one, but shot a couple of them when I was a kid.
Never owned one, but shot a couple of them when I was a kid.
Bingo! Absolutely couldn't agree more.
I had a 14" Contender Mashburn Bee barrel from Bullberry and it was awesome, sadly that was before I smartened up and started casting for everything. Used Sierra HP's in it, accuracy was impressive and the effect on small varmints had to be seen to be believed. Definitely not for edible game. Sure wish I still had it..