Cast Bullet ####

Here is what I just casted recently. A bunch of the new Lee .309 230gr BTs for the 300 Blackout.

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Close up in comparison too other projectiles. Starting from left to right: The 230gr monster with a whopping BC of .688!!, a Lee 170gr FP with a GC, a 168 AMAX, a C.E. Harris 160gr, and a Hornady 150 FMJ.

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Now, wonder if a 1:12 twist will stabilize them at 1600 fps? I would like to try a few of those in my 30-30 cast bullet rifle with its 24" barrel. They would be hard on silhouettes!

What twist is your Blackout?
Ted
 
I've read mixed reviews on that bullet. Most attribute bad performance to the boat tail saying cast bullets with boat tails aren't common for good reason.
Though I have also read that they can take a gas check on the back end of the boat tail if need be.
 
I haven't tried the Lee TL309-230-5R yet

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but have have good success with the NOE "Whisper":

N.O.E._Bullet_Moulds_311_247Gr._FN.Jpg


The similarities are obvious, but aside from begin heavier, the NOE has a flat base (it's available as PB or GC - even both in one mold) and has slightly greater lube capacity. The Boat Tail might well be the problem, as it's well known that GC bullets shot without the gas check perform poorly at any but very low pressures. It's also well known that deeply seated cast bullets where parts of the base are exposed (i.e. not contained within the cartridge neck) tend to shoot poorly.
 
Would be cool to see some loaded rounds using those monster bullets. Guess you guys seat nice and deep so feeding is not an issue and use a factory crimp die if crimp is desired? 300 Blackout is an interesting cartridge and remember the first time I found a piece of brass on the ground at the range I was like WTF. Then came hear and you guys told me it was 300 Blackout and wanted to know what rock I was living under Laugh2
 
Results so far with this projectile has been facinating. Shooting at 50 yards and using my remington AAC-SD in 308 Winchester with a 1-10 twist has been keyholes with velocities over 1000 fps. I will be returning to the range on Tuesday and try out the loads at lower velocities and maybe with gas checks.
 
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Andy said:
I haven't tried the Lee TL309-230-5R yet

90307-02.jpg




but have have good success with the NOE "Whisper":

N.O.E._Bullet_Moulds_311_247Gr._FN.Jpg


The similarities are obvious, but aside from begin heavier, the NOE has a flat base (it's available as PB or GC - even both in one mold) and has slightly greater lube capacity. The Boat Tail might well be the problem, as it's well known that GC bullets shot without the gas check perform poorly at any but very low pressures. It's also well known that deeply seated cast bullets where parts of the base are exposed (i.e. not contained within the cartridge neck) tend to shoot poorly.
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10.5 grains of IMR 4227 gives me 3 inch 10 shot groups at 100 yards with that bullet, plain base no gas check. I have a mold with both plain base and gas checked in the same mold........

phishroy said:
i dont think these bullets are made for gas checks, not sure they will fit.

you my find that a faster twist will work better with this bullet.
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You can run the lee bullet with or without a gas check, they designed the tail to fit inside a crimp on gas check if your desire is to give them some speed, a lot of people have had the top milled off of their mold and done away with the boat tail and run a straight flat base bullet....this has proven to be far more accurate then the original design both with and without the gas check......
 
Well my new moulds arrived today. 375 gr 45-70 hollowpoint. 400 gr flat point all in one mould. The hollow points.
The flat points.

I'll post some pictures of my 45 acp 230 gr hollow points once I get some lined up. Just cleaning my sizing die right now. ;)
 
ton45-II said:
Results so far with this projectile has been facinating. Shooting at 50 yards and using my remington AAC-SD in 308 Winchester with a 1-10 twist has been keyholes with velocities over 1000 fps. I will be returning to the range on Tuesday and try out the loads at lower velocities and maybe with gas checks.
Click to expand...

I just got that mold as well. What alloy are you using? You are getting better fill out with your bullets than me. I've tried one load with Unique so far and while not keyholing, accuracy is not good. Shooting mine out of a Savage Scout rifle
 
joebanana said:
I just got that mold as well. What alloy are you using? You are getting better fill out with your bullets than me. I've tried one load with Unique so far and while not keyholing, accuracy is not good. Shooting mine out of a Savage Scout rifle
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I'm using wheel weight with a touch of linotype. I'm using IMR trailboss for my loads. I was getting 1149 fps with 11 grains and major keyholing. At 1000 fps with 8.5 grains the keyholing seems to be less but it still seems to be entering the paper at a slight angle. I loaded a few more with 7 and 6 grains to see if that slower velocites will further stabilize the bullet. I also seated them higher to see if that might help.

I just did these with the gas checks. It seems to work. These will be loaded with 14 grains of Trailboss.

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kenneth carlson said:
Ok got a few of my 45 acp 230 gr hollowpoints done. About 200 more to go.
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What alloy are you casting them from? Have you ever done an expansion test into water, wet newspaper, or sand?

I've read a lot of reports that hard hollow points (pure WW or harder) break up instead of expanding. It's the main reason I've been putting off on buying an NOE hollow point mould for my 45-70.
 
ton45-II said:
I'm using wheel weight with a touch of linotype. I'm using IMR trailboss for my loads. I was getting 1149 fps with 11 grains and major keyholing. At 1000 fps with 8.5 grains the keyholing seems to be less but it still seems to be entering the paper at a slight angle. I loaded a few more with 7 and 6 grains to see if that slower velocites will further stabilize the bullet. I also seated them higher to see if that might help.

I just did these with the gas checks. It seems to work. These will be loaded with 14 grains of Trailboss.

IMG_1918_zps4cdd8ab2.jpg
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Are you getting leading? There appears to be just a minute amount of lube for such a long bullet.
 
I just got the moulds today so I can't say. I'll be doing some testing in the next couple weeks. But I am using 10lbs ww, 3lbs of pure lead ratio. And air dry not water dropped. I'll load some up and hopefully test some on water jugs tomorrow.
 
kenneth carlson said:
I just got the moulds today so I can't say. I'll be doing some testing in the next couple weeks. But I am using 10lbs ww, 3lbs of pure lead ratio. And air dry not water dropped. I'll load some up and hopefully test some on water jugs tomorrow.
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At least they'll be water jug's and not ice jug's.
 
LUTNIT said:
What alloy are you casting them from? Have you ever done an expansion test into water, wet newspaper, or sand?

I've read a lot of reports that hard hollow points (pure WW or harder) break up instead of expanding. It's the main reason I've been putting off on buying an NOE hollow point mould for my 45-70.
Click to expand...

So why not get one (they typically ship with flat points/solids) and use pure lead for the hollow points?
 
Spawn-Inc said:
So why not get one (they typically ship with flat points/solids) and use pure lead for the hollow points?
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They are interchangeable but I don't have a source for pure lead.
I just got a new .45-70 lever (had an H&R single before) so I guess it's as good a time as any to buy a new mould ;)
 
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