Cast bullets in AR15?
- Thread starter Archibald
- Start date
Can you maybe give an explaination as to why?
Lube and minute particles of lead will clog up the gas port and tube. The gas system on an AR is small diameters unlike a SKS or M14.
It can be done (I do) if your bullets are hard enough, sized right, lower velocities at the right velocity and load and also have the proper lube. The flight is different so you have to adjust your scope. Then you have to be diligent about cleaning your rifle. Blow the gas system out with some full load FMJ's or factory ammo before going home. Lots of brake cleaner and pipe cleaners long enough to clean out the gas tube.
Full load FMJ's just shoot better so save your cast for a bolt action. You still have to readjust your bolt action's scope every time you switch between lead and jacketed, because the loads and flight are still completely different. Subsonic cast loads work great in bolt actions so I don't bother with FMJ's in that gun.
If you really want a fun AR for cast bullets, get yourself a 9mm and you can shoot it on the handgun range indoors in the winter time, too.
It can be done (I do) if your bullets are hard enough, sized right, lower velocities at the right velocity and load and also have the proper lube. The flight is different so you have to adjust your scope. Then you have to be diligent about cleaning your rifle. Blow the gas system out with some full load FMJ's or factory ammo before going home. Lots of brake cleaner and pipe cleaners long enough to clean out the gas tube.
Full load FMJ's just shoot better so save your cast for a bolt action. You still have to readjust your bolt action's scope every time you switch between lead and jacketed, because the loads and flight are still completely different. Subsonic cast loads work great in bolt actions so I don't bother with FMJ's in that gun.
If you really want a fun AR for cast bullets, get yourself a 9mm and you can shoot it on the handgun range indoors in the winter time, too.
Yeah I was just curious what moulds guys are using. I'm reading up on the cast boolits website and there's a lot more information over there than on this forum. I cast for .38, 9mm, various 30 cal's and was going to jump into the 225 cast's as well. I need some info for 1 in 7 twist and 1 in 9 twist barrels.
medicstimpy: what mould are you using? What alloys are you using and are you water dropping them to get them harder? What lube?
)
medicstimpy: what mould are you using? What alloys are you using and are you water dropping them to get them harder? What lube?
)
Lyman 225646. Quenched WW's with a tablespoon of shot and 12" of 95%tin/5%antimony solder to bring up the antimony. Lars' Red Carnuba lube. Hornady GC's or Aluminum sheet GC's depending on what I have on hand. Basically the same alloy/lube I use for all my rifle bullets (30-30, .308, 8mm).
I will have to experiment with the alloy a little since I'm out of WW's now. I'm down to my indoor range lead (fairly hard for lead cores and PPC bullets - minimal .22LR's).
Again, great little bolt action bullet but I still shoot them out of the AR for fun.
Sorry to hear your ammo choices are limited for indoor fun. My RRA 9mm just loves those little 105gr Lee 38cal LSWC's sized down to 9mm.
Addition... sorry, I forgot... you can't do a sub-sonic load for AR unless you want to cycle the gun with the charge handle each shot. They work with a full load (-15%) to cycle the gun but sometimes they still tumble or get flyers.
I will have to experiment with the alloy a little since I'm out of WW's now. I'm down to my indoor range lead (fairly hard for lead cores and PPC bullets - minimal .22LR's).
Again, great little bolt action bullet but I still shoot them out of the AR for fun.
Sorry to hear your ammo choices are limited for indoor fun. My RRA 9mm just loves those little 105gr Lee 38cal LSWC's sized down to 9mm.
Addition... sorry, I forgot... you can't do a sub-sonic load for AR unless you want to cycle the gun with the charge handle each shot. They work with a full load (-15%) to cycle the gun but sometimes they still tumble or get flyers.
I was looking at purchasing that 105gr Lee mould, but the sights on my 9mm pistol and .38 spl revolver aren't adjustable. I figured there would be a vastly different point of impact than the heavier bullets they're sighted for, so I didn't bother. I've heard a lot of good things about that mould.
You don't have to change a thing with that little bullet. I tried different loads, and it works great with my regular 9mm load (4.2gr of Titegroup). My 9mm handguns have fixed sights too. I tried different loads, and while 4.0gr worked a little better (slightly tighter when on a rest), it worked good with 4.2 and my measure is already set for that. That is the load that worked best in the 9mm AR and a friends gun, too so I settled on leaving things the way they are. No measurable difference free-handed. nice CLEAN holes.
That is the load that worked best in the 9mm AR and a friends gun, too so I settled on leaving things the way they are. No measurable difference free-handed. nice CLEAN holes. 
