casting your own lead match .308

Stillar

Stillar

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I'm new to reloading and precision shooting. I was wondering if casting your own lead bullets makes sense for someone that wants to save money and still get good groups. Do they make boat-tail bullet molds? Maybe careful weighing of the bullets and shaving off the excess can make for accurate shooting.
:sniper:
 
Boat tail cast bullet, isn't likely to get you what you want.

Look at the castboolits site and see what you think.

Plain base bullets are a bit fiddly, with issues with leading if shot with too hot charges behind them. Powder selection seems to be a big deal. Gas check bullets are less affected, but still need some caution building up loads. Paper patch bullets are a 'nuther ball game of details to work out. Crimp/no crimp, etc., too. Lots of info over there.

Trigger time is good.

But if you want to know if you can make as accurate and consistent a bullet as you can buying boat tail hollow point match bullets, except for nearly free, then the answer is no.

The equipment outlay to cast, size, and lubricate you bullets will amount to a lot, and then you need to learn how to make them shoot.

Cheers
Trev
 
trevj said:
But if you want to know if you can make as accurate and consistent a bullet as you can buying boat tail hollow point match bullets, except for nearly free, then the answer is no.
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Careful. I know a lot of cast boolit boys who would beg to differ. True, bench rest shooters may have a case for such a statement but you might be surprised what cast lead boolits are capable of. My Longbranch using a 9X scope will do 1" at 100 yards from a rest and I know it won't do better than that with jacketed bullets. My Husquavara 30-06 I sold my son will do better than that at the same distance.

The thing the OP has to remember is it takes time and a lot of reading and trial and error to get good results but it certainly can be done and it is a fun hobby for sure.

Take Care

Bob
 
When you can cast A LOT of bullets in an afternoon, there is no need to shave off anything.
Yesterday, out of a casting session producing just less than 500 bullets, almost 2/3 of the batch were + or - 1 grain. Any bullets that don't meet the grade just go back in the melting pot for next time.

My cast bullets can shoot better than I can.
 
Canuck44 said:
Careful. I know a lot of cast boolit boys who would beg to differ. True, bench rest shooters may have a case for such a statement but you might be surprised what cast lead boolits are capable of. My Longbranch using a 9X scope will do 1" at 100 yards from a rest and I know it won't do better than that with jacketed bullets. My Husquavara 30-06 I sold my son will do better than that at the same distance.

The thing the OP has to remember is it takes time and a lot of reading and trial and error to get good results but it certainly can be done and it is a fun hobby for sure.

Take Care

Bob
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x2

I have a 174 grain hollow point GC mold that shoots very nice groups (under 0.5 MAO at 100), 200 (about 1to 2 moa) and even 300( about 3 to 6 moa if i do my part) meters with varget.


yes, research and understanding of cast bullets is needed.
i would snuggest to take it one step at a time since you mentioned that you are just getting into reloading.

start off with as little variable as possible and expand from there.

you may get frustrated if jumping into precision cast bullet shooting from the start.

my 2 cents.
 
sub inch groups are done on a regular basis shooting lead bullets
some of the older rifles shoot better (smaller) groups shooting lead

1500-1800 fps can be done with lead base bullets:)

the limit is velocity 2000-2100 fps is done with out a lot of witch craft and potions (gas check):cool:

2500 fps can be done by a apprentice to the casting craft from learning from a master (and having the right barrel twist)

to go faster you need a master caster (of the paper patch craft)

and it can be done with off the shelf rifles or 100 year old stuff

and even a semi auto can be used with lead bullets with full function
7.62x39 / 308 / 3006 to name a few with full semi function

If done right NO Leading or only a bit just look at the common 22 RF
1200 fps and how often do you really clean them and the powder in a 22 is dirty

but if you do the wrong thing you could be scrubbing out Lead or not hitting the barn (standing in side)d:h:

do your own research and don't listen to old wives tails
 
The Cast Bullet Association is the Cast Bullet Benchrest org. that promotes this type of shooting and keeps records of the cast bullet benchrest records. Their championships are held annually at diff. sites. Top accuracy with cast bullets is very challenging, as everything must be perfect. I fire thousands of cast bullets a year looking for accuracy perfection and I'm not even close.
You will however save on equipment, cost of reloading, barrels will last much longer, and you will feel top of the world when it all works out with the bullets you have made.
There are plenty of accurate cast designs, with D. Eagan molds the most coveted, the top cal. seems to be the .30 Br. for all but "production class". Feel free to pm me if you have questions on any part of this discipline.....Ben
 
I have 3 diff. rifles including a "production class" rifle that go well under 1/2" when conditions are perfect, all are different cals., but all are .30 cal. and each likes a very different bullet and a diff. size. Two are set up with Leupold 40X scopes, Jewel triggers, Shilen and Gaillard barrels, etc.....There is an awful lot to cast bullet benchrest!
 
Hi. Jacketed match grade bullets are made to very close tolerances. Weight, diameter etc. Not easy to do with cast bullets. Listen closely to Ben.
 
Canuck44 said:
Careful. I know a lot of cast boolit boys who would beg to differ. True, bench rest shooters may have a case for such a statement but you might be surprised what cast lead boolits are capable of. My Longbranch using a 9X scope will do 1" at 100 yards from a rest and I know it won't do better than that with jacketed bullets. My Husquavara 30-06 I sold my son will do better than that at the same distance.

The thing the OP has to remember is it takes time and a lot of reading and trial and error to get good results but it certainly can be done and it is a fun hobby for sure.

Take Care

Bob
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Uhh...Bob,

You pulled one word, out of context there, and responded to that alone.

The whole sentence was meant to be read together, eh. :)

Cheers
Trev
 
Can't remember which was the first mould I bought to try out, probably the 130gr 7mm Lee. I wanted to build a cast load for chickens and rabbits for my 7-08. I also used that one and an NEI 150 for military matches with the 7x57.
There is a lot to learn about casting, and loading and shooting cast bullets. It is something of tinkerer's affliction. I have been lucky enough to have learned from and shot with some pretty interesting folk along the way, seen and shot some reeeealllly nice equipt, with some very knowledgable people since then.
It definitely opened some doors for me that I never envisioned when I got into it. And , I still know nothing about it 25 yrs later. Always something new to try, and surprises to be had, and a new toy to be bought to wring it out, and another reason to go to the range.
 
boat tails might be feasible with the right paper wad (which would come off once the bullet left the bore... I don't know how you'd make such a thing.

I'd just try some heavy paper patched .308s with a flat base first and see if you don't get the performance you're looking for. You won't be able to attain the velocities necessary to make much use of a boat tail before the rifling starts chewing through the soft lead - unless you found a 2 groove deep rifled .308 barrel somewhere.
 
thebigslide said:
boat tails might be feasible with the right paper wad (which would come off once the bullet left the bore... I don't know how you'd make such a thing.

I'd just try some heavy paper patched .308s with a flat base first and see if you don't get the performance you're looking for. You won't be able to attain the velocities necessary to make much use of a boat tail before the rifling starts chewing through the soft lead - unless you found a 2 groove deep rifled .308 barrel somewhere.
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I have paper patched .308 fmj boat tails in my 303 with excellent accuracy. I don't know of any boat tail moulds, but with the internet you can get someone, somewhere to make pretty well anything you can think up if you have the cash.

With a good cast bullet fit you can paper jacket up to some substantial velocities. (3000 fps) Be warned however, that this will take a fair amount of experimentation and you will no longer be a novice bullet patcher or reloader when you are done.

Most 308Ws work best with a cast bullet sized to .300 and paper patched up to .309. Two wraps of cotton velum = approx .010 which normally is the depth of two opposing grooves.
Right off you need a .309 mould and a custom sizing die,... then the real fun begins.
 
I started tinkering with .308 and 30-30 cast boolits. I have been powder coating them and have gotten decent accuracy and no fouling. Now I will have to figure what powder and charge give the best accuracy. Will reply in 2-3 years as to what works for me. LOL
 
577/450 said:
I started tinkering with .308 and 30-30 cast boolits. I have been powder coating them and have gotten decent accuracy and no fouling. Now I will have to figure what powder and charge give the best accuracy. Will reply in 2-3 years as to what works for me. LOL
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Really. You needed to dig up an 8 years old thread to say that?
 
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