Hardcast vs speed--Pure lead vs speed. Gas Check?

Teapot

Teapot

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Hamilton, Ontario; the southern shore of Canada.
What can be used with what speed and how does the Gas Check play in these two metals? Do both require a GS at a certain velocity?

Can both pass through big game or will the softer pure lead deform?

Buffalo Bore says their lower antimony percentage will ensure their bullets do not shatter unlike other hard cast.

A lot of confusing stuff for one interested in getting into the half scientific, half wizardry of reloading.

What handloading bible would you recommend?
 
As a general rule soft lead bullets are used for Muzzleloaders,Bp cart. rifles, and handguns/rifles under1000fps....Hardcast to 1600fps or so...and hardcast gc beyond that, these are very gen guidelines, i find that the bigger the bore the less leading you get. Most important is having a good fit of bullet to bore, this prevents leading more than other factors. Soft cast bullets are great on game but would expand too much if they hit bone at higher vel. Adding tin to hardcast bullets make them less liable to Shatter when they hit.
 
So slug the barel first, order hardcast to fit the diameter and ensure the bullets have a gas check. Sounds easy. There is a chap who casts on my street in Hamilton. I suppose he would be able to tell me what would be good in my particular rifle bore?
I am eager to begin reloading but don't have time presently. I will buy the Lyman's No-48 reloading manual first in order to get an idea of what this art is all about. Any other reading I should do by way of preparation?
 
Another manual you may want to consider getting as it is geared even more towards casting and cast bullet loads than Lyman's # 48 is the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook, 3rd edition. It goes into a pretty fair depth on almost all aspects of casting and related load info. I'd highly recommend it.:)
 
Go 1 or 2 thousand over bore diameter for best results. I run GC bullets real fast out of my 30-30 ,sized to .310, and fairly hard, bhn 16 is ideal for hunting (expansion wise) without breaking up.
Also use the same mix in 38-55, and 375 h&h with a solid base bullet (no GC) but I run those slower @ 1600 fps or so, sized to .378 diameter
 
"...wanting to get a good overview..." Your manual will have a how-to, but get a copy of The ABC's of Reloading too. The Lyman cast bullet book would be an excellent idea. Lyman sells casting equipment as well as a great regular loading manual. Not cheap at $50 though.
For what load to use a gas check with, follow your manual religiously. Cast bullets are used at lower velocities than jacketed. Driving a cast bullet too fast will cause leading in the barrel. Gas checks allow slightly faster velocities.
I'd definitely talk to your neighbour. Mind you, not all guys who cast are casting rifle bullets. Have a look at where he casts. A poorly ventilated casting 'shop' isn't a good thing.
 
When it comes to cast boolits there is a lot of myth about boolits shattering. Personally haven't witnessed it yet with cast boolits BRN 22 and harder whether in pistol, revolver or rifle. Must happen though cause you sure read about it hapenning. Softer boolits will deform better though and are certainly better for some hunting applications. Presently playng around with soft nose/hard shank lead boolits in revolver and soon rifle.

Watch Ebay for those manuals. I got both of Lyman's Cast handbooks for around $15.us

Take Care

Bob
 
If you come across the old Lyman 1st edition Handbook of Cast Bullets grab it.;) I still have one and although it has become somewhat tattered, it still gets regular 'use'. :) One more, to a lesser extent, the Pet Loads manual by Ken Waters from Handloader also contains a limited amount of reload info using cast bullets.
 
I just got back from Al Simons to get my Limbsaver for the Guide Gun. I won't install it now as I am going on course soon and don't want it to be compressed from the rifle standing in my gun caminet.

At the same time I got the Lyman 48th Reloading Handbook. I can't seem to put it down. I can stand at the kitchen counter drinking my tea and reading it and the time just slips by without me being aware of it.

I think I'll be getting a Rockchucker when I get the time.
 
I just got back from Al Simons to get my Limbsaver for the Guide Gun. I won't install it now as I am going on course soon and don't want it to be compressed from the rifle standing in my gun caminet.
Click to expand...

It won't compress. I've got them on a few of my rifles and they spend most off their time standing on them. No issues.
 
So, hardcast velocities: anyone get them up to 1800fps with a 400gr (or better) bullet. Is it possible to duplicate the Buffalo Bore or Garret bullets is what I am trying to discover and has anyone done it.
I eventaually would like to reload the same recipe so that I can get to know it and shoot it at any range with confidence and know that whatever I hit will lie down. I would not hut beyond 125 yards but I would want to try target out passed 300. For that I would need not necessarily a fast round but rather and accurate and consistant one.
So, my one cartridge for the hunt as well as for target shooting.
 
Teapot said:
So, hardcast velocities: anyone get them up to 1800fps with a 400gr (or better) bullet. Is it possible to duplicate the Buffalo Bore or Garret bullets is what I am trying to discover and has anyone done it.
I eventaually would like to reload the same recipe so that I can get to know it and shoot it at any range with confidence and know that whatever I hit will lie down. I would not hut beyond 125 yards but I would want to try target out passed 300. For that I would need not necessarily a fast round but rather and accurate and consistant one.
So, my one cartridge for the hunt as well as for target shooting.
Click to expand...
If you want to 'boot' them out at that speed,;) go with what's 'known', go jacketed, Hornady 350gr FN or Speer 400gr FN.
 
We cronographed the 480gr.WFN GC hardcast from MT Chambers at 1952 fps from a Marlin '95 Cowboy gun, recoil was uncomfortable to say the least, Large amounts of H-335 or AA2015 will do it, have I mentioned recoil yet? We cut the loads back to 1800fps, recoil still fierce, accuracy is still great!! The pressure level is below(slightly) the level of factory .450 Marlin loads, but above levels recommended in most reloading manuals, due to older guns in use. Pressure tested by Accurate Arms but not endorsed by them(Liability concerns). Complete test results published by Mitchell Ballistics in "Supreme handloads for the 45/70".
 
hardcast

lm shooting some 600bps-gc 2%tin bhn 23 which are actually 650 grains bullets well over 2000 fps out of a 50-140 on a ruger#1 this is a real thumper on both ends but managable and l dont think my shoulder could take another 100 fps ,but the gun and this cartridge is definetly capable of much more
 
cast bullets

I have been chucking cast bullets down range now for about 35 years. Some of the other fellows are quite right about some of the difficulties getting performance from cast bullets especially calibres under 35. The Lyman Manuals have been the only guide until recently. The newest Lee manual offers alot of scientific information. I learned alot from it and have been successful in getting velocities up to 2000 f/s in 30 cal. rifles. One thing I have become a believer in is Lee's Liquid Alox. I do quite a bit of Cowboy shooting these days and have been lubing everything with it. Revolvers exibit little to no lead flashing on cylinder faces and no leading in pistol or rifle barrels. The only downside is it becomes necessary to clean seater dies often. I consider loading lead bullets an art rather than a science, and the Lee manual offers a new and considerable wealth of additional knowledge. (An art is defined as a science with more than seven variables)
 
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