As I mentioned in another thread, I had been looking for a good plinking load for my SKS and Enfiled. Looking around I found bits of the Cast Bullet Loads for Military Rifles article.
Well, I found the whole article and gethered the supplies to try it out with great resaults.
I cast some bullets from the Lee .312 155gr mould, sized to .311, gas checked and loaded them over 14, 14.5 and 15 grains of 2400. Out to test them on Sunday evening. 14 and 14.5 grains were perfect in my Russian Sks, very accurate, mild recoil, and no dinged brass. In fact the 14gr cases stayed on the table and the 14.5 grs flew a couple feet away. I didn't shoot any of the 15 gr loads.
The best part was hitting my target, a small tide jug filled with water with my second shot at 100 yards. the first shot was just a test shot down range not really aimed to check for function.
I hiked down range, checked the bullet hole and replaced the jug that had fallen over with another one. Took another shot and had another hit and hike LOL The bullets were hitting where I aimed, not shooting high or low as some cast will.
The best part is the cost sks
Brass 1X fired .22 Part of the deal with my dies.
powder .07
LR Primers .04
Bullets Free
Gas Checks .05
The cost works out to .38 per round for the first load and only 16 cents for every other load as long as the brass stays good. With the light target loads the brass should stand up pretty well and 16 or 11 (no gas check) cents for the consumeables is the same or cheaper than the surplus ammo. 16 cents per round before shipping based on 179.00 for 1120
No signs of leading and the time saved cleaning is priceless. I'll try some without gas checks and see how it goes.
I will post my cost to shoot the Enfiled once I have loaded for and tested the ammo
It will cost a little more .35 cents per round but considering that factory ammo is about 1.30 per shot, that is a huge savings and well worth the time
Cactus
Well, I found the whole article and gethered the supplies to try it out with great resaults.
I cast some bullets from the Lee .312 155gr mould, sized to .311, gas checked and loaded them over 14, 14.5 and 15 grains of 2400. Out to test them on Sunday evening. 14 and 14.5 grains were perfect in my Russian Sks, very accurate, mild recoil, and no dinged brass. In fact the 14gr cases stayed on the table and the 14.5 grs flew a couple feet away. I didn't shoot any of the 15 gr loads.
The best part was hitting my target, a small tide jug filled with water with my second shot at 100 yards. the first shot was just a test shot down range not really aimed to check for function.
I hiked down range, checked the bullet hole and replaced the jug that had fallen over with another one. Took another shot and had another hit and hike LOL The bullets were hitting where I aimed, not shooting high or low as some cast will.
The best part is the cost sks
Brass 1X fired .22 Part of the deal with my dies.
powder .07
LR Primers .04
Bullets Free
Gas Checks .05
The cost works out to .38 per round for the first load and only 16 cents for every other load as long as the brass stays good. With the light target loads the brass should stand up pretty well and 16 or 11 (no gas check) cents for the consumeables is the same or cheaper than the surplus ammo. 16 cents per round before shipping based on 179.00 for 1120
No signs of leading and the time saved cleaning is priceless. I'll try some without gas checks and see how it goes.
I will post my cost to shoot the Enfiled once I have loaded for and tested the ammo
It will cost a little more .35 cents per round but considering that factory ammo is about 1.30 per shot, that is a huge savings and well worth the time
Cactus
