Cast bullets and reduced plinking loads

[Jacobite]

I was looking through my Midway catalog and was looking at cast handgun bullets in .311-.314 diamaters and also bullets for 32-20 sized at .323. I am thinking that thes would work well with Blue Dot powder for plinking loads in my .303 and 8mm rifles.

Anyone else do this?

[woofert]

Jacobite,

I’ve not done it yet…..

but I just received a box of 500 Oregon Trail Laser-Cast Bullets 32 Caliber (313 Diameter) 115 Grain Lead Flat Nose, Lee Universal Cast Bullet Expander Die and 100 Win brass for my 303 Brit.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=153355

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=140461

I’ll be working up loads similar to the data I found at 303.com under the plinking heading.

http://www3.sympatico.ca/shooters/303_Loads.htm

It may take me a while do to weather and work but it sounds like a fun project.

keep us posted with what you do and I'll do the same.

Woofert

[cimmaronkid]

We need to get Norton in this as he is the member that can definately give some good advice here as he casts for ALL his cartridges. I only do 45-70 in black powder loads. Go to the Lyman web sight to see if there is any info on loads using cast bullets or go to this sight as it is very helpful.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/index.php

Might want to PM Norton though as he is very knowledgeable in cast bullet loads.

[Norton]

For plinking with the 32 long I use the Lee 93. grain round nose lubed with 50/50 alox beeswax melted in fruitcake tin, I stand them up up to their top ring. After that I run them thru a Lee 311. sizer, and use 2.5 of 700x powder. (For indoor shooting I use 1.5)

For 303. I use the Lee 155 grain 312. with Red Roster melted in the cake tin again, gas checked and ran thru the 311 sizer . For powder I use either 13 grains of IMR PB or 12 grains of 700x. I shoots fair but I have never ran it up to the max load to see if they shoot as good as jacketed HV hand loads.

To be clear about my casting I just do it for fun, I hunt with Sierras of different makes and IRM 4895.

Now as far as cast bullet shooting the 32 Long is a great pistol to cast for, Light recoil, easy to use cases. You use very little powder and you can dig out the lead and use it again. I let my 10 year old shoot the 32 long ans a step past the 22. pistol Next to the 38 it is my favorite.

I my post a few picks of my 32 and 303 stuff.

[pigpen]

I got good groups with Hornady 174gr RNSP & 43grs of W760, Win LR primers in new Win cases.

[pigpen]

Casting some bullets would be a good idea. I also need to get dies for 8mm & 7.62x54R.

[nevada]

Oregon Trail siver bullets are claimed to be very hard and not lead the barrel.
22 on the hardness scale if I remeber right. Good bullets, altho the 115gr M1 carbine bullets won't work in the tight chamber of my carbine. The bolt won't close completely on them.

[Jacobite]

I don't plan to get into casting my own bullets. Just makeing use of whatever I can buy cheap.