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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 424
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OP
Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 424 |
I was thinking about getting an NOE mold for a cast bullet heavy enough that I could use it for hunting deer but will probably be punching paper or a gong mostly. I expect velocity would be held to somewhere under 2000 fps. The NOE mold I'm looking at is the 260-115-FN-AJ1, (primarily because it's in stock and 15% off until midnight tomorrow). Bullet OAL is 0.877" with the driving bands being around half an inch long
From what I've read, 25 caliber cast bullet accuracy can be somewhere between tricky and impossible, so maybe I shouldn't rush the purchase because of the 15% off.
Thoughts? Thanks!
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,480 Likes: 2
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,480 Likes: 2 |
I have a mold that I use for my 25-20,25-35, and 250 Sav. It is about 80 gr. but I just use it for varmints and range shooting.
I have been happy with what it does.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,114 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,114 Likes: 2 |
Sounds like it should shoot ok, and NOE molds are excellent quality, IMO. The thing is though it would be very marginal for deer at under 2000fps muzzle velocity. Over that velocity (which is certainly do-able) and you're getting into cast bullet skullduggery - either a hard alloy which will perform like a FMJ and not expand for beans, or other tricks such as bi-metal castings/paper patching/etc. Powder coating may be an answer there but I can't speak to that.
In the world of hunting with cast bullets, energy transference is dependent upon mass at a given velocity, quite a bit different phenomenon from jacketed bullets which achieve awesome power via high velocity. Given the elastic limits of an expand-able alloy (rough rule of thumb 2000fps), in order to achieve good killing performance, bigger is always waaay better. A 100gr. or so .25 bullet traveling sub-2000fps (factor in distance from muzzle here, unless you're shooting them right in front of yourself) won't deliver really humane killing "power" nearly as well as a .30 or .35 200gr. going the same speed. I would view .25 cast bullet hunting as borderline trick shooting.
Were it me, I would absolutely get the mold, play with its bullets, and make a decision then as to whether I felt ethically justified in using it on deer. Or conversely do what I do in such cases and use the bullet for tons of cheap shooting fun throughout the year and when deer season draws nigh load a box or two of favorite jacketed loads, re-sight in, and go hunting. That's the protocol I follow with sub-.30 caliber rifles.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 424
Campfire Member
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OP
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Joined: Dec 2011
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I don't really expect to hunt with cast bullets and should have said that. Things would have to be really dire for that to happen. Using the cast for practice and jacketed for hunting is much better idea; thank you. I would have to go to a state which allows bottle-necked cartridges in any case, as in, not Ohio.
I should probably buy and try some pre-cast bullets first before buying a mold anyway.
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,510
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,510 |
Suggest buying some already cast from a reputable maker to see how it goes and if you like them. Might be the easiest route before the investment in all that goes with casting, lubing, sizing, gaschecks, etc. Good luck with one of the all-time great small game cartridges! Art
Old guy, old guns.
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