Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Cast bullets in rifle for hunting

I am going to try and develop loads so I can hunt elk with a 444 Marlin and 310 gr NOE hammer. In the past I have killed elk with a .375 Winchester and 278 gr. Lee FPGC.

That 310 grain lee, does it need a special lube or would their tumble lube work? Also do you have to gas check them for slower 44 magnum velocities?

I don't tumble lube but I'd say most likely no as it has only one deep grease groove and the profile doesn't fit most tumble lube bullets.Special lube?.. Not really as I've tried many but I'm strictly using TAC 1 lube for rifle and pistol presently for many reasons listed below... eliminating the gas check would strictly be trial an error but these Lee 310's drop a consistent .430 which may be OK for reduced loads but you could always pan lube to find out.

TAC 1 lube
No heater needed for your lube sizer
_ Lube sticks are trimmed on both ends to prevent air bubbles in your lube sizer
_ Sticks to your lead bullets.
_ Very Low smoke formula, less to breath in, made for indoor/outdoor ranges,quicker follow up shots, won't smoke your shooting buddy out.
_ Tolerable smell, actually has a pleasant odor
_ High performance, Can be used in extreme cold weather for reduced first shot fliers and top accuracy.
_ Tested and proven in high demand cast bullet loads 44 magnum , 40 cal, 9mm, 223/5.56, 30-30, 30-06, 308 and 416 Rigby loads, yet still works in low demand loads like 38s and 45 acp.
_ Enhanced with Carnauba wax to leave your bore nice and shiny.
_ Melt temperature is about 140 Degrees F.
_ No Paraffin added

These work in my 9.3x62 Husqvarna at a bit over 2200 fps.



100 yards, and one recovered from the seventh one-gallon jugs of water.





Moose, caribou, and bear on the horizon this Fall.
Ted

That looks like about 280 or maybe 300 grs..Should do the trick.Store bought or cast by you?

Woody, they are cast 285 gr plain base from straight wheel weight metal, done by a friend of mine. Here's what they look like when loaded up to fireform 30-06 brass.



CF8506 powder under a compressed cotton wad, beneath a compressed COW filler and the bullet. Consistently group less than two inches, and no leading at all!

As you can see in the pictures in my earlier post, the base of the recovered bullet shows no evidence of fusing at all. The base is square, and shows only the engraved rifling. The barrel has well over 100 loads down the tube with no cleaning at all. Just run one patch of Kroil after shooting session, and into the safe she goes.

As well as being accurate, the load fireforms to 9.3X62 perfectly. Just sqaure up the case mouths, and they're done!



Ted

NICE ! Those oughta knock any critter outta their sneakers !

What mold is that?

Woody,

I'd be real interested in the results of that 250 grain LC out of your 338/06.... success, load used etc...

I've loaded up some of the Hornady 200 grain FN ( for the old 33 Winchester) in my 338/06, and fueled them with 35 to 40 grains of SR 4759....equaling the old 33 Winchester loads...

SR 4759 was REAL accurate.. as it is in most things I have tried it in... to include a few rifles that the barrels are getting close to shot out...didn't seem to concern SR 4759...

the 40 grain load with the 200 FN, was chrono'ed at about 2400 fps...

John I'll certainly keep you up to date,looking at several powders I have on hand and will try to give them a whirl in the next few weeks..put a PM bug in my ear later if I don't get back to you.

Accurate Molds #37-280A

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=37-280A-D.png

Ted

I am wanting to get a mold to load for my 30-30s. Can't decide on gas check or no gas check. Anyone used both? Suggestions?

Will be hunting with cast bullets in:

50-110 Winchester, 525 gr WFNGC.
45-70 Sharps, 520 gr hand cast paper patch.
38-55 WCF, 260 gr LFNGC.

And like all the years before, no bullets recovered from game to examine.

Thanks a bunch Ted. I've been looking for a cast bullet option for the 9.3 for awhile now. Which mold material does your buddy prefer. the aluminum, iron, or brass? The expansion/shearing of the nose looks promising.

A couple weeks ago now, I was out shooting that bullet sans gas check and lubed with the lee alox. It was a mild magnum load, but beyond a hot special, cast from ww +2% tin. Got great accuracy out to 200 yds with it, mv just about 1000. It would likely be a great hunting load. That design shoots well pb, and it shoots better w/gc.

The 30 cal moulds I have that are gc designs shoot better than the one I have that is pb when I step on the gas. Milder loads, they are all accurate, even when the gc designs are shot w/o gas check, but they are a bit more sensitive that way, and do better with certain powders than others.

I'd recommend starting with a gc design for hunting, and getting a pb design too. It has been far easier for me to find great accuracy with gc designs at higher pressure/velocity.

Breath on but refrain from tweeking the forls..

Nearly every mould I own is for gas checks. Unless you are shooting black powder I would go with a gas check.

PM my your address and I'll send you some 170 gr. LFNGC from an LBT mould. I bought the mould for the 30-30's I have, none of which I have ever shot. I have a passel of bullets that I've cast, sized and lubed. Haven't put one in a case yet, so you can tell me how they work.

David

OK, here's my latest with cast bullets this year. That is a .470 Nitro Express with a 480 gr. SWCGC from an Accurate mould loaded to ~2,200 fps shot from a bit over 40 yards with a Merkel double rifle.


.470 Nitro Express and Prairie dog


Me, the Merkel, and the deceased

For those that missed it, a story about the above can be read here here.

This is a steer I killed in July with the .470 NE, but with a 500 gr. LBT WFNGC at ~2,200 fps.



For those who missed it in the African forum, a parody of a buffalo hunt regarding this steer can be read here.