Hunting with cast bullets in your rifle this year? I'd like to hear about it!

I'll take my favorite woods walking carbine out for a few days while looking for deer. I bought it several years ago just for the purpose of using cast in it and find it is very accurate with a 165 grain bullet at 1900 fps. Here is a pic of it after action:

Last hunting season, I went on an exotics hunt. One guy killed 3 Nilgai with cast bullets in a 45-70. Took him 3 -4 shot per animal to put em down.

.44 Magnum rifle, 300 grain Beartooth Bullets WFN at 1575 fps. Using Lil'gun, and this combination seems relatively accurate, given the platform (Ruger 77/44). It'll consistently do 2 MOA, often a little better, but the rifle is bone stock, even the 428 lb trigger.

.45-70 with a Beartooth Bullets Piledriver Jr at 1750 fps. Really more than I need for hunting whitetail deer, I just like the round and the rifle, which is a Guide gun.

And possibly a .44 Mag pistol, A Ruger Redhawk. 300 grain Beartooth Bullets LCMN DCG. The pistol is scoped and the owner is not really all that good with it, hence the "possibly". But I'm trying to improve that. With a rest, I'll burn a deer up at 100 yards, it's without that concerns me.....

I'll take my old Marlin '94 25-20 out for small game and called coyotes this year. Been playing with a new NOE mold, close copy of the old Lyman 260283 plain base bullet but with a bigger meplat. Likely settle on a load just over 1400 fps with 4198. While not quite as accurate as the gas checked 80 gr. from a custom group buy over 12 gr 4198, it's cheaper to load and fine for my uses.

I've had really good results on paper and plinking targets with the Lee 30 cal 170 fp in various alloys and both plain-based and gas checked. In my 30-06, quenched ww w/gc shoots MOA with a couple powders and speeds 2k to 2200. Never would have expected that.

Just started a few months ago loading for a couple 30-30's. Still trying to nail down what is going to work out best in one, have yet to do much shooting with the other, and another is coming my way too. The 'serious' hunting I do isn't the kind of thing where I can handicap myself to shorter ranges, but for a meat deer, I'm excited to give the 30 cal casts a try.

I also load the Lee 310 in a 44 Marlin, seated way out and behind a bunch of H110. I'm sure I could push em harder, but accuracy is incredible, and velocity is right at 1600. That's all kinds of hammer if I can get into the timber after elk. I shot that same bullet in a Contender sans gc last weekend at about 950fps and put over 40 shots into 14" at 200yds with open sights.

My hunting partner brother is planning to use his scoped 38/357 Marlin for a meat deer this year. During last weekend's shoot, he was sniping half-liter water bottles at the same 200yds with 158 Lees in 38 cases and 18in holdover. Unbelievable! Took him about 10 shots to get the holdover right, and then he just picked them off from a seated shooting position.

It amazes me how easy it is to cast bullets, and make them shoot well! Much of my hunting for some years has been open country and long shots, but since I got serious about casting, I've been trying to scout out more timber pockets that I could carry a less-than-200yd gun into this year. Thanks for sharing your experiences, and please keep them coming!

I lost count years ago of the hogs my marlin 44 mag carbine loaded with a LEE 310 grain bullet over 21 grains of h110 have taken

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/51...flat-nose-gas-check?cm_vc=ProductFinding

I seat them out past the 2nd crimp groove, and 22gr H110 is not a hot load in the rifle. I wouldn't shoot them in the handgun. Past about 1100, the recoil gets prohibitive in the Contender. OAL is 1.78".

I used a NOE 368-286 in my 9.3 x62 on the last 3 deer I was able to use a rifle on. Before that it was the 458AccRel,450 Marlin and a 300wm. At this time am working on a 450 Marlin x1.8 to meet the new Mi rule to let us use a rifle in zone 3. Clint

Sounds like a slick little cartridge. I want to rebarrel to shorty 45 cal for a bolt gun, specifically to shoot heavy cast slugs at modest speeds.

The 450 Marlin is a great case for cast! With longer bullets will feed in most bolt guns with little work. Do not make the mistake I made and make it to heavy as recoil is not bad with most loads. Clint

The first deer I ever took over 50 years ago was with a Savage Model 24 22/20ga, the shot was 60yds. The deer shot through the lungs and leaving a highway of blood. Only made about 40yds. So yes, lead will kill deer. I plan to use an 8mm carbine with 170gr G/C or possibly a Savage 99 in 38-55 with a 265gr G/C, either of which I have the utmost confidence in. Didn't get to hunt last season due to my back surgery, but I took this guy season before last with a Savage carbine 30-30 150gr Loverin G/C, at 100yds. Have also taken many with round ball 54 cal. over the years. Believe it comes down to bullet placement and having confidence in yourself.

Any info on what style/type of bullets they were, other than cast?

I really have no idea. I didn't get into the details with him. He pissed alot of hunters off chasing nilgai past other guys' pop ups. The guy was just walking around, shooting with no concern for anyone else.

Sounds like cast bullets weren't the problem.

Every thing that I have shoot with cast has been one shot then get the knife Clint.

It could very well be that he was just a poor shot.

THIS


made this


and it was 30:1,NOT hard cast. Dropped like a safe fell on his head

Just starting to load test this 250gr GC in my 338/06 AI. Should be more than ample for any deer hunting needs as full power jacketed certainly aren't necessary.that's not a split neck just reflection.



Or the Lee 310 GC for the 44mag and 444



But to keep the Evil one happy something on the order of 500grs in PP for the 45/110

I am currently gearing up-- been casting my own ML bullets for years, and thought I'd try something new.

I have a 125 grain Lee, a 158 grain Lee, and a 200 grain RCBS mold for .358. My goal is to have my 35 Whelen, my Marlin 357 Mag carbine , and my Ruger Blackhawk all shooting cast.

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.