cast bullets in AR-15?

[rondog]

Anybody here make & use cast bullets in their AR-15? I have a DPMS 16" carbine, not sure what the twist rate is, whatever's standard I reckon. Got lots of brass all prepped and ready to load, need bullets, considering casting my own.

Any suggestions for molds, bullet types, weights, etc.?

[Hoser]

Coated lead is what I would use. Traditionally lubed lead will cause all sorts of issues in your gas system.

[Great-Kazoo]

Anybody here make & use cast bullets in their AR-15? I have a DPMS 16" carbine, not sure what the twist rate is, whatever's standard I reckon. Got lots of brass all prepped and ready to load, need bullets, considering casting my own.

Any suggestions for molds, bullet types, weights, etc.?

DPMS is or has been a 1:9 for some time.
Powder coat them. I can check with the guy down the street. He's been doign hard cast 55 for a few.

[rondog]

DPMS is or has been a 1:9 for some time.
Powder coat them. I can check with the guy down the street. He's been doign hard cast 55 for a few.
Yes, please do! And I'd prefer to powdercoat them, I'm set up for it and do all my other cast bullets that way.

[sportbikeco]

I shoot a lot of powder coated lead in handguns, that is what I would use. That said they would probably shave off about the same as a non coated bullet if your gas port is shaped in such a way that it will shave lead.

[Roger Ronas]

I use a Mihec 4 cavity 77 grain bullet mold. I have cast over 1000 of these and powdercoated many of them. Have not had the opportunity to shoot any yet though.

Roger

[rondog]

Hearing on the Cast Boolits forum that 1:12 is better, 1:9 is too fast. Gotta be gas checked too.

[Irving]

Someone straighten me out here, but it seems to me that with reloading plated and coated bullets for pistol people tend to recommend staying below super sonic speeds. I'll be interested to see how this works with .223 and other rifle speed projectiles.

[Great-Kazoo]

Someone straighten me out here, but it seems to me that with reloading plated and coated bullets for pistol people tend to recommend staying below super sonic speeds. I'll be interested to see how this works with .223 and other rifle speed projectiles.

Not supersonic, just below X velocity. Like 38spl or 357 staying below 12-1300fps? I have to check my log book and mfg specs.

[sportbikeco]

Someone straighten me out here, but it seems to me that with reloading plated and coated bullets for pistol people tend to recommend staying below super sonic speeds. I'll be interested to see how this works with .223 and other rifle speed projectiles.

Cast lube groove or coated bullets can definitely be shot at high velocities but your lead needs to be harder as you go faster. Also the opposite is true if going slow, a softer bullet seals up better at lower velocities and provides better accuracy.

At .223 full power loads I would want a gas check.

Seems like a pain to get working right and a lot of work for .223, now with something like 300blk I would really look into shooting cast.

[Irving]

I've heard the term "gas check" before, but never really knew what it was. While doing a search to educate myself, I ran across this video and it seemed relevant to what Ron wants to do. Apparently you can make your own gas checks (even .223).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xK50ZaQo8w

[rondog]

I've heard the term "gas check" before, but never really knew what it was. While doing a search to educate myself, I ran across this video and it seemed relevant to what Ron wants to do. Apparently you can make your own gas checks (even .223).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xK50ZaQo8w

Yeaaaah, you can make your own GC's, but for the cost of the tooling and materials I could just buy a lot of 55gr. FMJBT's. A thousand Hornady gas checks don't cost much. Putting them on is a piece of cake with a Lee sizing die.

I'm thinking this endeavor ain't worth the hassle. If I had another upper with a longer 1:12 barrel, might be a different story.

[Irving]

Sounds like you're giving up to me. Come'on, be a trail blazer. You can post up a detailed How-to and an AAR for everyone to enjoy. It'll be worth it just for the experience alone.

[Zombie Steve]

If I was going to tool up for .223, I'd be looking at casting a bullet and swaging 22lr brass as your jacket. It works (at least the ones I've played with were normal power loads and about 2moa.)

[sportbikeco]

When you can buy a decent bullet for less then 8 cents it doesn't make sense spending the time and money (on GC) to cast them. Though it is neat.

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0000422455FMJ1000/Varmint-Nightmare-22-Caliber-point224-Diameter-55-Grain-FMJ-W-Cannelure-1000-Count

[rondog]

If I was going to tool up for .223, I'd be looking at casting a bullet and swaging 22lr brass as your jacket. It works (at least the ones I've played with were normal power loads and about 2moa.)
This is my ultimate goal, I've got some samples guys have sent me of many different kinds of jacketed bullets made from spent .22lr, 9mm, .40S&W, and .223 brass. Pretty impressive!

[Great-Kazoo]

Heard back from the cast bullet neighbor
He's using a Lyman .224 mold they average out to 54gr , also using gas checks. His pre mixed lead is 91 (lead) -2 (Antimony) -7 (Tin) IF he remembers to put some aside i will eventually get to load and report back


Finally located my load data for Lead / cast 223 bullets.

[tmjohnson]

I cast some bullets out of a Lee Bator mold, they dropped at 52 grains. Powder coated with ESC gun using powder by the pound powder. My little M & P with a 1 in 8 twist did not like them at all
Tip: Use different powder than Harbor Freight. Lot more uniform application.
Nothing wrong with Harbor Freight powder for pistol, but coating those little 22 caliber pills is tedious.
I also gas checked after coating.
Just my experience

[Great-Kazoo]

I cast some bullets out of a Lee Bator mold, they dropped at 52 grains. Powder coated with ESC gun using powder by the pound powder. My little M & P with a 1 in 8 twist did not like them at all
Tip: Use different powder than Harbor Freight. Lot more uniform application.
Nothing wrong with Harbor Freight powder for pistol, but coating those little 22 caliber pills is tedious.
I also gas checked after coating.
Just my experience

You spray them or do the tumble in bag method?

[rondog]

You spray them or do the tumble in bag method?
Sounds like he sprayed them. So do I, works far better. FAR better.