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.