While sighting in my .444 Marlin with jacketed bullets, I came across some 240 grain hard cast SWC loads and tried them. I was impressed with the mild recoil and accuracy. I plan to take this load deer hunting. Anyone else using cast bullets? All the best...
Gil

How is lead'ing?


-DallanC

You know, i knew a guy that would pretty much claim the same performance (and saying he had phenomenal inherent accuracy) with casting for his 444 Marlin and 450 Marlin. But he did also mention the only lead'ing problem he had was with the ports and having to clean them practically every other shot.

Dallan,
My cast bullets are a mixture of wheelweights and linotype and very hard. I am driving them about 1,500 f.p.s. and have not noticed any leading in the bore.

515034s10ring,
My .444 is an older model without the crossbolt safety and without any barrel ports.

All the best...
Gil

I shot cast bullets in an older 30-30 and I also use 190gr cast in my old Savage 99 in .303 Savage. With good shot placement they drop a deer just as well as jacketed. I also use hard cast in my .35 Remington and 45-70 Contenders. Using hardcast I've not had any but minimal leading in the barrels. The .35 Rem is the worst in this case as I push a Cast Performance 180gr at 2050fps. I cannot mark this bullet with my thumbnail and it seems as hard as linotype. Don't have a hardness tester to actually test it but I/m working on that.

I cast 150gn FNGC bullets in 30 cal using an RCBS mould and use them in my 30.30. I use a homemade lube that I make from beeswax and automatic transmission fluid (pretty pink). I drive them at around 1900fps and don't have a problem with leading, and boy do they hit hard.

I have experimented with pure Linotype, 50/50 lino/lead and an alloy that is produced by a scrap metal owner here in Brisbane who is also a shooter. I have found this alloy to be the best of all. It is either 2% antimony and 6% tin (or the other way around, can't really remember) and casts beautifully. I also drop my bullets straight from the mould into water which seems to help.

I clean the bore of my Mod 94 thoroughly after about 50 rounds anyway which would no doubt help with keeping any leading down.

Cheers, Vince

Does anybody know of a source for 25 caliber cast bullets of 100-120gr weight? I have some ~about 85 gr gas checked bullets that are really good, but I am down to my last 150 or so. I gave up casting my own bullets when a steam bubble formed in the melt one day.