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I'm new here so bear with me if I display some degree of ignorance in my first-ever post!
I'm curious if anyone shoots cast bullets in their double-rifles. I am considering a .450/.400 3 1/4 for a 2013-or-14 DG hunt and am wondering about the idea of practicing with it here at my local range to build up some experience with the rifle. I reload for all my other hunting rifles and firearms that I shoot consistently, so it's a thought for the .450/.400, but I'm open to higher knowledge!!
I don't make cast bullets or shoot them. But there are plenty of guys that do just that, so they can shoot for pennies on the dollar.
I use cast bullets for my 45-70 I get them from Laser cast they are a silver alloy bullet no lead to foul your barrel fun to shoot and are harder then solid brass. You can check them out at Home to see if the have what you need.
I use cast bullets in my 416 Rigby for a practice load. I buy them from Montana Cast bullets. The cast loads make excellent, mild practice fodder using Accurate 5744.
I have casted & shot cast bullets in a 45/70 Thompson contender. They should work fine for practice. You might be better off buying them as casting the bigger diameter bullets take a lot of time as the mold gets really hot & to make good cast bullets you need the temperature just right. If you are going to cast them make sure you use a good hard lead alloy. I would suggest using linotype & wheel weights with atleast a 50/50 mixture so you keep the barrell fouling to a minimum.
I cast and shoot lead (wheel weight) bullets in my .375 RUM. They are great for low cost, low recoil practice.
I have used the same load, for those of you that don't know the load can be used in any large caliber. I first read it in a book "Dangerous Game Rifles". The author Says use Accurate arms 5744, take your empty case (Anything from say 30-30 WCF, to big guns like the 460 Weatherby) Fill the empty case with 5744 then dump the fill case load on your scale, divide by 40-55% of full case, and that is your load. As I no longer have a .416 Rigby as I remember the load I used was 50 Grains of 5744 with a 400 grain cast lead bullet. I think the MZ was about 1400-1600 FPS, and I would have had no problem using this load on Black Bear, or deer. But as I said you can use the load in any caliber. I am delayed because I just moved to a new house so my reloading stuff is not up and running right now, but I am looking forward to loading my 9.3x62mm with lead and 5744. Oh just should add that I still have much empty Norma Brass (Most never loaded and new) for the .416 Rigby, along with about 150 .416 350 grain bullets, anyone need them contact me, or I can just buy a new .416, cause You know I have the brass, so....lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Pancho