Cast bullets for Big Bore practice loads?

[skydiver386]

Have any of you found bare lead bullets that you can buy, or molds to use for casting that work for full power practice loads in your Big Bore rifles?

Reloading with Swift A-Frames or other DG bullets are not only expensive, but often hard to obtain, so a cast .416 or .458 caliber bullet seems like a good idea. The problem I've found is the majority of pre-made bullets are light for caliber for 458 SOCOM or 45-70, and not 500 grain, etc. I'd like something close to a full weight, full power load, without spending $110 just to buy the bullets. With some of these projectiles in very limited production, it also seems like a waste to put them into a backstop instead of using them for hunting.

I have rifles in 375, 416, 458 and may soon buy a 505. Have you loaded cast bullets for your Big Bores? Did you find any particular type or brand worked best. What powders did you use? Did you use a heavy crimp?

Winter is coming and this seems the perfect time to cast bullets and make some ammo.

 

[deewayne2003]

I looked into it for my .470ne, but my rifle shoots both Woodleigh and Hornady bullets extremely well.

I was able to find a bunch of the new old stock DGS and then Midway had the DGX factory seconds on sale; so I stockpiled for much cheaper then the set up needed to mold.

Also when I used to shoot LOTS of cast .45acp I found the cleaning chore time was more than the cost of plated bullets.

 

[Tdsmith517]

Cast bullets can be a bit tedious to make with the molding, sizing, and then either pan lubing them or powder coating them. I would just look for sales on the cheapest jacked whatever bullet in the weight you want. I mean time is worth something right?

 

[Schuetze]

You betcha. I've been casting bullets since the mid 70s for my rifles and handguns.

For practice with my DG rifles, they are both cost effective and efficient. They cost me nothing but my time as I have a good supply of lead, tin, and linotype. I size to just over bore diameter and lube with the Alox formula developed by the NRA years ago. I get very good accuracy at sub 2 MOA from all my rifles and my 30 caliber rifles often will shoot MOA at 200 yards with cast bullets. I can probably shoot 20 rounds for the cost of one jacketed bullet.

For reduced loads, I use SR 4759 powder (no longer available, but I have a stash). For heavy loads, any of the mid-speed powders work. Get the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook for a good review of powders for cast bullets.

The crimp that I use varies depending on the goal of the load. The heavier the load the heavier the crimp. I think that most cast bullet loads benefit from a good crimp.

I have several Lyman, RCBS, and custom molds for my various rifles. The 375 H&H gets 270 grain bullets, and the 458 Magnums get 405 to 500 grain bullets,

I've even helped regulate two English double rifles with cast bullets. That was an effort, but it worked out well.

Some photos of the 375 H&H, the 458 Winchester, and the 458 Lott with my cast bullets.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

I cast practice projectiles for my 404 and powder coat them, mold from CBE in Australia , rcbs sizing die and hornady gas checks that I picked up for less than I can make them, I enjoy casting etc. And for me electricity is free and so was the lead, so very cheap in reality
Gumpy

 

[JvW]

Cast bullets for medium bore rifles

Most of us have had something to do with cast bullets at some point in our shooting careers. Cast bullets are, of course, as old as […]

www.sajagterhunter.com

 

[zephyr]

My Big Bore range sessions, 505 Gibbs, 450NE, 458 Lott, usually starts and finishes with reduced loads.. Most of my reduced loads are loaded with cast bullets

 

[LeftySixgun]

You betcha. I've been casting bullets since the mid 70s for my rifles and handguns.

For practice with my DG rifles, they are both cost effective and efficient. They cost me nothing but my time as I have a good supply of lead, tin, and linotype. I size to just over bore diameter and lube with the Alox formula developed by the NRA years ago. I get very good accuracy at sub 2 MOA from all my rifles and my 30 caliber rifles often will shoot MOA at 200 yards with cast bullets. I can probably shoot 20 rounds for the cost of one jacketed bullet.

For reduced loads, I use SR 4759 powder (no longer available, but I have a stash). For heavy loads, any of the mid-speed powders work. Get the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook for a good review of powders for cast bullets.

The crimp that I use varies depending on the goal of the load. The heavier the load the heavier the crimp. I think that most cast bullet loads benefit from a good crimp.

I have several Lyman, RCBS, and custom molds for my various rifles. The 375 H&H gets 270 grain bullets, and the 458 Magnums get 405 to 500 grain bullets,

I've even helped regulate two English double rifles with cast bullets. That was an effort, but it worked out well.

Some photos of the 375 H&H, the 458 Winchester, and the 458 Lott with my cast bullets.
View attachment 805555View attachment 805556View attachment 805557

The picture in the middle….what bullet is that? I think I have some and like to try and find the mold so I can cast myself.

 

[Schuetze]

The picture in the middle….what bullet is that? I think I have some and like to try and find the mold so I can cast myself.

They are from an NOE mold. I can't recall the mold number, but they cast out at 270 grains.

 

[LeftySixgun]

@Schu

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Have any of you found bare lead bullets that you can buy, or molds to use for casting that work for full power practice loads in your Big Bore rifles?

Reloading with Swift A-Frames or other DG bullets are not only expensive, but often hard to obtain, so a cast .416 or .458 caliber bullet seems like a good idea. The problem I've found is the majority of pre-made bullets are light for caliber for 458 SOCOM or 45-70, and not 500 grain, etc. I'd like something close to a full weight, full power load, without spending $110 just to buy the bullets. With some of these projectiles in very limited production, it also seems like a waste to put them into a backstop instead of using them for hunting.

I have rifles in 375, 416, 458 and may soon buy a 505. Have you loaded cast bullets for your Big Bores? Did you find any particular type or brand worked best. What powders did you use? Did you use a heavy crimp?

Winter is coming and this seems the perfect time to cast bullets and make some ammo.

@skydiver386
If'n all else faial you can get 458 moulds that gives you up to 600gn in weight but you may have to cast your own.
Bob

 

[Nue432]

Casting full weight practice loads for those big bores is a solid move and a lot of guys do it successfully.

Grab a good mold from RCBS, Lyman, NOE, or Accurate for 400–500 gr in .458 and similar full weight options in the others. Hard alloy wheel weights a bit of tin, gas checks if you’re pushing velocity, mid speed powders like 4895 or 3031, and a firm crimp. You’ll get plenty of cheap, accurate practice without burning the expensive DG stuff.

 

[LeftySixgun]

They are from an NOE mold. I can't recall the mold number, but they cast out at 270 grains.

The loose bullets in the middle picture….what OAL are you seating them to?

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

The last three are heavy comercial made hard cast for my 458 wind bag, it’s what o let other people use when they want a shot of my rifle, they kill well also.
Gumpy

 

[Ray B]

For the 458 I use two Lyman moulds. One is Round Nose 385 gr, no gas check so is for lighter loads. The other is 475 gr Round Nose with Gas Check. both weights are with #2 alloy. The 475 gr can be used to within 200 fps of the 458 full loads with very little leading of the barrel. These are fired in a Win 70 and when loaded with 3031 get very close to similar sight settings to jacketed bullets. With the lighter bullet I use 4198 for considerably less recoil but more trigger time.

 

[Schuetze]

The loose bullets in the middle picture….what OAL are you seating them to?

3.5" OAL. It's perfect for my Pre-64 Model 70.

 

[LeftySixgun]

3.5" OAL. It's perfect for my Pre-64 Model 70.

I made up a dummy round to try OAL. I need to shorten mine a bit as it is engraving the rifle at 3.515"
What sort of load you running with that cast bullet?