What to do with .458 HardCast . . .

[Rick]

It's not just the commercial casters though but they have pushed the idea of "Hard Cast" for so long that those getting into casting believe it must be the way to go. They think that if they aren't shooting diamonds it'll never work for them. Truth is that too hard is the cause of much of the bore leading and poor accuracy that new casters run into. They then get discouraged with cast and quit claiming cast just doesn't work.

 

[462]

At one time, I'd say that was good, because it meant more lead available to us. Now, though, I figure the new caster is powder coating and leading is no longer a concern.

I do wonder, though, where the new caster is getting lead, because wheel weights are outlawed in so many states and buying lead is not inexpensive.

 

[L Ross]

Ok then, it's settled. Gonna melt them down to harden up pure lead!

Thanks a million for all the input.

Mike

You are going to love shooting cast bullets if you hang out here and pick up some tips from everyone.

You absolutely have to see Waco's videos ringing a 10" gong at 500 yards. Mind boggling!

My rifles act just like .22's. They shoot and shoot and never lead and last time I checked I was spending 10 to 13¢ per round. When I hear shooters on other forums talking about paying 50¢ each for jacketed bullets just to whizz them away down range. I dunno. I don't think I could enjoy shooting ammo that expensive. I can stand out there and whang away at a bunch of steel targets for the same cost as .22 ammo. When Walter got me all jazzed to try longer range I added a 20MOA rail and Burris Signature Zee rings adjusted to add another 20 MOA. I had been shooting 80, 160, and 210 yard rails.I put up rails at 350 and 440 yards and sure as shootin', (pun intended), you can do credible work at a quarter mile. On either a calm day, or a stable wind condition I can nail 6" discs off the 440 rail regularly.
This target is my first attempt at 440 yards. The gong is 22" in diameter. There was virtually no wind and I was gobsmacked. I was adjusting my elevation from shot one, through two, on three I was satisfied and went for the group.

 

[waco]

You are going to love shooting cast bullets if you hang out here and pick up some tips from everyone.

You absolutely have to see Waco's videos ringing a 10" gong at 500 yards. Mind boggling!

My rifles act just like .22's. They shoot and shoot and never lead and last time I checked I was spending 10 to 13¢ per round. When I hear shooters on other forums talking about paying 50¢ each for jacketed bullets just to whizz them away down range. I dunno. I don't think I could enjoy shooting ammo that expensive. I can stand out there and whang away at a bunch of steel targets for the same cost as .22 ammo. When Walter got me all jazzed to try longer range I added a 20MOA rail and Burris Signature Zee rings adjusted to add another 20 MOA. I had been shooting 80, 160, and 210 yard rails.I put up rails at 350 and 440 yards and sure as shootin', (pun intended), you can do credible work at a quarter mile. On either a calm day, or a stable wind condition I can nail 6" discs off the 440 rail regularly.View attachment 19558
This target is my first attempt at 440 yards. The gong is 22" in diameter. There was virtually no wind and I was gobsmacked. I was adjusting my elevation from shot one, through two, on three I was satisfied and went for the group.

Very fine shooting!

 

[glassparman]

Been casting off and on for a couple years but just really playing around and not getting serious. With the recent crazyness, I decided to try casting on a serious level and stockpile my copper stuff.

I know I'll like it on a higher level, just gotta dive in!

Mike

 

[RBHarter]

I'm not the high speed small group guy but I'm getting there .
I think much of my success is dumb luck .

Master the Unique level first then move on to heavy for cartridge bullets and slow for cartridge powders .

 

[waco]

You are going to love shooting cast bullets if you hang out here and pick up some tips from everyone.

You absolutely have to see Waco's videos ringing a 10" gong at 500 yards. Mind boggling!

My rifles act just like .22's. They shoot and shoot and never lead and last time I checked I was spending 10 to 13¢ per round. When I hear shooters on other forums talking about paying 50¢ each for jacketed bullets just to whizz them away down range. I dunno. I don't think I could enjoy shooting ammo that expensive. I can stand out there and whang away at a bunch of steel targets for the same cost as .22 ammo. When Walter got me all jazzed to try longer range I added a 20MOA rail and Burris Signature Zee rings adjusted to add another 20 MOA. I had been shooting 80, 160, and 210 yard rails.I put up rails at 350 and 440 yards and sure as shootin', (pun intended), you can do credible work at a quarter mile. On either a calm day, or a stable wind condition I can nail 6" discs off the 440 rail regularly.View attachment 19558
This target is my first attempt at 440 yards. The gong is 22" in diameter. There was virtually no wind and I was gobsmacked. I was adjusting my elevation from shot one, through two, on three I was satisfied and went for the group.

I gotta ask. What bullets and powders are you using?

 

[L Ross]

I gotta ask. What bullets and powders are you using?

I use the Lee 312-155-2R and the XCB bullet, usually with Hornady checks but I just ran off another batch of Free Chex III's. I need to do a head to head test. I use 4227 and 2400. My 200 yard load ran about 1,450, but I jacked it up to 1,700+ to flatten the trajectory a little when I went to the longer distances.

I use three rifles at the longer range. A 4 groove Springield Sporter still in .30-06, the I have two .308's, both heavy barrel Model 700's one is set up as a single shot in a 40-X stock, bedded, and with a really nice trigger, the other on a redone Police stock and a Timney trigger. If I remember correctly, one was an SP, and the other a Varmint. What shocks me is the Springfield, as the throat is just roached, yet it has always shot cast well. Everything I've tried in it has been 2.5 MOA and less. 311284, RCBS 180 SP, The Lee, the XCB, 311466, and 311299. The Lee and the XCB just lead the pack in all three rifles and don't have to be jammed into the rifling to work, so I never de-bullet a loaded round, dumping powder into the action.

I run identical scopes on those three rifles, and on a Kidd 10-22, and a Bergara B-14 .22. Leupold Mark AR Mod-1 6x18 with Mil-Dot reticles. When these scopes were closed out at basically 400 bucks a piece with tax and free shipping you just couldn't go wrong. I am beginning to understand Milling for range estimation and find it extremely useful for windage. Trouble is my shooting buddy still calls in minutes when spotting. (Lol)

I try to adapt to all of the little nuances I pick up on here. I have gotten fussier on my brass and I absolutely approve of the RCBS Gold Medal Match X dies so I can customize neck tension while still sizing the case body down.

 

[Bret4207]

"Hard Cast" is an ambiguous term of course. It sounds scientific and everything, but the original "hard" alloys were generally pure lead with tin added. Elmer Keiths "hard" alloy was 16-1 lead/tin IIRC, approx. bhn 11.

You took the words right out of my mouth, right down to "amibiguous". I despise the term "HARDCAST"!

 

[waco]

I use the Lee 312-155-2R and the XCB bullet, usually with Hornady checks but I just ran off another batch of Free Chex III's. I need to do a head to head test. I use 4227 and 2400. My 200 yard load ran about 1,450, but I jacked it up to 1,700+ to flatten the trajectory a little when I went to the longer distances.

I use three rifles at the longer range. A 4 groove Springield Sporter still in .30-06, the I have two .308's, both heavy barrel Model 700's one is set up as a single shot in a 40-X stock, bedded, and with a really nice trigger, the other on a redone Police stock and a Timney trigger. If I remember correctly, one was an SP, and the other a Varmint. What shocks me is the Springfield, as the throat is just roached, yet it has always shot cast well. Everything I've tried in it has been 2.5 MOA and less. 311284, RCBS 180 SP, The Lee, the XCB, 311466, and 311299. The Lee and the XCB just lead the pack in all three rifles and don't have to be jammed into the rifling to work, so I never de-bullet a loaded round, dumping powder into the action.

I run identical scopes on those three rifles, and on a Kidd 10-22, and a Bergara B-14 .22. Leupold Mark AR Mod-1 6x18 with Mil-Dot reticles. When these scopes were closed out at basically 400 bucks a piece with tax and free shipping you just couldn't go wrong. I am beginning to understand Milling for range estimation and find it extremely useful for windage. Trouble is my shooting buddy still calls in minutes when spotting. (Lol)

I try to adapt to all of the little nuances I pick up on here. I have gotten fussier on my brass and I absolutely approve of the RCBS Gold Medal Match X dies so I can customize neck tension while still sizing the case body down.

Are your turrets in mills? My Leupold has a mill reticle with MOA turrets. Dumbest thing ever.

 

[popper]

Why not keep those 'hard cast' as they are and just add as many needed to your pot for sweetener? That is the way I use Super Hard and it works fine.

 

[L Ross]

Are your turrets in mills? My Leupold has a mill reticle with MOA turrets. Dumbest thing ever.

MIL MIL

 

[JWFilips]

Hard Cast...Well that is the stuff that almost turned me off on cast bullets! Well at least until I got smart and found smart people here.
Hard cast just saves the companies complaints about mushed bullets because of shipping ....Fatter and softer is best!

 

[glassparman]

I think it is settled. I'll use them to sweeten my pot when I'm casting. Whew! That was actually easy with everyone's help!

I paid $20 for the box of 200, 405 grain bullets. I guess that was not too bad of a price for melting down, especially with all that is going onthese days.

Mike

 

[Bret4207]

Hard Cast...Well that is the stuff that almost turned me off on cast bullets! Well at least until I got smart and found smart people here.
Hard cast just saves the companies complaints about mushed bullets because of shipping ....Fatter and softer is best!

BINGO! People whine when they get a box of 500 bullets and they are dinged up. Same reason they like the crayon type lubes. Makes sense from a business standpoint I suppose, but it's a total crap shoot on whether or not they will hold a group at all.

 

[glassparman]

Ok! I bought the 12 pencil Staedtler to test on these bullets. F was the first one that would scratch them. I guess that means they are roughly 14-15 BHN.

I know that is a rough check but still, I'm having fun with the pencils checking everything I have!

 

[Mitty38]

OK, so mix them with Clip on wheel weight. 50/50 by weight. Cast them without quenching, and send them down range in something 30 caliber.
Or you could just send them to me.
@Joshua SHHH!