Cast .224 Projectiles

[ddstuder]

Just got done casting some 55g .224 projectiles.

Anyone ever try these?

I know they wont work in an AR-15, but I will use these in my Savage 24-T. It is single shot .223 and 12Ga.

The Lyman cast Loadbook mentions that these are good up to 2300 fps with a gas check. I will load these up with some 2400 to achieve between 1900-2000 fps.

Should be fun putting gas checks on these little buggers.

[y5e06]

Any reason why they wont work in an AR?
Is it the low chamber pressures for cycling or the lead nose for feeding?

[SeaHawk]

Just curious, Have you tried shooting any of your cast .224 bullets?

[LTUME1978]

One of the guys I work with casts bullets for his 223 and shoots them in his AR with no issues. You may want to give it a try.

[SeaHawk]

Over the past 40 years I have fired 7000 or 8000 of these little guys in 44 grain and 50 grain weights from 22 Hornet and 222 Remington.

I tried a few in my Mini-14 that worked pretty well but I prefer not to have bullet lube in the gas system.

Gas check seating is very critical if you wish to obtain good accuracy. It doesn't take much offset on the bullet base to really destroy accuracy with these tiny bullets.

I have a 55 grain RCBS that shoots well in the 222 but it's so long I cant get good stability from the Hornet. Not enough velocity.

[ddstuder]

I did get a chance to shoot a few of these the other day.

I loaded 3 sets of test rounds with some Unique powder since I already had it in the hopper. I had best results with 8.0g of powder. I clocked them through the chronograph at an average of 2180fps. Accuracy was good at 50 yards, putting 7 out of 10 in the center ring.

I need to work on the seating of the bullet in the case to improve accuracy. I found that a few of them were not tight in the case. They would not push in, but could be spun using my fingers.
I will also be trying some different powders in the next loads.

[Jumping Frog]

I need to work on the seating of the bullet in the case to improve accuracy. I found that a few of them were not tight in the case. They would not push in, but could be spun using my fingers.

Sounds like your neck tension is too low. You may need to chuck your neck sizing button in a drill and using some sandpaper, make the diameter a little bit smaller. It isn't necessarily the bullet seating that is the problem, it is the case neck diameter isn't providing enough tension on the bullet.

[ddstuder]

I need to work on the seating of the bullet in the case to improve accuracy. I found that a few of them were not tight in the case. They would not push in, but could be spun using my fingers.

Sounds like your neck tension is too low. You may need to chuck your neck sizing button in a drill and using some sandpaper, make the diameter a little bit smaller. It isn't necessarily the bullet seating that is the problem, it is the case neck diameter isn't providing enough tension on the bullet.

I use the same sizing die for my jacketed reloads and they are not loose. I may have to get another "sizing button" and try this. Sounds like a good idea!

[SeaHawk]

I use the same sizing die for my jacketed reloads and they are not loose. I may have to get another "sizing button" and try this. Sounds like a good idea!

What is the diameter of the bullet after sizing? Should be approximately .225.

Sounds like you're getting ready to have lots of fun.

[ddstuder]

These are measuring .224