Cast bullets in my 7400-'06!

[454Puma]

As I had mentioned in my first post I had to scope my 7400 since the Irons are to fine for my aging eyes! So I went out this morning to site the scope in . I took 10 round s of my reloads in 165gr Speers and 20 rounds of cast load just to see what they'd do. Glad i took the extra cast loads I needed them as the scope was way off as it had been used on my lever gun in 357 mag. I used all the 165's up and wasn't any where's close !  Finally got it zero'd in with just 6 cast loads left ! So I shot them for group at 50 yards!  See target below.  Now I just have to get them up to pressure to work in this action - they were close but I have to up the charge a little  I figure 2100-2200 fps and 40,000 psi loads should work! Bulets used for group were 150 gr Lee and the 170gr Lee. Both of these bullets shoot great in my 30-30's and Savage 30-06!  I searched the Lyman  load book for loads at or around 40,000 psi mark. If the wind isn't blowing later or tommorow I'll get out and see how they do.   Disreguard the taped holes those were site in shots ran out of targets!

[haroldclark]

Hey, Puma  Apparently the "They Brothers" haven't told you that you can't shoot cast bullets in a semi-auto and even jacketed bullets don't shoot well in a Rem semi auto.  I have a 742 Remington in 30-06.  I have not fired a jacketed bullet down the barrel, but there have been 3,122 cast bullets fired in it.

I've been a member of the Folsom Shooting Club in California for years. We have a 500 meter Rifle Silhouette Range (Sacramento Valley Shooting Center).  I shoot mostly a 209 Grain cast bullet with 25 grains of Reloader 7.  It just kicks the cartridge out and locks open the action.  I drop another cartridge in and drop the bolt.  It is a real conversation piece when new guys come up to visit and see the 742 shoot.  I let everyone shoot it, too.  Blows their minds.

My favorite two bullets are the Saeco #301 @ 210 grains and a Saeco #315 @ 173 Grains.  I mix 3 pounds of wheel weights to 1 pound of Linotype and gas check the bases.  No leading, ever and no gas port blockage. The first time I cleaned the gun was after 1400 rounds and only then because the action jammed closed after a shooting session and it cooled down.  I also have used the Lyman 311284 bullet with great luck.

Keep those cast bullets rolling in your 7400. 

Harold Clark

[454Puma]

haroldclark
 I was hoping you'd reply as I read your post way down the pages!  Been a cast bullet shooter for ages myself!  The Lee's I shoot are gas checked as well!  Mine are straight WW  water quenched! I check my barrel and just like my Savage not a bit of leading so I should be able to up the charge and get some more pressure to work the action! It was short stroking about to eject the spent rounds so I know I'm close! I going to give 40 gr of IMR 4895  which is 4 gr from the starting load in Speers #13  for jacketed bullets!  These molds drop out at 160gr +/_ 1gr and 180 gr +/- 1gr! All I want it to do is ejct and load reliably as it would be sweet to use these loads for this gun cause those jacketed bullets are way to exspensive and this thing eats rounds Yep I'm a cheap SOB!

PS these guys don't know the fun theyare missing just shooting jacketed bullets a factory crap ammo!

[haroldclark]

Your 40 grains of IMR 4895 with the 180 grain bullet should give you about 2100 fps, according to Quickload (usually very close with velocities).  That should kick the fired case out and lock the action back. 

I get the same with 25 grains of Reloader 7 and the 173 Grain Saeco bullet.  You know, I can't tell the difference in accuracy between the two bullets (207 grain & 173 grain).  The 173 grain casts out of a 4 cavity mold with a variance of 1 grain, too.  The 200 grain bullet will knock down a 500 meter ram with a couple of hits, but not with just one hit.  Unless, it is a butt shot and knocks the rear leg off.

Are you just shooting cast for practice or for actual hunting.  I have never hunted with a cast bullet and only once with a jacketed load in a 25-06.  I gave up live animals for steel animals. 

Harold

[454Puma]

haroldclark
  Yea I still hunt use both Lead and Jacket depending on what I'm hunting.  But the cast loads for practice are a heck of alot cheaper then shoot jacket bullets!  More fun too.  The only gun I don't load cast for are my AR's!    Thats what I was figuring as far as velocity- I'll throw them over the chrony but as with all Semi's you got to get the proper pressure curve to get them to cycle right!

[454Puma]

haroldclark
 Well I got out today and shot them loads - had sucess sort of! The 170 gr (180) load all eject and function properly!  The 150gr(160) I got two out of five to eject!   I'll not post the targets as they were not great -seems I still got a contact point on the forearm! First shot with cold barrel -Dead center on target an the rest left and high as the barrel got hot!    By the way you were spot on for the velocity 2101fps average chrony'd!

 I'll post the 170 gr target