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Post by dovehunter on Dec 5, 2009 8:20:19 GMT -5
I have ordered a .22 Hornet barrel for my Handi-Rifle, commercial 45 gr. cast bullets from Beartooth, and have asked Santa Claus (LOL) for a set of dies. Though I have successfully loaded many hundreds of cast bullets for my handguns, I have never before used them in rifles. I looked in my Lyman loading manual, since they are big on using cast bullets, to see if there was anything different that needed to be done in the loading process. It didn't mention anything. I was wondering about seating the bullet. The ones I am getting have gas checks already installed, though for the light (i.e. slow) loads I am planning to use, I probably don't need them. In loading handgun rounds one of the dies is set up to expand the case mouth to allow easier seating. None of my present rifle dies have such capability. Am I going to have problems trying to seat these lead bullets in the case neck - maybe with shaving lead, etc.? If so, what do I need to do? Are there any other little tidbits of info. needed for someone preparing to load cast bullets in rifle cases for the first time?  |
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Post by jmarriott on Dec 5, 2009 9:18:41 GMT -5
I have shot low vel cast loads in a 32-20 and med vel loads. The med vel loads were more accurate as I believe they were expanding the lead into the grooves better. Obturation is what I think he called it. Your handi-rifle barrel will most likely be bigger than others coming in from marlin. (Maybe not as much as the 44 / 45 cal barrel but on the large size.) Check out this link. If you are getting them from beartooth you may have already seen it. beartoothbullets.com/faq/index.htmThis club writting have greatly improved my general knowledge but they have a great cast area. www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htmcheck the gas check shank sizes area. www.reloadingroom.com/index_files/Cast%20Bullets.htmrocky raab's stuff on cast. I can't find his hornet write up. |
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Post by Jack on Dec 7, 2009 10:56:14 GMT -5
Dovehunter, Lyman makes what they call an 'M' die to expand case mouths on cases enough to seat a bullet without marring the bullet- exactly what you're wondering about.
I'm sure they'll mention the M die in their manual, and as I recall, they aren't very expensive.
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Post by twomoons on Dec 7, 2009 13:46:41 GMT -5
Dove hunter, what diameter of bullet did you order and what is the diameter of the barrel? A modern Handi rifle should be .224 or so and a .226 bullet would be about right. If you are talking about loads under 1200 fps or so you may be able to get by with a slightly smaller bullet. Ideally you want a bullet to just fit the throat of the rifle. I am currently working with a 44 mag rifle that has an oversize bore. I tried .429 bullets and they were key holeing so I slugged the bore with a 440 round ball tapped into the muzzle with a wood dowell and run through and found the bore was a whopping 4305. I lapped out a 431 sizing die and am starting to get good groups with a .432 bullet but i may go up another thou to 433 after I try some heavier loads.
I will have to look but i may be able to do you some good on dies as I should have some 22 hornet dies and no rifle. As to expanding the case mouth you can buy an M die or just take a fmj 30 caliber bullet and tap a light flare in the case mouth. I use an arbor press but i shoot ab
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Post by twomoons on Dec 7, 2009 13:48:40 GMT -5
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Post by dovehunter on Dec 7, 2009 18:31:37 GMT -5
Dove hunter, what diameter of bullet did you order and what is the diameter of the barrel? A modern Handi rifle should be .224 or so and a .226 bullet would be about right. If you are talking about loads under 1200 fps or so you may be able to get by with a slightly smaller bullet. Ideally you want a bullet to just fit the throat of the rifle. I am currently working with a 44 mag rifle that has an oversize bore. I tried .429 bullets and they were key holeing so I slugged the bore with a 440 round ball tapped into the muzzle with a wood dowell and run through and found the bore was a whopping 4305. I lapped out a 431 sizing die and am starting to get good groups with a .432 bullet but i may go up another thou to 433 after I try some heavier loads. I will have to look but i may be able to do you some good on dies as I should have some 22 hornet dies and no rifle. As to expanding the case mouth you can buy an M die or just take a fmj 30 caliber bullet and tap a light flare in the case mouth. I use an arbor press but i shoot ab I ordered the .225 45 gr. round nose bullet that, according to Beartooth, is intended for the Hornet. I wish I had know you had a set of Hornet dies before my wife ordered a set of new dies for me from Midway. I like the idea of using a 30 ca; fmj bullet to tap a light flare in the case mouth. I think I'll try that before purchasing a "M" die. Thanks to everyone for the help! ;D |
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Post by dovehunter on Dec 8, 2009 8:45:33 GMT -5
twomoons: This is in the way of a postscript to my other reply. (1) What is an "arbor press"? (2) What did you mean by "I shoot ab"? |
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Post by twomoons on Dec 8, 2009 10:20:07 GMT -5
Somehow the end of my post was cut off. I shoot about 20 different calibers of cast bullets. An arbor press is a lever operated mechanical press and I have a small one made for assembling eye galsses that has been converted to a universal expander and seater. I put in dipperent spuds and set the stop to flare case mouths to an exact dimensions. I also have adapters to seat sabots in different calibers and a straight line gas check seater.
The 225 bullets should work fine and I would try and push them about 16-1800 fps for a 22 magnum load or drop down to 1200 and yo have a 22 LR copy that is reloadable.
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Post by Jack on Dec 8, 2009 11:08:56 GMT -5
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Post by twomoons on Dec 8, 2009 15:17:29 GMT -5
Jack has it! That's about like mine, but mine came from an auction and I gave $5 for it and turned all the acessories for it myself. I'll try and post a picture of it as it is a reallyy handy tool.
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Post by dovehunter on Dec 8, 2009 23:06:49 GMT -5
...drop down to 1200 and yo have a 22 LR copy that is reloadable. That's my game plan! ;D |
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Post by dovehunter on Dec 30, 2009 9:29:05 GMT -5
I checked out this web site and joined immediately - very informative. Moons, thanks for putting me on to this. ;D |
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