Horrible Range Day

Powerfisher · 06-10-2009, 03:29 PM

I was finally able to get to the range on Monday and I shot terrible. Well, I dont know if was me or my loads. let me explain. I was shooting my own cast lead bullets. 250 grain. Slight wind and I couldnt hit the broad side of a barn let alone my target. No grouping to speak of. I made a bullet catcher and I hit it 4 out of 15 shots. Off a bench, 100 yards, 12"X12" box. I was very disappointed. I know I am abetter shot than that. So I started to mess with my load. I was all over the place. So, just before I started to pack up and call it a day, I decided to shoot a few 300gr SSTs. First shot was to the left 3"and high about 5". Sent another one down range and it was about 1 1/2" to the right of my first shot. Now I was getting somewhere. A slight adjustment to my peep and the next 3 shot group held a 2.5 MOA, right around the bullseye. Sent three more SSts down range and the same basic results. So, I shoot my cast bullets and again, all over the place. I know the SSTs were 300gr and my casts are 250gr but shouldnt they still group? Or, are cast bullets that inferior to the polymer tipped bullets like the SST & S/W? I want to shoot as much as I like but I would also like better results from my cast bullets. What did I do wrong or is that just the way it is?

cayugad · 06-10-2009, 06:06 PM

unfortunately, some bullets just don't seem to shoot out of some rifles. I cast a lot of bullets, and some rifles will shoot them, and others will not. All I would suggest if you want to keep shooting your cast bullets... start with about a 60 grain powder charge and start working you load. Also try different sabots as well. Work up in ten grain changes, and see if they will group.

Also try them at closer ranges. For instance I was shooting a Speer Gold Dot and out to 70 yards they shot excellent. At 100 yards, I could not hit a bull in the you know where with that and hold a group...

Just the fact that the rifle started to group with the Shockwaves shows me it was not your shooting skills in question here. So it has to be in load development.

lemoyne · 06-10-2009, 07:05 PM

The reason I don't use cast bullets is that if I load them to shoot over 1600 FPS they start losing accuracy. Try 80 and 90 gr of Pyrodex, also if make your bullets harder it will help some. Hope this helps. Lee

Semisane · 06-10-2009, 07:17 PM

Were you shooting theHawken Woodsman Powerfisher? What kind/shape bullets were you shooting? Semi-wadcutters? Round nose? And what sabots?

I have a bunch of 230 grainhard cast .452 bullets that I load in a .45 ACP, both round nose and SWC. I've been wondering how they would shoot insabots but haven't gotten around to trying them.

spaniel · 06-11-2009, 06:48 AM

What was your powder charge? More than 80gr and that may be the problem.

Precision Rifle's bullets are swaged -- as consistent as pure lead bullets can get -- and most guns lose accuracy with them between 80-100gr powder as the velocity gets too high for the soft lead. I've never had lead bullets group well out of any gun with over 100gr powder. I would think cast bullets would lose accuracy even quicker as they start off less consistent.

Powerfisher · 06-11-2009, 01:28 PM

I was shooting my Omega. I was using 90gr of T7 FFg. Then I went up from there in 5 grain incraments and stopped at 100gr. I am not sure how to explain the bullet shape. It has a slightly tapered nose that turns flat nose with three ribs going down the side. I bought the cast from Lee Realoading and its the 250gr. .45 cal. bullet mold. Thanks for the tips. I believe I will start at a lighter load like yall mentioned and work my way up from there. Thanks again.