NDTerminator

I'm about to start working up some hard cast bullet loads in my Guide Gun. The consensus seems to be that fire lapping is required for accuracy with cast bullets in the Guide Gun. This rifle will shoot one hole groups at 50 yards all day, with jacketed bullet loads. Can I expect to achieve this with cast bullets, w/o fire lapping? Anyone have any experience and/or thoughts on this?...

eldeguello

Fire lapping may or may not help the accuracy of cast bullets in you Guide Gun. Fire lapping might also ruin your barrel. The main thing you have be careful about is to clean as much of the copper fouling out of the barrel, before trying lead-alloy bullets. I personally have never fire-lapped any barrel, and have had good success shooting pretty fast cast loads from centerfire rifles. For example, I have a Ruger #1 45/70 that shoots a Lyman .457122 HP, 342 grain bullet at over 2200 feet per second into about 1.25" @ 100 yards, and will do the same with a hot load of the Barnes 400 grain spitzer. But, I clean well before shooting lead bullets after using the rifle with jacketed loads.

I recommend trying the rifle thoroughly BEFORE doing any fire-lapping!!

Larry

aunsaber

I shoot a lot of cast bullets and I would not fire lap my 45/70's. They have always shot well without it. If you cast your bullets it is critical to pour them all at the same temp. or they won't weigh the same.
I try to get mine with-in .2 of a grain but if they are with-in 1 1/2 gr. I will still use them. Are you going to use gas checks?
I found that it works best to use them for any of my hot loads.

NDTerminator

Thanks guys. I'm giving the Oregon Trail 350 grain Laser Casts a shot, so to speak. I have never messed around with cast bullets in rifles before, but the lower cost compared to jacketed stuff is just too attractive. I really like the Laser Cast 215 SWC in my 41 Magnum, so I'm guessing their rifle bullet should be a winner...