Newbie bullet caster range day

[JBowen]

Well, we finally got a cold front and some much needed rain Wednesday night. It is about 15-20 degrees cooler and I went to the range Thursday to try out my cast bullets and loads in my 73 Uberti-chester 19” carbine and my 66 Uberti-Chester Sporting Rifle 24” in 38 .
The .45 bullet mold is a Lee TL 452-230 TC and 38 Special is a Lee 357-158RF. I did not size these and I used Lee Alox lube. After cleaning the guns I found no trace of lead.
Over all I am satisfied with the way this going.


There is 2 groups of 5 in this first picture shot at 30 yds.

IMG_0584.jpeg

I moved out to 50 yards. First shot was pretty low so I moved my sight elevator up one notch and fired 4 more. These are with CFE Pistol powder

IMG_0583.jpeg

Then fired these 5 shots with Unique.

IMG_0582.jpeg

Here is the 38 Special groups at 30 yards.
The outside group with Trailboss was a commercial cast 158 rnfp sized at .357. These bullets never have shot good.

IMG_0585.jpeg

[JimT]

First .. they all went downrange.
Second .. looks like they hit the paper
Third .. the groups are good.

[Ysabel Kid]

Agreed - all counts.

[Grizz]

Agreed - all counts.

Dittos. Well done.

[JBowen]

Thanks guys. It was a lot of fun. Now to cast up a few hundred of each and to keep searching for the best loads, and then for my many other calibers.
Do you every get caught up?

JBowen

[LeverGunner]

Nice. Looks like good groups to me. You didn't mention if you used a rest or what type.

I like to evaluate leading by checking after I run an oily patch down the bore to remove most of the soot and lube. You can see any minor leading then. I have loads that will give a very fine lead wash in the grooves but it will not build up, and comes out with only a few strokes of a brass brush. I normally just leave it and it doesn't seem to cause issues with other loads.

[AJMD429]

First .. they all went downrange.
Second .. looks like they hit the paper
Third .. the groups are good.

All good…!

[Steve in MO]

Agree with everyone else. You're doing great!

[Griff]

Very good!

[JBowen]

Nice. Looks like good groups to me. You didn't mention if you used a rest or what type.

I like to evaluate leading by checking after I run an oily patch down the bore to remove most of the soot and lube. You can see any minor leading then. I have loads that will give a very fine lead wash in the grooves but it will not build up, and comes out with only a few strokes of a brass brush. I normally just leave it and it doesn't seem to cause issues with other loads.

Levergunner, these were shot from a bench using a MTM front rest and rear bags.

I pretty much do the same as you checking for leading, I run an Balistol patch and then a couple of dry patches through, then look for leading. I couldn’t see anything on these and then I run a brush through and then Balistol patch through a couple of times and then a dry patch.
Pretty clean.