Author Topic: Mausers & Cast Bullets  (Read 757 times)

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Offline rk4570

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Mausers & Cast Bullets
« on: June 27, 2006, 12:18:04 PM »
I have a Mitchells Mauser 48A in 8x57 and I am wondering if any of you reload cast bullets for them.
I really enjoy reloading & shooting for fun and the lighter loads for cast bullets make it easy on an old man!   :wink:
I spent a lot of money on Guns, Wild Horses & Wilder Women but I guess I just wasted all the rest!

Offline Sir Charles deMoutonBlack

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8 X 57 Cast bullets
« Reply #1 on: June 27, 2006, 03:40:01 PM »
I do.  In most of my centrefire rifles I have a cast load for plinking and small game.  That old Lyman 215 gr bullet is great, but I never collected a mould.  I do have a HOCH nosepour 190 gr, but then i rebarreled my 8 X 57!
Generally,for non-magnum hunting rounds, my loads use a cast bullet wrapped once with Teflon Gasfitters tape over about 9 to 11 grains of unique, or some other similar powder, (Herco, Universal) with a bit of dacron to hold the powder down.  Using a scope, the 25  yard POI usuallyfalls at, or near, the point of the lower point of a DUPLEX reticle at about four power.
Why Teflon?  Because it keeps its groups when fired interchangeably with jacketted bullets.  Generally when you change from jacketted to ALOX lubed cast bullets the groups are hopeless unless the barrel is cleaned thoroughly.
For a mid-range load try a 3/5 capacity load of 4895.  I've also used a similar level load of Norma 200.

Offline Larry Gibson

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Re: Mausers & Cast Bullets
« Reply #2 on: June 28, 2006, 10:43:24 AM »
Quote from: rk4570
I have a Mitchells Mauser 48A in 8x57 and I am wondering if any of you reload cast bullets for them.
I really enjoy reloading & shooting for fun and the lighter loads for cast bullets make it easy on an old man!   :wink:


I currently have 2 moulds that I cast bullets for the 8x57; the Lyman 423470 (160 gr) and the 325471 (215). I also have a custom order 185 gr Lee 6 holer on the way. I shoot both the Lyman's in several M98s including a M48. They are of Lovern design and sized .325 the 325471 just fits the long throats kissing the lands when the gas check is seated to the bottom of the neck. Accuracy is excellent with 29 gr 4895 and a 1 gr dacron filler over the powder. Velocity runs right around 1800 fps. The 325470 over 14 gr Unique (no filler) runs right at 1500 fps and is a very pleasant and accurat load.

My 325471 mould is a hollow point mould and when cast of magnum shot (lead with 3-5% antimony) and water quenched out of the mould makes for one of the most effective deer cast bullets of medium bore. I push those right at 2000 fps. To make solids with that bullet I put BBs in a gas check lid on top of the pot (keeps them hot) while casting. I use a small tweezer to put one in the mould instead of the hollow pointer. The BB nose makes for a nice bullet point and does not get beat up on the feed ramp when loading from the magazine. With the righ alloy it also aides expansion like a "bronze point" bullet.

I also have used a 160 gr plain based flat point I used to get unsized and unluber from Liberty Bullets (no longer in business).  They came at .324 and I tuumble lubed them in Lee Liquid Alox ond loaded them over 6.5 gr Bullseye for 1160 fps. These made for a very nice, accurate and relatively quiet small game load.

I'm looking forward to using the 185 gr Lee bullet in a load that turns 1700-1900 fps. It should be a good "all around bullet".  

Larry Gibson

Offline rk4570

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Mausers & Cast Bullets
« Reply #3 on: June 28, 2006, 12:24:09 PM »
Thanks for the quick replys!

The Lee 6 gang mould sounds like a good one, what is the # & how can I order 1. :D
I spent a lot of money on Guns, Wild Horses & Wilder Women but I guess I just wasted all the rest!

Offline Dan Chamberlain

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Re: Mausers & Cast Bullets
« Reply #4 on: July 16, 2006, 06:32:25 AM »
17 grains of 2400 under a gas check bullet will give you nice velocities and should be a very accurate load.  My 24/47 will shoot 3" at 100 all day long with that load and the crummy Mauser sights.

Dan