Cast bullets

[jack19512]

Can someone tell me what are the limits when it comes to cast bullets? For one example is there a max velocity that they can be pushed to? Any pro's or con's when using cast bullets. Thanks

[Haywire Haywood]

How fast you can push a cast bullet is determined by many variables.  Bore condition, alloy hardness, bullet design, bullet lube..etc.

but.. to give you an idea, I shoot a 180gr 358 gas checked bullet cast out of straight air dropped wheelweights from my 357 Maximum Handi-rifle at 19-2000 fps with no leading.  I plan on backing it off to about 1800 to see if accuracy improves.

Ian

[jerkface11]

If your gun has microgroove rifling use gas checked bullets. My marlin loved them shot under an inch at 100. With non gas checked bullets it leaded up in a couple of shots though.

[Redhawk1]

If you shoot a hard cast bullet with a gas check, you can get the speed up there. With the non-gas checked bullets the powder melts the bottom of the bullet adding to the lead in the barrel. That is why I don't like to shoot non-gas checked bullets. I shoot non-gas checked bullets in my .38 and 45ACP. But all my hunting handguns I use hard case with gas checks. I load them the same as I do jacketed bullets of equal weight.    I care more about accuracy than speed. I find a load that give me good speed with accuracy and works well on game.