Cast Bullets at Long Range from a Handgun?

[haroldclark]

This past February, 2004, I started a monthly Long Range Handgun Shoot at our Rifle Silhouette Range (Sacramento Valley Shooting Club near Sacramento, California).  The Rifle Silhouette Range consists of steel animal and bird targets.  The Chickens are at 200 meters (220 yards), Pigs at 300 meters, Turkeys at 385 meters and Rams at 500 meters.  We shoot on every second Saturday of each month.

 We had 4 shooters at the first match.  On Saturday, 9/11, we had 12 actual shooters and another 4 people watchin while they are waiting on thier guns.  Each shooter will shoot at 10 tartets at each distance for a total of 40 shots at 40 targets. The high score yesterday was 37 out of 40 with an Encore in 6.5 WSSM from Virgin Valley.  

However, the top score so far is a 39/40 and shot from a 15" 7-30 Bullberry (AI) Contender.  The second highest score was 38/40 with a factory TC Contender 14" 7mmTCU.   The 38 score ruled for several months.  My highest score is 34/40 with a 7mm TCU factory gun.  

Yesterday, I tried something new and used a 308 15" Encore with a JP Howitzer Muzzle Brake(I wouldn't recommend the Brake to anyone) with CAST BULLETS.  After shooting the chickens, pigs and turkeys, I was sporting a 20 our of 30 targets and the misses for the most part were shooter error.  I switched to a more powder cast bullet load for the Rams and it didn't work well.  I only took down 2 out of the 10 Rams. The same load in my 308 CZ Varmiter Rifle will take Rams 8 out of 10 times if I can manage the wind.

Final score was 22/40.  It was fun though and my spotter really did a great job with our ever changing wind.  At 500 meters, it is not uncommon to have to hold 3 to 6 FEET of wind (either left or right) when shooting cast bullets at lower velocity.  

What a kick in the pants to shoot long range with any handgun and cast bullets.  I would recommend it for anyone to try.

For the first 30 targets, the load was a Saeco #315 bullet cast from 3 pounds of wheelweights and 1 pound of Linotype and sized to .310 with a gas check.  I used 13 grains of IMR SR 7625 powder and it is deadly accurate.  For the 500 meter load, I used 27.5 grains of Reloader 7 with the same bullet.  


Harold Clark

[frank405]

Try 4895 for a more powerful accurate load in your 308. Probably start in the upper 20's or so. We shoot informal long range with revolvers, mostly short (4.5 inch and 5.5 inch) 45's. Seems to help, I shot a coyote pup on Sunday evening at 311 lasered yards. Of course I was shooting a 310 grain Keith bullet not some wobble nose bullet.

[LAH]

Tell me Clark, what speed you makin with those two loads?

[haroldclark]

I posted the following information on winning guns and velocities on the Contender/Encore Forum.  I have copied them and posted them below:

I list the top scores for the past 7 months below with the cartridge and bulle below:

February 34/40 XP-100 30 BR 2000 fps 168 gr Corbin made bullet

March 38/40 TC Contender 7mm TCU 1860 fps 162 gr Horn BTSP

April 31/40 TC Contender 7X30 Bullberry AI 15" 2200 fps 162 Horn Amax

May No shoot

June 36/40 Encore 7MM-08 AI Virgin Valley 18.5" 2400 fps 162 Amax

July 38/40 TC Contender 7X30 Bullberry AI 15" 2200 fps 162 Horn Amax

August 34/80 38/40 TC Contender 7mm TCU 1860 fps 162 gr Horn BTSP

September 37/40 Encore 6.5mm WSSM Virgin Valley 18.5" 2600 fps 140 gr amax.

[haroldclark]

LAH.  It occured to me that you were probably more interested in the cast bullet velocities than the others.

The 25.6" barreled CZ 308 with 27.5 grains of Reloader 7 and the 173 Grain Saeco #315 cast bullet has been chronographed at 2047 fps average.  It was in December of 2003 and rather cold.

The same load in a 15 inch Encore will leave the barrel around 1680 fps.  I have not chronographed it yet.  See my database notes on this load in the Encore barrel below

The 13 grain of 7625 and the same bullet is moving near 1540 fps.  I can't reach 550 meters with this load, but 385 meters and closer it works great.


My notes on the 27.5 load in the 15" Encore are as follows:

9/11/04  I used this load at 500 meters in the match.  I couldn't hit the Rams with an accuracy.  Two Rams commited suicide and jumped in front of the bullet.

9/8/04  Note about Brass:  I have switched the Encore 15" barrel to WRA 69 Brass.

I have the Muzzle brake on the Encore as of this date 1/29/04.

7/12/04 I fired this load on paper at 100 yards and it was very unsatisfactory with groups in the 2.5" area.  Some fliers out to 4 inches.  I may have to fire lap this barrel again.

3/15/04  I got out to Rams today and took 3 light set ones in a row and then couldn't hit my butt. They were difficult to see since it was late in the day and reading the contitions was not easy.

3/5/04  I fired at chickens and pigs again today with total success.  The OAL of the loads fired today were 2.704.  I loaded 76 more today at this length.  With the Muzzle Brake on this gun, it is a kick in the pants to shoot.

1/11/04  I seated the bullet a little deeper from 2.721" to 2.696".

1/2/04  This is a deadly accurate load.  I could only get the sights out to 300 meter pigs and it took pigs with positive slam dunking.  The recoil was substantial, but I fired 65 rounds without problems.

The metal used in the bullets also contains an unmeasured amount of "Hardcast commercial bullets".  The bullets were useless in 38 specials.  I don't know what the hardness is.

This is the same load used in the CZ550 rifle, except the bullet is seated deeper.  It still engages the lands.

This load is very accurate in the Rifle.  I may have to raise the rear mount on the Encore, but I'm going to wait for the Burris Signature Zee Rings that I ordered today.

[LAH]

Thanks Harold.