At long last I got my plain base 22 caliber mould. It took about a month to get here from NEI. When I unwrapped it I was a little disapointed, frankly it looked homemade compared to a RCBS or Saeco. Any ways, I was anxious to cast with it so last night I made a few bullets in the cold and wind.

I had feared it would be impossible to get or keep it hot considering the size of the blocks but I actually had it a little too hot when I cast the first few bullets. My fears were put to rest as it cast as good as any mould I have ever had. I figure I will get much better looking bullets though when it is a little warmer and I have more time to fool with it.

I sure hope these boys will shoot.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k191/KGKILBY/NEI001.jpg

Good looking bullet.
I have a number of NEI molds and I am considering another at the moment. The NEI .22 caliber mold I have is the No. 1 and the little thing is a good shooter.
All of my NEI molds are two cut molds so I have a good variety of their bullets.
I’ll be watching for your shooting results.

Well, I'm just pleased as all get out. I got held up at work and raced home trying to beat the sun. It was too dark to shoot but I figured if I could see the paper I could at least tell if these bullets were stabilizing.

I had five rounds loaded and since it was too dark to spot my shots I fired one into the ground for a fouler. The next four at the target (50 yards) went into 11/16". Two little clusters of two shots each.

I can't wait for the weekend to cast some more and see if I can tweak my load any.

Good looking bullet and sounds encouraging. What are you shooting them in?

Nice looking little bullet...is shaped well for casting (should be easier to fill out well).


About 2 1/2 years ago, decided i needed to make a Lyman #225415 into a plain base, 48gr. mold. Might be in the archives...haven't looked (but I had no camera at the time).

Removed all the hardware (including that *#&$#^$ blind pin), mounted it in a lathe, and faced it off carefully to remove the gas check base. Deeped the mounting holes a bit, remounted the hardware.

Lesson learned: can make the top surface of a mold too smooth. Smooth enough, and it has problems venting (the plate fits too well, and the air has no escape hatch.)

Had to go through a it all again, just to lathe anouther .001" and leave it a little textured.

I'm not driving them much faster than a .22LR, often down in the sub-sonic region, but at those speeds, if it missses having a gas check, I can't tell.

Good looking bullet and sounds encouraging. What are you shooting them in?

A Ruger 218 Bee. When I get a chance I'll send you a handfull.

I shot a ten shot group this afternoon. It was nice even group a little under 1 1/4".

I have a couple issues to contend with right off the bat; the one related to the cast bullet is that the bore riding nose is bumping up when I size them, I have to figure out how to control that.

This is going to be a fun project.

Make them a little harder to prevent them from bumping up like that...

You might guess my solution from past posts: don't size them.

how about sending me some of them bullets to try in my 22-250???

I tried a few cast of Linotype today and they didn't shoot very well at all. They might need a little harder kick, they showed signs of tipping as they hit the target. Also tried 4227 powder and that didn't work either.


how about sending me some of them bullets to try in my 22-250???

P.M. me you adress and I'll send a few when I get a chance. It may take a while, this is my busy time at work.

I've not yet chronographed my 5.5 grain of 2400 load but they just "seem" fairly powerful. Get a good bit of recoil for such a heavy rifle.

Today I did a penetration test on wet paper. I soaked some paper back books in water overnight, I had a stack six inches thick. I was thinking maybe they would shoot half way through.

I fired two shots, one towards either end. Both went completely through the six inches. I haven't done this before but judging by the exit "wound" they went through with authority.

I don't know if this test is meaningful or not but I'm going to take it as a sign that one of them won't bounce off a squirrels noggin.

I'm going to have to get some more books, I was really wanting to recover the bullets.

11" of penetration through water soaked paper at 50 yards. No noticeable deformation of the bullets.

Thats a hard bullet...

I have a .25 caliber (.257") 75 grain (Gas Checked bullets) NEI mold, which I have used in reloading my Model 43 Winchester in .25-20 Win. Accuracy is very good and I've shot a ton of Squirrels over the years with this bullet. Even shot a few Woodchucks too!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v691/David47591/P1050002.jpg