I’ve been shooting cast pistol bullets for a number of years and finally decided to bite the bullet and move into shooting rifle cast bullets for the rifles that I own.  I decided to reload for my M24/47 8mm (.323) Yugo Mauser and started off by slugging the barrel to determine what size mold to purchase. The barrel surprisingly slugged out at a whopping .3265".  Apparently, after talking to a few people and reading through numerous online posts on the subject, it turns out that oversize bores for this rifle are common. Unfortunately, with the .001 - .002” over bore diameter recommended by most, this would make the normal 8mm bullet mold like Lee’s C324-175-1R, too small. I therefore opted to purchase the Lee Precision C329-205-1R mold and size it down to .328 with a honed out .323 sizing die. After casting a few hundred bullets with this mold, I pan waxed them in a formula I mixed using bee’s wax, paraffin and petroleum jelly and fitted them with aluminum gas check I purchased from Sage Outdoors.



I then loaded the prepped 5 cases with a reduced load of 22 gr. H4895 (i.e., at 60% of the max recommended load) and topped them off with Dacron filler to stabilize the powder. I made 5 more cases with 22.5, 23, 23.5, 24 and finally, 24.5 grains before heading to the range.



The first shots were about 6 – 8 inches lower than what I was accustomed to using FMJ 200 gr bullets but the recoil was much more pleasant to shoot as compared to the bone jarring, denture shifting, recoil that I was accustomed to shooting regular loads. The groupings at 50 yards really tightened up at the 24.5 gr mark and were actually significantly better than what I was getting with my best FMJ reloads.












I am completely satisfied with the results and will be moving on with the casting of .308 rounds. I’m also looking at casting rounds for my AR-15 and was wondering if anyone has an opinion about shooting cast bullets from the Lee Precision C225-55-RF mold?

I can't answer your questions, sorry. But I will make a few comments.

You did everything right and you are getting the results you deserve for doing everything right. I personally use H4895 which is a great and safe powder to use with lead and reduced loads. It would be interesting to see what the load chronos at? All I can say is congratulations!!!!

One thing I will suggest you try. And that is try 5-10 cartridges without the dacron filler and see if it makes a difference. Some powder/cartridge combinations work better with dacron and some don't. H4895 doesn't seem to be as position sensitive as some powders I have used. If it doesn't make a difference it will save you a step.

Again, great loading and great shooting. Those Yugo Mausers are awesome accurate! 

I can't answer your questions, sorry. But I will make a few comments.

You did everything right and you are getting the results you deserve for doing everything right. I personally use H4895 which is a great and safe powder to use with lead and reduced loads. It would be interesting to see what the load chronos at? All I can say is congratulations!!!!

One thing I will suggest you try. And that is try 5-10 cartridges without the dacron filler and see if it makes a difference. Some powder/cartridge combinations work better with dacron and some don't. H4895 doesn't seem to be as position sensitive as some powders I have used. If it doesn't make a difference it will save you a step.

Again, great loading and great shooting. Those Yugo Mausers are awesome accurate! 

are those 1" target circles?
that's some good shooting

Looks like you figured everything out  already.

So what is that black target backing?
Home made shoot n see?

Looks like you figured everything out  already.

So what is that black target backing?
Home made shoot n see?

I was wondering the same thing. If you go a few photos up it looks like it is black spray paint over a light colored paper. 

I was wondering the same thing. If you go a few photos up it looks like it is black spray paint over a light colored paper. 

Perhaps it's best if we don't know.

I’ve been shooting cast pistol bullets for a number of years and finally decided to bite the bullet and move into shooting rifle cast bullets for the rifles that I own. 

Careful when biting lead bullets. 

Excellent work.

I can't answer your questions, sorry. But I will make a few comments.

You did everything right and you are getting the results you deserve for doing everything right. I personally use H4895 which is a great and safe powder to use with lead and reduced loads. It would be interesting to see what the load chronos at? All I can say is congratulations!!!!

One thing I will suggest you try. And that is try 5-10 cartridges without the dacron filler and see if it makes a difference. Some powder/cartridge combinations work better with dacron and some don't. H4895 doesn't seem to be as position sensitive as some powders I have used. If it doesn't make a difference it will save you a step.

Again, great loading and great shooting. Those Yugo Mausers are awesome accurate! 

Thanks for the compliments. I was really expecting a lot worse with the Mauser and was pleasantly surprised when I started putting rounds through the same hole. I have never shot a rifle with iron sights as well as I did with the Yugo; and that goes for the modern day rifles that I have.  I figure I've either hit the right load or stepped on something while stumbling up the hill to the rifle benches. I read that H4895 is a medium powder as far as burn speed was concerned and that it wasn't position-sensitive but I decided to try Dacron anyway for kicks. I'll try to load a few without the filler and see what happens.

are those 1" target circles?
that's some good shooting

Yes, 1" circles. Thanks.

I was wondering the same thing. If you go a few photos up it looks like it is black spray paint over a light colored paper. 

In my quest to be the ultimate cheap shooter, I made my own shoot-n-see targets and posted a video in this thread for those interested in making their own (see Reply #18):

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=4171.0

After making the video, I went a few step further and achieved grand-master status in cheapness by cutting the 8-1/2 x 11 shoot-n-see targets in half, spray-painting my own orange dots using a bunch of left over Avery 1" circle labels (after running out of pre-fabbed target dots), and repainting the holes using fast-drying paint when the RO calls cease fires.

Thanks for the compliments. I was really expecting a lot worse with the Mauser and was pleasantly surprised when I started putting rounds through the same hole.  I read that H4895 is a medium powder as far as burn speed was concerned and that it wasn't position-sensitive but I decided to try Dacron anyway for kicks. I'll try to load a few without the filler and see what happens.

You did everything right, especially starting off at the 60% of maximum load. Most people try and push lead rifle boolits as fast as or almost as fast as jacketed bullets. But the key to accuracy with lead is to start way down around maybe 1,400-1,500fps and work up from there. My guess is your load is probably around 1,600 to 1,800fps. You can shoot that load all day without pain.

BTW, when you are ready to experiment a little more, IMR 4198 which is a fast burning rifle powder is great for reduced loads with lead boolits as well. I would be happy to send you some load data from the Lyman Cast Boolit manual for IMR 4198 (if applicable). Let me know if you have a problem finding the powder.

BTW, when you are ready to experiment a little more, IMR 4198 which is a fast burning rifle powder is great for reduced loads with lead boolits as well. I would be happy to send you some load data from the Lyman Cast Boolit manual for IMR 4198 (if applicable). Let me know if you have a problem finding the powder.

Dave, thanks. I'll look for IMR4198 during my next trip to the LGS.

Awesome results!!!