Cast Bullets for AR-15 ?

[chemteach]

I could use some advice &/or wisdom. Bought my 1st AR-15 in 5.56/.223 from Vision Armory over in Middlebury. Shoots factory and fmj handloads like a dream. Does anyone have any experience casting and shooting lead bullets out of a gas operated AR-15 platform? It has a 16" barrel with a 1/9 spin. 55 gr shoot fine and I believe heavier bullets should be OK as well. I'm just wondering about lead.

 

[straight-shooter]

I shoot a lot of lead but my AR is not a rifle I've considered for shooting lead. I'm not saying it can't be done but you would more than likely have to slow the velocity to a point it wouldn't be worth it versus just buying Hornady 55gr fmj bullets to reload. Powder coating the bullets would give you a better chance at increased velocity but again, not something I've tried with the AR yet.

 

[sgtonory]

I cast for everything I shoot. But I do not shoot a 223. That said for the price of bulk bullets I could not justifi casting for such a small caliber. I do cast for 300 blk as the cost savings are huge.

 

[dieselrealtor]

I recently purchased a NOE mold for that purpose, 70gr. I haven't tried it out yet & probably won't for a while, I wanted to have it & pick up some gas checks so [STRIKE]if[/STRIKE] when projectiles at a reasonable price dry up I have an alternative. There is quite a bit of info for everything cast at the cast boolits forum.

 

[chemteach]

Thanks dieselrealtor. Those are my thoughts exactly and why I started casting and loading for my handguns. If you get a chance to try them out, keep us posted. I'll head over to Cast Boolits and check it out.