u/No_Attempt_69

Shake n bake powder coating.
Did about 1/2 of my new cast in Eastmans ford blue mixed with Eastmans clear and the other 1/2 in straight Eastmans clear.
Wish I wouldn’t have mixed the blue clear as it almost looks spatchy. Most all of this batch, a lot of the bullets fell over due to me bumping upon entering oven.
On the clear coating batch, I tried some silicone candy molds on my oven pan vs parchment paper. I think this will be my new preferred. These turned out well although they dulled the look of cast lead quite a bit.

Will hopefully reload some later this week after normal chores are done.

Edit title: NOE .310 225gn

My 4th attempt.
Previously scrubbed mold with brush, dawn, and hot water and smoked mold before casting.
This time, Cleaned mold with alcohol before starting, smoked again, turned temp up to next of last setting, pre heated mold and sprue cutter. When pouring it took 12-16 seconds for extra above sprue to harden. When it did, it was whiteish and flaky. Poured several kept 106 rounds. Will size, powder coat, size and check weight uniformity before reloading.

After casting, I’ve switched to using rubber gloves when handling raw bullets to keep the oils down. I feel like this is helping my powder coat stick better and be more even.

Reloading new cases and don’t have any boxes. Also planning to send some to my son.
Not my design but is going to work very well for 50rds. Similar to a 50 count box of .22 ammo

After cleaning my mold and increasing temp, the wrinkles are getting better.
Went ahead and tried out my new candy molds for baking then couldn’t resist but to load up a few.

Cmmg banshee 8”

Wide open agb

Yellow spring with 1.7oz buffer.

Cast NOE 225gn, .310

Powder coat Eastwood blue/clear

Sized to .309, wsrp, H110 8gn, seated to 2.25”. Cycles every shot, locks bolt back on empty. Avg fps 909.6

Mission complete. Have cast bullets that work in my gun. Have load data for both Berry’s 220 and Hornady 208’s. Will cast more bullets and hopefully be wrinkle free after cleaning mold and moving temp up for some next reloads. Time now to stock up some ammo for upcoming range days.

New mold to try that someone here suggested in my previous post. Finished very much resembles Barry’s.

NOE 225gn. It’s a good bit heavier bulkier than my other Lee molds. Not negative either way, just stating the obvious.

Made a count of 54 keepers after pot and mold heated up. My .309 sizing die don’t arrive until tomorrow so I powder coated first. Will size and weight next.

More to come as I’ll hopefully get to load and test a few later this week.

My intent is to find the cheapest reload that performs in my 8” 300blk.
Still working up loads to find the preferred for a couple different bullets.
208gn Hornady
220gn Berrys
200gn & 230gn lee cast.

The lee 200gn will not chamber in my gun and first attempt with the lee 230gn, although they load and cycle, they shoot erratic and keyhole.
I have 1 more mold on order in 225gn from noe to see if it will chamber and perform.

Where I stand today:

Berrys 220gn, 7.3gn H110, shoots good, chambers, cycles, and bolt locks back on empty.

Hornady 208gn, 11.5gn Cfe-blk, shoots good, chambers, cycles, and bolt locks back on empty.

Today put on the Dead Air Nomad 30 can and a reclaimed Primary Arms Prism scope from another project until I figure out what to run. Also 10rd mag for when I can line up from the bench.
Still unfired at this point.

Just came in today. Super excited. 8” 300 blk.
Added dead air Xeono A1.
Hopefully get time to try it out this weekend.

Equipment to start:
16” Wilson combat barrel, carbine gas spring and weight, dead air nomad 30 suppressor, Hornady black 208gn. Ejects spent casing, will not feed next case or lock bolt on empty.

Step#2 hand load hotter 208gn. Same effects

Step#3 change from .556 metal mags to magpul .300 plastic. Same effects

Step #4 - reload 220gn berrys boolits. 7.3-8.4gn. Same effects

Step #5 - change to yellow spring and 1.7 buffer weight. Same effects

Step #6 - drill barrel gas port larger. Factory .100” drill to .110”. Same effects

Step #7 - drill barrel gas port larger. Drill from .110” to .120”. Waalaa! Success!
Will now cycle factory Hornady 208s and my berrys 220s reloads as well as lock back when empty.

Next steps and plans-
Goal is to shoot high volume with decent accuracy as economical as possible.

Will determine best accuracy with lightest load possible on the Hornady 208s, Berrys 220s, and then looking to pour my own 230s and powder coat to determine best load there.

Buy/build pistol is also on the shortlist