Bullet casting .50 bmg

http://castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=9067>Frank  The Lee 515-500F is a basic start with cast in 50 BMG. It drops big enough to be sized for 50 BMG and is an inexpensive 500 grain mold. This is a bevel base bullet with no gas check provision. Cast in #2 alloy or harder, this bullet simply tumble lubed will handle reduced loads in 50 BMG.

Depending on your rifle, you may not even need to size this bullet if it will chamber for you. Lee specifies .515” drop and that likely may do it as is.

This double cavity mold is in stock now at Lee:

http://leeprecision.com/mold-dc-515-500f.html>http://leeprecision.com/mold-dc-515-500f.html  $26.98

I would also recommend BPI Original Filler with this bullet in 50 BMG as this particular filler acts as a quasi gas check for non gas check bullets and greatly extends the load  pressure range of your bullet alloy nearly as well as a gas check would to about 40,000 PSI with #2 Alloy. I would do the math with the Lee formula and find a 40,000 psi load for the bullet with filler and start shooting.

If you end up sizing the bullets, size them to a sliding fit into the chamber throat for best accuracy. Undersize bullets will wobble down the bore, lead up your bore and shoot all over the place. So, get them to fit the throat if you have to size them and they will shoot fine with a 40,000 psi or a little lower load.

Start with load data for a 600 gr bullet ( Yes, 600)  that specifies load pressure in PSI and the Lee pressure formula will work to reduce to 40,000 psi. with your 500 gr bullet and BPI filler.

BPI Original: http://www.ballisticproducts.com/prodinfo.asp?number=BUFFER>http://www.ballisticproducts.com/prodinfo.asp?number=BUFFER There is no other filler that acts as a quasi gas check for cast bullets. This is a very specific recommendation by the manufacturer and is field proven to create a quasi gas check and extend the load pressure range of plain based cast bullets.

You will end up being about 15 to 20% below this load from Reloaders Nest for the 500 gr cast Lee bullet in #2 alloy plus BPI:

LoadID 9004 http://www.reloadersnest.com/legend.asp#Bullet>Bullet Woodliegh Protected Point http://www.reloadersnest.com/legend.asp#BulletWeight>BulletWeight 600 grs http://www.reloadersnest.com/legend.asp#Powder>Powder Hodgdon H50BMG http://www.reloadersnest.com/legend.asp#PowderWeight>PowderWeight 255 grs http://www.reloadersnest.com/legend.asp#Primer>Primer CCI 35 http://www.reloadersnest.com/legend.asp#BrassMake>Brass Make LC 87 http://www.reloadersnest.com/legend.asp#BarrelLength>Barrel Length 36 (inches) http://www.reloadersnest.com/legend.asp#COL>C.O.L 4.66 (inches) http://www.reloadersnest.com/legend.asp#Velocity>Velocity 3000 fps http://www.reloadersnest.com/legend.asp#Group>Group 0.5 (inches by 3 shot at 100 yds) http://www.reloadersnest.com/legend.asp#SubmittedDate>Submitted Date 4/11/2004 6:12:00 PM http://www.reloadersnest.com/legend.asp#SubmittedBy>Submitted By Sandow http://www.reloadersnest.com/legend.asp#GunInfo>Gun Info
http://www.reloadersnest.com/legend.asp#Comment>Comment
    http://www.reloadersnest.com/ogw.asp>Energy 11965 ft-lbs http://www.reloadersnest.com/ogw.asp>TKO 128.57 http://www.reloadersnest.com/ogw.asp>OGW 14580 lbs http://www.reloadersnest.com/ogw.asp>IPSC PF 1800

Don't skip the BPI filler in this reduced load, you need it for the added pressure it provides to ignite slow BMG powders in reduced loads. After charging the case, fill to 1/8” of case mouth with BPI then seat the bullet. This filler will leave white plastic snow on the ground just ahead of the firing line, if you shoot enough, you will see it.

Gary