FIELD: metallurgy, namely methods and plants for casting metallic body of stable form of melt metal. SUBSTANCE: method comprises step of introducing seed block into cavity of crystallizer in which melt metal is moved; successively applying layers of melt metal onto body of seed material performing reciprocation motion together with seed block along axis of crystallizer cavity open at both ends; restricting layers of melt metal by means of first cross section of crystallizer cavity and allowing their expansion along periphery outside relative to peripheral contour of first cross section area by inclination angle relative to axis of cavity oriented along periphery outside; providing forces of thermic compression in respective layers and controlling value of thermic compression force in such a way that to balance tension efforts by means of thermic compression forces in respective layers in order to provide freely formed peripheral contour that may be round and non-round to cast metal body in time moment when melt metal becomes body keeping its shape. EFFECT: lowered influence of friction forces between wall of crystallizer and melt metal due to controlling expansion of respective layers in cavity along periphery outside during movement of melt metal through it. 63 cl, 43 dwg
