Abstract: In the apparatus for continuous casting of a metal by drawing a solidified bar ingot through a tubular casting mold connected to an opening at the bottom of a crucible containing the melt, the tubular casting mold is protruded into the crucible in a substantial length and the cooling efficiency of the tubular casting mold and the drawing velocity of the solidified bar ingot are controlled to balance in such a manner that the temperature of the melt inside the tubular casting mold in the portion protruded into the crucible is substanially lower than the temperature of the bulk of melt to start solidification of the melt within the portion. When a bar ingot is prepared by using the apparatus and according to the method, great improvements can be obtained in the surface smoothness of the bar ingot and the metallographic structure of the same mainly composed of axially running columnar crystals.