BLC-2 for lead

[nagantino]

Has any one used BLC_2 powder to reload .303 British for a cast bullet? The rifle is a SMLE.

I cast some .303 boolits from a Lee C312-185-1R mold then sized them to .311. They are lubed and gas checked but I have not assembled any complete rounds.

In researching suitable loads I came across a discussion on the Forum using BLC_2 for 30.06 that carried some hefty warnings and it has given me some pause for thought. Another member suggested 25 or 26 grs to start off and I was happy with this but I need that little bit of reassurance. Has anyone reloaded a 185 GS boolit using BLC-2?
The boolit is for 100 to 200 yrd plinking.

BLC-2 is kinda difficult to research for lead boolits. :|

[Fire_stick]

I do not have any experience with the 303 British, but I do with BLC-2 and a 308 Marlin Express. There is no lead bullet data for the 308 Marlin on the Hodgdon site either.

So I am just relating my personal experience here, and not making any recommendations.

I am casting a Ranch Dog TLC311-165-RF that drops at about 175 grains. Water drop for hardness, gas check and lube with LLA. I used the Hodgdon data for 170 grain Hornady FP. Started at the minimum load of 37.0 and found a sweet spot at 37.5 grains. Killed 2 deer this season with that load. One at 120 yards, and one at 30 or so yards. That is how I made it work for my gun.

I notice on Hodgdon's site they have load data for the 303 Brit for BLC-2 for 180 GR. SIE SP (min = 41.0 grains).

But remember, I don't know a thing about the 303 British or your gun. But I noticed there weren't any replies to your question, yet.

Good luck and take your time. I bet someone has the knowledge you desire.

[GabbyM]

NO reason BL-C2 can't be used for cast boolits in a 303 Brit.
I’ve not run a 303 Brit unfortunately.
However my old Hornady book from the 1970's has J bullet data for 174 grain Hornady #3130 bullets. Start load is 32.4 grains for 2,000 fps max load is 38.8 gr. For 2,300 fps.

If that start load does not shoot well you probably need to look into how your bullet fit’s the gun. I would be hesitant of dropping below the start load due to the known phenomena of what happens to ball powder when case capacity is not utilized up to a given percentage. You’ll hear 70 or 80% or whatever. But rocket science 101 with ball powder says if the case isn’t well over half full you may just have an issue.

Your 185 grain lead bullet will probably create less pressure than the 174 grain J bullet listed in this data. But you can’t count on that. I would be hesitant to go below that start load due to the known ignition issues. Also because if you can’t shoot a 303 Brit that fast you need to fix something else besides the powder.

Look at it this way. We use BL-C2 in 30-30 don't we. I've burned some BL-C2 and am not a fan of it but would say that if you've got some burn it.

[swheeler]

Your Hodgdons #25 powder manual has a section called "lead bullet loads" page 313

303 british- 180 gr GC- BL-C2- 34.0 grs- 2004 fps

What I do know about Ball -C lot#2 is that it is hard to get consistant ignition in reduced loads without the use of a filler. With this powder dacron is your friend.

[bruce drake]

28grs of Mil-Surp BLC-2 with Toilet paper filler with that .312-185gr LEE boolit got me around 1800fps in my no 4 Enfield in 303 Brit. Take the load as a start, drop the powder a couple of grains and work up so it doesn't mess up your SMLE.

I'm not sure what commercial BLC-2 would give you for velocity or pressure. my old mil-surp stuff would leave me kernels of unburnt powder in the chamber and barrel after firing unless I added filler material.

Bruce

[mwjones]

I've been testing some loads in the .303 with BL-c(2). I've been using lee ct-312160-2R mould gas checked and lubed with a 312 sizing die. My bore slugs at .312, so i WILL have to try beageling the mould and sizing 314 for better results.

I worked up from 37 grains of BL-C(2) and found the sweet spot close to 40 grains which should be pushing them about 2400fps out of my sportered, unbeddded no1. Groups ranged anywhere from 2-4 moa with irons @ 100, which impressed the hell out of me. Groups opened back up with 41 grains, probably due to pushing the limits of the cast ww bullet and gas check.

[303Guy]

Check out this link;

http://www.castpics.net/project2/CastDatalist.php?t=CastData&z_Cartridge=LIKE&x_Cartridge=303+Brit&v_Cartridge=AND&w_Cartridge=LIKE&y_Cartridge=&z_BulletWt=%3D&x_BulletWt=&z_Bullet=LIKE&x_Bullet=&v_Bullet=AND&w_Bullet=%3D&y_Bullet=&z_Powder=LIKE&x_Powder=&v_Powder=AND&w_Powder=%3D&y_Powder=&Submit=Search+%28*%29

AA2230 is an equivalent of BLC(2)

You say you sized those castings to .311. That could be a problem. 303 Brit bores are usually somewhat larger than that. Also check that the bore ride section is a push fit in the muzzle. Also to note is that throat fir id important too. Some say throat fit is king. I subscribe to that one. I let the bore do the sizing.

[onondaga]

BLC2, H335, 748, 2230,844,846 are all so close in burn rate and performance, I don't see a clear reason to choose one over the other. I actually prefer 4895 in your general cartridge size because of the lower pressure and gentle launch it has being kinder to lead boolits and less sensitive to alloy BHN, fit and lube because of the gentler launch.

Gary

[Char-Gar]

Back in the day when BL-C was a buck a pound, I fired many thousands of rounds of cast bullet in the 30-06 with it as a propellant. With adjustments, I would expect BLC2 to do the same. I have had great results with H335 in the 32 Winchester Special round.

[303Guy]

I actually prefer 4895 in your general cartridge size because of the lower pressure and gentle launchMmmm... now I'm thinking! We get it as AR2206H and I think that's H4895. If it looks different to AR2209/H4350 I might get me some. (If it looks the same then it's too risky for me to have around).

[onondaga]

H4895 is an extruded stick shaped powder. I haven't heard of the powder you mention AR226H , be sure you get a positive confirmation that it is interchangeable with 4895 before experimenting with 4895 data using a substitute for safety!!!

BLC2, H335, 748, 2230,844,846 are all ball powders similar in burn rate to each other. 4895 is a slower, lower pressure powder.


Gary

[303Guy]

Thanks onondaga. I have the idea that ADI actually makes H4895 for Hodgdon and sell it locally as AR2206H. That I can check out. They make Varget/AR2208 and H4350/AR2209 and several others but the batches seem to be less consistant than the Hodgdon ones (not sure).

[1Shirt]

For what ever it is worth, and I make no recommendations for anything or to anyone, but: starting loads for jacketed can sometimes be a good starting place for upper end vols for cast. Have used this thought with a fair number of powders including Bl-C, in a fair number of ctgs with some sucess over a period of years. Starting loads for J, are surely safe pressure wise in my mind for cast. Also recommend getting a copy of Lee's #2 reloading manual as a reference. Would think that 303 data might not be so far away from 308 Win. starting data.
Just my opinion and thoughts!
1Shirt!:coffee:

[T-Man]

I load my 30/30 with Lee gas checked 170gr flat noses and the WC 846 I got from Pats and topped off with a wad of dacron to hold that charge in place. It lobs the chunks of wheel weight stuff into deer at about 1500fps and pretty much sets their anchor and none of them traveling more than rock throwing distance after being hit. This is the load where I use reloaded primers loaded up with my Strike Anywhere Match formula. I can imagine the 303 Brit working out to the same specs. I don't post charge weights, but a little research and you can figure out my recipe. Oh, and this load will hold a clover leaf pattern at 100 yards....if that clover leaf is about 6 inches across. But what can you expect from an old rattle trap pre-64 model 94 with open sights and half century old eyes?

[Prospector Howard]

I'd think you'd be better off saving your BLC-2 for jacketed bullets, and using something else like 2400 for lead plinking loads at 100-200 yards. Unless you have tons of it, and can't get any 2400. Just saying.