Loading cast bullets in a rifle

[glockky]

I have just started loading cast bullets in rifle ammo. One of the first thing I noticed was how much room was left in the case after filling with the appropriate powder charge. I am loading 30-06 and wanted to use 2400 but I was afraid that the lack of case fill would hurt my accuracy when shooting uphill or downhill.

Do you have much position sensitivity problems when loading these large rifle cases with small amounts of powder?

I know some guys use filler but I wanted to stay away from that if all possible, and I am just looking for hunting accuracy.

thanks in advance

[waco]

I just loaded some of the same rounds with the same powder. I didn't use any fillers. I have not had a chance to shoot the yet though. I think they will be fine.

[Win94ae]

In my US Model 1903 I usually used about 48gr Varget with a 168gr jacketed bullet, to get above 2700fps. When I started loading cast I didn't want to mess with the filler, so I decided to use a slower burning powder. Now I use a 180gr RN cast bullet, and about 48gr of IMR 4350, getting 2150fps.

It would be cheaper to use filler, maybe not as precise?

[Echd]

A lot of folks use filler, and some claim 2400 to be extra position sensitive.

I use a lot of 2400 and can't say I've ever had much if any trouble with CB rifle loads. That said .30-06 is higher capacity than most of what I use it for.

But in 7.62x39, 7.5x55, .30-30, and similar, it works great.

[bangerjim]

Check out the threads on here about Dacron fluff & fillers. This subject has been covered MANY...MANY times in the past!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


banger

[Ed_Shot]

Alliant 2400 works great in 30-06. I do not use a filler and have not noticed any position sensitivity to speak of. I have definitely noticed that on some days I shoot better than others.84570

[cheetah]

There's really no need for fillers with pistol powders. For starting out - especially with a mammoth case - I would insist you try Trail Boss. A mere $13 can save a life or an eye.

[Jack Stanley]

Though I haven't tried targeting my rifle uphill or down hill , from the bench and feeding ammo from the magazine still give great groups without filler . Rifle is a 1903A3 and I'd call the groups well into hunting accuracy range .

Jack

[paul h]

I shot a bunch of a cast out of my 35 whelen, mostly 158, 180 and 200 gr pistol bullets. I used red dot, unique and 2400. The only time I had issues with position sensitivity was when I backed the loads down to 700-800 fps and there would be quite a bit of velocity spread and they were sooty and dirty indicating ignition wasn't so hot. I never used fillers.

Add enough powder to get velocity in the 1200 fps and more range and everything should be fine. I later had the gun re-chambered to a 350 Rigby and my favorite plinking load was a charge of 2400 under the 200 gr cast bullet for 1400 fps. A 10 shot string had an extreme velocity spread of barely over 10 fps and excellent accuracy.

If I could light off 2400 in the larger rigby case, no problem with the 06.

[Larry Gibson]

Yes 2400 is a "position sensitive" powder in the '06 case. You can easily get 100 - 250 fps variation with 2400 under the lighter to medium weight cast bullets. Not so much with the heavier bullets but it is still quite a bit. Loading and shooting from the bench with the rifle in a horizontal position give fairly consistent "positioning" of the powder during loading. In the field when hunting or plinking it is a lot different. Where the powder ends up in the case all depends on how the rifle is carried and then shouldered/mounted to the shooting position or how the rifle is loaded when chambering subsequent rounds. Also if your uphill/downhill is less than 30 degrees the powder positioning will most often be fairly consistent.

However if your shooting at greater angle and shouldering the rifle from different positions then you may want to consider using a filler friendly load to keep the powder positioned the same for each shot regardless of position, loading technique or the angle of fire. Shots will then be consistent
.

Larry Gibson

[glockky]

So are you suggesting I use a different powder Larry? I have 30-31 4198 4350. I have been reading the sticky where you posted about using dacron. Wifes picking me up some tomorrow when she goes out lol

[runfiverun]

30-31 would work just fine.
I use 2400 in my small game hunting loads, but I take pains to keep powder position consistent.
for extreme country hunting I do use a powder such as 3031, H-322,4064 or 4895 and a filler of Dacron.
this allows me freedom to shoot whichever way I want and i know my velocity is going to be consistent, this means my sights are going to be dead on.

[sthwestvictoria]

With fast powders I have used Hodgdon Universal (AP70N), H4227 (AR2205) and Trail Boss no filler is needed (or suggested by experienced people here), I use this in 35 whelen (not 2205) with plain base 38/357 pistol bullets and 30-30, 308 (do use 2205 for these). Then to step up to closer to jacketed velocities I use H4895 (AR2206H) and Varget (AR2208) with at/or 1-2 grains below jacketed minimum loads with no filler. I did find that H4895 was position sensitive at lower loadings. However I fixed this by increasing the amount of powder as I desired more velocity any way, not by using a filler.

H4895 I am comfortable reducing at up to 60% of max load data - google Hodgdon Youth Load data for this rule. Varget I am more anxious about not reducing below 1-2grains from published minima although I know some people do this. Although I don't use it H4198 (AR2207) is suggested a good deal in the Lyman 4th manual for reduced loads without a filler.

[w5pv]

I loaded up some AL8 28 grains under a 200 grain sp gas checked in the 3006,at 40 yds almost tack driver performance.Then I tried some with a tuff of Dacron the grouping opened up to around 2" so I am back to 28 grains with nothing but the gas check.