.310 WCF Bullets in 30-06

[Stevejet]

Folks - I bought a box (400 rds.) of Bear Creek Supply molycoat .310 WCF 180 grain lead bullets to use as barrel "slugs" and possibly shooters. They measure 0.3105 inch diameter and are plain base. Slugging my Springfield 1903 and a new Remington 700 BDL (both 30-06, obviously) disclosed that both rifles have .308 diameter bores. I have over 35 years casting experience with handguns from .357 thru .45, but have never shot leads from my rifles, so these questions may seem silly, but are of genuine concern. I plan on shooting loads with pistol powders (Unique, 700X as examples) and will appreciate any and all comments/advice.

1) Should I be shooting these bullets in 30-06 rifles? Any precautions with plain base bullets I should be aware of? I plan on low velocities as per my trusty Lyman 45th Edition Manual.

2) I have two (2) No. 4 Mark 1&2 Enfield rifles with excellent bores that, unfortunately, are just larger than the Bear Creek bullets can slug for diameter, but they engrave deep and well defined rifling impressions. A rubber mallet tapping of the bullets at the muzzles appears to be a tight fit. Should I attempt firing these bullets in the Enfields? Any precautions on this exercise?

Your comments and advice will be appreciated at this end. Thanks. :neutral:

[Leftoverdj]

The diameter is fine for the .30-06, but I have my doubts about the moly coating. Forget about using them in the Enfields. Undersized cast bullets just won't work.

Here's the best data I know of for what you want to do. It's for 170 grain bullets, but will get you close enough. http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

[Ben]

Try your bullets with 9.0 - 10.0 Unique in your 30/06.....I shoot a gas check'd 311290 with 11.4 Unique into a " ragged hole " at 50 yards with my 30/06. I recently plain based one of the cavities in a two cav. 311284 mold . I'll also start with about 10 grs. of Unique with that bullet.

[Bodydoc447]

Just be sure to clean all of the copper fouling from the bore before shooting the lead or you will get some real leading. Don't ask how I know this.
Doc

[Newtire]

Try your bullets with 9.0 - 10.0 Unique in your 30/06.....I shoot a gas check'd 311290 with 11.4 Unique into a " ragged hole " at 50 yards with my 30/06. I recently plain based one of the cavities in a two cav. 311284 mold . I'll also start with about 10 grs. of Unique with that bullet.

I have had real good luck with 12.6 gr. Unique (that's what the scale got set to after fooling with the charge adjuster for a long time) and the 311407 group buy boolit weighing out at 173 grains. I use 11.6 gr. of Unique with a 150 grain Saeco 298316 with equal great performance. I have shot store-bought moly-coated boolits in my .444 Marlin at maximum velocity levels with no leading and great accuracy. The moly-coated 240 grain 44 SWC's I got from a guy up by Oroville across the street from RCBS had a bevel base even and still shot well. Believe it or not.

[Stevejet]

Thanks for the quick and thoughtful responses. The 30-06's I will use are a Springfield 1903 (1,000,XXX S/N) and a new, yet to be fired, Remington 700 BDL. I never even considered the molycoat in selecting the bullets, just needed to "slug" my rifles and maybe shoot the bullets if the slugging proved in tolerance. I do plan on using the low weight Unique loads from the Lyman Manual (45th Edition) which coincides with the 9 thru 12 grain charges you folks have been kind enough to recommend.

As for the Enfields, I have been amazed, being new to your highly experienced posse, by the amount of info posted on the Enfields. A literary "gold mine" of shooting experience and advice I would never have found elsewhere!

Many, many thanks fella's!

[bigshooz]

Hi Steve I recently took up casting 30 cal and357 cal lead ,my lee molds throw 312 bullets cast from ww. If you would like some to try give me your adress,and I'll mail you some.Let me know Mike

[TAWILDCATT]

you might try 13 gr Red Dot with those bullets.I shoot 311291 with red dot in my 1914 springfield.never shot full loads and its X ring at 100 yrds