Anyone tried a .311 round ball in a 30-06?

[tazman]

Just as the title says. I was wondering if anyone had tried this and if so, what accuracy you found?
Thought if it worked, it would be a decent squirrel round out to 35 yards or so.

[Wayne S]

To keep from deforming the RB and for a little easier loading of the RB try one in an unsized case, also try pistol primers instead of rifle primers.

[Hickory]

The .315 round ball work better.

[Larry Gibson]

+1 on the 3115 RBs working better.

+1 on the start load of 2.5 gr Bullseye.

I sized the neck and expanded with a .31 M die and thumb or push seated the lightly LLA coated RB in the neck.

I also suggest well fire formed cases that also have the flash hole drilled out with a #30 - the largest at #28. That will keep the shoulder from setting back after several firings creating headspace problems. It also gets the primer flash into the case quicker with more instant coverage of the space igniting the Bullseye. This is really beneficial since no wad or filler is used.

If you are buying the shot or RBs it's a good use. However, if you are buying a mould get the Lee TL314-90-SWC instead. Much better and much more accurate. I lube and then size those to .311 for use in the '06. 3.2 gr Bullseye runs them at around 900 fps and they are deadly on squirrels, rabbits and grouse out to 100 yards.

Larry Gibson

[Jack Stanley]

I've used them in a .308 Winchester with no problems and the little tree creatures fall even if they hide the vitals behind a small branch . Mold is the small LEE meant for the thirty-one cap and ball I think . Liquid Alox on the ball , unsized cases , small charge of bullseye I didn't try opening the flash holes but I bet it would work good .

Sounds to me like you'd be in good company .

Jack

[tazman]

Larry Gibson wrote:If you are buying the shot or RBs it's a good use. However, if you are buying a mould get the Lee TL314-90-SWC instead. Much better and much more accurate. I lube and then size those to .311 for use in the '06. 3.2 gr Bullseye runs them at around 900 fps and they are deadly on squirrels, rabbits and grouse out to 100 yards.

I will be buying a mold for it. That TL314-90-SWC sound like an interesting idea. Lee also has a 311-93-1r bullet for the 32 colt that looks similar. I wonder which would be better?

[mikeym1a]

Larry Gibson wrote:If you are buying the shot or RBs it's a good use. However, if you are buying a mould get the Lee TL314-90-SWC instead. Much better and much more accurate. I lube and then size those to .311 for use in the '06. 3.2 gr Bullseye runs them at around 900 fps and they are deadly on squirrels, rabbits and grouse out to 100 yards.

I will be buying a mold for it. That TL314-90-SWC sound like an interesting idea. Lee also has a 311-93-1r bullet for the 32 colt that looks similar. I wonder which would be better?

Don't know about better, but I use the TL314-90-SWC in my .32S&WL revolters. Very accurate. I loaded some in .32ACP at one time. Seemed to work reasonably well. Lately, I've sized and PP'd the boolit for use in my '09 Argie. Lot's of rounds lying around. Waiting for good weather to go shoot them! COME ON, SPRING!!! :-D

[jimb16]

I have an old brass mold from a .31 cal. muzzle loader revolver. It casts both an RB and a short conical. I use either in the .30-06 with 2.5 BE. They both work nicely on squirrels. Although I do get some really wierd looks when I tell people that I'm going squirrel hunting with the 03A3!

[tazman]

I have an old brass mold from a .31 cal. muzzle loader revolver. It casts both an RB and a short conical. I use either in the .30-06 with 2.5 BE. They both work nicely on squirrels. Although I do get some really wierd looks when I tell people that I'm going squirrel hunting with the 03A3!

I love that ending!

Question though, does one work better than the other for you?

[TommyT]

My favorite gallery load for .30 cal rifles is a .311 RB over about 4-5 grains of 2400. Tack driver for me in .30-06 out to 25 yards.

[rintinglen]

I have too many fliers with the roundball loads. My Springfield will clump four out of five in a nice tight group but the fifth round will wander off a couple of inches. I have better results with either the RCBS 32-98 SWC or the old Lyman 311-245--allegedly designed for gallery practice for the USMC to use in their Krags. I use 5.0 grains of Unique with either boolit. More commonly though, I use a 311-465 with gas check.