Seating Gas Checked Rifle Boolits

[38 Super Auto]

I just started casting bullets for my .308 I am using the Lyman 311291, an old tried and tested GC design.

So I casted out about 150 yesterday and proceeded to GC and size them. Very cool. It's a totally different gig than casting out huge quantities of pistol boolits from Lee 6-cavs.

Anyway, my question is: I had some lead shaving issues when I seated seating the bullets. Is there a way to avoid this?

Do you guys have any other suggestions? I am trying to tighten up my groups. I am loading SR4759 starting at 19.5gr. The bullet I am using is about 180-181gr with GC and lube. I FL resized all my cases and then trimmed them to 2.008". I chamfered and reamed to smooth the case mouth. I am shooting a Ruger MkII varmint barrel with 1 in 9 twist.

I FL resized all cases initially, but plan to switch to a neck size only.

[insanelupus]

Purchase an M Die from Lyman to expand the case mouth a little before you seat the bullet.

[sundog]

Good boolit choice for starters. If you really get into the cast for rifle, try some longer boolits as the 9 twist will handle it.

I suspect you should back off a little on the powder charge, perhaps 17-18 and try a few like that for comparison. Also try some slower powders such as 4227, 4198, 3031 and 4895 and other in that burn rate. Stay away from the ball powders and go for as much load density as you can get that will produce good groups. Start velocity around 1600 - 1700 and work from there.

To keep from shaving the boolit during seating, use one of the 'step' dies or belling dies. I have several and just don't use them much any more. A turn on a needle nose plier is generally enough to get just enough flare to seat the boolit without a problem. It doesn't take much.

How about a range report? Group size, target pic, etc?

[oso]

About the Lyman M die: for the .308 Win get the 30S (as for the 30-30 Win, Lyman # 7349003 ) not the 30L (as for the 30-06, Lyman # 7349002.) I found the 30L plug is too short to use its lock nut with the .308 Win.