Casting for 30-06

[Uncle Jimbo]

Inherited my Father's Model 70 Winchester 30-06 that was made in 1971 according to the serial number. I thought that I would like to try casting bullets for it and shoot it. Before I stopped hunting, I use a Remington model 700 in 30-06. (Gave it to my granddaughter about 15 years ago, but that is another story). I still have all the equipment and supplies to reload for the 30-06. I stopped reloading for it before I got into casting. So no lead bullets.
So, I would like to try my hand at using cast lead bullets with this gun. I was looking at Lee's 160 gr. 309-160-R, part #90367. The model 70 has a 10 tr so from what I have read here, it should be able to stabilize it ok.
The only manual that I have with any data for lead bullets is the "Modern Reloading" second edition by Richard Lee. It's only listing for the 160 gr. is accur 5744 which according to Accurate's site is a very fast burning DB powder. I have never used it and would like to try and use something that I already have. I looked at a burn rate chart and found that IMR 4227 is just a little faster that the 5744 and I have a lot of 4227. I also have a lot of IMR 4895 and some handgun/shotgun powders.
So I am seeking any constructive input about what I am trying to do. Different powders or different bullet weights and so forth.

Thanks in advance

uncle jimbo

[waco]

160-180 boolit sized to .311" with a good lube over 16gr of 2400

[Cherokee]

For my 1917 Enfield, I load 27gr IMR 4895 with the RCBS 30-180 @ 309 size. 100 yd accuracy ran from 1.75" to 3.2", with me being the primary cause of the larger groups. Tried the same load using Lee 309-150 FN @ .310 size and 100 yd groups were 5". Really just got started and have more development to do with bullet sizing and powders.

[GabbyM]

For load data. Go to the bottom of this page. Click on cast pics. Then look in cast-bullet-data-lookup.

They have loads for all the powders you listed. Your 4227 should work very well. With a 1:10" twist barrel aim for velocity of 1,950 fps and below. About 1,800 fps gives a soft accurate shooter.

[floydboy]

Lyman 31141 and 311291 are both very proven boolits in the 30-06. I use both with great success. The 311291 gives slighty better accuracy with 28 grs of 4895. Right at MOA most of the time. Rarely over 1.5" groups of three.

Good luck...Floyd

[floydboy]

Forgot to mention I never had as good of luck using small charges of shotgun powders with fillers as I have had using reduced charges of rifle powders.

Floyd

[fourarmed]

I would recommend trying to borrow some cast bullets to check in your rifle before buying a mold. Boreriders like 311291, 311299, 311284, etc. can be incredibly accurate, IF THEY FIT the bore and throat. If they don't fit, you will be disappointed. If you are going to roll the dice, I would buy a mold for 311041, or similar shaped bullets from the other manufacturers. There is more likelihood of it fitting, or being adaptable.

[Wolfer]

I shoot the 311041 in 3 different 06 rifles with 20 gr of 2400 for a velocity around 1800 fps. Very accurate in all three and we've killed 10 or better deer with this load. Terminal performance has been very good. Alloy is about 50/50 maybe a little softer. Bhn of 10

Your 4227 should work just fine. I don't use fillers with this type of powders.

[tinhorn97062]

Uncle Jimbo - PM sent.

[9.3X62AL]

First order of business......slug the barrel's throat. 3 Win 70s and 2 Rem 700s in 30-06 to date, and all 5 had throats of .310"-.311". Only my current 30-06 (an FN Mauser at least 50 years old) has "true" 30 caliber dimensioning, whatever that is. Consider "true dimensioning" a MYTH, guessing wastes time, propellant, and casting metal.

[gwpercle]

Not a lot of published data for 30-06 , 4227 and cast boolits but I found this in the RCBS Cast Bullet Manual no. 1.
RCBS mould number 308-165-SIL , gas checked , sized .309
IMR 4227 21.0 grains = 1689 fps
" " 23.0 " = 1830 fps
Test Rifle : Remington model 700, 22 inch barrel , 1-10 twist, W-W cases , CCI 200 large rifle primers
This should give you a good place to start with 4227. I purchased a Lee 2 cavity mould C-309-170-F for a 30-30, it worked so well in both the 30-30 model 94 and 30-06 1903-A3 Springfield I own that I have never bothered to spend more money on an "upgrade", if it ain't broke, no need to fix it. That same boolit works quite well in a 7.5 Swiss K11 also. You might find a little more load data for the 170 grain boolit but 160-165-170 there's not a whole lot of difference in performance, I just prefer a flat point boolit.

Gary

[paul edward]

I have been using boolits cast in a Lee 160 RNGC mold for 40 years in 30/06, .308 Winchester and a bolt action .30/30. Sized at .309 they work well and do not use as much lead as the heavier 311299.

[Tom W.]

I have that bullet in a single cavity mold I bought when I was 30 years old, and that was a looong time ago. I tumble lubed it for a while and shot it as cast for years in my 30/30. I still shoot it in my '06 with IMR 3031, but mostly use it for fire forming to 30-06 A.I. put a gas check on it and it's accurate out to 200 yards, which is the extent of the range I frequent.

[Uncle Jimbo]

Thanks for all the good pointers. I am now going to go a head and get started with this new project. Any other help is welcome.

uncle jimbo

[nagantguy]

I've had very good luck with h4895 in 30 caliber, 7.62x54, 06 and 30-30 see my posts in hunting with cbs. Also in 32/8mm

[leadman]

I have the Lee 150, 160, 180, and 200 gr molds and have found the 200gr boolit to shoot the best in most of my 30-06 rifles (I have 6).

An easy way to get started loading for you gun is the check the inside dimension of a case fired with a full load in your gun. This will tell you the maximum size boolit that will release from the case safely when fired.
I would size to .310" and try a few of these in your gun if the inside of the fired case above is large enough. Start about 18gr of 4227 and seat the boolit so it is as close to the lands as you can get. Sometimes this is too long for the magazine so you then have a choice, load long or load to the magazine. You should find a good load somewhere between 18grs to 20 grs.
Use a good lube with a gas check and an alloy about 18bhn and it should shoot well with no leading. Make sure all the copper is out of the barrel before trying the boolits. If .310" doesn't work try .311".
I have a load with one of my 30-06 rifles that consistently shoots under 1" at 100 yards and sometimes to 1/2". The powder is Unique with 12grs in the case, no fillers. This is an easy on the shoulder load that is fun to shoot.
IMR4895 will work for higher velocity loads but needs a certain pressure to burn good. This means higher velocities and more recoil and more likely to lead than the slower loads. I have pushed 30-06 loads with the 200gr boolit to over 2,500 fps with the slower powders so the higher velocities can be reached.