Modern Super Grade, Classic Boolit

[TXGunNut]

Several years ago I was given one of the first Winchester Super Grades when FN resumed production of the Model 70. One of the prettiest pieces of wood I've ever seen...but it wouldn't shoot like it should have. I sent it in for repairs and they replaced it with another rifle with wood almost as spectacular. Long story short after one more trip to Utah I finally had a shooter. I killed a deer with it that fall, discovered cast boolits and retired the Super Grade. For some reason I didn't think a 30-06 with a 1/10 twist would make a good CB rifle. :roll:
Fast forward to last year; I was tasked with developing a low recoil hunting load for a 30-06. I did my research, did my load development and range time, and a good kid got his first buck thanks to a great guide-my brother. :drinks:
I've been thinking about a CB 30-06 hunting load for awhile but nothing serious. This low-recoil project got me thinking about it a bit more. I'm thinking the 311041 is a natural choice, just happen to have a NOE clone of that mould and a decent supply of WW's and GC's. I'm starting with a light load of 2400 just to test the concept. Bore of the Super Grade is being de-coppered at the moment, if the weather clears we're off to the range tomorrow.

[35 shooter]

Good luck with your 06 cast loads. I've been eyeing that 311041 myself lately with my .308 in mind.
Got good loads developed with the 30xcb and 311299 boolits over the summer and have held off of another mould so far.

So yeah, go ahead and shoot some good groups and post pics so i can get it out of my system and order the 041 too....you enabler you!;)

[Ithaca Gunner]

For the '06 I've been using three boolits with good success. My custom Mauser likes the Lyman 311332, not a hunting boolit, it's a 180gr. spritzer, but shoots very well with IMR 4227 in the bolt gun. My Garand likes a hunting boolit, the RCBS 30-180-FN (go figure). Both rifles like the Lyman 311299, but neither do their best with it. The RCBS flat nose works well in my .30WCF rifles, Krag, and .308, maybe not the most accurate, but it's the one I would choose for hunting deer with a .30.

[Idaho Mule]

Sounds like a fun project. I too have an NOE copy of the 311041. Mine is a two cavity, one GC and one PB. I cast up a few of them a couple weeks ago out of 50-50 (ww-soft) for an up-coming 308 project. Same casting session netted about 50 of Lyman 311440 for same project. If you think some of the PB 311041 would be of interest for your project let me know and I'm sure I could get some to you. JW

[richhodg66]

The .30-06 is a great cast shooter. I think you're gonna find a whole new area of usefulness with that rifle.

I had planned on hunting with mine this year using the RCBS 180 grain FP and 21 grains of 2400. The rifle shoots it well even though it's not a tack driver by any means. I'd have no worries in the conditions I deer hunt to use this rifle and load.

[TXGunNut]

I'm thinking the Lyman 311041 and RCBS 30-180 are pretty close to twins, looks like a great hunting boolit regardless of which mould drops it. As luck would have it I have some 312299's cast up that I loaded into some 30-40 cases yesterday and I couldn't help but think about seeing how much accuracy I could get out of this rifle/boolit combo.
Our club has a big poker chip match every month for benchrest-type rifles. They now have a sporter rifle class and I know this rifle is capable of some remarkable accuracy with a 180 gr J-word. It might be fun to raise a few eyebrows with an entry using cast boolits instead of fancy J-word benchrest bullets....but that's a whole 'nuther project.

[Wolfer]

I have 3 30-06 rifles. All are quite accurate with the 311041 and 20 gr of 2400. 21 gr started to open groups up a little to about 3" at 100 yds.

The 20 gr load kills deer remarkably well at 1800 fps so I just stayed with it.

[Blackwater]

Great rifle, great story, and great results! Ya' done good, TX. A couple of friends have the Super Grades, and they say the new ones are even better than the old ones in many ways. FN has really revitalized the Win. guns. Kudos to them, and to you for taking a great rifle and making it perk like it ought to. Every rifle is a law unto itself when it comes to shooting any sort or brand of bullet, but I don't think you'll have much trouble finding joy with that great SG M-70. Next time, post pics of the big grins that young fellow (or gal?) has standing over their deer! Joy shared is joy magnified.

[TXGunNut]

Did a thread on the low recoil loads and that happy kid. Little guy has no idea how much his successful hunt meant to me, my brother, his father and the good people here who helped us all pull it off. Will try to post a link but it was on this forum.

[TXGunNut]

Here we go: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?316764-Low-Recoil-Project

[white eagle]

man that rifle is on my short list
I have numerous model 70's but
no super grade and no 30-06
both of those short falls to soon be remedied

[TXGunNut]

Funny story about that SG. I actually ordered two. One for my brother, one for me. (I'll skip the back story) When they arrived I opened the first one and was very impressed with the wood, probably Grade IV or better. I told the shop owner my brother might get upset but this rifle was mine! Then I opened the other box up and we decided he'd be OK, the second one was as nice as the first! I don't know where they found the wood for those early FN Super Grades but those two were spectacular. My replacement gun was probably a Grade IV as well, just not as nice as the first.
To be honest, white eagle, I'd probably prefer an earlier Super Grade but that's mainly because I'm into older guns nowadays. If you can find one of the ca. 2008 US built ones I'm pretty sure it will make you a fine rifle. Haven't heard much about the latest ones.

[greenwart]

I was also putting together a hunting 30-06 round. I have 3 rifles a Howa, JcPenneys(Parker Hale) and a professionally sporterized P17 Enfield. I have A number of Lee molds C309-170-F , C312-155-2R, C309-160-R, and C309-113-F. Powders available are H335, Bl-C2, R-15, IMR 4895, 2400, 4198. IMR 4350, 7828. I have had success in 30-30 with the 309170f and R-15. The 312155-2R showed alot of promise recently. The game is White tails and hogs.

[Ballard]

It would be damn hard to beat the 311284, heat treated, and driven to factory jacketed velocity