Lee 309-180-R for hunting ?

[Boerrancher]

I cast the 309-180-R for my 30-06 and it shoots really well with a 50/50 range scrap, WW alloy around 2000 fps. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with something like this on White Tales? I know that a friend of mine has had great success with the same boolit using pure lead and tin at a 20 to 1 ratio, but he doesn't shoot quite as fast as I do. His velocity is down around 1700 fps. Does anyone think I will have any problems running this boolit with my alloy between 1700 and 2000 fps to give some expansion on a deer? Do I need to soften it up some for it to start expanding? I know that it is already soft enough to be scratched deep with a thumb nail, and you don't dare drop one on the floor or it mashes it so out of round it has to go back in the pot. Any thoughts or comments?


Best wishes from the Boer Ranch,

Joe

[Bob Krack]

I'm sure you mean the Lee C309-180-R?

Not aware of a non gas checked 309-180 from Lee.

Vic

[Buckshot]

..................If you can defianetly scratch it using your thumbnail, I'd say it was for sure soft enough to do some expanding.

.................Buckshot

[jhalcott]

That sounds very soft to me, maybe too soft for 2000 fps with out a gas check. You'll also need a good lube on them. I have used a 185 bullet ,and a 200 grain (as well as others) for hunting White tail deer with great success. I NORMALLY use a wheel weight alloy OR a Lyman #2 alloy if I think a harder or faster bullet is needed. Hornady gas checks are used for MOST rifle loads.

[Tom W.]

My son had killed several with the same bullet, but the 160 grain version, and they did have a gas check installed. Some were babbitt bullets, some were w/w, but they did just fine, and were lubed with LLA.

[Boerrancher]

Yes it is a gas check boolit. I just forgot to put the C in front of it. I have been punching a good deal of paper with it this summer out of two different rifles and so far both bores are nice, bright and shiny, each has had several hundred rounds shot through them and I haven't had to clean them yet. It is amazing what a good fitting boolit and carnuba wax for a lube will do. My only concern is that I will end up with a nice 30 cal hole just like shooting an FMJ

Best wishes from the Boer Ranch,

Joe

[725]

Seems at the target speed and the fact that it will be unuseable if dropped on the floor it should be fast enought and soft enough to get the job done. I bet it will be very good. Let us know.

[DLCTEX]

I get mushrooming with 22 cal. WW air cooled boolits on prarie dogs launched in the 1600-1800 fps range with a .222. I don't think you'll have any problems, in fact I plan to take some deer with the same boolit in a 30-30 this year using straight WW. DALE

[Bret4207]

You can always HP it too. Just a thought, not knowing if you're white tails are 105 lbs or 275 lbs when mature.

[Boerrancher]

You can always HP it too. Just a thought, not knowing if you're white tails are 105 lbs or 275 lbs when mature.

We have a mix of both. Down south were I don't hunt they are 105 to 150 lbs. The farther north you go the bigger the deer. I have only killed one in the 250 to 275 lb range, as most of mine have been in the 175 to 225. I am glad to know that everyone believes I will get some expansion. Thanks for all of the replies.


Best wishes from the Boer Ranch,

Joe