Now you're getting somewhere ..... good on you for sticking in there .
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Now you're getting somewhere ..... good on you for sticking in there .
My success came with hard cast ( at least 16 BHN ) with a gas check.Then started powder coating. That's when accuracy became much better & with added velocity. Lead free bore allows each bullet travel down a clean bore ( no lead streaks ) . Makes a significant difference.
I agree. My Lee 309-170-F is my "go to" bullet in .30-30 Usually 182gr. ready to load with 50-50, PC and Gas Check. 28.0gr of IMR 3031 gets me 1960fps and 1" - 1 1/8" groups at 100yds. I also size to .311"
I've been looking for another but they are really hard to find.
Backcut, I hope you find one first because you need it more than I do- but if I see one I'm grabbing it!
Good hunting (and shooting)!
John
I see 309-170-F on Ebay for $90 -- too much markup for me. But there's 309-160-R and also 180 for $26, plus shipping.
Some things I learned to buy-once-cry-once, and other things (where there's a zillion choices) just get something inexpensive to get started and then figure out which way to go.
NOE HTC310-173-FP looks promising too, but I'll probably hold off and experiment to see if I want to run gas checks etc before getting fancy.
I will also need to figure out how to alloy my range scrap ingots. Maybe mix in hardball or foundry type alloy? I will likely be powdercoating.
Much research to be done and stickies to browse while I'm busy smelting my scrap and saving for equipment over the summer.
Thanks again,
Tom
I started casting for my .308 with the 309-180 bullet. It worked really well. I did lap it a bit to increase dia for my rifle.
To high velocity for plain base. Might want to slug your bore. None of my .30 cal rifles like .309 sized pills. .310 is usually a better fit.
I agree. But, I use a .309 sizing die. The 'springback' means they are .310 after sizing.
Just because they are cheap does not mean they don't work. Lee molds can make some good bullets.
Attachment 285199
My first attempt at cast in 30-06 was not good
Later I found if I cleaned the bore really well, free of copper fouling and ran 5-10 cast fouling shots the groups tightened up
Also if your 308 has a 1-10 - 1-12 twist accuracy for my goes bad quick right around 1800fps
The RPM s. Are to high I guess
For me in my miltary rifles 308,06,8mm, brit, jap, swiss
Accuracy nodes are all in that 1600-1750fps range.
I do have a 1000fps load with TrailBoss that is darn good in most 150-200 gn bullets out of my 1/10 twist 308 barrels mauser.
Thanks a million for this thread Backcut. I've been casting for handguns for 35 years but have never ventured into the rifles. Your post has inspired me to pull the old model 94 out of the safe and give it a try. I'll probably choose a plain-base mold as I'm fine with 1100-1200 fps. Just looking to have some fun plinking.
Just keep your velocity down with that plain based bullet. This was 1080 fps, using a 165 grain boolit and 5.5 Red Dot.