New pics! The first is 9 in a group that consisted of the 311041 over 28 gr. Varget and oal at 2.437" , i.e. at the crimp groove as depicted in the previous post. The second group is 7 with the boolit seated to 2.535". I had ten of those but had to stop shooting to run some antelope does off the range (for the second time!) and put the other three into a different group, the first shot of which went to point of aim but then it opened to a 1 1/2" triangle. Groups fired at 50 yds.
USMC 6638
Target shot at 100 yards. Rem .308, 20 inch barrel. The noe 165 XCB and various charges of Varget. 30 grain was 4 in one hole, probably should've been 5.
Another shot...
The 28 grain was first , so fired 2 outlets hence 7 shots. Not sure whether or not the two out of group were first or not. Barrel was clean at start
I have a beautiful Ruger MKll 308 that I really don't need. It has a very nice Bausch & Lomb 3X9 and I installed a $100. Timney trigger. That lowered the trigger pull from 6.5 lb's to 2.75 lb's. This is the Ultra Light with the 20" barrel and like new . Had it on GB with no results so I'm going to cast some 180 grainers and burn some lead. Hope it shoots well enough for a hunt this fall. I might as well put my rifles to use. I'm a 30 cal. guy anyway. LOL
Fired this group this afternoon with boolits from my new 311 188 FN GC mold. This is the 30 Hunter. The load is Rem case, 33 gr. Varget , Rem 9 1/2M, Lyman Super Moly, and oal is 2.640". Sized, lubed, and checked they weighed 191 grs. This group is the first five out of the barrel, fired at 50 yds from my 12" twist Rem 700. Once I get the scope dialed in, I'll move it to 100 yds. As the barrel warmed up the group opened up somewhat. Also, keep in mind that this pic is rotated 90 left.
Last edited by oldblinddog; 05-12-2015 at 08:19 PM.
USMC 6638
Here is the latest: 33 gr. Varget and the 30 Hunter. The first shot (which is out of the pic low and right) was a cold bore shot. The next 3 went into almost the same hole. The last shot chambered with some resistance and I knew it would not go to the same place. This was the 12 twist rifle again. This rifle seems to like to shoot when it is cool. Subsequent groups opened up considerably. I think it is still getting "broken in" to the Lyman Super Moly lube.
Last edited by oldblinddog; 05-17-2015 at 08:38 PM.
USMC 6638
I've been using Varget for decades, it's a great powder, and produces some incredibly consistent results for me in .308. Now, before you all call me crazy, it's important to know that Varget is nothing more than temperature-stabilized IMR 4064. You can exchange it grain-for-grain with Varget, and vice-versa, with the caveat of course that your you reduce the load by 10% and work back up, as you would when changing any component of an established load. Here's an example of chronograph data from last year, of .308 loads shot from my Remington 700 SPS Varmint, with the original 1-12 twist barrel:
String: 1 Date: 4/26/2014 Time: 3:53:10 PM Grains: 168 Hi Vel: 2789 Low Vel: 2760 Ave Vel: 2777 Ext Spread: 29 Std Dev: 8 Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs 2783 467.544 2888.932 2783 467.544 2888.932 2783 467.544 2888.932 2789 468.552 2901.402 2766 464.688 2853.746 2772 465.696 2866.14 2760 463.680 2841.378 2777 466.536 2876.489 2777 466.536 2876.489 2783 467.544 2888.932
The temperature at the time of this string was about 90 F., and the shots were about 15 seconds apart for the entire 10-shot string. The load was 43.5 grains of 4064 over a Federal Large Rifle Magnum primer, and the projectile was one of those J-word SMK's, in Winchester commercial brass, fire-formed to that rifle's chamber, and neck-sized only.
Tom Herbert
Katy, Texas, USA
SASS #102029, Alias "Layte Comer"
It just occurred to me that I have another .308 sitting in the safe that I just might have to try some boolits in. It's a Remington 788 that I bought when I was in high school, and I loaned it to my father-in-law almost 20 years ago. Just got it back in January when he passed away; it's been so long since it has been here that I forgot I had it! It has a 1-in-10 twist, so it should stabilize boolits pretty well at cast velocities. I know it shot really well with 150 grain J-word projectiles at 23-2400 fps, well below 1" at 100 yards. The only 30-caliber mold I have is a Lyman 311466, which is a 160 grain RNGC. I may have to look around for something more suitable.
Tom Herbert
Katy, Texas, USA
SASS #102029, Alias "Layte Comer"
Haven't been playing with the 308 long and not with boolits. Use Nosler Custom Competition J word in 168 gr. Load with Varget is 46.0 grains, Federal GM primer, R-P once fired commercial case and 2.785" oal. In my Savage Model 11, heavy barrel Dick's special. It is a one hole gun. This load is safe in my gun and is shown here for informational purposes only. If used by anyone you assume all liability. Will have to try it with cast as I have an RCBS 30 cal. 165 gr. Silh mold.
Bob
Well let's see your boolit targets!
I haven't put anything up because I just moved back to Texas from Wyoming and haven't been able to set up my casting/reloading table yet. I wish that I could because I need to, but business has to come first.
My j-bullet load in my Rem 700 Varmint is a Nosler 165 gr BT with 43.0 gr. Varget in a Rem case with a Rem 9 1/2M primer and oal of 2.799". It shoots into less than 1/2 " at 100 yds. The Nosler Trophy Grade factory ammo with this bullet shoots 3/8" or less groups in this rifle.
I'm going to work up a good load with the 30 Hunter and then proceed with the 30 XCB boolit.
USMC 6638
Those are outstanding!Originally Posted by 250kt
USMC 6638
Thanks! Here's another group from the 30 grain charge...and another at 35 grains, that one has to be moving pretty good, still need to chrono. These were a different day, may try some more tomorrow
The 311466 is as good a mould for the .308 as you can get.Use it first before you rush into another mould.
Mike.
I may have to cast a few this weekend, and see how they measure for size with the alloy I'm currently using. I would think that a .311" boolit is pretty big for a .308" bore. It should probably be sized down to .309". Anyone disagree?
Tom Herbert
Katy, Texas, USA
SASS #102029, Alias "Layte Comer"
I'm sizing .310" for all my rifles with good results.
USMC 6638
Depends on the bullet nose profile. The XCB in my rifle at .310 has to be seated way deep as it hits the actual chamber wall. Not the lands. At .309 it can seat out a lot farther. The rcbs 200 can go max mag length 2.800 and chamber fine at .310. My savage 99 300Sav will take a .314 bullet just fine. So kinda depends on bullet and rifle really.
My early 70's Remington 788 in .308 Win is my go to cast boolit rifle. I shoot the Lyman 31141 sized to .3093" which with my alloy and fully dressed weigh 178 grains. I've used Javelina Alox bullet lube for years. My particular .308 likes the 31141 and powders from Nitro 100 at 1100 fps, 2400 at 1600 fps, and IMR4064 at 1800 fps. My 788 is kind of a no muss no fuss cast boolit shooter. Have not tried every powder available but so far nothing has been innacurate or problematic. I use air cooled WW alloy with 2% tin added for castability. The batches I've checked for hardness average 15 BHN with absolutely no leading. I shoot that alloy in all four of my .32 Win Specials at speeds in excess of 2300 fps with super accuracy and no leading at that speed either. Ahh, what a wonderful hobby we all partake of.
358 Win
PS: I let my boolits "age" for at least a month before loading them and launching them.
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