Working basis for my cast in 300AAC

[tsubaki]

My first tests using the Lee C309-160-R with the 300AAC cartridge is looking promising.
18.0gr of 2230 is pushing the powder coated 166gr gas checked projectile averaging 1492fps in the 16” AR barrel and 1371fps in the 11 1/2” single shot pistol barrel.
Seating the bullets at 1.940” seems to be fine. This falls in the middle of the upper lube groove. Seating in crimp groove would put the OAL at 1.855”. The bullet touches the rifling at 1.955”.
100 yard groups were not tight or even different when used in the rifle or pistol. Then again it was very windy during the test, blew the chronograph over twice. This test was more for function and velocity.
Also set up a trash can at 100 yards filled with sand and recovered the 4 projectiles.

[tsubaki]

Gas checked powder coated Lee C309-160-R. 166gr actual weight.

[tsubaki]

100 yard groups.
3 from the pistol, 3 from the rifle.

[tsubaki]

Recovered from sand trap at 100 yards.

[tsubaki]

The gas checks even stayed in place!

[tsubaki]

For what it is worth the bullets were sized to .309 and hardness is about BH11.
They cycled flawlessly in the AR.
Crimping was done with Lee’s factory crimp die, I may try excluding that step next time to see if that changes anything.
At 100 yards Hornady’s ballistics calculator places impact velocity at 1274fps with 599ftlbs energy from the rifle and 1182fps with 515ftlbs from the pistol.
Each of these will be suitable for deer/hog hunting purposes in my area out to 100 yards.
Just gotta see if I can improve the groups.

[Texas by God]

You are inspiring me to try cast in my .300 bo again. Last try was disappointing for me.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[tsubaki]

I’m also experimenting with the 30’06 using the same projectile.
The groups were similar during the same conditions, averaging 2436fps.
The bullets disintegrated at 100 yards when striking the sand trap.

[Stuckcase]

I really wanted cast to work in my 300 BO's. My experience was not so good. Two Noveske barrels that distinctly disliked the cast bullets in favor of jacketed. I have a 1-8 twist Anderson that i bought for 85 bucks that eats everything but drills 180 gr jacketed bullets. Cheap Anderson barrel out shoots two 375 dollar barrels reagrdless of what I have tried to reload. It also feeds everything I have thrown at it. My Noveske barreled uppers are bench ornaments now in favor of my 8" sbr Anderson set up. People who shoot it cannot believe an 85 dollar barrel shoots as good as it does.
I tried 200 gr Egglestone spitzers, 245 gr ACME bullets, 220 gr RN beartooths, 240 gr NOE Bore riders, 200 sil, 180 gr SP GC's, and hand casted Lee 230 gr spitzer type with multiple lubes and eventual gave up on shooting cast---tried H110, 1680 and multiple different primers
Maybe you will have better luck

[Loudy13]

I've shot thousands of rounds of cast NOE 150gr through my AR (3-gun)and it works amazing, loaded 3500 rounds for my buddy over the last few years and haven't had any issue with that rifle either. I love the cost per shot that's for sure!! I use W296 with a light factory crimp for cycling. I believe im right around 1700 fps would have to check the paperwork.

[Burnt Fingers]

I sure hope my 300 BLK pistol upper will shoot cast. I've ordered two molds from MP for it.

Now I need to figure out how to get some decent load data for cast.