Hello, new member here although I have been reading the forum for a long while, just not experienced enough to contribute much. Thanks to you all i have learned to successfully cast and load for .380, 38/357 mag and 44 mag. Now I'm venturing into casting for .308
Unlike the handgun rounds, the rifle doesn't have the load data I'm wanting to use. I'm casting with the Lee C309 180R. WW lead, quenched. Sized with gas check to .309. My rifle slugs @ .308. It is a Henry Single Shot with open sights. I would like to use 8208XBR but can find no data for it. BLC2 would be a second choice and i find minimal data.
Today I tried 27-33gr of 8208 and got 1600 to just over 2000fps. 29gr at 1780 fps gave me 3 holes touching at 50 yards.
Also tried BLC2 from 29-35gr with similar velocities and again the load at 1750 gave a good group.
These are mostly just for plinking, but i enjoy loading for accuracy at 150 yards (at home range distance)
So my questions are.....
1) what's a reasonable velocity?
2) can i safely just keep upping the charge until signs of pressure show?
3) am I better off to just buy a powder with published data, even though i have pounds of the others.
4) anyone have an idea of the max charge with the mentioned powders.
Sorry for the long post, I'm trying to learn.