Plainbase bullets in 30 cal military rifles

[30calflash]

I'm loading some pb heads for use in my 2 and 4 groove 03's and have a couple questions. May also try the 241's in a Finn M39.

Do harder alloys in plain base projectiles become beneficial for long term reliability? If not what loads should be avoided?

I have some 311241 Lyman cast of WW's and commercial cast 160 gr FNBB that are of a commercial#2 alloy. I've overcoated both with diluted LLA. The plan is to test these before going further.

[RU shooter]

I just use regular AC wheel weights hard is not needed . For plain base bullets find a load that will duplicate 22lr velocities 1000-1200 fps . Same for gas checked designed without the Check . My normal load for 30-06 with these type of loads is 5-6 grs of Bullseye

[bullseye67]

Good morning,
I have been using the LEE “soup can” 115gr boolit with the gas check removed from the mold. I have used it cast with 100% WW, 70WW/30Pb touch of tin, Lyman #2 and 30WW/70Pb. I have lubed with a lube sizer, tumbled with LEE Alox, 45/10/10 and powder coated. I have a very large amount of WW540(HS6) I have settled on 8.2grs in 30-06, 308 and 303 British. All shoot about 1” at 49 yards at the indoor range and work really well for 100 yard plinking. Standard 10 pin bowling pins are easy at 150 yards.
The only thing I have done differently is, following Larry’s advice I drilled the primer flash hole for better ignition. By powder coating I can get them large enough to shoot in the 303 British otherwise I usually just tumble in LEE Alox and shoot. I don’t even size them. No leading, good enough accuracy and way easier on the shoulder and wallet.....plus I am using up powder I wouldn’t have a use for.
Hope this helps....Bullseye67 and Happy New Year!!!

[Outpost75]

I have found that heavier bullets in the 150-170 grain range, which fit the throat and origin of rifling, are more accurate in plainbased loads than lighter bullets which must jump into the rifling. Accurate 31-155D was designed for gallery and small game use in the .30-30, .308 and .30-'06. RU Shooter's advice on loads is spot-on. You can also use 5-7 grains of TiteGroup, 452AA, 700X, Red Dot, 231 or WST. A good reference is:

http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

Attachment 253904

[gnoahhh]

I cast my 311241's out of COWW's/soft lead 70/30, with a pinch of tin for mold fillout, and run the pot hot. 5 grains B'eye in .30-30/.303 Savage, and 6 grains in .30-40 and .30-06. I run them through a .311 lubrisizer die mainly just to lube them (with 50/50).

Biggest problem: I never seem to have loaded enough of them for a day's plinking at one of our Rifle Frolics, for they are more fun than a barrel full of puppies and everybody wants to shoot them!

[Alferd Packer]

I just use 90 to 100 grain .32 caliber pistol bullets ,tumble lubed(allowed to dry overnite on wax paper)

I load over 3 or 4 grains bullseye or another fast powder.
I really like that flatnosed 170 grain LEE bullet, but it uses too much lead to shoot paper or to plink.
Happy New Year !
To All!

[30calflash]

Thanks to everyone for their input. I poked around online and found some other Pb cast 06 load info using bullseye and Unique which I have. https://www.hensleygibbs.com/edharri...galleytest.htm

The bullets I have are on the harder side, WW's air cooled or a little harder. Down the road I will be using a softer mix with 22 backstop lead as the main portion of the mix.

[Outpost75]

Thanks to everyone for their input. I poked around online and found some other Pb cast 06 load info using bullseye and Unique which I have. https://www.hensleygibbs.com/edharri...galleytest.htm

The bullets I have are on the harder side, WW's air cooled or a little harder. Down the road I will be using a softer mix with 22 backstop lead as the main portion of the mix.

That is a good reference which I have used with pleasing results.

[Hamish]

What are "heads"?

Good thought on softening the alloy up a bit and agree on filling the throat to help assure a straight run.

[popper]

I use PB 145 & 170 in my BO & 30/30, run them almost full power with accuracy. WDWW alloy. I have not found LLA or BLL to actually work at high pressure unless GCd. PC works fine.

[Ray1946]

I gave up on plain based bullets over 40 years ago. Tried different varieties in 8mm, 30 and 7.5, wasted a lot of good lead. The thing is, I was shooting in matches and I needed to shoot 20-25 rnds. without cleaning. The other thing I found was that they were very temperature sensitive; a practice session at say 68-70 degrees and everything is great, day of the match and the thermometer is pushing 80. After about the 5th rnd. your tight group starts to open up into a pattern.

Not trying to rain on your parade, just my experience......................

[Dimner]

I have had very good results in my 1903a4 with a 2 groove barrel. Here is the load I worked up using a single cavity Lyman 3118. These are my personal notes, so the comments in my loaf info is from that perspective.

I'll try to find a picture of the results, if I remember correctly it was under an inch at 50 yards.



September 2016
Summary - Useful load for shorter range small game hunting or plinking. Very low noise and good accuracy. Almost as good as the 8.0gr 311316 load, but saving money and prep as this is a plain base bullet.

Powder - Trailboss
Powder Charge - 8.2 gr and 7.5 gr gr for accuracy, 7.3 gr for hunting (better trajectory and less noise)
Bullet - Lyman 3118
Alloy - Straight Clip on Wheel Weights
Lube - Ben's Liquid Lube, 2 light coats
Bullet Sized - .311 push through sizer
Brass - Have tried with success: R-P, FC, PPU, Winchester
Brass Length - 2.484 - 2.489
Primers - S&B LR primer
COAL - 2.870"
Crimp - None
Brass Prep - Tumbled, Full length sized, Mdie mouth flared, Primer pocket cleaned, Mouth chamfered
Bullet Prep - Weight sorted, culled defects, two light coats of lube



Edit: found a pic of a target during the testing and results during squirrel hunting.

[Ray1946]

Wow! I am truly enlightened. Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful accuracy and how you achieved it. I will have to say that when I was working with plain based slugs there was no "Trail Boss", but I have read a lot of good things about it from several folk and maybe its time to give it a try;.....CHEERS!

[koehn,jim]

I have had good luck with the Lyman 311410. Cast with wheel weights it comes out at 130 and than I use hytek coating on it.

[Silvercreek Farmer]

I use PB 145 & 170 in my BO & 30/30, run them almost full power with accuracy. WDWW alloy. I have not found LLA or BLL to actually work at high pressure unless GCd. PC works fine.

I'm very interested in what PC can do for plainbased boolits in the 30 caliber 1/10. Do you have any more info as to load, velocity, twist rate, group size, etc?