Titegroup for cast rifle loads?

[hgonc2]

I've just gotten back into reloading after a 10 year break (I was GIVEN an RCBS reloading set up; maybe a mixed blessing! HA!), and am currently loading .45 ACP, .223, .30-30, 7.5X55 Swiss, & .30-06. I've had great success casting for the .45 (Lee #90350, 230gr RN tumble lube) and loading them with 4.5gr of Titegroup.

For plinking & target shooting with the .30's, I cast some Lee 150gr flat nose with gas checks & Darr lube, and would like to use Titegroup for them as well, mostly because TG isn't supposed to be position sensitive & I don't want to mess with poly fillers.

Has anyone used TG for rifle loads? Have any start/max. load data?

I also have IMR 4198 & IMR 4064, and have heard good things about 4198 with cast rifle bullets.

Thanks for any help!

[dbldblu]

I have used tightgroup for very light loads; 4.7 Gr in 30-30 and 5.1 Gr in 30-06 with various cast bullets. These are probably less than 1000 fps. It does ignite easily.

[mroliver77]

Ed Harris's "The Load" is a good place to start. TG is a tad slower than Red Dot but the 13 gr load should work great. Read all you can find on reduced loads before commencing. I use any of the powders in this burn range with good results.

http://members.shaw.ca/cronhelm/TheLoad.html

[hgonc2]

OK - some results, for what it's worth. I loaded .30-30, spread from 6.0 to 10.0gr of TG, pushing that Lee 150gr FN gas checked, with Rem 9 1/2 Mag primers (what i had on hand). Without a chronograph, I can say the 6.0 load recoiled just a touch more than a .22, and from 8.0 thru 10.0 grains, recoil increased pretty quick. No excessive pressure signs what-so-ever, at any loading.
I made sure to try several powder positions, from muzzle down, to muzzle up, then level & tapping the frame to level the powder, and noticed no difference in ignition or report. All groups hovered about 1" @ 25 yards with iron sights, but of course, the groups were low compared to start loads with jacketed bullets & typical powders (4064, 4198).

I won't hesitate to load the 6.0gr of TG, & omit the gas checks, for close range plinking or small game loads.

I also loaded some 7.5x55 Swiss for my K31, with 23.0 & 24.0gr of IMR 4198, and the same Lee 150gr FN gas checked. Both loads grouped about 1" at 50yds, and had about 1/2 the recoil of GP or Privi ammo. More testing to come on this.

Most notably, I see ZERO leading in both rifles, and, strangely, the bores seem to look better after firing cast. (?)

[mroliver77]

I just noticed that you have replied to this thread.

It sounds like it is working out well for you. You must have done your homework! I use "Titewad" powder in a lot of light loads and sometimes am amazed at how clean the bore can be after shooting. Cast can really shine up a bore! Keep up the good work and keep us updated.
Jay

[hgonc2]

Update #2:
Got some .30-30 loaded as previously mentioned (6.0gr TG), the only difference being no gas check & I crimped this time. At 25 yds, all rounds were grouping nicely, and you can definitely hear the bullet slap the backer board. After 30 rounds, again, zero leading. A keeper for close in plinking!

[res45]

hgonc2 you beat me to it but I was going to mention that you can just leave the GC off with those light loads.

I shoot a similar load using 8.0 grs. of Red Dot with the Lee 150 & 170 gr. bullets with two coats of Alox/JPW and no gas check @ 1200 fps. with no leading issues,it's one of my favorite plinking and small game loads in my Sav. 30-30.

[Outpost75]

This link includes load data for TiteGroup among others in most calibers:

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

[Scharfschuetze]

I have found TG very useful and consistent in the 45/70 with most weights of cast boolits at around 1,100 fps. While none of these loads are "high performance" loads, they have a surprisingly low extreme spread and SD. In fact they rival black powder in their consistency. Accuracy out to 300 yards is quite good. No filler used in any of the TG loads that I've assembled and none seems to be warranted.

Of course with that voluminous case, double check for any double charges as I'm sure a double charge of it would be rather catastrophic in a Trapdoor or Rolling Block rifle.

[DanM]

Haven't tried TG in rifle loads, but I do keep an 8lb jug around for .45acp cast 230s and 200s. Nothing significantly better for that application, IMHO.

[supersniper]

I use 7.5gr in 308 with 225gr (311284) boolit for subsonic loads that give me about 1 MOA at 100yd

Subsonic load in 7.62x39 is 6.0gr with 210gr (314299) boolit.

Velocities on both are around 1050fps.

[retread]

Interesting data on the titegroup in 30-30 and 30/06. Any ideas about 270 winchester?

[birch]

Has anyone used titegroup in the Hornet? If so, do you have any minimum and max loads?