Paper patching using Smokeless Powder has interested me for some number of years. I’ve tried my hand off and on over the last three years with terrible to poor results each time. I’ve read what seems like ALL the posts in this forum on the subject here on the Cast Boolits Forum, some numerous times. Success until recently (2016 period) was gauged in going from keeping all 5 or 10 round “Groups” in the same county, to at least hitting a 16” x 16” target board with at least 5 of 10 rounds. I have committed myself to achieving some level of expertise, and not abandoning the effort yet again.
The initial string of posts will be somewhat an Archive of experiences over the last year. This thread will center on one Boolit, an RCBS 165 Sil, with testing being in .308 Winchester. Powder will be W760. I have multiple rifles in .308W / 7.62 x 51 so this platform allows me to eventually try and achieve some level of accuracy with PP in y, several rifles, as opposed to a dedicated single rifle (yes I recognize that I’ll have to develop new loads for each rifle based on it’s unique chamber and barrel condition). The initial Test Rifle I will be using will be a Remington 700 ADL Varmint Barreled .308 Winchester wearing it’s original plastic stock. It is outfitted with a Japanese made Center Point scope variable 4-16X , with MilDot reticle.
I worked up the following table to capture and compare past results in 2016 when I began to have a comparatively higher level of success. Efforts will focus on changing one area at a time to see if improvements are occurring. Data such as chronographed velocities, deviation, energy, etc… will no be captured until acceptable groups are occurring.
As I am becoming a “More Seasoned” shooter; the eyes are fading so even with a Scope I may not achieve MOA or Sub-MOA; but that will wait for a later date to determine when “Good Enough” is achieved in this effort, at that time there are “Many Moulds yet to Go” so I may move on to a similar thread for another mould/s.
Click to enlarge
Useful comments are appreciated. I would like to keep this thread clean, focused on the RCBS 165 Sil in 308Winchester so future readers can apply to that narrow effort. Any past tests resulting in “Terrible” Groups were not included as they do not move the goal forward.