Recommendation for cb target rifle catridge

[bullpen7979]

Greetings cb crew,
Have been contemplating a centerfire rifle to cast/load for.

I have googled a bit. 30-30 and 45-70 come highly recommended.

I would prefer a bolt action rifle. (not that these are mutually exclusive, but my impression is that these calibers have fewer choices in the bolt action dept.)

.223 seems like a reasonable choice. 30-06 would also be one I'm thinking of.

Punching paper at longer (200-300 yds) distances would be the main thing; dispatching a coyote or two might happen as well. Accuracy always a good thing.
(probably goes without saying). I guess I don't see the 45-70 as a paper puncher.
Akin to punching paper with a cannonball.

The gas check thing seems like a bit of a pain. This might simply be because I don't know any better. Casting seemed like a huge hurdle a year ago, and thanks to this forum, while I'm by no means an expert, I have done so successfully. I chose a 9mm sidearm, and therefore the same cartridge to cast for, not knowing that it can be one of the more challenging choices, so while I'm okay with a challenge, simple is nice.

I guess the question is this:

Is there a short list of caliber choices that A) would be accurate out to the specified distance B) would be reasonable easy to cast for in terms of allowing for load development flexibility with cast, and C) not require, or perhaps be least likely to require a gas check? ( a little input on how difficult/time consuming the gc process is would be good- maybe I'm making too much of the process)

I know that third one's probably a stretch. (Flat trajectory requiring velocity, which if I'm not mistaken generally requires higher pressure, so if it means a gc, so be it.

I did try the search feature, and I wasn't finding the threads that addressed what I was looking for. Sorry; I'm sure this question has been answered in one form or another several (hundred) times. Apologies in advance.

Thanks & Regards,

[Lonegun1894]

Due to the requirement of 2-300yds, I would say anything in the .308/.30-06 or bigger class would be good. If you are willing to shorten that to 150-200yds, then a .357 or .44 mag would be good too. I'm not sure I would go with a .223 just based on the very light weight of the bullet combined with the (usually) slower than jacketed velocities, and a bit of a windy day and you have a challenge on your hands. I would say stick with .30 or bigger for the bullet weight, and you should be fine. I also trust my .30-30 out to 200-250yds with cast because of how consistent it is. The .45-70 is great also, but you may have a more pronounced trajectory, but it is so consistent (read: accurate) that it is almost scary. But it does make range estimation more critical than the .30-30/.308/.30-06. And all the listed calibers are available in bolt-actions, though you may have to go used with .30-30/.45-70.

[Moonie]

The BC of the NOE 247 Whisper/245C accurate boolits would make them excellent long range boolits. I've just started using the accurate molds version in my savage edge 30-06. Fits the magazine and shoots great at 100. Will be shooting it farther soon.

[Larry Gibson]

Punching paper at longer (200-300 yds) distances would be the main thing; dispatching a coyote or two might happen as well. Accuracy always a good thing.

If that is the criteria then a GC'd bullet is going to be needed as velocity wll be needed to successfully "dispatch a coyote", especially at 200 - 300 yards. I suggest you look around for a .308W with a 12" twist. Preferably a "varmint" or target model with a 24 - 26" barrel. If you want to go whole hog then get a Savage Palma rifle with the 13" twist. With the 12" twist you can reach into the 2300 - 2400 fps range for useable hunting accuracy with 150 - 170 gr cast bullets. Excellent target accuracy is easily obtained upwards of 2200+ fps with the RCBS 30-168-SIL or the Lyman 311299 for excellent shooting to 300+ yards.

Or, if you find a suitable rifle a rebarrel to a 28 - 30" Palma barrel with 14" twist would be the best. With my 27.5" barreled Palma rifle with 14" twist i am getting excellent accuracy all the way up through 2600+ fps with the 311466 cast bullet. It also shoots the LBT 150 gr bullet very, very well.

A 10" twist barrel in any cartridge will pretty much restict you to 1950 fps or less for target accuracy and you might get up to 2050 fps and hold accuracy for a 300 yards coyote shot....maybe.

The .308W with the 12 or, better yet, a 14" twist with a 24"+ barrel will will be what you want for your criteria.

Larry Gibson

[Doc Highwall]

I agree with Larry, 308Win with slower twist. That is what I use with great results.

[Coffeecup]

I'd join in on the .308 bandwagon, unless you can find a 30-40 Krag with a good bore.

[softpoint]

.308 Winnie,

[Jack Stanley]

The Remington 700"Police" rifle I used to shoot from the bench would do just what you are asking for . I never got a coyote with it but did splatter a groundhog or two with it . I think it shot a bit better than the 788 I had partly because of the twelve inch twist it had , the 788 had a ten inch twist if I remember right .

Jack

[Larry Gibson]

the 788 had a ten inch twist if I remember right .

Roger that.

Larry Gibson

[nanuk]

there is a Palma barrel for sale up here that has a 13" twist

made by a very reputable maker

using Larry's numbers, 2400fps is near the tops for it... and it is 31" long.

[bullpen7979]

Thanks all for the feedback; looks like .308 is the way to go.

[Shuz]

Most of the folks who shoot Cast Bullet Association matches in the Production Class, shoot the .308 Winchester cartridge. Many fine rifles are available in this chambering. It is easy to load for, and brass is readilly available at low cost. .30 caliber boolit mould choices are numerous as well. As Larry and others have mentioned, the 1:12 twist seems to be the best choice if you can locate one. Failing that, you may run into one of the many .300 Savage bolt action 722's out there that have a 1:12 twist. I used to have one, and it was very accurate with cast boolits, despite the rather short neck. Using cast boolits at the velocities we shoot, it is equal to the .308 Win in my opinion. Good luck in your quest!

[rond]

I have a replica Sharps in 45-70 that has a tang sight. Shooting at a 10" steel plate at 300 yards is very entertaining. Have come close but no hits yet.

[Nobade]

.308 Win with a 14 twist barrel shooting the RCBS 165 SIL. It's like they were made for each other!

[Larry Gibson]

.308 Win with a 14 twist barrel shooting the RCBS 165 SIL. It's like they were made for each other!

+1 along with the LBT 150 and Lyman's 311466.

Larry Gibson

[edward hogan]

Great article on the .30-06 for match shooting in Lyman CB handbook #3

[frnkeore]

All production calibers have way to much case capacity but with retroating a 308 can be made to shoot good groups but, it can take a lot of load development and they can throw fits at the wrong time.

If your willing to build a rifle for your project I would suggest a 30 BR and 28- 30 gr of Varget or most of the others in that burn rate.

Regarding bullet selection, I would stay away for any of the 150 gr bullets. They have to much wind drift and drop.

I would use anything less than the 180 RCBS or 180 Lyman 311332 and the 205 gr, 311299 is better.

Here are some figures to consider. The velocity for all loads is 2100 fps.

150 gr, bc .22
Drop from 200 to 300 yds, 22". Wind drift 10 mph @ 90 deg, 24.4"

180 gr, bc .31
drop from 200 to 300, 18.1". Wind drift, 16.35

205 gr, bc .38
drop From 200 to 300, 16.6 ". Wind drift, 12.98"

The 165 isn't a bad bullet but will drop and drift more than the 180's. I didn't run the numbers on it but, probably 20" drop and 19" drift.

You can get match quality accuracy with PB bullets but, the drop and wind drift is much more because you limited to about 1450 fps.

Frank

[Dthunter]

.308 Winchester
Remington Varminter Laminate
1:12" twist

Along with advice from Larry and a few others on this site, I have achieved hunting accuaracy (3" or less) at 200 yards.
Have shot 2MOA and better groups out to 600yards. This information/advice can work wonders. As long as your rifle/ loading techniques are up to it.

Velocity at 2425fps
Shoots better at 2375fps-ish

Shoots like a house on fire at 2250fps.

Speeds like this require a gascheck.
My alumimum gaschecks will not maintain an accurate load past around 2200fps.
Hornady copper gas checks have the thumbs up for top end pressures.

I havent tried any of my brass gas checks yet. Thats another project on the horizon.

I shoot primarily the Lyman #311299, & #311644 bore riding boolet . Sized .310"
Lubed with Lyman Super Moly.

Air cooled wheel weight alloy: 18 lbs wheel weights +8ft 50/50 lead/tin solder.

Most of my cast boolet loads use a Dacron filler. It simply reduces velocity spread AND standard Deviation.

I lube the noses of all my boolets with two layers of Lee liquid allox.
I seat my boolets gently into the rifling, to aid in alignment and promote a better more consistant burn of the powder.

The powders I use for 1500-2000fps. Are IMR SR4759, RL7.
For velocities Above 2100fps, I use IMR4350 (with a Dacron filler), and IMR 4831( no filler, because case capacity is at 99%+).

The top end loads are heavy hitters!
200 grain boolets at 2200-2400fps! Thats jacketed bullet velocities.

If you shoot above 2200fps, I clean my bore every 10-15 rounds.
It helps "maintain" the accuracy edge.

These are a few things I have learned and tested thouroghly in the last year.
99% is from fellow shooters here. The rest, is my own little things that work for me.

.308 winchester, 1:12"-1:14" twist ROCKS!