AA8700 in .30-06

[richhodg66]

Anybody done this?

I have quite a bit of this powder and the only thing I've used it in is jacketed bullet loads in my 7mm Mag.

I've been playing with deer hunting cast loads in .30 caliber rifles and have shot a couple with .30 bullets now. I'd like to try the heavy 311284 which shoots well in my model 70 using the Lyman recommended load of SR4759. Seems like a casefull of this 8700 and a crimp with this heavy a bullet ought to work OK and give velocity in a range that would be good for cast bullet hunting (1800-2000 FPS). I'd use magnum primers.

Will this work or will I get slow velocities and a lot of unburned powder? Range time seems to be so limited for me lately that I hate to try something wih a low chance of working out.

[rexherring]

I tried some years back with a 220 gr jacketed RN and Fed. Mag primers. Shot pretty good groups. Compressed load about 2100 fps.

[TCLouis]

Way back when I shot some 150s in front of 55 grains of 8700. Maybe the RD 165s would do better (the RD's sure do shoot well in front of a dose of WC 820N)

Need to do something because I have most of that jug and someone gave me 16 more pounds

What did you shoot out of the 7mm Mag with it?

[richhodg66]

I shot 150s with a load I found. Can't remember exactly what but it was pretty much a casefull. Had no pressure signs at all. Never chronographed it, but accuracy was decent (never got real tight groups with that rifle with anything). Good stuff in a big, overbore case. I'll try it in the '06 now.

[brstevns]

Anybody done this?

I have quite a bit of this powder and the only thing I've used it in is jacketed bullet loads in my 7mm Mag.

I've been playing with deer hunting cast loads in .30 caliber rifles and have shot a couple with .30 bullets now. I'd like to try the heavy 311284 which shoots well in my model 70 using the Lyman recommended load of SR4759. Seems like a casefull of this 8700 and a crimp with this heavy a bullet ought to work OK and give velocity in a range that would be good for cast bullet hunting (1800-2000 FPS). I'd use magnum primers.

Will this work or will I get slow velocities and a lot of unburned powder? Range time seems to be so limited for me lately that I hate to try something wih a low chance of working out.

Tied the same as you are talking about years back for my cousins 06. I an not for sure but it seemed like it was around 54gr. of 8700 and the 311284 Lyman bullet sized to .310. He used Mag primers and got very good 100 yard groups. It was a compressed load.

[frank505]

311284 and 247 gas check with all the 860 that will fit lit off with a Rem 9 1/2 magnum primer. Runs about 1900 and shoots pretty good. 860 and 870 are close in burn rate, the best use is in the 505 Gibbs, fill it up and seat a 600 grain slug. Is a great killer of game.

[RayinNH]

Rich according to the Accurate loading guide #2 using 8700 powder and Lyman 311284, 54 grains will do 1772 fps. Using 60 grains, a compressed load will yield 2014 fps. The compressed load generates 30,000 P.S.I. These results from a 24" barrel...Ray

[richhodg66]

Thanks for that input. I like the 311284 very much, it has shot well for me in the '06 and 7.62x54. I'm gonna try this for a cast bulley hunting load.

All the ones I have cast right now are really too hard fr hunting. Gotta get out and cast some more malleble ones.

[USMC87]

Thanks for posting this, I to have an abundance of 8700 to use.

[TCLouis]

AA manual shows 54-60 for all cast Boolits from 152 to 210 gains for the 30-06
Velocities are 1700s to 2000s for all Boolit weights.

I shot some at 55 way back when, but can't remember much about them or the performance. I think I was just seeing what the powder would do with recommended loading in 06 and 45-70.

I had a bunch and then someone gave me 16 more pounds. I probably should look into using some to load for a 7 mm Maggie, but so far it is too much fun with Bullseye and cast boolits.

That Husky Lightweight has the weirdest rifling I have ever seen. It looks like one could wear it out post haste with heavy Bullet loads.
Lands can not be much over ten thousandths wide.
The gun places the GB RNFP in decent little groups though. The Husky 5500 lightweight is a great plinking rifle with the 135 Soup Can, but would likely get to be tiring with very few full power rounds.

Guess it would be great for tramping around the wilds of the west elk hunting where a little weight savings would be appreciated and recoil while shooting at game would be a nonissue.

[ridurall]

I use a lot of AA8700 but its in my 50 BMG shooting a 647 grain API, ball or solid Barnes bullet. Normally I'm using around 225 grains to push it at 2650 FPS out of a 30" barrel. It works great for me with the lighter 50 caliber projectials.

[richhodg66]

I loaded some of these, 55.5 grains, 311284, Federal Magnum primer and a pretty heavy crimp with a Lee Factory crimp die. They did not shooy well in my old Model 70, however, I bought a very nice sporterized VZ 24 in '06 last SPring just because it was too good a deal to pass on and it shot those loads quite well (most went easily into a 2" group).

I thinl I'm going to experiment more with that bullet and powder, increasing the charge until accuracy drops off. I think I'm also going to cast some soft point 311284s. This may become my Go To cast deer rifle.