Mild loads for 30-06 with Lyman 311291

[40-82 hiker]

For 30-06 bolt action rifle.

I have not previously cast any boolits with this mold. Found it in a box of stuff my Dad gave me.

I have been researching this site for mild loads with Lyman's 311291 (only 311 mold I have, and don't want to get a different mold). I have a good supply of AA5744 and Bullseye, so I want to limit my load to these two powders. Looking at the Accurate load data, they list a "reduced" load of 25 grains of AA5744 for a 173 grain boolit at 1920fps, but this is quite a bit faster than I was thinking of. Looking for velocity good for 100 yard targets (position shooting - practice and plinking)... Whatever velocity that would be?

Don't know enough to ask all the right questions, but just to get me off to a good start, here are a few questions that can limit my ramp up time, hopefully:

1) I've seen threads with 5 to 7 grains of Bullseye and various boolit weights. Is this a good range, and does anyone have pet loads for this combo?

2) Is there any experience with the AA5744 using lighter charges than listed by AA for this or a near combo?

3) What would be a good alloy to use. I have COWWs and pure lead. Nothing harder. Size to .309?

4) Gas checks?

Thanks.
Bob

[Ben]

Here is a load you can try with B'Eye in your 30-06.
The SAECO #315 weighs about 175 grs.
You could shoot this load with the 311291 also.
It is a pleasant load to shoot ( but still plenty powerful ).

If you take out the " 2 O'clock round " from the group below( and that round is most likely me..not the rifle ) ....it is basically shooting in 1 hole at 50 yards.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/SAECO%20%20315%20Plain%20Base/021.jpg

[Outpost75]

I shoot alot of Bullseye for indoor gallery practice at 50 ft. and also for outdoor practice and small game hunting to 100 yards.

The website www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm has Bullseye data in. 30-'06 using a 170-grain plainbased bullet. You can substitute your #311291 with no problem.

The minimum start load of 5 grains of Bullseye gives about 900 fps, shoots well at 50 ft. to 50 yards and is low NOISE (typo corrected).

The 8.3 grain load should be about 1250 fps.

My 100-yard load is 7.8 grains, which is about 1200 fps.

Max. load of Bullseye in the '06 is 9 grains, which approaches 1400 fps and requires a GC.

In my Springfield these loads shoot about 2-1/2" at 100 yards, with scope. Inch groups at 50 yards are possible if everything is correct.

[40-82 hiker]

I shoot alot of Bullseye for indoor gallery practice at 50 ft. and also for outdoor practice and small game hunting to 100 yards.

The website www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm has Bullseye data in. 30-'06 using a 170-grain plainbased bullet. You can substitute your #311291 with no problem.

The minimum start load of 5 grains of Bullseye gives about 900 fps, shoots well at 50 ft. to 50 yards and is low nose.

The 8.3 grain load should be about 1250 fps.

My 100-yard load is 7.8 grains, which is about 1200 fps.

Max. load of Bullseye in the '06 is 9 grains, which approaches 1400 fps and requires a GC.

In my Springfield these loads shoot about 2-1/2" at 100 yards, with scope. Inch groups at 50 yards are possible if everything is correct.

Thanks for the help. What alloy are you using?

[40-82 hiker]

Here is a load you can try with B'Eye in your 30-06.
The SAECO #315 weighs about 175 grs.
You could shoot this load with the 311291 also.
It is a pleasant load to shoot ( but still plenty powerful ).

If you take out the " 2 O'clock round " from the group below( and that round is most likely me..not the rifle ) ....it is basically shooting in 1 hole at 50 yards.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/SAECO%20%20315%20Plain%20Base/021.jpg

What is your alloy? Thanks for the help.
Hope I can get a load working this good!

[27judge]

I use the 311291 with 10 gr unique powder

[Ramjet-SS]

I love reduced loads but you have more room with Hodgdens Universal than BE double charge or sow thing along those lines. I also think that BE is position sensitive compared to Unique or Universal.

[Outpost75]

Thanks for the help. What alloy are you using?

I am using wheelweight, air cooled, NOT quenched. Lee Liquid Alox diluted 50-50 by liquid volume with mineral spirits, only a light coat of lube is needed, just enough to turn bullets slightly brassy color.

Be sure the barrel is clean. Use Ed's Red, then Kroil and JB to remove all no metal fouling. Then it helps to precondition before firing the bore by wiping with a wet patch using the diluted liquid Alox. If you shoot cast in a clean, bone-dry bore it takes a half dozen foulers to coat the bore for grouping nto settle down. Once the rifle has stabilized to good groups, it doesn't require cleaning after use. Just wipe the bore with a patch wet with Ed's Red or Mil-C-372B, and it leave wet until next range trip. Then before shooting push out any loosened crud with a wet patch, followed with TWO dry patches through the bore, dry the chamber and shoot.

I also like to use a Bullseye charge light enough that a double charge won't blow up a rifle if I screw up.
So 5 to 8 grains is OK. A double-shot of 10 grains leads the barrel. A double shot of 16 blows the primer and the bolt on an 03A3 opens hard, requiring some assistance with a deadblow hammer.

Don't ask me how I know!

[40-82 hiker]

I am using wheelweight, air cooled, NOT quenched. Lee Liquid Alox diluted 50-50 by liquid volume with mineral spirits, only a light coat of lube is neede, enough to turn bullets slightly brassy color.

I like a Bullseye charge light enough that a double charge won't blow up a rifle.
So 5 to 8 grains is OK. Don't ask me how I know!

Thanks. Okay I won't ask.

Ouch!

[Ben]

What is your alloy? Thanks for the help.
Hope I can get a load working this good!

Air cooled wheel weights.

[Duckiller]

Use clipo on wheel weights. Stick on weights are a lot closer to pure lead. You could probably use either one for the speed you want. Would recommend that you save clip on weights for special occasions or loads. Light loads of BE, Red Dot, 700X are fun to shoot and accurate at close range.

[uscra112]

5744 needs pressure to burn clean. It's notorious for leaving a lot of half-burned kernals in the bore and chamber in "reduced" loads. I've burned at least ten pounds of it, and learned that lesson for myself. My current favorite for plinking loads in all the .30 calibers is Blue Dot. Speed about like 2400 but less velocity variance. Red Dot is fine, too. Bullseye will do if that's all you have.

[nekshot]

Ben, did you flinch on that one shot?lol
nekshot

[Ben]

Ben, did you flinch on that one shot?lol
nekshot

I think you may have it.....Getting old I guess.

Ben

[Blammer]

some times you just have to know when to quit shooting.

[40-82 hiker]

I am using wheelweight, air cooled, NOT quenched. Lee Liquid Alox diluted 50-50 by liquid volume with mineral spirits, only a light coat of lube is needed, just enough to turn bullets slightly brassy color.

Be sure the barrel is clean. Use Ed's Red, then Kroil and JB to remove all no metal fouling. Then it helps to precondition before firing the bore by wiping with a wet patch using the diluted liquid Alox. If you shoot cast in a clean, bone-dry bore it takes a half dozen foulers to coat the bore for grouping nto settle down. Once the rifle has stabilized to good groups, it doesn't require cleaning after use. Just wipe the bore with a patch wet with Ed's Red or Mil-C-372B, and it leave wet until next range trip. Then before shooting push out any loosened crud with a wet patch, followed with TWO dry patches through the bore, dry the chamber and shoot.

I also like to use a Bullseye charge light enough that a double charge won't blow up a rifle if I screw up.
So 5 to 8 grains is OK. A double-shot of 10 grains leads the barrel. A double shot of 16 blows the primer and the bolt on an 03A3 opens hard, requiring some assistance with a deadblow hammer

Don't ask me how I know!

Thanks for the specific cleaning instructions. That would have taken me a long time to figure out!
Glad the double 16gr. load wasn't worse...

[Rich/WIS]

I've been using 5.0 gr Bullseye in my 03A3s, with either the RCBS 308-165 SIL or an old Lyman 311576 (122 gr). Very quiet and accurate enough out to about 50 yards for my casual plinking. Alloy is plain old range lead for the Lyman or a mix that is probably similar to Lyman #2. A pound of Bullseye goes a long way, and even at todays prices for powder and primers it cheap fun. NOTE: These are gas checked, a member here sells aluminum checks for a good price and they work great.

[dromia]

Have a read of this:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?13425-Cast-Bullet-Loads-for-Military-Rifles-Article