C.B weight for a 1903 Springfield

[srk]

G'Day
What weight cast boolit do some of use in your Springfield?
I've thought about the 150gr (gas check) but have only seen
170gr in Lymans catologue.
Any recomendations?
Its an original 1903 and I don't want to use jacketed anymore.
I have found for 100yds i have use 150gr FMJ-BT and 200 yds
168 Sierra Match.
Both shoot like a dream, but want to preserve the barrel and go to cast.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!

[Bullshop]

I seem to get best accuracy from fairly heavy boolits from 180 to 220gn.
So far my absolute best accuracy has been from a Don Egan mold for a 220gn MX-3 design.
Even in a 2 groove barrel its still tops.

[srk]

Hi
Thanks.
I was just doing some reading in the military section, which i thought about
after i posted the article.
I was curious as to what size to go with.
So far the Lyman 311299 seems to the on top champ choice to use.

[Bullshop]

311299 should be a good choice if it fits the throat of your rifle. My 03A3 barrels are fairly well worn so I used the 314299. Same boolit but the 314 has a bit more nose diameter and drive band diameter. With a bore ride design like the 299 the nose diameter has to be a snug fit on the land tops or they wont work so good. That's why I went with the 314 version for my worn barrels.

[Char-Gar]

srk - You have a fine rifle that will do well with cast bullets and preserve your barrel for a very very long time. Like most questions about cast bullets, the answer to your question is..it depends. It depends on how fast your want to fly your cast bullets. Your rifle has a 1-10 rifling twist and is a constant you must deal with, as a bullet of any given length (weight) will have it's optimum velocity. As a general principal, the longer/heavier the bullet, the faster it will need to spin to stabilize it on it's way to the target.

I have been shooting cast bullets in 03 and 03A3 rifles for a very long time and I have good luck with bullets from 150 to 220 grains, both plain base and gas check. Anyone weight within those limits will do fine, if you adjust the velocity to suit the individual bullets. Of course, the fit of the bullet to the throat will need to be correct for whatever bullet length/weight you choose.

I have probably 20 to 30 molds for 30 caliber rifles and most will give good results in the 03/03A3 rifle if they are of a proper fit and flown at their preferred velocity.

My counsel to you is to pick a bullet mold between 150 and 220 grains, size it .310 - .311 and start having fun, learning as you go. The 1903 rifle in 30-06 is an excellent teacher and wants very badly to make you happy. Just be certain to clean out the jacketed bullet fouling in our barrel before you go to cast bullets.

311299 is indeed a good choice and wins more Cast Bullet Association military rifle matches than any other. You will find the "sweet spot" with this bullet somewhere between 1.6 and 1.7 K fps. These longer bullets also conserve their velocity well as the range stretched out longer than 100 yards.

Best of luck to you.

[L Ross]

I have had decent success with most cast 30 caliber bullets running a check and staying around 1400 to 1600 fps and sized no smaller than .310" in 5 different 03's and 03A3's. The real surprise was how well that Lee SKS bullet shoots! 312-155 something or other. I just size them to .311" and shoot them over 2400, 4227, 4759, Unique, and soon I'll be trying Tin Star. For the up to 200 yard shooting I can do here they are fine.

[srk]

Hi
Thanks for all your help and input!
Cheers