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.
I just did some reading, and the Lyman 311299 boolit seems to be
on top.
What size is preferred?
Powder?
Any suggestions?
Thanks!

[Larry Gibson]

Are you shooting to 200 yards max?

Plinking, informal target or competition?

Larry Gibson

[Scharfschuetze]

You've come up with a good conclusion to your research; but as Larry asks above, your intended use will dictate what boolit you select for a given purpose.

I've used the RCBS 30-115-RN M1 Carbine boolit for rabbits and plinking for years and a 190 grain Hoch nose pour mold for longer ranges, but I'm also partial to the Lyman 311284 mold and the RCBS 30-180-SP mold. Of course mold recommendations are kind of like elbows. Everyone has a couple of 'em.

I might add that your 1 in 10" twist barrel will stabilize heavy boolits well, yet will still shoot well with lighter boolits if they are cast well.

If your Springfield has a two groove barrel, a long bore riding design boolit is often a great choice.

Sizing diameter will be dependent on what your barrel slugs out at, but I've enjoyed good results at both .309 and .310 diameters depending on which Springfield I'm using. My two groove barrels in particular seem to like the smaller diameter, but with a well fitting bore riding nose diameter of .302." My 190 grain Hoch mold was cut for just such barrels. In the end, only your barrel will tell you what it likes and shoots well with. You may very well end up going to a larger diameter depending on dimensions or wear of your barrel.

Your decision on what alloy to use will again be dependent on your intended use. For hunting vermin and plinking I've used fairly soft alloys and for longer ranges requiring higher velocities something slightly less than Lyman Number 2 has always worked well for me.

I probably shoot more cast boolits through Springfields (Models 1870, 1873, 1898 and 1903s) than any other rifle and find them great fun in the field or on the range. I commend you for trying to save that original barrel and you'll certainly do that with cast boolits.

[ShooterAZ]

My 1903 Springfield (Remington) has not been the least bit picky about which boolits it likes. I have used the LEE C309-120R just for plinking with light loads. I have also used both the LEE 150 & 170 gr FN, and the Lyman 311284 & 311299. Truthfully, every one of them shot very, very well. I size everything to .311.

[avogunner]

I shoot my RIA 03 with the Lee 170gr FP and the Lyman 311299. Like ShooterAZ, they both shoot great. The max I shoot is 200yds but mostly at 100. Either will shoot around 2-3 MOA all day long as long as I do my part. I realize that's not the greatest but it's about as best as my eyes can do.

[jadcock]

In both of my rifles, the SAECO 315 is the most accurate so far. A 311290 will group very well. the 315 in front of 17.5 of 2400 is my go to load. It works for me. I would think anything in the 170-220 range would be a good choice.

[pworley1]

Mine likes the lyman 311284 best.

[BullRunBear]

My 03 likes the Lee 170g, gas check, sized to 311 and lubed with Lee liquid alox. Don't have my notes handy but it is a reduced load good to 200 yards but I usually go to 100 yards. I use the Lee collet die set for my reloading.

[sundog]

RCBS 30-180-SP is good. So is Ly 314299 sized to ~.312. SAECO #301 if it is large enough diameter. All three of these boolits have won military bolt matches for me. My preferred powder is 4227 or N120 @~21.0 gr for 1600+ fps for hunert yard target loads. 4198/3031/4895 are all good for longer ranges and a bump in MV.

Shoot ALOT and find what your gun likes.

[srk]

Hi Larry
Just out to 200yds max
Target shooting
Club range is 200yds only
Thanks

[CHeatermk3]

My friend set a 300-yd group record shooting his springer(don't know the particulars) pushing a Lyman 314299 sized correctly for his throat/bore dimensions over about 19 grains of IMR 4759.

I'm having good results with the same boolit in my Mosin M39 over 20 grains of AA5744.

My mould drops reclaimed shot castings 304 nose/3145 on the bands.
HTH

[Lance Boyle]

For that I'd try a 311299, 312299, 314299 (all the same except diameter, slug your bore/throat and see what you're working with to fit). Mine also likes 311291 which is a .30-30 design but mine seems to have a tight throat (USGI High Standard rebarrel) and likes it. I seat the 311291 long to just snug into the throat.

I see the '299's well listed already but just wanted to toss my vote in.

[guicksylver]

Ah Yes ! The 03 and 03A3.

Here is what I have come up with in the last year using my 03A3.
Stock rifle, two groove w/ Lyman 10X.

All these shoot 1 MOA or less @ 100 yds.
COWW + 2% Tin or 3 parts COWW, 1 part Lino +2% Tin,
no heat treatment, lubed with 50/50;

All sized .311 and preferred 301 nose.

312299 12.7 Red Dot, 24.5 g.r H335, 29gr. AA2520
311284 12.7 Red Dot
311332 12.7 Red Dot, 17.5 grs 2400
311290 12.7 Red Dot, 16 grs 2400
311365 12.7 Red Dot, 24.5grs H335, 29 grs AA2520, 17 grs 2400
311 155 FN NOE 19 grs 2400

Other boolits and loads work as well 1-1 1/2"

But the ones listed above shine in my rig. Dan

My gun,my boolits,my loads.

Happy shooting !

[srk]

Hi
It shoots .308 dia fmj and sierra 168 right now extremely well.
I was going to stick with Lymans recomendation on sizing die diameter.
Which is .309 dia.
Any opinions on that train of thought?
Also if I tried the 314299 would that not be too big given the information
i have mentioned regarding the fmj and match bullets?
Thanks

[Larry Gibson]

Hi Larry
Just out to 200yds max
Target shooting
Club range is 200yds only
Thanks

As you can see there are a lot of different cast bullets that will do what you want very nicely in an '03.

If you want economy of alloy try to find a Loverin designed 311465 or better the 311466. Both are very accurate in any .30 cal. I use both a lot. Both can be used with powders from Unique up through SR4759 with velocities in the 1300 - 1900 fps range.

My current recommendation for a medium weight cast bullet of 165 - 185 gr that are currently available are the old standby 311291, the MiHec or NOE 311-180, The RCBS 30-165-SIL, 30-180-SP, the Lee C309-180-R and the SAECO 311 165 gr TCGC. These can be used with the fast end of the "medium" burning powders such as RL7, 3031 and H4895 with a Dacron filler. Accuracy can be excellent in the 1650 - 1900 fps range. SR 4759 is also a very good powder choice. If you could find a Loverin design Lyman 311407 or 311467 snatch them up as they are excellent in the '06.

I most often use alloys of either COWWs +2% tin or Lyman #2 for the above bullets. I let them AC and age harden for 7-10 days before doing anything with them. My lube for all has been Javelina, Tamarack (neither available any longer) and Lar's 50/50 or Lar's 2500+. GCs are Hornady and are seated using the Lyman GC seater in the 450 with a .311 H&I die. The GC'd bullets are lightly lubed with Dillon case lube (or my own lanolin/alcohol lube) and push through sized in a Lee .311 sizer. The sized bullets are then just lubed in the Lyman 450 with the .311 H&I die. I do a good visual inspection while GCing and reject any with even the slightest defect. Sometimes I will weight sort after the visual inspection but mostly only the long range bullets.

For heavier cast bullets of 190 - 220 gr it is very hard to beat the 311299 with the 311284 and 311333 being very good choices. With those the medium burning powders work very well although SR 4759, once again, is a favorite of the CBA benchresters with the 311299 in particular.

My own choice for my own M1903 National Match Type II Rifle is the 311466 over SR 4759 with a Dacron filler for short to medium range. I push those to right at 1900 fps. For longer range cast bullet shooting (300 - 600 yards) I also favor the 311299 over a slower powder such as RL19, AA4350 or H4831SC for 2000 - 2100 fps. The bullets for this are linotype/lead at 80/20 and WQ'd for a BHN of 28 - 30+. I recently acquired a MiHec 311-180 and am finding it an excellently designed bullet. While I have not yet tested it in my '03 Match Rifle it does very well in my bolt action test '06 so I have high hopes for it being a very good "all around" cast bullets for the '06 also.

As noted there are lots of choice of different cast bullets for the '06. I suggest you simply pick one you think might fit your needs. Test it thoroughly and if it doesn't then you won't have any problem trading it for another choice or selling it and buying another. That's all part of the fun here.

Larry Gibson

[srk]

Hi Larry
Thank you very much for the input.
Regarding the sizing, and with the info I mentioned about the fmj and 168's,
and I realize I should slug the bore, but for now would you recommend the .311 or the .309
sizing die?
The rifling is strong and 10 shots at 200yds will group in under 6inches using the
ladder sight raised, and using the peepsight hole that is there.
Is there any chance of pressure build up by going with the .311 in this
case over the .309?
Just wondering because the jacketed bullets shoot so well.
Thanks

[Larry Gibson]

Go with the .311. That is my own "go to" size for almost all my .30 cals. I seldom slug bores but do chamber cast for throat dimensions. The .311 bullet will be sized to groove diameter in one bearing length of travel which is what happens with any other sized bullet. After the one length of bearing surface travel all the bullets are thus the same size and offer the same resistance. That 1st length of bearing surface travel occurs very early in the time/pressure curve. I've shot identical loads with identical cast bullets with the bullets sized .308, .309, .310, .311 and .312 and could not get a measureable increase in psi.

Larry Gibson

[srk]

Cheers!
I will keep you posted down the road.
I am going to order mold tomorrow, think the 311299 is the one I am going to start
with, along with the .311 sizing die.
You have been very helpful.
Thanks, all the best.
Sean