Spug
03-19-2016, 01:46 PM
Hi all, I've been lurking on this site for a little while and have gleaned a lot of information here. I haven't been reloading that long but have loaded and shot several hundred each of .380, .357, .45 ACP and .45-70, for which I also cast. I'm getting ready to load my first ever bottleneck catridges in .308 and decided it might be good to ask for a little advice, including whether it is unwise to jump into cast or if I should get some jacketed rounds behind me first.
I cast up some 170gr flat point bullets with a Lee C309-170-F mold, with Hornady gas checks installed with a Lee push-through sizer. I lubed them with liquid alox before sizing, then pan lubed with 5 parts beeswax, 4 parts Crisco, 1 part petroleum jelly mixture after sizing. From what I read recently it isn't necessary to use the liquid alox prior to sizing, so in the future I might try using something else that isn't quite so messy to lightly lube the bullets before pushing them through the sizing die. I keep Fluid Film on hand, which is lanolin-based, so I was thinking of trying that.
I've got my own once-fired PMC brass, deprimed and wet tumbled, and since I only intend to fire these rounds in my Ruger GSR bolt action I want to load much as I do for straight wall cases on my Lee classic cast turret press: in this instance neck size only, prime on the press, powder-through die with a Lee Auto Drum, seating, and factory crimp.
I have a bit of IMR 4198 and was planning on starting with that, although I could also spare some Unique. I've got some Trail Boss too, although it has gotten hard to find and I'd hate to run out of it for powder-puff loads in other calibers.
I haven't found much load data for this combination, although the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook has data for a 173 gr. flat nose Lyman bullet that appears very similar in profile to the bullets I have. The manual lists data for this at 25.0 to 34.0 of IMR-4198. It also lists Unique charges of from 10.0 to 15.0 for this bullet.
Also, I noticed that the gas check will extend to the bottom of the shoulder, the bullet extending about 0.2" into the case. It seems there are different opinions on whether this is something to be concerned about. I could seat higher and crimp at the first lube groove, but it just seems neater and cleaner to seat to the crimp groove.
I don't have huge performance aspirations for this load, at least at first. Mostly I want something pleasant to shoot that won't lead my bore too much and will allow me to learn the ropes of bottleneck loading and shoot more for less with my home-rolled rounds.
Do you all think using the data in the Lyman manual for the Lyman #311041 will be okay for my lee C309-170-F bullets?
Should I worry about the gas checks coming off, or gas cutting of the bullet if it is seated into the case? I couldn't pull one off with my thumbnail.
Should I start with jacketed bullets before attempting to load cast in this cartridge?
Any pet loads for 4198? There's a 9 grain spread in the Lyman manual.
Or would starting with 10 grains of Unique be more forgiving?
Any suggestions would be appreciated. I was planning on loading 50 to start with this afternoon, if anyone wants to jump in, although I probably wouldn't be able to shoot them for a week or so. I could probably pop off a couple in my rural backyard, but do most of my shooting at the range.
Thanks.
163949
I cast up some 170gr flat point bullets with a Lee C309-170-F mold, with Hornady gas checks installed with a Lee push-through sizer. I lubed them with liquid alox before sizing, then pan lubed with 5 parts beeswax, 4 parts Crisco, 1 part petroleum jelly mixture after sizing. From what I read recently it isn't necessary to use the liquid alox prior to sizing, so in the future I might try using something else that isn't quite so messy to lightly lube the bullets before pushing them through the sizing die. I keep Fluid Film on hand, which is lanolin-based, so I was thinking of trying that.
I've got my own once-fired PMC brass, deprimed and wet tumbled, and since I only intend to fire these rounds in my Ruger GSR bolt action I want to load much as I do for straight wall cases on my Lee classic cast turret press: in this instance neck size only, prime on the press, powder-through die with a Lee Auto Drum, seating, and factory crimp.
I have a bit of IMR 4198 and was planning on starting with that, although I could also spare some Unique. I've got some Trail Boss too, although it has gotten hard to find and I'd hate to run out of it for powder-puff loads in other calibers.
I haven't found much load data for this combination, although the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook has data for a 173 gr. flat nose Lyman bullet that appears very similar in profile to the bullets I have. The manual lists data for this at 25.0 to 34.0 of IMR-4198. It also lists Unique charges of from 10.0 to 15.0 for this bullet.
Also, I noticed that the gas check will extend to the bottom of the shoulder, the bullet extending about 0.2" into the case. It seems there are different opinions on whether this is something to be concerned about. I could seat higher and crimp at the first lube groove, but it just seems neater and cleaner to seat to the crimp groove.
I don't have huge performance aspirations for this load, at least at first. Mostly I want something pleasant to shoot that won't lead my bore too much and will allow me to learn the ropes of bottleneck loading and shoot more for less with my home-rolled rounds.
Do you all think using the data in the Lyman manual for the Lyman #311041 will be okay for my lee C309-170-F bullets?
Should I worry about the gas checks coming off, or gas cutting of the bullet if it is seated into the case? I couldn't pull one off with my thumbnail.
Should I start with jacketed bullets before attempting to load cast in this cartridge?
Any pet loads for 4198? There's a 9 grain spread in the Lyman manual.
Or would starting with 10 grains of Unique be more forgiving?
Any suggestions would be appreciated. I was planning on loading 50 to start with this afternoon, if anyone wants to jump in, although I probably wouldn't be able to shoot them for a week or so. I could probably pop off a couple in my rural backyard, but do most of my shooting at the range.
Thanks.
163949