Whit Spurzon
05-29-2008, 12:41 AM
I've been excited about Ranch Dogs 165gr 30 caliber bullet for a while and today I got a chance to do some testing. Here are the results.
1965 saddle ring Marlin 336, open sights.
Ranch Dog's TLC311-165-RF cast from mostly wheel weights plus whatever was left in the pot from last time. Air dropped. Weigh in at 175 gr nekkid and drop .312" All were lubed with Lee Liquid Alox. OAL = 2.475"
First load was a light plinking load I've had good luck with using other cast bullets. It's 5 grains of Red Dot (a .7cc scoop), R-P case and WLR primer. I sized these with the .311" Lee Push Through sizer WITHOUT gas checks. Velocity averaged 964 fps and produced sub 1-1/2" groups at 50 yards with open sights. I'm VERY pleased with this load.
The next load was the same except I didn't size them and shot them as cast, plain based like the previous load with a coat of LLA. They averaged just a little bit slower 958 fps and the accuracy was the same, even hinted at being better though I didn't have enough of these to test that.
The third load was with 10.5 grains of SR 4756 (Lyman Cast Bullet Manual). It is another load that has shot well with other cast bullets in this rifle. I did use a gas check on these with two coats of LLA. The average was 1375 fps. The accuracy looks very promising though I didn't have enough to test extensively. The three shot groups come in at under 1". These shoot about 3" lower at 50 yards than the Red Dot loads. Yet another good load.
The last load I tried was with SR 4759 (not to be confused with the powder above). I like this powder a lot in 45-70 with cast bullets. Burns clean and produces good velocity with less powder. Good accuracy too. In my 30-30 it proved itself again. 17.2 grains got me 1732 fps average velocity and it showed promise with accuracy like the Red Dot loads. I think this load might do a little better with a harder bullet. I'll give that a try next time I'm casting.
Based on this first trip I'm going to say the TLC311-165-RF was well worth the wait. :-D :drinks:
1965 saddle ring Marlin 336, open sights.
Ranch Dog's TLC311-165-RF cast from mostly wheel weights plus whatever was left in the pot from last time. Air dropped. Weigh in at 175 gr nekkid and drop .312" All were lubed with Lee Liquid Alox. OAL = 2.475"
First load was a light plinking load I've had good luck with using other cast bullets. It's 5 grains of Red Dot (a .7cc scoop), R-P case and WLR primer. I sized these with the .311" Lee Push Through sizer WITHOUT gas checks. Velocity averaged 964 fps and produced sub 1-1/2" groups at 50 yards with open sights. I'm VERY pleased with this load.
The next load was the same except I didn't size them and shot them as cast, plain based like the previous load with a coat of LLA. They averaged just a little bit slower 958 fps and the accuracy was the same, even hinted at being better though I didn't have enough of these to test that.
The third load was with 10.5 grains of SR 4756 (Lyman Cast Bullet Manual). It is another load that has shot well with other cast bullets in this rifle. I did use a gas check on these with two coats of LLA. The average was 1375 fps. The accuracy looks very promising though I didn't have enough to test extensively. The three shot groups come in at under 1". These shoot about 3" lower at 50 yards than the Red Dot loads. Yet another good load.
The last load I tried was with SR 4759 (not to be confused with the powder above). I like this powder a lot in 45-70 with cast bullets. Burns clean and produces good velocity with less powder. Good accuracy too. In my 30-30 it proved itself again. 17.2 grains got me 1732 fps average velocity and it showed promise with accuracy like the Red Dot loads. I think this load might do a little better with a harder bullet. I'll give that a try next time I'm casting.
Based on this first trip I'm going to say the TLC311-165-RF was well worth the wait. :-D :drinks: