Cast loads in my 30-06

[res45]

Recently picked up a Rem. 770 bolt gun in 30-06 and loaded up some test loads for it last week. I was using mixed brass by Win. Rem. and Fed. along with CCI LR primers and I use three different powders Alliant 2400, H-4198 and Unique. The two bullets I used were the Lee 170 gr. FP and the Lee 160 gr. TL RN both powder coated, gas checked and sized to .311". Targets were shot at 50 yds. as that is as far as I can shoot around here in the back yard range without making a day trip to the public range. All load data came from the Lyman Cast Bullet manual #4, below are the group but none were much larger than 1.5" and some under 1". We had some issues with the Chrono not reading probably due to overcast skies on some loads but I will be retesting those loads for data at some point as will as some additional powders I have and maybe even a primer change on a couple loads to see if that improves things. I haven't been behind the trigger since last Nov. after having surgery and weather not cooperating on my days off so I'm a bit rusty.
https://i.imgur.com/k445z4l.png

Target #1
Low: 1698
High: 1715
Average: 1709
Spread: 16.8
SD: 6.78

Target #2
Low: 1731
High: 1761
Average: 1747
Spread: 29.99
SD: 11.61

Target #3
Low: 1950
High: 1981
Average: 1966
Spread: 31.30
SD 11.22

Target #4
Low: 1971
High: 2015
Average: 1989
Spread: 44.64
SD: 16.50

Target #5
No Data but shoots great, will load and shoot again.

Target #6
No Data

Target #7
No Data

Target #8
Low: 2277
High: 2309
Average: 2292
Spread: 31.71
SD: 15.39

Target #9
Low: 1635
High: 1701
Average: 1650
Spread 65.70
SD: 26.57

Target #10
Low: 1665
High: 1709
Average: 1686
Spread: 44.46
SD: 17.49

[Conditor22]

Good post, well laid out with both pictures and data.
What are the twist rate and barrel length of your Rem. 770?
What alloy did you use?

[Pablo 5959]

Subscribed, keep up the good work.
Pablo

[res45]

Good post, well laid out with both pictures and data.
What are the twist rate and barrel length of your Rem. 770?
What alloy did you use?

Remington Model 770, 22" barrel, 1:10 Twist. Alloy was wheel weights quenched after powder coating.

[Conditor22]

Thank you,

[Texas by God]

Those rifles shoot good as you have just demonstrated with your skill. They bring up a poop flurry of criticism when they're mentioned but in my experience the .270 m710 and two m770 .243s that I shot and loaded for worked and shot perfectly.

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[ShooterAZ]

The 20.0 gr load of 2400 is a winner. I use the same load in several of my 30-06 bolt guns. All are 1/10 twist as well. You're getting good groups with all your loads, good work Sir.

[res45]

Thank you,

Your quiet welcome, hopefully in a couple weeks which is about how often I get to shoot I'll have some more data on some different combinations of powder, primers as well as some Chrono data on the loads that I got errors on. Load #5 with the H-4198 / 170 gr. FN has my interest peeked as well.

[res45]

Those rifles shoot good as you have just demonstrated with your skill. They bring up a poop flurry of criticism when they're mentioned but in my experience the .270 m710 and two m770 .243s that I shot and loaded for worked and shot perfectly.

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Thanks, My dad started me shooting when I was seven years old by the time I was nine I had my own Rem. single shot 22 and was putting food on the table. We were pretty poor and 22 LR ammo was only 35 cents a box but that was a lot of money back then and I made ever shot count like my life depended on it, well my stomach did at least. I can get it to shoot much better after I've worked on some loads and had some time behind the rifle, it been since last November since I have pulled the trigger on anything after having surgery and seem like the weather hasn't been my friend either.

[res45]

The 20.0 gr load of 2400 is a winner. I use the same load in several of my 30-06 bolt guns. All are 1/10 twist as well. You're getting good groups with all your loads, good work Sir.

That is what really surprised me the most. I picked three powders and loaded up 5 rds. of each with two different bullets one load half way between Min. and the midway point and the other halfway between the middle and the Max. charge weight. I was kinda expecting things to really open up quiet a bit with some of the higher charge weights but they all stayed pretty tight for the distance I was shooting at. I will make a trip to the public range at some point so I can stretch things out an see what it will do but that will come a couple months down the road.

[samari46]

Funny thing is that the much lamented IMR 4759 had a sweet spot at 20.0 grains both in the 30-06 and 7.62x54r. Seems the 2400 might have one there at the same 20.0 grains. Haven't tried cast in my Sako 75 Hunter but with jacketed loads they hover around an inch at 100 yds. Have a sporterized 1903A3 with only iron sights but thinking about swapping out the redfield ramped front sight and getting a Lyman 17xnb that is a direct replacement for the issue front sight. Have a Lyman steel 57 rear sight. Frank

[res45]

Just wanted to mention that all the above targets were shot with powder charges that were dropped from either my RCBS Little Dandy with fixed charge weight rotors or thrown form my RCBS DUE Measure. Scales were only used to verify the charge weight thrown, after that I just threw ten charges with that powder and moved on to the next load.

[Texas by God]

Just wanted to mention that all the above targets were shot with powder charges that were dropped from either my RCBS Little Dandy with fixed charge weight rotors or thrown form my RCBS DUE Measure. Scales were only used to verify the charge weight thrown, after that I just threw ten charges with that powder and moved on to the next load.Scaling every charge is an unnecessary thing for me. I just use the scale to confirm the charge from my Redding measure or whatever scoop/dipper I'm using.

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[Silvercreek Farmer]

I've killed a few deer with the Lee 170 over 21 grains of 2400. Are you looking for a target load or hunting load? Is there still a public range in Uwharrie?

[res45]

I've killed a few deer with the Lee 170 over 21 grains of 2400. Are you looking for a target load or hunting load? Is there still a public range in Uwharrie?

Yes the range in Uwharrie (https://www.ncwildlife.org/Outdoor-Activities/Shooting-Ranges/Flintlock-Valley-Shooting-Range) is still there, it reopened a couple years ago after being rebuilt.

As to type of loads I'm looking for I'm going to work up a load for generally purpose shooting as well as a hunting load. I still have several powders to play with yet so the data gathering is far from done. At some point I will sit down an look everything over and pick the loads I like and load up a batch.

[res45]

Scaling every charge is an unnecessary thing for me. I just use the scale to confirm the charge from my Redding measure or whatever scoop/dipper I'm using.

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pretty much the same for me the only time I use a scale if for large extruded powders that just want cut well enough to use thrown charges but those are very rare. 95% of everything I shoot goes through the two powder measurers.

[SSGOldfart]

Nice job both with data format an you presented it very well.

[res45]

Went back out last weekend and shot a few more test loads I had previously shot using H-4198 but this time around I sized the bullets to .309" instead of .311" I had used previously. I had a few clambering issues with some of my previous loads mostly due to case neck thickness / bullet dia. with some different brass so I used the same brass with the .309" bullet and all was well. Below is the two H-4198 loads I had previously shot but this time with the .309" sized bullets.

https://i.imgur.com/avLuFh3.jpg?1

[Blammer]

and another orange square survives to live another day.... :)

Good shooting!

[res45]

and another orange square survives to live another day.... :)

Good shooting!

Some do an once I settle on the load I'm going to run a batch of I will dial the scope in and goodbye orange square.[smilie=s:

[res45]

Well I got a bit closer than last time but I'm not there yet. I was just testing out the 35.0 gr. load of H-4198 using the 30 XCB bullet powder coated, gas checked and sized to .309" in my Rem. 30-06. I was just trying to shoot the best group I could using the same aim point. All I have to do now is loads up another batch of ammo and head to the public range early one morning and see what this combination will do at 100 and beyond. MV for a 5 shot average was hovering just under 2300 fps.

https://i.imgur.com/8FhGwzo.jpg

[Randy Bohannon]

Nothing wrong with what you are doing,does it get better than that ? 2300 fps is impressive with that accuracy.

[res45]

Nothing wrong with what you are doing,does it get better than that ? 2300 fps is impressive with that accuracy.

Well I can go up on the powder charge by another 2.5 grs. I'm using 50/50 lead / wheel weights and water quenching after powder coating plus a gas check and let them set for a couple weeks before loading. I might need to harden my alloy up a bit if I try to go faster but I happy where I'm at the moment.

[Slugster]

Impressive accuracy. Like the way everything is laid out. Simple and straightforward. One question though: How far off the lands did you seat the boolits?

[Texas by God]

That "cheap gun" has gained in value hasn't it?

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[cobbmtmac]

Great Post and Shooting too!

Should you want to shoot 200+gr, the 311284 and my pet, a Ohaus 30-190 S, behind 16grs. of 2400, have given me similar success. I'm now 83 and still get around fine, but my trigger finger, is just not what it once was. However, I have taken home a few trophies at the Nevada Cast Boolit Shoot over the years. My rifles, 2, Spfd 03's & 2, Mod 54 Win, all 1 in 10 twist.

Keep having FUN! Mac

[res45]

Impressive accuracy. Like the way everything is laid out. Simple and straightforward. One question though: How far off the lands did you seat the boolits?

I'll have to look at my notes and get the OAL and get back to you on that. I basically took a case and cut a slit down the side of the case neck and stuck a bullet into the case just past the gas check and slowly chambered the rd. till the bolt close, then extracted it slowly and took a measurement and seated the bullet about .020" deeper. Everything chambered and shot fine with no issues so I'm going to leave it there. I also load a Lee 170 gr. RNFP gas check bullet I just crimp in the provided crimp groove. Group #5 and #7 were shot with two different charge weights of H-4198 with the Lee bullet and I think they shot very good.

[Pablo 5959]

Please keep us updated after your trip to the range.

[Texas by God]

#5/#7 with that bullet will Hunt if you are so inclined. I'm very fond of that bullet in my 30-30.

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[res45]

#5/#7 with that bullet will Hunt if you are so inclined. I'm very fond of that bullet in my 30-30.

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The Lee 170 RNFP is one of the first molds I bought, it's pretty much my go to bullet for my 30-30 and I can use it in any .308" bore rifle I own. It's a real versatile bullet that works in sub sonic, Mid range or high velocity loads. I've even double powder coated it and shot in my Mosin rifles and have gotten very good results.

Shot this test load out of my M91-30 just to see if it would work but I have a dedicated molds for the Mosins rifles now so it just in the if I need it bin of go to loads.
https://i.imgur.com/46V00yo.jpg

[charlie b]

Very nice work.

CE Harris did a lot on reduced charge military loads many years ago. His 200yd target recipe was 16gns of 2400 behind a 170-180 gn bullet. Around 1500-1600fps depending on cartridge. He got some of his load data from Mattern who worked on training loads in the 1930's.

He used 2400 and other powders to get slightly heavier bullets up in the 1800fps range for beyond 200yd target work and hunting loads. 18-21 of 2400, 27-30 of 4895 and 22-25 of 4198 were some of those loads.

He did mention that 1700-1800 was a sweet spot for him with the heavier bullets.

And if you want plinking loads:
http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm