Captain Skip
10-17-2022, 06:16 PM
I've done all my homework. I've read all the threads I could find here about casting for my Marlin 336 .30-.30. I just placed my order with Arsenal Molds for their .311, 170gr Ranch Dog clone. I ordered the mold for gas checks but plan on powder coating all the bullets. These are going to be used for plinking/target shooting and not competition so I don't need MOA accuracy. Just a heck of a lot cheaper to roll my own.
My son gave me an 8lb jug of Hodgdon H380 and I've found published loads for the .30-.30 170 bullets so I can check that off. My only issue is the lack of primers on the market....at least the lack for a reasonable price. I refuse to pay $140 for a brick of primers. My LGS had magnum large rifle primers (CCI #250) in stock with a one brick limit so I bought a brick. I measured them compared to a single sleeve of standard large rifle primers that I managed to scrounge up. Depth and diameter are identical so I know they'll fit. I also know magnum primers burn hotter than standard primers so I have absolutely no intention of loading up to maximum load range.
That being said, I've never used magnum primers before so I'm not sure what to expect. I'm going to err on the side of caution and take the minimum load and reduce it by 5%. I'm making an educated guess that with the hotter primer this will bring me up above the minimum load pressures and velocity. The 336 has never been fired so it hasn't been abused with high powered loads in the past. The Hodgden manual (the older one) shows H380 with a starting recipe of 34 grains of powder for a 170gr bullet and lists the velocity as 2,016fps and a CUP of 31,800.
Before I do something stupid, someone want to spot me on this? Do I need to reduce the minimum load by the 5%? Do I need to reduce it more? Or, am I letting my OCD get the best of me and using the minimum load with the magnum primers won't even be noticeable?
My son gave me an 8lb jug of Hodgdon H380 and I've found published loads for the .30-.30 170 bullets so I can check that off. My only issue is the lack of primers on the market....at least the lack for a reasonable price. I refuse to pay $140 for a brick of primers. My LGS had magnum large rifle primers (CCI #250) in stock with a one brick limit so I bought a brick. I measured them compared to a single sleeve of standard large rifle primers that I managed to scrounge up. Depth and diameter are identical so I know they'll fit. I also know magnum primers burn hotter than standard primers so I have absolutely no intention of loading up to maximum load range.
That being said, I've never used magnum primers before so I'm not sure what to expect. I'm going to err on the side of caution and take the minimum load and reduce it by 5%. I'm making an educated guess that with the hotter primer this will bring me up above the minimum load pressures and velocity. The 336 has never been fired so it hasn't been abused with high powered loads in the past. The Hodgden manual (the older one) shows H380 with a starting recipe of 34 grains of powder for a 170gr bullet and lists the velocity as 2,016fps and a CUP of 31,800.
Before I do something stupid, someone want to spot me on this? Do I need to reduce the minimum load by the 5%? Do I need to reduce it more? Or, am I letting my OCD get the best of me and using the minimum load with the magnum primers won't even be noticeable?