Air cooled vs. Water quenched and 16 grns of 2400?

[Dutch4122]

Just curious as to who shoots the 16 grains of 2400 load or the 13 grains of Red Dot load air cooled or water quenched. Any negatives associated with the different BHNs and these loads? Which do you think is more accurate and produces less leading?

I've shot these loads water quenched in the past and have been satisfied. But after re-reading C.E. Harris' article on "Cast Bullet Loads in Military Rifles" I see that he recommends softer scrap range lead. This got me to thinking that maybe I'd be better off with AC W/W than with water quenched. What do you all think?

[Bob S]

Air cooled, with 311291 or Lee 311185 and 2400 in 30-06. This has been a match-winner for me for over 40 years. Water-dropping never gave consistent results for me, and hardness beyond straight wheel weights with a bit of added tin isn't necessary at this velocity. Anything that adds labor and does not produce significant improvements consistently is a waste of time. So far, any loads I have tried with Red Dot at 100 yards have given unacceptable vertical stringing.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/BobS1/Springfield%2003s/Lee312185152400centered.jpg

This is typical for this rifle, with glass eyeball. Groups with "issue" rifles run about 1-1/2" at 100 yards, prone slow fire.

P.S. My "#2 alloy" is simply old wheel weights with a bit of 37/63 solder added.

Resp'y,
Bob S.

[David R]

what ever shoots best in your gun. Try both and see.

David

[NVcurmudgeon]

I shoot 16.0 gr. 2400 in .30/40, .30/06, and .303 British with excellent accuracy and no leading. These three loads are all +/- 1500 fps. In other rifles I use ACWW up to 2000 fps. With no reason to change, I have never bothered to water quench boolits.

[cherok9878]

I shoot 16.0 gr. 2400 in .30/40, .30/06, and .303 British with excellent accuracy and no leading. These three loads are all +/- 1500 fps. In other rifles I use ACWW up to 2000 fps. With no reason to change, I have never bothered to water quench boolits.


curmudgeon, what grain/style boolits are you using in your .30/06, and do you have any chrony info for same you could share without any trouble. My 03A3 just loves 2400. Should I just bump the load till things go bad with pressure or lead?
I am new at casting, have decent results with Lyman 311299 and lee 309-113-F. I would like to get a ballpark idea of FPS with teh loads i use...Thanks.......larry

[spurrit]

Okay, guys, I've finally cast, sized, lubed, gas checked, blah, blah blah....... a bunch of .30 cal. bullets. For use in my .30-30 and .30-06. Is IMR 4895 or H 4895 recommended AT ALL for cast bullets?

Fortunately, I happen to have just picked up some 2400 for use in my .45 Colts, so I'll be able to try the 16 gr. loading with that powder. I read somewhere that a guy was getting really good results in his '06 using 13.5 gr. of 2400.

What load is recommended for the .30-30? I tried the Trail Boss loads, and was seriously underwhelmed. I'm pretty sure I coulda gotten more velocity shooting them outta my pecker! Does anyone use H-110 for this stuff? Where can I find good gas checked cast boolit loads?

BTW, I'm using LEE 90385 and 90366 molds, until I find something better. They cast in the 158 and 160 gr. ranges.