snaggdit
08-16-2009, 05:57 PM
I tried some rounds in my Remington Woodsmaster 742 yesterday and had bad luck. Lee 309-180GC-1R sized to .309. My grooves are .3075. OAL was 3.125.
I tried 4198 with 29, 31, 33 and 35gr loads. 35gr almost ejected the shells but 29 was the most accurate. 35gr really smacked the shoulder, too (but still less than jacketed loads).
Then I tried some Red Dot. Someone here told me I could do 13-15gr of RD in any 30 cal so I tried 13, 14, 15 and 16gr. It was a nice comfortable load but didn't even think about ejecting. 16 was the most accurate. Do I keep going up with this? IIRC, 16gr is only around 1750fps.
This spring I tried some 4895 and got full action cycling (at lighter loads would get ejection sometimes but next round would not grab) with 34gr, but accuracy was mediocre at best. I had tried a filler with 30-32gr loads and it didn't help much. Consistant functioning at 34.
I guess I have to accept that I will have to use this gun as a "bolt action" if I want to use lead and get accuracy. I'm thinking a softer boolit and up the RD just a little and find a sweet spot and this could be a decent hunting round.
I tried 4198 with 29, 31, 33 and 35gr loads. 35gr almost ejected the shells but 29 was the most accurate. 35gr really smacked the shoulder, too (but still less than jacketed loads).
Then I tried some Red Dot. Someone here told me I could do 13-15gr of RD in any 30 cal so I tried 13, 14, 15 and 16gr. It was a nice comfortable load but didn't even think about ejecting. 16 was the most accurate. Do I keep going up with this? IIRC, 16gr is only around 1750fps.
This spring I tried some 4895 and got full action cycling (at lighter loads would get ejection sometimes but next round would not grab) with 34gr, but accuracy was mediocre at best. I had tried a filler with 30-32gr loads and it didn't help much. Consistant functioning at 34.
I guess I have to accept that I will have to use this gun as a "bolt action" if I want to use lead and get accuracy. I'm thinking a softer boolit and up the RD just a little and find a sweet spot and this could be a decent hunting round.