311414 and 30-06

[Slingshot]

Howdy all,

I have an old Ideal mold 311414 spire point the boolits weigh 150 to 151 gas checked and lubed. I plan on using them for my 03-A3 and my 1917 Enfield both slug at .308 so I sized them to .309. cast from WW alloy.

I have an old lyman cast bullet manual and plan on using IMR 3031 for these loads. Starting load states 31.0 grains and max at 42.0 my question(s) are do I need a filler with this powder? and I plan on starting at 31.0 and working my way up with 5 rounds and working 1 grain at a time to find the "right" load. Does anyone have experience with this powder and bullet weight?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Jeff / Slingshot :drinks:

[SierraWhiskeyMC]

Jeff,
Don't have that exact mold, but do have the 311413, which is somewhat similar in shape and a bit heavier at 169gr. The 311413 does not like to go faster than around 1,600 fps when cast soft. I have not tried it in harder alloys yet, but with an unsupported nose, giving it much "oomph" is certain to get the boolit cocked sideways in the barrel with resulting lousy accuracy.

My Dad tried IMR 3031 with the 311413 starting at 31gr and going up to 35gr; all were inaccurate.
Later, he tried 20gr 3031 but only got fair accuracy; 7.5"x4" at 200 yards.
His best recorded load was 15 gr of SR 4759, 2.125"x2.75" groups at 200 yards.

I suggest if you want to try 3031, you start somewhere in the low 20gr and work up to maybe 27gr in small increments.

2400 or Unique would likely be a much better choice of powder. People have been reporting that 2400 is not position sensitive.

[TAWILDCATT]

I use Ed Harris load:13.5 gr red dot.I use lees 312-160-TL or lymans 311291.the 291 gives 1680 and 1 " groups at 100yds.why was powder when you dont have to.

[Slingshot]

Hello,

Thanks for the advice guys, I guess I am going to try the 2400 and see what happens. I have 2 lbs. of IMR3031 and want to use it due to not many other calibers I use it in.

Guess I will save it for something later.

Jeff / Slingshot

[SierraWhiskeyMC]

Jeff,
Check out this thread on the 311413: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=41474
Much of it should be applicable to you.

[Blammer]

I shoot 30gr of IMR3031 in my 30-06 with 311284's and use no filler. I don't seat the bullets extra deep either.

It takes up quite a bit of space in the case, I'd not recommend nor use a filler for it.

I get very good accuracy.

[SierraWhiskeyMC]

I shoot 30gr of IMR3031 in my 30-06 with 311284's and use no filler. I don't seat the bullets extra deep either.
I get very good accuracy.
Blammer,
I don't doubt one bit that you get good accuracy with that boolit and IMR 3031.

However, the 311284 is a bore-rider design with a supported nose. While at a quick, cursory glance, it may appear somewhat similar to the 311413 and 311414, upon closer examination you will discover that the latter two boolits really have a lot of lead "hanging out there" on the nose.

These spire-point boolits are quite problematic for those of us who have them. They look like .30 cal boolits should look for "high performance". Lots of new reloaders buy that type of mold thinking they're going to be able to match J-word bullets in performance with them. I'm sure that's where my Dad was thinking when he bought the Lyman 311413 mold.

It just ain't gonna happen.

The kick in the base from the high pressure gets the round cocked sideways in the barrel, and the boolit exits the barrel that way. Where it winds up on the target is anyone's guess.

I'm not just making this stuff up, either. Happened to my Dad over 50 years ago trying 31gr to 35 gr of IMR-3031 in .30-06 with this very same boolit; all were inaccurate.

Later he tried 20gr IMR-3031 in .30-06; at least he got a 7-1/2" x 4" group at 200 yards.

15gr of SR 4759 in .30-06 was his best load; 2-7/8" x 2-1/8" @ 200 yards. That's well under 1 MOA for a supposedly inaccurate boolit.

It'll shoot well with the right powder at the right pressure. You just can't push it very hard.

[Blammer]

ah, good to know.

[Will]

I've had a 311414 for a long time and get good results in an 03 using 20gr 2400. It's a mild load, about 1600fps but good for plinking.