30/06 Plinkers

[wonderwolf]

Loaded up some 120gr gas checked bullets this morning to get rid of the last few I had in the box. I loaded these up with 14gr of red dot and plan on shooting them in my '03. I've shot these loads before but have not settled on a seating depth with this particular bullet. Seated to the crimp groove the bullet base is at the bottom of the case neck Which is handy but its a longer trip to the rifling. Seated a little further out exposes the crimp groove but could pick up dirt and bits that are gonna go down the barrel if you don't wipe it off. How do you guys seat these lightweights in your bottleneck cases?

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e220/wonderwolf223/DSC01537.jpg

( yes the tip is out of shape, I don't have the right top punch :shock:)

[Blammer]

I seat to the dept that they feed well for me. I usually don't carry the plinkers around in my pocket to get lint and dirt and stuff. If I do, I clean my pockets first. :)

[Rocky Raab]

Remember the purpose: plinking. Precision shooting not required.

Seat 'em to the crimp groove and have fun shooting them.

[Lead Fred]

I use 147 M80 FMJs for plinking

at $55 per 1000, they are way cheaper, less time consuming, and a lot more accurate than cast.

and I hit the 300 yard saw blade with them

[RU shooter]

I use 147 M80 FMJs for plinking

at $55 per 1000, they are way cheaper, less time consuming, and a lot more accurate than cast.

and I hit the 300 yard saw blade with them Yeah but those have that icky yellowish copper stuff all over the lead. and have been know to make your barrel foul and make you go cross eyed.I'll take a cast boolit at 1000 fps anyday(and yes it can hold the SR target 10 ring at 200 yds with that load) but to each their own.

Tim

[wonderwolf]

I use 147 M80 FMJs for plinking

at $55 per 1000, they are way cheaper, less time consuming, and a lot more accurate than cast.

and I hit the 300 yard saw blade with them

Where you getting them for $55? I would be interested in them as well.

[fatnhappy]

I say load them how ever you like so that they feed from your magazine. I don't get the spiel about the crimp groove picking up dirt. It never made sense to me. For me theres 3 possibilities.
1. If I'm plinking with them they're going from a MTM box to the magazine to the chamber. Even if I lubed the the crimp groove there is no opportunity to pick up dirt.
2. If I'm walking through the woods, they can always go in a ziploc bag in my pocket.
3. Other than that, Id be using a much heavier boolit and heavier boolits wouldn't need to be seated out so far.

Maybe I'm missing something but to my mind I'd just seat them so they feed well and shoot well, whatever your standard for that is. They're supposed to be fun so I don't waste too much time screwing around with plinker loads. Load and go. My favorite now is a plain based 311466 that weighs 135 grains. I have a 4C mould so I can cast a lot of them, fast. I seat them out to fill the throat and only lube the grooves in the neck. 10 grains of unique or 12 grains of red dot do the job. My son loves shooting them.

[Suo Gan]

Where you getting them for $55? I would be interested in them as well.

Yes, I want some to!

[sheepdog]

Loaded up some 120gr gas checked bullets this morning to get rid of the last few I had in the box. I loaded these up with 14gr of red dot and plan on shooting them in my '03. I've shot these loads before but have not settled on a seating depth with this particular bullet. Seated to the crimp groove the bullet base is at the bottom of the case neck Which is handy but its a longer trip to the rifling. Seated a little further out exposes the crimp groove but could pick up dirt and bits that are gonna go down the barrel if you don't wipe it off. How do you guys seat these lightweights in your bottleneck cases?

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e220/wonderwolf223/DSC01537.jpg

( yes the tip is out of shape, I don't have the right top punch :shock:)

Awesome, I just got that same mould and was wanting to add "the load" plus the 120g boolit to try for the plinking. Please let use know asap how this goes, so I know if its worth loading up.

[wonderwolf]

velocity ranged from 1880-1900 FPS and 14gr of red dot. About a 2" group a 50 yards and it shot 2" high out of my 1903. Benched, the seated out ones grouped a little better but not by much. Shooting these is like shooting a .22 if your shooting a 9lb rifle.

I've had problems hitting the steering wheel sized gong at 200 yards with this load. It opens WAY up at that range. For what it is its worked well, would be good for rabbit or groundhogs at short range. I know the gun is good for 1 MOA as I've shot high power matches with it before.

[sheepdog]

Sounds like you might have too much juice for that low a weight. I bet a 11 grain load might put you in 30 carbine ballpark (this mould is basically for that cartridge) and bring the 100 yard groups tighter.

[Maven]

Isn't anyone using the Lee 113gr. "Soupcan" for plinking anymore or is that too "last year"?

[Bob S]

After all of the Scribes (and Pharisees) here sung the praises to that mould, I went and bought one ... I never could get it to feed or group worth a damn.

Resp'y,
Bob S.

[sheepdog]

Isn't anyone using the Lee 113gr. "Soupcan" for plinking anymore or is that too "last year"?

Hmm, what might that by?

[Uncle Grinch]

Isn't anyone using the Lee 113gr. "Soupcan" for plinking anymore or is that too "last year"?


Amen... my thought exactly.

[Maven]

sheepdog, More than a few years ago, Lee offered a 113gr. .30cal. gas checked, blunt nosed CB that we dubbed a "soup can" because of its appearance. It is almost a wadcutter, but it generally performs quite well at higher velocities than a wadcutter, and is generally accurate in a variety of .30cal. cartridges, metrics included. In fact, and despite its diminutive size, it is one of the better performers in my K-31's.

[Bret4207]

I say load them how ever you like so that they feed from your magazine. I don't get the spiel about the crimp groove picking up dirt. It never made sense to me. For me theres 3 possibilities.
1. If I'm plinking with them they're going from a MTM box to the magazine to the chamber. Even if I lubed the the crimp groove there is no opportunity to pick up dirt.
2. If I'm walking through the woods, they can always go in a ziploc bag in my pocket.
3. Other than that, Id be using a much heavier boolit and heavier boolits wouldn't need to be seated out so far.

Maybe I'm missing something but to my mind I'd just seat them so they feed well and shoot well, whatever your standard for that is. They're supposed to be fun so I don't waste too much time screwing around with plinker loads. Load and go. My favorite now is a plain based 311466 that weighs 135 grains. I have a 4C mould so I can cast a lot of them, fast. I seat them out to fill the throat and only lube the grooves in the neck. 10 grains of unique or 12 grains of red dot do the job. My son loves shooting them.

I'm currently waiting to shoot some of the first run 30-Plinker PB boolits. We did this GB at least 6-7 years ago. I've never given the boolits a good try. I did find my 308 Win seater die will not allow me to adjust the seating. Boolit nose too fat. I'm going to try the 303 Brit die next time or the 7.65 Argie if that doesn't work. It would be nice if I could find a load that liked that boolit- 6 cav, plain base, tunble lube. It doesn't get much easier than that.

[Cactus Farmer]

Years ago I was hunting in New Mexico and the forest seemed full of the best looking cotton tailed bunnys.So I bagged one with my 30'06 and a 165g J word projectile. It was very tasty but I was bothered by the overkill(never bothered me before). Soooo, I started working on a load for my 311359 Lyman. 13 grns of 2400 was the trick. It shoots point of aim at 50 yds with groups staying in the one inch range. It feeds like butter and no target has yet to survive the meeting. I carry some in my pocket and when I see a bunny it takes but a second to slip one in the chamber and lunch is waiting to be cleaned.:smile:

[Three44s]

"point of aim" @ 50 ......."

It does not get any better than that!!

Three 44s

[35remington]

I've always considered the 12-14 grain charges of Red Dot to be excessive in terms of best accuracy, and I've found the 9 grain charge of Red Dot to give much better accuracy.

9 grains will give around 1500-1550 fps, and groups in 5/8 to 3/4" or so at fifty yards in my Savage 30-06. Very fine small game load as well that approximates a medium power 32-20 load.

This with 113-120 grain bullets.

[sheepdog]

9 grains! oh my. I'll have to try that in my 03a3

[bruce drake]

12gr of Red Dot is considered a 200yd load. 9gr would be perfectly fine for 50yards or "Bunny distance"

Bruce

[Bret4207]

I've always considered the 12-14 grain charges of Red Dot to be excessive in terms of best accuracy, and I've found the 9 grain charge of Red Dot to give much better accuracy.

9 grains will give around 1500-1550 fps, and groups in 5/8 to 3/4" or so at fifty yards in my Savage 30-06. Very fine small game load as well that approximates a medium power 32-20 load.

Really! I get just over 1600 fps in the 308 with the 13.0 RD charge and a 190 gr boolit. I'd have thought 9 grains in the '06 would be in the 11-1200 fps range.

Learn something new everyday.

[Ole]

Where you getting them for $55? I would be interested in them as well.

No kidding!

Last time I bought some 147 grain .30 pills, they were .15 each and I was happy to get em. :confused:

[35remington]

My comments about the advisability of 9 grain charges of Red Dot have to do with 113-120 grain bullets. With heavier bullets, velocities will of course be lower than the 1550 fps or so I obtain with the lightweight bullet.

While this may be a "fifty yard load" in some people's opinions, I'll put the nine grain charge against a 12-14 grain charge of Red Dot using these bullet weights any time.....and the nine grain charge will show substantially better accuracy. It's my belief that the heavier charges run pressures too high with a fast powder to obtain the best accuracy.

Bruce, nine grains outshoots the "200 yard" heavier charge at 50 and 100 yards with the lightweight bullets.

Actually, from actual testing, nine grains Red Dot is more of a 125 yard plus load.

And I'll also put the C113F "Soup Can" against a heavier 150-180 grain bullet at fifty yards, you with your 12-14 grain charges of Red Dot and the heavy bullet against my lighter bullet and nine grain charge.

It's my belief, from actually testing it, that the light charge and light bullet will come out ahead, accuracywise. I'll pass on challenging you if you're using something like 2400 or 4198 or 4759 with your heavier bullet, though.

While 13.0 grains Red Dot may be "the load" it's not more accurate than lighter charges of Red Dot. Assuming an appropriate bullet.

[Bret4207]

Okay, makes sense. "The load" is supposed to be for a moderate weight boolit for the caliber.

[bruce drake]

No fight with me aboutr 9gr Red Dot with lighter loads. I use 8gr with my 7.62x39 Mauser with Lymans 311410 (130gr) all the time. I just don't shoot that load past 100 yards.

Bruce

[sheepdog]

Actually, from actual testing, nine grains Red Dot is more of a 125 yard plus load.



Thats what i'm going for. A cheap, low recoil practice cartridge load for practicing for service rifle drills and 100 yards with iron sights. The greek surplus used in matches is just too much kick and cost for daily shooting and concerned the jackets aren't going to leave much barrel left for my kiddo.