Cast lead .348 Data?

[M71]

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I'm considering the Beartooth 245 gr. cast lead bullet for my .348, any loading experience out there for these? I have located a box of Hornady gas checks. I'm guessing that the velocity will be reduced somewhat but for the price of a box of 100 Beartooth bullets I thought "What the heck", I'll lub'em and load some up and have some fun shooting them. Your thoughts on powder choices, pet loads or available resources are appreciated. My gun is a 1939 Winchester Model 71 long tang with a bolt peep sight (98-A). I'm just looking for a more economical bullet to shoot rather than "plinking" with my "Kodiak" 250 gr. elk hunting loads. Thank you! Bruce

[405]

With the bolt peep that's a good set up. For shooting cast keep the velocity and pressure down and use a gas checked bullet. Slug the bore and size to groove diameter or .001 larger. Quite a few powders seems to work well in the 348. Cast bullet selection is a little limited but there are some good ones out there. Might look at what Bullshop offers along with others- maybe Montana Bullet Works? I'm away from my data for the 348 right now but have worked up some mild cast loads in the past.... wasn't too hard to do. Good results from the get-go... about like working with the 33 Win.

[451whitworth]

i shoot .350" 235gr. LBT LCFN with 60.0 gr. RL19 @ 2200 fps.

[Martin 1940 D28]

Nice to see someone else casting & reloading for the 348, in fact this is the reason I finally joined the forum. I'm away from my reloading room now, but for the last 20 years or so, have been using Reloader 7 with a NEI 235 gr. GC bullet w/ Hornady Gas Checks with very good results. I'll look up the exact load I settled on and what it would chronograph at. Will post later.
Take care, Jay Y.

[870TC]

I use the RCBS 200 grain FNGC, with 60 grains of Surplus 4831, gives me 2050 fps in my Browning 71.

[MT Gianni]

Ammohead doesn't post a lot but shoots lead in the 348. Try an e-mail or PM.

[stocker]

Be aware that you will likely have to seat the BTB deeper than the crimp groove due to lack of throat in the 71's. I used them for a while crimped over the front band but used PSB on top of 4831 and Re 19 to create a compressed load to be sure of holding the bullet stationary in the case neck under magazine spring and recoil tensions.. Worked O.K. Was not happy with the way Marshall avoided answering my direct question would they seat properly in a Winchester 71 (his site did say they wouldn't function correctly in Brownings). Went to an NEI mould thereafter.

[ammohead]

M71,

I use a lyman 350457 gas checked 241gr (with WW) and 51 gr of 4831sc. I get right around 1950 fps and 1.5" groups at 50 yds. Plan on taking an elk with it someday but haven't bloodied it yet except for jack rabbits. For jacks I have a .375 round ball mould. I size the balls to 349 and seat them over 5 gr of bullseye, absolutely flattens jacks.

Before I got the 350457 mould I had a machinist friend run a 11/32 end mill down a 220 gr 338 lee mould to clean up the lube grooves. It ended up dropping a 247 gr smooth sided boolit that measured .242". I paper patched them with tracing paper and used 49 gr of surplus 4831 for about the same velocity 1950 fps but with a dead soft boolit. After I got the lyman mould I got lazy and stopped paper patching. I will have to pick it up again some day.

ammohead

[jtaylor1960]

I shoot a 250gr from a mold I designed at Mountain molds.I use 47.0grs. of Varget.

[M71]

I have some Varget, any ideas on using Varget behind a 250 gr. "Kodiak" bonded core? Here is a link to view my Winchester Model 71 (http://img63.imageshack.us/i/img0005zfs.jpg/)

[doubs43]

I just spoke to a friend who has a Model 71 Browning rifle and shoots cast boolits in it. He tells me he uses the 200 grain RCBS GC bullet and 40.0 grains of 3031. I can testify that it's a pretty accurate load in his rifle.

[Dutch4122]

i shoot .350" 235gr. LBT LCFN with 60.0 gr. RL19 @ 2200 fps.


Another vote for RL-19 in the .348 Winchester. I shoot a Group Buy C350-225-FNGC in my 1936 M71 that ends up 235 grns when cast of water dropped 50% wheelweights and 50% pure lead, lubed & gas checked. I settled on 58 grns of RL-19. Haven't chronographed it yet, but I'm guessing around 2,000 fps. More than enough punch for my needs.

Hope this helps,

[405]

Back with my load book now. I have four 71s dating from early long tang thru 1948 DOM. All act pretty much the same in preference for loads. The best cast load I've tried is: 230gr GC sized to .3495 at 14.5 BHN (custom mold that is nearly identical to the RCBS 200 but a tad longer) on top of a medium load of 4895 at ave 2050 fps. Very, very good load.