.308 loads?

[RugerFan]

I have just ordered a Lyman mold # 311291 (.30 cal 170 gn round nose GC). The purpose of which is to turn my old Rem M788 .308 into a CB shooter. All my CB experience thus far has been with pistols & MLs.

I will use this combination for hunting hogs & deer (2000 fps sounds appropriate right?). Any load suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Doble Troble]

I'm interested in loads too. My Lyman cast bullet manual isn't much help - I don't have any of the powders it recommends.

I've tried 4198 and AA2495 so far without much success. I'm using the Lee 180 gr gc. To put the checks on I run them through a .310 sizer. Although I'm not pushing 1500 fps out of an FR-8 (with a mirror bore) there is leading and shotgun patterns. This rifle shoots .308 Rem CLs very well.

I'm toying with the idea of trying some loads with Unique next.

I suppose like everything, the key is to not give up.

[Leftoverdj]

Duble, If 22 grains of 4198 with that 180 grain bullet won't give you reasonable groups in a .308, you have other problems than powder. Unfortunately, there are a plethora of possibilities.

[BruceB]

Go down to the "Military Rifle cast bullet loads" forum, and you'll find a thread of mine titled "7.62x51 in the Springfield M1A" (or something like that). It contains quite a few loads for .308 in the M1A autoloader, and should give you some ideas on what to use, etc.

Even though the thread is aimed at making the M1A rifle function in semi-auto mode, it should be useful to anyone starting up a .308 cast-boolit project.

[Duckiller]

10.5 gr 700X in my 03A3 shoots 0.50+/- at 50 yds. No recoil and fun to shoot. Not very fast, probably not what you want for hunting. Current (3rd) edition of lyman cast handbook should have a selection of loads. Older reloading manuals that you may find at gun shows/ used book stores may have more cast loads. Due to variations/changes in powder I would stay away from old max loads, old starting loads are very helpful. Duckiller

[David R]

you have a good boolit there. Just get it going around 1600 and keep moving faster till it falls apart. My 308 seems to have a 2000 fps speed limit.

A full case (46 grains) of WC 860 behind a 192 gain 311644 shoots one hole 10 shot groups at 50 yards.

Did you clean ALL the copper out of the barrel before trying?

You will get it.
David

[RugerFan]

you have a good boolit there. Just get it going around 1600 and keep moving faster till it falls apart. My 308 seems to have a 2000 fps speed limit.

A full case (46 grains) of WC 860 behind a 192 gain 311644 shoots one hole 10 shot groups at 50 yards.

Did you clean ALL the copper out of the barrel before trying?

You will get it.
David

My rifle is hooked up to my Outer's Foul Out gizmo as I type. WC 860 is milsurp right? What's it close to in the IMR, Hodgdon etc world?

[Paul B]

I have three loads that work very well in my Winchester M70 in .308 with Ly,am #311291 sized to .310" and lubed with Lyman's magic Orange.

1. 16.0 gr. Alliant #2400, one grain tuft of dacron batting. Bullet seated to just touch the rifling.

2. 17.0 gr. H-4227, dacron tuft and bullet seated to rifling.

3. 25.0 gr. H-4895, dacron tuft and bullet seated to rifling.

When I have a good day at the range, load #3 will do 1.5 MOA at 200 yards. If it's not real windy, I have gotten 2.5 to 3.0 MOA at 300 yards. Estimated velocity is about 1600 FPS.
Bullet metal is 10 pounds of wheel weights, one pound of linotype, a three foot piece of 95/5 percent lead free solder and one-third cup of magnum bird shot.
BHN is 14 after one week and water dropped after a one hour cooking in a toaster oven BHN runs 30 to 31.
Paul B.

[Doble Troble]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I'm a bit embarrassed. I loaded up 20 rounds of 308 with the 180 gr Lee GC over 22 gr 4198 (as suggested by LeftOverdj) and shot them through my FR-8 this afternoon. I don't know what my problem was before, but after a couple of sight adjustments they were eating up the X ring at 50 yds. Didn't have time for 100 but I will soon.

I thought the bore was clean, but a couple of rounds of Wipe-Out were necessary to get the "blue" out. Maybe this was part of my problem. I'm pleased as punch. I can't believe how well 22 gr shot. I'll check for leading this evening and will load up some test loads around 22.0 gr to see if I can improve this load. I'll have to increase the range to see an improvement over the ragged hole at 50 yds.