Observations and questions

[DIRT Farmer]

I have tried PP in several guns now, 45 Gibbs muzzleloader, 45 Volenteer M/L works great, dump in powder charge in clean barrel, shoot repeat.

303 2 grouve 8mm Yugo 03A3 1917 Eddystone all seem to require something for a wad, I have been using wheat bran, If I try to use Docone 31's system, the PP will give out 3 to 8 inches from the muzzle and leave leading. The barrels range from dark with some pits to thousands of rounds of grease grouve gas checked. The barrels except the 303 do not lead with the GG GC bullits. In all guns the bran filler (except the M/Ls) leave clean barrels.
Powders have been IMR 4227, 3031, 4064 4350. Ideas?

[pdawg_shooter]

Size to bore diameter + .001/.0015. Wrap with 2 wraps of 16# paper and twist tail. After drying, clip tail and lube (I use BAC). Run through a sizer .001/.003 over groove diameter to iron on patch and remove excess lube. Load with a powder that will give as close to 100% load density without exceeding max pressure and go shooting.

[docone31]

Pdawg dialed that one in.
I wrap my patches soaking wet, I use a cigarette roller, and let em dry! I also run full tilt loads. No **** with the powder. No fillers, no wads, nothing. Full case, the tail after being cut gets flattened, and protects the base on firing.
The barrel does get hot though! Rapid fire can really heat things up. My Enfield barrel acted like spaghetti untill I bedded it down.
I also use zinc castings.

[DIRT Farmer]

So far I have used wet wrap, dry wrap,no lube, STP, Imperial sizing die wax, canabera wax,,sized to bore diamater, .002 over.003 over(the size dies I have) 60% to max loads.
I just shot a 5 shot 2 inch group at 50 with the 314-299 , two wraps of coppier paper, tail twisted just to the center of the casting, lubed with a touch of B/P lube 50-50 bees wax, and Crisco, .7 dipper of wheat bran, acww, 20.5 IMR 4227 in my yugo mauser. one of my better smokeless groups. I have not tried using gas checks yet, I was hoping to find a load that I could avoid the 3 cents a shot, as I have a lot more time to wrap than money for little copper dishes. When I try to push it the barrel will pick up lead neer the muzzle and the paper will be in a cloud in front of the gun. The patch this morning was in 1/8 to 1/4 inch strips full length of the patch. All I find from full power loads is the remains of the twisted tail.

[pdawg_shooter]

Sounds like you are loading way to light. You do not need gas checks. Try a real rifle powder and load like jacketed. I use 4350 in my 06, R25 in my 300RUM, 4895 in my 45-70 and H335 in my .458 to name a few.

[DIRT Farmer]

Pdawg I have loaded to near max with 4350 and 4064 in the 30-06 enfield and in the 303 savage two grove. I started to get results as I backed the load down, getting to the point I was wondering if I was past to low in load denesity. I loaded a total of 15 rounds in the 8x57mm yugo 314-299 wraped with 20.5 IMR4227 with wheat bran and have now shot the best PP groups I have ever had.
I have always been a slow learner from reading, I wish I could set at the bench with some of you and watch what you do. However I am close to beeting my bare bullet GC groups in the 6.5x55 and 8x57. I would like to get some more speed but if I can get better groups I will take that over speed.