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Thread: Cast Bullet Loads for Military Rifles - Article

  1. #121
    Boolit Mold
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    I have been using Herco/Unique in my 300 Savage... same basic case as 308. Using both the 185/155 leads... it has been a pretty balanced load. I am riding that broke collar bone on right side. 1 standard 3006 round and it goes pop. I tend to load WAY back on my rounds, start 50% and go up till I am happy with what I have ... normally 60-75% posted load. For non-automatic weapons it works, makes shooting with grand kids easier as well.

  2. #122
    Boolit Mold
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    SilverCreek, nice round up of data. Anything on powdercoat 30 cal leads, noticed you mentioned Alox great lube btw. I recently acquired one of the Lee gang 55gr .223 molds. resized to .224 after coating. I had issue with all of the suggested book loads not wanting to cycle the action, rounds all fired well manually. I tried Hogdon H335 powder started at 12gr and settled around 17gr having a consistent recycle function. This is of course prefaced with the notion that lead should be under 2000fps, and PC boolits may be viable up to 2200fps. I try to load towards 2000 figuring the exact speed being somewhat less than 2k.

  3. #123
    Boolit Buddy BUFFALOW RED's Avatar
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    so in 2011 i was working on cast boolits for my 303B. Useing koehn,jim 210 gr boolit gas checked & 4759 loaded 3 cartriges each from 19 gr up to 26. then had an
    AFIB heart event never fired them. 2020 i need to develop cast load for 303B. Mabe im wrong to try to get it to hit were the Factory Winchester ammo hits. i have around 2oo rounds of jacketed that hits there with reloader 15. so i went out & at 25 meters i found 26 gr powder was most accurate w/ 210 gr cast but had mashed primers. Then learned 4759 was apperently no more? found a lot of options here some confusing on low power loads. Dad & i allways figered if every time i fire my rifle it has same point of aim, power, we would allways do good for last 28 years have only used 180 gr jacketed boolits . as some of you know i bought a single Lee mold in 2011 never used it till a few weeks ago & got a double Lee mold recently to small.
    Anyway single with low temp is useable i think, Sized to recomened .314 with gas check installed & lubed weighs in at 188 gr. called Lee cause there data only covers up to 180gr Lead . they said well you shouldnt use that 188gr with our 180 gr data. I said its your mold but you dont have data for it anser NO.
    Thanks for all the info avalible here will try again with different powder & yall info .

    THANKS for your info here. will report back when fired
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  4. #124
    Boolit Mold
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    I am loading cast boolits for 7.62x54r. I have the LEE Mold C312-18-1R 185 Grain and the Lee 312-160-2. I use gas checks with both and power coating. I would love to get a good starting load for these that maybe others have used with any powders.

    Also if at all possible I would like to get load data using these rounds with H380 and/or Ramshot Big Game. These two powders are what I have on hand right now. Everything is so crazy with getting powders and primers right now I don’t know if I will be able to find any 2400 or IMR. If I can use what I have on hand till things get a bit more predictable in acquiring reloading supplies that would be great... Thanks all!

  5. #125
    Boolit Buddy BUFFALOW RED's Avatar
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    Not familiar with those powders try Imr 4198 start at 16 gr work up
    NRA Life Member
    learn to make your own black powder collect bp arms as there presently not recorded
    smokless is a fad its fading fast, helped along by obama

  6. #126
    Boolit Buddy BUFFALOW RED's Avatar
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    Don't know we're you're at but gunshop has powder in Bolivar on 13 hwy
    NRA Life Member
    learn to make your own black powder collect bp arms as there presently not recorded
    smokless is a fad its fading fast, helped along by obama

  7. #127
    Boolit Mold
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    Excellent article! Thanks!

  8. #128
    Boolit Man
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    3. 170-180 grain gas checked "200 yard target", 1500-1600 f.p.s., 16 grains of Hercules #2400 or equivalent.

    OK, so can anybody help out with what the equivalent of 16 grains of 2400 could be? I have a pound of Longshot, and it is right there with 2400 on a burn rate chart, but there are other factors to consider besides burn rate alone.

    Scotty

  9. #129
    Boolit Buddy BUFFALOW RED's Avatar
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    I have only used 4198 in 303B lately pushing 192 grain cast once gas checked, PP. FPS not checked, 25- 100 yards same scope setting
    NRA Life Member
    learn to make your own black powder collect bp arms as there presently not recorded
    smokless is a fad its fading fast, helped along by obama

  10. #130
    Boolit Man
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    Quote Originally Posted by BUFFALOW RED View Post
    I have only used 4198 in 303B lately pushing 192 grain cast once gas checked, PP. FPS not checked, 25- 100 yards same scope setting
    I have most of a pound of 4198. My boolit is the Lee .312" 160 grain tumble lube. After I lube it, push it through the .314" sizer, and paper patch it, it weighs around 167 grains. How many grains should I start off with?

    4198 is quite a bit slower than 2400, how does this affect load data?

    Edit: Sorry, I see in an earlier post that you recommend starting at 16 grains of 4198. Although, that was for 7.62x54R. Would .303 Brit make much difference? My 4198 is IMR if it makes any difference.

    Scotty
    Last edited by scottyp99; 11-01-2022 at 10:56 PM.

  11. #131
    Boolit Buddy BUFFALOW RED's Avatar
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    IMR 4198 is what I am using at 25.2 g. Work up. Maybe you could PM Dusty Bannister he helped me quite a bit on here he's got a lot more knowledge than I do on these Brits.
    Main reason I went with the heavier bullet was the 160 grain bullet that Dusty sent me some samples of didn't get close enough to the rifling I didn't feel like. where am I current bullet actually barely touches the riflings when engaged in chamber
    NRA Life Member
    learn to make your own black powder collect bp arms as there presently not recorded
    smokless is a fad its fading fast, helped along by obama

  12. #132
    Boolit Man
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    So.....16 grains of IMR4198 under a 167 grain boolit, as a starting point? Are there any questions, comments, or concerns?

    Scotty

  13. #133
    Boolit Buddy
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    Scotty, 16 grains 4198 will be really light in 303 Brit and may not burn all that well with that light a load, I shoot 21 grains ADI 2207 (4198 equivalent) under a 314299 205 grain for around 1600fps and gas it up to 25 grains for 1900 both loads include a tuft of Polyester filler.

    Cheers

  14. #134
    mace2364
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    It’s not a .303, but for what it’s worth I have had excellent results with 22gr 4198 and a Lyman 311672 out of my 03’ Springfield. I’m just starting to play with a cast .303 load, but I happened into some 2400. So I’m starting with it.

  15. #135
    Boolit Man
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    Upon a more careful re-reading of the article in question, here is what Ed Harris has to say about the 16 grain 2400 load:

    The same 16 grain charge of #2400 is universal for all calibers as a starting load. It is mild and accurate in any larger
    military case from a 30-40 Krag or .303 British up through a 30-06 or 7.9x57, with standard weight bullets of suitable
    diameter for the caliber. This is my recommendation for anybody trying cast bullets loads for the first time in a
    military rifle without prior load development. I say this because #2400 is not "position sensitive", requires no fiber
    fillers to ensure uniform ignition, and actually groups better when you stripper-clip load the rifle and bang them off,
    rather than tipping the muzzle up to position the powder charge.
    Similar ballistics can be obtained with other powders in any case from 7.62x39 to 30-06 size. If you don't have
    Hercules #2400, you can freely substitute 17 grains of IMR or H4227, 18 grains of 4198
    , 21 grains of Reloder 7, 24
    grains of IMR 3031, or 25.5 grains of 4895 for comparable results.

    So, I guess that answers my question. 18 grains of 4198.

    Scotty

  16. #136
    Boolit Mold Blackknight's Avatar
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    I am shooting a Number 5 Remington Rolling Block rifle chambered in 7 mm. I am making the brass from modified 7x57 and 30 06 Springfield shells. The second time I took it out to shoot I brought along a chronograph to get more insight into what seemed to be going will. I am using the time tested 16 gr. of 2400 and a RCBS 170 gr. bullet. The big surprise was I was getting 1900 fps. Any ideas?

  17. #137
    Boolit Master
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    I think that the smaller case capacity along with the smaller bore diameter are increasing the pressure to give you that velocity. It might be safe but if you're looking for less then maybe drop the charge 2 grains and chrono those for a reference.

    How well does the 16 grain loads group on paper?

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check