First try at paper patching

[beemer]

All this talk about paper patching got to me. You know how it goes, just couldn't help it.

I sized some Lee 312-180 gr.(half lino- half ww) from .314 to .308. The paper was Meade tracing paper from Wal-Mart. Two wraps of this brought the boolit back to
.314. I think the first page went in the trash.I also got some funny looks from my wife but thats not unusual. Anyway after they dried they were lubed with Lee case lube. I ended up running them through the lube sizer with alox lube. The boolit had a gas check, might try the next ones without it.

The things were shot in a scoped SMLE No4 MK2 that has always been a good shooter. I tried Win 748, mostly because I had some left that needed shot up. The loads were 33-34-35 gr. and a little dacron with CCI primers. The 33 & 35 gr. loads shot in 2 3/4 at 100 yds with 5 shots. The 34 gr. did 1 3/4 with 4 shots with one shot out about 7 in., maybe a bad patch or boolit. Two boolits left over were ran over the Chrony with 34 gr. The vel was 2004 & 2006, not enough shots to tell the story but I got the general idea. One thing that impressed me was the bore condition,bright and shiney with no lead at all. I was pleased with the first try at paper patches. This deserves more investigation.

I would like to try these in my 8mm if I can find the right combination.

beemer

[kjg]

I'm working on the same project , I took a lee 200 grn and just for kicks wraped a bunch they came out to ,328 but have to get a sizer they will not be gas check, but have a crap load of .308 .309 .312" ready for the #4, and 7.62x 54's wont be able to play them untill saturday.kjg gray ga.

[pdawg_shooter]

Might try sizing to .304 and giving it 2 wraps of 16lb paper. I used green bar computer paper, seams to be a little tougher than plain typing paper. Maybe they make it better since it has to be pulled through a printer. I also like BAC lube.

[beemer]

The smallest sizer in 30 cal I have is .308. Who makes the smaller sizers? It would be good to have one to use for a 30-06.

What powders seem to work best for full power in the 303 Brit. I use RL15, IMR 4064 and 760 for jacketed bullets. The 760 seems a little slow but I have it and it works.

I was talking to our frame designer a work, he is a shooter and hunter. He saves big sheets of drafting paper for our targets. I told him I needed some drafting paper with rag content. We found about half a roll for a printer that was no longer used. It is about .003 thick, I think it will work if I find the right combination.

beemer

[Buckshot]

...............You might try Lee LA for lube instead of the case lube. Any lube that will penetrate the patch generally isn't what you'd want to use.

..................Buckshot

[pdawg_shooter]

My .304 sizer started out as a .285 Lee push through. I polished it out to where I want It. I now make mine out of 4140 pre-threaded u-bolt stock.