03A3 Offhand Loads

[upperb]

Hi all.

I have not yet cast a single bullet, but am anxious to get started.

I would like to make some ammo to use to practice my offhand shooting with my
03A3 at 100 yds. I would like to have a load that won' t have lots of recoil.

I would really appreciate any advice on what mold, powder, etc. I should try.

Thank you all very much.

[sundog]

Upperb, I'm sure you'll get lot's of advice on this. Cheap? Lee 180 with about 10 grains of Unique. If you want a little better in terms of a mould, Lyman 311291 and 21.0/4227. There are so many good combinations, they all can't be listed here.

Here's the thing, depending on your front sight, you may have some problems getting a good hunert yard POI. If you've been shooting jacketed and are zero'd, you may not even get on paper. Something to consider.

[Patrick L]

In my experience, cast bullet loads in this weight/velocity range will need the sights to be set somewhere in the vicinity of the 400-600 yd settings for a 100 yd zero, not a problem at all with most military rifles.

BTW, my match load for Highpower in my O3A3 is 18 gr Alliant 2400 with a SAECO 301, which is a 196 gr GC bullet. I have won my class several times using this load.

[Buckshot]

...............Light and not much recoil means a slug of from 150 to not over 180grs. Powder charge should be the mentioned Unique or 2400, but also consider 10grs of Red Dot. Now if you want something REALLY light, buy the Lee C309-113F soup can, or get in on that design currently being run as a GB in a 6 banger set of blocks. A really really superb little boolit.

May not feed the very best because of it's flat nose, and 100 yards is a good distance for it, but I've seen it do 5 rounds in an inch or a bit over at that range. And that was from a scoped M94 in 30-30 (off the bench).

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

[upperb]

Sundog, Patrick and Buckshot:

Thank you all very much for your help and kind advice. On Patrick's recommendation of the 311291, I got in on the GB on the mold for this bullet. Will do the same with the C309-113F.

A friend reminded me that, although light recoil will be easier on my shoulder, I should try to have the bullet moving at a decent speed so that my shots are not off-call.

I do not have a chronograph, yet. Would any of you know the approximate velocity of the loads suggested?

Again, thank you all for your consideration.

[sundog]

311291 with 21.0/4227 is about 1650 fps. Very accurate in several 03/03A3s I know of.