I'm almost there but having trouble, need some adult supervision.
I'm using three wraps of the Mead tracing paper suggested by Dust Collector on the Lyman 301618 bullet of straight WW (172 Gr.), oven tempered to a hardness of over 20 BHN. The naked bullet is sized to .302. The three wraps of paper brings the diameter to .310 after it's dried. I'm then sizing with Lee case lube (after lube has dried) in a .308 sizing die which results in a finished patched bullet diameter of .309. There appears to be a tiny "springback" of the paper. Load is 43 grains of 4895 Surplus powder, velocity is 2500 fps. Rifle is an 1903 Springfield (09/18).
I'm wrapping the paper right on the ogive so there should not be any direct contact with the rifleing unless the rifleing cuts through the paper. I've tried it with Lee case lube, JPW, and L-Alox. The best luck I've had so far seems to be with a good coating of L-Alox over a bullet patched up to the ogive.
The bullet is seated so it's base is about a tenth of an inch below the junction of the shoulder and case neck. The paper covered ogive is a tight fit into the origin of the lands.
It seems the first several shots go very well then I start getting some very fine leading in the forward part of the barrel and accuracy disappears. The leading is not any real problem and comes out with just a couple of tight patches. Actually I can't see the leading I only feel it when I run a tight patch through the barrel and feel it become more resistant as I push it through the barrel.
Is the .302 diameter of the unpatched bullet too tight to where the rifleing cuts through the paper and lets powder gas cut into it? Would a .301 diameter be less likely to lead the barrel as it's riding on top of the lands as opposed to perhaps being slightly cut by the lands?
It seems that if I patch to the leading groove on the bullet I get the same kind or worse leading.
Is the base of the bullet too deep into the neck so the powder gas burns or "gets under" the paper?
Any help from experenced .30 cal paper patched bullet shooters is appreciated.
Have Fun,
JCherry