Cast bullets in .303

Reloading equipment, methods, load data, powder and projectile information.

Re: Cast bullets in .303

Post by in2anity » 20 Dec 2018, 6:37 am

I had another thought- what are the bases like on your projectiles? Is there room for a gas check? Often the implications of a "designed-to-be-gaschecked" projectile seems to equate to a smaller rifling bearing surface on the lead itself, thus meaning less area to stabilise (when gas checks are omitted).
At what point does lack of maintenance become patina?
User avatar
in2anity
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
 
Posts: 3048
New South Wales

Re: Cast bullets in .303

Post by Stoney » 20 Dec 2018, 7:40 pm

in2anity wrote:I had another thought- what are the bases like on your projectiles? Is there room for a gas check? Often the implications of a "designed-to-be-gaschecked" projectile seems to equate to a smaller rifling bearing surface on the lead itself, thus meaning less area to stabilise (when gas checks are omitted).


Yes mate, they are .308 gas checkable. No one makes a gas check in .311 go figure :crazy: I really didn't want to go there with all the equipment involved in sizing and crimping and such. I just wanted to shoot lead bullets for fun.
User avatar
Stoney
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 395
Queensland

Re: Cast bullets in .303

Post by in2anity » 20 Dec 2018, 8:58 pm

Stoney wrote:
in2anity wrote:I had another thought- what are the bases like on your projectiles? Is there room for a gas check? Often the implications of a "designed-to-be-gaschecked" projectile seems to equate to a smaller rifling bearing surface on the lead itself, thus meaning less area to stabilise (when gas checks are omitted).


Yes mate, they are .308 gas checkable. No one makes a gas check in .311 go figure :crazy: I really didn't want to go there with all the equipment involved in sizing and crimping and such. I just wanted to shoot lead bullets for fun.


I know what you mean, I had a lot of trouble getting lead to group when I first started out with it too. But don’t give up on the idea - I love shooting lead, guilt free plinking perfect for offhand plinking. I think I know the exact bullet - I once got a sample to see how they’d shoot through a microgroove 30/30, and they shot measurably worse than some 165gr RNFP-BBs sized to .310. Lubing them with the old pan-lube method will probably help. And you need to back off your powder as there is not much lead filling the grooves without the check. Explains why TB sucks - it’s likely too fast. Do you reckon it’d shoot a 115gr pill alright? Might be worth trying a .313” 32-20 pill - Les should send you a sample pack if you email him.
At what point does lack of maintenance become patina?
User avatar
in2anity
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
 
Posts: 3048
New South Wales

Re: Cast bullets in .303

Post by in2anity » 20 Dec 2018, 9:03 pm

Stoney wrote:
in2anity wrote:I had another thought- what are the bases like on your projectiles? Is there room for a gas check? Often the implications of a "designed-to-be-gaschecked" projectile seems to equate to a smaller rifling bearing surface on the lead itself, thus meaning less area to stabilise (when gas checks are omitted).


Yes mate, they are .308 gas checkable. No one makes a gas check in .311 go figure :crazy: I really didn't want to go there with all the equipment involved in sizing and crimping and such. I just wanted to shoot lead bullets for fun.


I know what you mean, I had a lot of trouble getting lead to group when I first started out with it too. But don’t give up on the idea - I love shooting lead, guilt free plinking perfect for offhand plinking. I think I know the exact bullet - I once got a sample to see how they’d shoot through a microgroove 30/30, and they shot measurably worse than some 165gr RNFP-BBs sized to .310. Lubing them with the old pan-lube method will probably help. And you need to back off your powder as there is not much lead filling the grooves without the check. Explains why TB sucks - it’s likely too fast. Do you reckon it’d shoot a 115gr pill alright? Might be worth trying a .313” 32-20 pill - Les should send you a sample pack if you email him.
At what point does lack of maintenance become patina?
User avatar
in2anity
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
 
Posts: 3048
New South Wales

Re: Cast bullets in .303

Post by in2anity » 20 Dec 2018, 9:03 pm

I honestly think the .313” 115gr 32-20 bb bullets over say 9-10gr AP70N might actually work... If you lik I could send you a handful to try
At what point does lack of maintenance become patina?
User avatar
in2anity
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
 
Posts: 3048
New South Wales

Re: Cast bullets in .303

Post by Stoney » 20 Dec 2018, 9:07 pm

in2anity wrote:
Stoney wrote:
in2anity wrote:I had another thought- what are the bases like on your projectiles? Is there room for a gas check? Often the implications of a "designed-to-be-gaschecked" projectile seems to equate to a smaller rifling bearing surface on the lead itself, thus meaning less area to stabilise (when gas checks are omitted).


Yes mate, they are .308 gas checkable. No one makes a gas check in .311 go figure :crazy: I really didn't want to go there with all the equipment involved in sizing and crimping and such. I just wanted to shoot lead bullets for fun.


I know what you mean, I had a lot of trouble getting lead to group when I first started out with it too. But don’t give up on the idea - I love shooting lead, guilt free plinking perfect for offhand plinking. I think I know the exact bullet - I once got a sample to see how they’d shoot through a microgroove 30/30, and they shot measurably worse than some 165gr RNFP-BBs sized to .310. Lubing them with the old pan-lube method will probably help. And you need to back off your powder as there is not much lead filling the grooves without the check. Explains why TB sucks - it’s likely too fast. Do you reckon it’d shoot a 115gr pill alright? Might be worth trying a .313” 32-20 pill - Les should send you a sample pack if you email him.


Yes mate, I am willing to give that a try. I don't know who Les is unfortunately.
User avatar
Stoney
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 395
Queensland

Re: Cast bullets in .303

Post by in2anity » 20 Dec 2018, 9:14 pm

Stoney wrote:
in2anity wrote:
Stoney wrote:
in2anity wrote:I had another thought- what are the bases like on your projectiles? Is there room for a gas check? Often the implications of a "designed-to-be-gaschecked" projectile seems to equate to a smaller rifling bearing surface on the lead itself, thus meaning less area to stabilise (when gas checks are omitted).


Yes mate, they are .308 gas checkable. No one makes a gas check in .311 go figure :crazy: I really didn't want to go there with all the equipment involved in sizing and crimping and such. I just wanted to shoot lead bullets for fun.


I know what you mean, I had a lot of trouble getting lead to group when I first started out with it too. But don’t give up on the idea - I love shooting lead, guilt free plinking perfect for offhand plinking. I think I know the exact bullet - I once got a sample to see how they’d shoot through a microgroove 30/30, and they shot measurably worse than some 165gr RNFP-BBs sized to .310. Lubing them with the old pan-lube method will probably help. And you need to back off your powder as there is not much lead filling the grooves without the check. Explains why TB sucks - it’s likely too fast. Do you reckon it’d shoot a 115gr pill alright? Might be worth trying a .313” 32-20 pill - Les should send you a sample pack if you email him.


Yes mate, I am willing to give that a try. I don't know who Les is unfortunately.


Les is the owner of HRBC
At what point does lack of maintenance become patina?
User avatar
in2anity
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
 
Posts: 3048
New South Wales

Re: Cast bullets in .303

Post by in2anity » 20 Dec 2018, 9:16 pm

At what point does lack of maintenance become patina?
User avatar
in2anity
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
 
Posts: 3048
New South Wales

Re: Cast bullets in .303

Post by Stoney » 20 Dec 2018, 9:17 pm

in2anity wrote:I honestly think the .313” 115gr 32-20 bb bullets over say 9-10gr AP70N might actually work... If you lik I could send you a handful to try


That's very generous of you in2anity. Bloody good to get help such as yours. If you want to send projectiles please don't make it cost anything to yourself .
User avatar
Stoney
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 395
Queensland

Re: Cast bullets in .303

Post by in2anity » 21 Dec 2018, 9:24 am

Stoney wrote:That's very generous of you in2anity. Bloody good to get help such as yours. If you want to send projectiles please don't make it cost anything to yourself .


All good mate only a couple of dollars to send a 500g satchel
At what point does lack of maintenance become patina?
User avatar
in2anity
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
 
Posts: 3048
New South Wales

Re: Cast bullets in .303

Post by gunnnie » 21 Dec 2018, 5:59 pm

Have you considered paper patching those .311" cast projos? This would add the nneeded girth to help seal the projo in the rifling as well as possibly improving accuracy.

I've never done it myself but it isn't an unusual method when it comes to shooting cast pills.

Hadn't considered using TB in a 32-20! Very interesting. I'm using 2205 behind Redback 115gn coated cast FN pills. Out of my 1892 Winchester this combo works well, but your comment has picqued my interest.

I am planning on shooting cast in several of my 303's also, so will be keen to read more or your pathway to knowledge in this regard.
gunnnie
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 289
Queensland

Re: Cast bullets in .303

Post by bladeracer » 21 Dec 2018, 6:02 pm

gunnnie wrote:Have you considered paper patching those .311" cast projos? This would add the nneeded girth to help seal the projo in the rifling as well as possibly improving accuracy.

I've never done it myself but it isn't an unusual method when it comes to shooting cast pills.

Hadn't considered using TB in a 32-20! Very interesting. I'm using 2205 behind Redback 115gn coated cast FN pills. Out of my 1892 Winchester this combo works well, but your comment has picqued my interest.

I am planning on shooting cast in several of my 303's also, so will be keen to read more or your pathway to knowledge in this regard.


I have paper-patched other bullets, but I think you would want a smaller-diameter bullet to be able to patch it. I paper patched .243" jacketed bullets up to .270" for the Carcano with decent results.
Practice Strict Gun Control - Precision Counts!
User avatar
bladeracer
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 12655
Victoria

Re: Cast bullets in .303

Post by Stoney » 21 Dec 2018, 6:39 pm

bladeracer wrote:
gunnnie wrote:Have you considered paper patching those .311" cast projos? This would add the nneeded girth to help seal the projo in the rifling as well as possibly improving accuracy.

I've never done it myself but it isn't an unusual method when it comes to shooting cast pills.

Hadn't considered using TB in a 32-20! Very interesting. I'm using 2205 behind Redback 115gn coated cast FN pills. Out of my 1892 Winchester this combo works well, but your comment has picqued my interest.

I am planning on shooting cast in several of my 303's also, so will be keen to read more or your pathway to knowledge in this regard.


I have paper-patched other bullets, but I think you would want a smaller-diameter bullet to be able to patch it. I paper patched .243" jacketed bullets up to .270" for the Carcano with decent results.


I have a box of 400 gunnie, that's a lot of patching :lol: Just out of interest, what type of paper do you use blade? I like that old school big game hunter look of patched bullets.
User avatar
Stoney
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 395
Queensland

Re: Cast bullets in .303

Post by bladeracer » 21 Dec 2018, 8:23 pm

Stoney wrote:I have a box of 400 gunnie, that's a lot of patching :lol: Just out of interest, what type of paper do you use blade? I like that old school big game hunter look of patched bullets.


I just used copy paper. It's a fiddly way to do it but it got me shooting the old girl while I was waiting for bullets that worked.
Practice Strict Gun Control - Precision Counts!
User avatar
bladeracer
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 12655
Victoria

Re: Cast bullets in .303

Post by Stoney » 21 Dec 2018, 9:03 pm

in2anity wrote:I honestly think the .313” 115gr 32-20 bb bullets over say 9-10gr AP70N might actually work... If you lik I could send you a handful to try


Would I need to add a filler to that load?
User avatar
Stoney
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 395
Queensland

Re: Cast bullets in .303

Post by in2anity » 22 Dec 2018, 1:34 pm

Stoney wrote:
in2anity wrote:I honestly think the .313” 115gr 32-20 bb bullets over say 9-10gr AP70N might actually work... If you lik I could send you a handful to try


Would I need to add a filler to that load?


A partial fill of AP70N is ok - it’s not as position sensitive as many rifle powders. I’ve never used filler
At what point does lack of maintenance become patina?
User avatar
in2anity
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
 
Posts: 3048
New South Wales

Re: Cast bullets in .303

Post by Stoney » 22 Dec 2018, 7:23 pm

in2anity wrote:
Stoney wrote:
in2anity wrote:I honestly think the .313” 115gr 32-20 bb bullets over say 9-10gr AP70N might actually work... If you lik I could send you a handful to try


Would I need to add a filler to that load?


A partial fill of AP70N is ok - it’s not as position sensitive as many rifle powders. I’ve never used filler


Ok, thanks for that in2anity. I will buy that powder if it is not a ton of hassels :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
User avatar
Stoney
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 395
Queensland

Re: Cast bullets in .303

Post by in2anity » 22 Dec 2018, 8:55 pm

Stoney wrote:Ok, thanks for that in2anity. I will buy that powder if it is not a ton of hassels :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Start with TB I reckon - it should shoot pretty well with that (in theory) ;)
At what point does lack of maintenance become patina?
User avatar
in2anity
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
 
Posts: 3048
New South Wales

Next

Back to top
 
Return to Reloading ammunition