I am looking to put together a cast bullet gun on a Savage action. What would be a reccomendation for a 308 as far as twist and length for a barrel? Also do cast bullets require a special lead angle for the throat? Anything I should be asking for when I get a barrel chambered?

Thanks, Longone

Is the rifle going to be used strictly for target practice, or strictly hunting, or both?

If building a strictly target gun I would consider the 30 br chamber, as it has about a perfect chamber capacity for the 30 cal cast bullets.

Just something to sit at the bench and shoot groups with at 1 and 200 yds. I have all the ingredients for 308 that's why I was thinking that caliber, never gave any thoughts to a 30 BR.

LG

quote:

Originally posted by Longone:
I am looking to put together a cast bullet gun on a Savage action. What would be a reccomendation for a 308 as far as twist and length for a barrel? Also do cast bullets require a special lead angle for the throat? Anything I should be asking for when I get a barrel chambered? Thanks, Longone

I would think a 12" twist, half groove and half lands with about 0.004" deep grooves. The throat in general would have a one and a half degree lead in taper. Match chamber specs would help. With these, you should have little trouble with currently available dies to make the rifle shoot very well.

For a cast only paper puncher I'd go 1-15 twist 30 br. You can always re-chamber it to .308 in the future.

While the .308 is a good cast bullet chambering, the case is really too big for cast bullet loads. The 30 br is about ideal for the correct capacity for cast loads.

http://www.lasc.us/Brennan30BR_Bench_Rest.htm

http://www.6mmbr.com/30BR.html

quote:

Originally posted by Paul H:
For a cast only paper puncher I'd go 1-15 twist 30 br. You can always re-chamber it to .308 in the future.

While the .308 is a good cast bullet chambering, the case is really too big for cast bullet loads. The 30 br is about ideal for the correct capacity for cast loads.

http://www.lasc.us/Brennan30BR_Bench_Rest.htm

http://www.6mmbr.com/30BR.html

I like Pauls thinking here. Although the 308 is a much better case then the 30-06 for cast, I too feel it's still a little on the large size. I like that BR idea and there's the 1 1/2 308?

Joe

Longone

Depends on what you want it for. If,as you say you want the rifle just for bench or target shooting with max accuracy at under 2200 fps then I agree with 45 2.1 and will only add to make it a 26" heavy target barrel.

However, if you want to push beyond 2200 fps then get it with a 28" medium target (or Palma taper) weight barrel with a minimum 14" twist. The mentioned 15" twist would be a good choice too. Or a 16-18" twist if you wanted to shoot the ligher 120-130 gr bullets. The .308 case would be a little much for that as Paul and Joe mention. I would look at the cases mentioned and also the .308 long neck. It's a .003 with the shoulder bumped back just far enough to give the case an '06 length neck. It is very similar to my own ,308 PMCBC.

If one were wanting a walk about cast bullet rifle for hunting then I'd look at a 26" barrel with dimensions as suggested by 45 2.1, a 14" twist and chambered in a tight necked '06. The reason there would be to drive a 150-165 gr bullet with the slowest powder that gave 100% loading density and 2600+ fps. The bullet design would allow the GC to be seated even with the bottom of the neck and the front of the short nosed ojive would just touch the leade. This would be a bullet very similar to the LBT 154 gr bullet that Bass Ackward uses.

Just my thoughts.

Larry Gibson

quote:

I would think a 12" twist, half groove and half lands with about 0.004" deep grooves

45 2.1, Help me out with the terminoligy from above. The half grooves and half lands threw me for a loop. I understand 2 groove, 4 groove etc. This one is new to me.

In another reply Mr Gibson wrote; "It's a .003 with the shoulder bumped back just far enough to give the case an '06 length neck. It is very similar to my own ,308 PMCBC."

I assume it was meant that its a 308 with the shoulder pushed back to achieve a longer neck.

First off I appreciate all the replys. Secondly, I really am looking for a "lead" gun to just poke holes in paper from a bench in a very relaxed atmosphere. I have been a Hi-Power shooter and am starting to believe I'm getting burned out from competing and just want to B.S. at the range with some fellow shooters. I am hoping to keep this project as simple as possible while having a gun capable of small groups, if it doesn't shoot I don't need it.

Tell me more!!!! Longone

quote:

Originally posted by Longone:

quote:

I would think a 12" twist, half groove and half lands with about 0.004" deep grooves

45 2.1, Help me out with the terminoligy from above. The half grooves and half lands threw me for a loop. I understand 2 groove, 4 groove etc. This one is new to me.

In another reply Mr Gibson wrote; "It's a .003 with the shoulder bumped back just far enough to give the case an '06 length neck. It is very similar to my own ,308 PMCBC."

I assume it was meant that its a 308 with the shoulder pushed back to achieve a longer neck.

First off I appreciate all the replys. Secondly, I really am looking for a "lead" gun to just poke holes in paper from a bench in a very relaxed atmosphere. I have been a Hi-Power shooter and am starting to believe I'm getting burned out from competing and just want to B.S. at the range with some fellow shooters. I am hoping to keep this project as simple as possible while having a gun capable of small groups, if it doesn't shoot I don't need it.

Tell me more!!!! Longone

I believe 45 2.1 means the grooves and lands are of equal proportions. Example: 4 narrow grooves and and four much wider lands are not equal proportions. The grooves and lands would be the same width. I noticed my mistake and edited this and see that 45 2.1 has answered.

Joe

quote:

Originally posted by Longone:

quote:

I would think a 12" twist, half groove and half lands with about 0.004" deep grooves

45 2.1, Help me out with the terminoligy from above. The half grooves and half lands threw me for a loop. I understand 2 groove, 4 groove etc. This one is new to me. Longone

Equal width lands and grooves.

How about a sugestion on a bullet mold, 165 gr?

Longone

quote:

Originally posted by Longone:
How about a sugestion on a bullet mold, 165 gr?

Longone

I would suggest the Lyman 266469 at about 143 gr., but MidSouth Shooters Supply has the 170 gr. design in the special order molds also. Think about a 0.268" sizer also.

Sorry about that, just got thru with another fellow about this............. RCBS 308-165-SIL would be a good choice.

quote:

Originally posted by 45 2.1:

quote:

Originally posted by Longone:
How about a sugestion on a bullet mold, 165 gr?

Longone

I would suggest the Lyman 266469 at about 143 gr., but MidSouth Shooters Supply has the 170 gr. design in the special order molds also. Think about a 0.268" sizer also.

I must have missed something here. I thought Longone wanted a .308 bullet?

Joe

I'd use the 165 RCBS Sil bullet seated to about the middle of the bottom driving band and have the smith cut a .310 x 1 1/2 degree throat so it seats using the dummy round as a guage. Twist would be 14. As for the load I'd start at about 28 grs of Varget and work up. Quenched WW or Lino for alloy with a decent lube. I like LBT Blue personally maybe cut with a little trans fluid to make it softer. If you get a giant lube star and it doesn't shoot as well as you think it should try filling only the gap over the check.

Should shoot well and be easy on your lead supply.