The brass (kinda scuzzy, but all once-fired FC) and the RCBS dies, both arrived yesterday. I began tumbling some brass immediately, and let 'er run all night. SHINY this morning, and I started loading rounds.

Shamelessly pirating some ideas from ol' Buckshot, I made up test loads with four different boolits:

-311466, 162-grain water-dropped WW, .312";

-Lee 180-grain roundnose, water-dropped WW, .312";

-311413, 177-grain spirepoint, oven-treated WW, .312";

-311299, 210-grain, water-dropped WW, .312".

With 311466, I started a series with IMR 4198 at 20.0 grains, and went up through 21, 22, and 23 grains. 21.0 showed some promise with 5 in 0.9" at fifty yards. Speeds went from 1890 with 20 grains up to 2145 with 23 grains. This 23.0 load grouped poorly at 2.2" and the pressure was getting up there.

One load with 31146 used just 10.0 grains of 2400, running 1388 and grouping 1.9". I'll work this combination up a bit higher next time out, as pressures were very low.

I loaded 311413, the Lee 180, and 311299, all over 20.0 IMR 4831, based on Buckshot's test with WC852. Good idea.

ALL these boolits were flying at just over 1100 fps with the 4831. 311413 put five into 0.9", and 311299 managed 0.8" for five. There's room to increase the charge, and that will also be done next time. Each shot left at least some unburned powder in the barrel.

I think there may be some better results with 4198 if I drop the charge a bit from the 20.0 level,too.

I don't have any of my Lee 130-grain boolits on hand just now, so I'll have to fire up the pot and make some, along with the new-to-me 311334 design for which I just got the mould.

The new Ruger seems like it will give me some good shooting. The trigger really needs some attention, but once that's done it'll be a good rifle. I gave 'er the Sweet's treatment this morning to clear the copper fouling, but that went very quickly. I see no apparent leading tendencies from today's shooting of 60 cast rounds.

Regards from BruceB (aka Bren Mk1)

P.S.: I ran out of elevation adjustment with that 3-9x Leupold scope, so may have to do some creative shimming to bring the impacts up to the aiming point. BB

let me pass this bit of very hard earned wisdom in this rifle and cartridge.

I bought one of the stainless versions Davidson's offered a few years back and like to yanked what hair I have out trying to make it shoot cast......until I realized I was using TOO MUCH lube. it would shoot 5 really nice from a clean bore then start spraying them everywhere. I'd run a couple jacketed loads through it and they'd cloverleaf. GRRRRRRRR! I kept narrowing things down........I actually put 1100 (eleven) hundred rounds of cast down the spout until I figured it out.....I really did try everything! Then it finally dawned on me that the gun would shoot shitty groups for a bit and then shoot a decent one and then go back to crap. A-Ha, lube purging..maybe! Sure enough, when I only lubed one groove (always use Felix), the bitch settled right down and went to shooting nice round groups. It isn't a target rifle but will keep them under 1.5" at 100 yards. Not bad for a ultra lite...that barrel is really thin!

I don't recall what loads I used, but I shot a lot of Accurate 2200 and 2230.

Yo, Jump!

Many thanks for that tip.

The boolits I used yesterday have wildly different lube capacity, but it's VERY interesting that the two carrying the LEAST lube did indeed shoot the best groups (311413 and 311299). 299 especially has very limited lube-hauling ability, and it shot the best group of the expedition.

The 311466 is a Loverin with those MANY grooves, but it was lubed only in the first three or four rings up from the base. Even that still amounted to more lube than the others carried.

I will definitely pay attention to this factor!

BTW, I still have that copy of Forester's "Brown on Resolution" for you....wanna try again to reach me at

ragdassranch@desertlinc.com

and mebbe we can get a snail-mail contact?? No charge for the book. It's not in the greatest shape but will last for another reading, I'm sure!

Regards from BruceB (aka Bren mk1)

Many thanks for the kind offer of Brown on Resolution but our Montana pal, Waksupi. loaned me his copy and I already read it. Good but not as good as I expected according to the rave recommendations I had.

I also replaced the factory trigger in my Ruger with a Timney, helped bunches. i need to get that little witch back out and play with it some. I think I'd like to have its twin in 223 for coyotes (kay-o-tays as i call'em..he-he!). Best carrying around rifle I ever owned and i don't like Rugers worth a damn.