In my reloading supplies I found around 300, 30 caliber cast bullets and a small bag of gas checks!
I beleive these were cast with a Lee mould!
Cast diameter is .309!
They look like a round nose with a flat tip, with a gas check base!
They weigh 170-172 grains as cast!

I have an RCBS LuberSizer.
Should these be sized .308 or .309?

These should make a light recoiling rifle, with the velocity kept around 2000fps or less!

Probably .309,but there is a LOT more too it than that.You should slug the bore for a true fit maybe check the throat area,.I am mostly a pistol man so this is a little out of my area.


Sean

IN MY 3006 I SIZE .309.THE BULLET I SHOOT WEIGHTS 170GRS.I LOAD 17 GRS. OF 2400 BEHIND THE GASCHECKED BULLET.ACCURACY IS QUITE GOOD WITH VERY LITTLE RECOIL.

We just finished up an internet match on the Cast Boolits board, and I posted the results today. Here is some info on the Springfields in the running.

Samerch666 1.15"
1903 Springfield .30-06
Barrel/H-S 1944, 1-10 4 groove 24"
Lyman 311299 210 gr. GC
Nose dia. .303, base dia. .311
NRA Lube
CCI 200 primers
1275 FPS.
1pt Lino/ 4pt. ac WW's
18 gr. AA5744


Pbhead 1.81"
1903-A3 Springfield, Smith Corona action
Lyman 48 Rear, issue front
2Groove barrel
Bell & Carlson stock
180 gr. RCBS SP
17 gr. WC 820
WLR Primer
FWFL

Bull Shop Sr. 2.32"
Springfield 1903-A3
Lyman peep rear
Redfield Globe rear with aperture
Saeco # HB170, 180 gr. TC6C
Air cooler Ww's
.311
S.G. Lube
CCI #200 primers
21 gr. Hercules 2400


Bull Shop Jr. 3.18"
Springfield 1903-A3
Lyman peep rear
Redfield Globe rear with aperture
Saeco # HB170, 180 gr. TC6C
Air cooler Ww's
.311
S.G. Lube
CCI #200 primers
21 gr. Hercules 2400

Bull Shop Mom 4.63"
Springfield 1903-A3
Lyman peep rear
Redfield Globe rear with aperture
Saeco # HB170, 180 gr. TC6C
Air cooler Ww's
.311
S.G. Lube
CCI #200 primers
21 gr. Hercules 2400

If the bullets are .309", I would stay with that. My preference for a cast bullet is .310", but .309 should give you decent results. Loads that have worked well for me are 17.0 gr. of Alliant #2400, 17.0 gr. of H-4227 and 25.0 gr. of IMR-4895 or H-4895.
The 17.0 gr. load of #2400 will actually knock down the pig silhouettes at 300 meters, just barely. Hit one fairly high center and it will slowly, gudgingly topple over. Recoil is quite mild with 2400 and 4227, and no big deal with the 4895s. I like to seat the bullet so it just engages the rifling.
I have shot groups as small as 1.5 MOA at 200 yards witht he 2400 load and a one grain tuft of dacron, which I use in all the above loads. You can try it with and without the filler. Just depends on what your rifle likes.
Paul B.

See if you can check the hardness before trying to push them much beyond 1800 fps. My buddy andi bought some gas checked, cast bullets for 8x57, were pushing them around 2100-2200 fps.(load from a loading manual)

Accuracy was non-existant,as in missing the 24" backer board 50% AT 25 yards. Our only conclusion was bullets were too soft, and were stripping the rifling. Interesting we did not see much leading in the bores.

Subsequent research showed most people shooting cast at about 1800 fps, OR using pretty hard bullets.

quote:

Originally posted by dfaugh:
See if you can check the hardness before trying to push them much beyond 1800 fps. My buddy andi bought some gas checked, cast bullets for 8x57, were pushing them around 2100-2200 fps.(load from a loading manual)

Accuracy was non-existant,as in missing the 24" backer board 50% AT 25 yards. Our only conclusion was bullets were too soft, and were stripping the rifling. Interesting we did not see much leading in the bores.

Subsequent research showed most people shooting cast at about 1800 fps, OR using pretty hard bullets.

Here's a couple of things to try. First, slug your bore. Theoretically is should have a groove diameter of .323". Then measure the bullets. They should be a minimum of .001" larger than groove diameter or .324" My preference would be a bullet of ,325" or .002" over groove diameter. Second, if at all possible, the bullet should be seated out just far enough to engage the leade or rifling,
My normal alloy for cast bullets run about 14 BHN, but some range scrap I've been playing with runs 12 BHN and shoots quite well.
Is your bullet either a round nose or flat nose style or a pointy spitzer type? Pointy bullets look good but don't do well at the highter velocities. Try 15.0 to 17.0 gr. of Allaint #2400 or one of the 4227s with a one gr. tuft of dacron, or without, if you prefer, and see how that load shoots. Should put you somewhere in the 1500-1700 FPS range.
What shape is your bore in? Lots of times, a dark bore will shoot reasonably well and others never do. Pitting ruins groups big time, in my experience.
Paul B.

quote:

Originally posted by RayO:
IN MY 3006 I SIZE .309.THE BULLET I SHOOT WEIGHTS 170GRS.I LOAD 17 GRS. OF 2400 BEHIND THE GASCHECKED BULLET.ACCURACY IS QUITE GOOD WITH VERY LITTLE RECOIL.

Rayo,
I`m keen to try this in my .308. Currently I`m using 150 gn lee cast slugs & gas checked in front of 12 gns of AS-30.
I don`t have a chronograph so I`m unable to measure velocity. Have you done any velocity testing on your loads ?
Cheers Morton