I've finally got all the bits to build another cast bullet rifle. I located a Springfield A3 action, wood and scope mount to go with my 11/43 4 groove Remington barrel which is new and unfired.

What cast bullet would you recommend to use in this 1 in 10" twist military barrel.

BAW, another vote for 311284. sundog

"I've finally got all the bits to build another cast bullet rifle. I located a Springfield A3 action, wood and scope mount to go with my 11/43 4 groove Remington barrel which is new and unfired.

What cast bullet would you recommend to use in this 1 in 10" twist military barrel.

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"

I used to be a fan of the 311284 also. However, since getting a 311299 (I also have 314299) I have found it to be the equal or 311284 but over a wider range of applications. If you were interested in long range shooting you will find the 311299 has the better BC and can be driven to a higher, accurate velocity (1850-1900 fps for 311299 vs 1700-1750 fps for 311284) than 311284 for the most part in 1-10" 4 groove '03 barrels. The 311299 will hold sonic velocity (given the vilocities listed as they are in the "accuracy" range" for both bullets in 1-10" twist barrels) to 600 yards where the 311284 does not.

For 100-200 yard accurate shooting it is very hard to beat the tried and true 311291 for use in the '06, particularly '03s.

Larry Gibson

Larry,

Concerning 311284's inferiority to 311299. I agree that 311299, because of it's better BC would be best for the proposed application. In addition fitting 311299 to the throat of an unfired Springfield barrel will be much easier to achieve.

However, why do you limit the velocity for 311284 to "1700-1750"? I'm using 311284 at 2000 fps out of a 1896 Krag Rifle (4 groove/1-10" twist) at 600 yards with very good results.

Have Fun, JCherry

G-day to Mr Wallace! hmmmm... If... you find the right mold ( they vary,you know-lol)the 311332 can be an accurate and fast shooter. 1.5 MOA at 2100 should be attainable.... go up to 2350 and the accuracy goes to 3.5MOA- still plenty usuable in the field ( especially with iron sights). Yes, yes, they have even shot better. You would need to heat treat, use a case full of a slow powder, and maybe put some extra Lee lube on the nose. Oh ya, the nose would have to fit the bore just right. And the gas checks would have to fit just right.
I haven't too much experience with the other bullets except the 291. It works when driven HARD most of the time. the BC could be a lot better. A friend had a 311284... It wouldn't shoot if lobbed .... or at light speed! he was a very experienced cast rifle shooter. Something about that mold was a little..... goofy?

I have a brand new 2 groove barrel waitng for the right action. Hmmmmm.... Would I go someplace hot if I 'Hillyerized' it onto a mauser? Would it then be a 'Mausfield'? Or a 'Springer'?
Dale

BAW,
May I suggest the Lyman 311644. It is absolutely fantastic in my pre 64 Model 70 Target !!!I use it to shoot the Highpower course, and just making small groups .-JDL

BAW, I've had great luck with the 311291 in all 30 cals I've tried it in.

G-day to Mr Wallace again. I just thought of something.....a friend collected enfields and had a few he said were 'Bitsa's" . Not familiar with that manufacturer, I asked what he was talking about. He said they were "bits of this and bits of that!". Some "Bitsa's" are the best. Sorry, it doesn't have a durn thing to do with your thread. I just wondered if you referred to guns like that. Dale

JC, I've had 311284 do very well with 4198 at about 1700 MV out of a 2-groove RA bbl. Care to share your load with us? This is a good boolit design and I would like to try it at longer distances with a scoped 03 Sporter. sundog

In Australia we call them Chunka's.
Thrown together from bits & pieces they either shoot or are a chunk a shit!

Thank you all for your replies they have been very informative & helpfull. I've cast lots of bullets for other calibres (big ones) but the Springfield 30/06 is not very common rifle here especially one with a new barrel.

All my cast bullet rifles never have jacketed bullets put through them. I just like to keep them for cast bullets only. I have located a friend with a 311284 whose comment was that it don't shoot fer shit in my 308.

This will be a good starting point. I made a few today and they weigh 208.4gn average. Keep you all posted.

As I remember the Cast Bullet Assoc.'s news letter 'The Fouling Shot' bunches of info on loading cast bullets for the Enfield 14 and 17 and Springfield during the early years of publishing. You can purchase reprints, two three years at a time fairly reasonably priced.
One fella was winning matches using 'Preparation H' as bullet lube. During the early days, the association was a fun bunch of guys working together to forward the art of bullet casting and not taking themselve too seriously.
Jim

g-day....another thought- make a simple tool ( a brass punch spun in a lathe and attacked with a file) to spread the gas checks so they fit over the base of the bullet and then crimp on. This was the biggest improvement in accuracy I can remember. Try one with and one without. If the one without damages the bullet or moves any lead, it won't shoot as well. The base of the bullet steers like a rudder. If the check is not square, straight and true- well....it could shoot better. Dale

Sundog,

The load I'm using in my 30-40 1896 Krag with 311284 is 52 gr of WC 872. I use wheelweights with 10% shot, oven heat tempered to a BHN of 18-20. I've used both Alox (50/50) and FWFL (from the big melt) with the same good results. Standard deviations with this load normally run about 11 or 12. I'm seating my bullets to an OAL of 3.110 which is the max length that feeds reliably in my rifle.

My load matches the original sights of my 1896 Krag w/30" barrel. To hit at 200 yds I put the sights at 200, at 600 yds I put them at 600.

With WC-872 there are a few unburned grains of powder but not any real problem.

The bore on my rifle is .309 and being as old as it is the throat is a bit worn. To date .311 seems to be the best bullet diameter. I am in the process of trying out some bullets as big as .313. I using Lee's 311200RF that with my metal gives a 223 grain bullet (w/check & lube). I'm using 50 grains of WC 860 powder which is giving velocities in the same 2000 fps range. I haven't really wrung this out yet, but it seems to have very good potential also.

In my 03 Springfield I have used the 311284 also, though I have not developed it as much as my load for the 30-40. I checked my notes for this bullet in 30-06. I have used 64.2 gr of WC 860 for a velocity of 2266 FPS with an SD of 9.4. This load gave me a bit of problem with leading and probably needs to be backed off a bit or I need to do something with my lube/bullet fit etc. I had some problems fitting the 311284 to my 03 as the throat is not worn that much.

Have Fun

JCherry

Hi JDL! i would like to know more about the 311644. I am unfamiliar with that number. Dale
( not to hijack Mr wallace's thread, of course!)

Best bullet I can say I tried was 311290 if you can locate a mould. The Lee 180 gr. wasn't bad either. Both with 25 gr. RX-7.