Well I finally have some Boolits from my FN GC's weigh 286 grains and HP GC's weighing 280 grains.

I have a custom sizeing die for my Lyman 450. The .375 GC's go on very well with a slightly concave base. Lube is SPG. I have pure wool felt wads.

I am now ready to try some loads. I have done a search and it seems 1,800 fps is the max.. Keeping in mind I only have access to Trail Boss and Aussie powders.

http://www.adi-limited.com/handloade...quivalents.asp

does anyone have a starting load please ?

C4,

Can you tell us a little about your rifle and post pic of those bullets? The 9,3x62 is my favorite one to reload, but I'm kinda reluctant to jump into reloading data w/o looking 1St.

Ray,

I have no idea where to start. Here are some photos of the Boolits.





Rifle is a custom FN Mauser '98 which has easily digested max published loads with conventional projectiles. Barrel is 25".

C4,

Most of my starting loads I've chronoed were about 2,000 FPS. Trying to stay under 1,800 will probably require a reduce load of either H-4895 or IMR-4895 as their websites claim they can be reduced to as much as 60% of max charge safely.

Thx Mate. May have time tomorrow to try some

Code4, Nice looking bullets. I bought some cast 416s to shoot in my 416 Taylor. The maker/seller is an extremely knowledgeable cast bullet man. His instruction was to seat the bullet NO deeper than the case shoulder/neck junction and fill the case w/ H4831 as you cannot get enough of THAT powder in the case to create to high pressures. Well, I couldn't get my brain around that so I started on the low side of published data and worked up til my chrono read 1800 fps. Very accurate. You may need to look at H4350 loads as I have seen them published for the 9.3 x 62 due to the fact that I am building one as I write.

The lowest listed starting load for a 286 bullet wt. I can find is 42.7 grains of H-4895. Its only 77% of maximum but it did not have a velocity listed with it.

Well one advantage of having had three weeks leave and exclusive access to a 900 yards rifle range 2.5km from my back door is that I can race out and check loads.

Recommended loads with jacketed projectiles and 2206H/H4895 are:
51 grains (2,130) to 56.5 (2,405)

I took 60% of the max load which came to approx. 35 grains 2206H/H4895. My cast FN projectiles were seated so the GC was level with the base of the case neck and the start of the shoulder. A single circular woolen wad was placed on top of the powder column and seemed to hold it stable. This gives off a distinctive lanolin smell once fired (and burnt). Cases are Norma, Primers Rem 9 1/2. I set up my target at 50 yards for these resuls.

35 grns 1.710" group in a vertical line
36 grns 1.480" in a perfect, neat, triangle
37 grns 2.535" again in a straight line
38 grns 2.305" triangle

My chronograph is currently with a fellow forum member so I couldn't measure velocitys. If the 36 grain load holds to 3" at 100 yards I'd be happy.

What should I do now ? Keep increaing the charge of powder ? I'm happy to try 2208/Varget. Should I add more tin and make the projectiles harder ?

I think SPG might be a lube designed for Blackpowder use. I'd be inclined to use a lube designed for high speed cast loads, if that's your aim.

BTW, what sort of velocity are you trying to achieve ?

Might help to have some other info too:

bullet hardness
sizing diameter
barrel groove diameter

It might also be helpful to work out how far the bullet needs to move to reach rifling when seated as you described.

Get your chrono back b/4 you spend much more time and energy.

quote:

Originally posted by Code4:
Well one advantage of having had three weeks leave and exclusive access to a 900 yards rifle range 2.5km from my back door is that I can race out and check loads.

Recommended loads with jacketed projectiles and 2206H/H4895 are:
51 grains (2,130) to 56.5 (2,405)

I took 60% of the max load which came to approx. 35 grains 2206H/H4895. My cast FN projectiles were seated so the GC was level with the base of the case neck and the start of the shoulder. A single circular woolen wad was placed on top of the powder column and seemed to hold it stable. This gives off a distinctive lanolin smell once fired (and burnt). Cases are Norma, Primers Rem 9 1/2. I set up my target at 50 yards for these resuls.

35 grns 1.710" group in a vertical line
36 grns 1.480" in a perfect, neat, triangle
37 grns 2.535" again in a straight line
38 grns 2.305" triangle

My chronograph is currently with a fellow forum member so I couldn't measure velocitys. If the 36 grain load holds to 3" at 100 yards I'd be happy.

What should I do now ? Keep increaing the charge of powder ? I'm happy to try 2208/Varget. Should I add more tin and make the projectiles harder ?

I'd be very careful with that wool wad or anything other thing placed atop the powder column that leaves an air space between it and the bullet base as that is one of the number one things that will ring a chamber or barrel. Instead try a tuff of Dacron. Cut enough that will fill the airspace and do not pack it in the case. It's springy and will spring out to fill the space nicely after you push it into the case with a small rod such as an allen wrench, nail, etc. Better safe then sorry on ringing a chamber or barrel. You can get away with what you are doing for a while but it will eventually bite you. By the way the powder will not migrate through the Dacron.

It IS true that many wad materials can cause "rings" in chambers.

One other thing I found by experimentation and have used for over 40 years without getting any rings from it is.........TOILET PAPER.

You can't use much, though. I buiy the softest, fluffiest TP I can find, preferably the 2-ply kind. I take one square, separate a single ply from it, then cut that single square into 64 pieces...one eighth of a square wide, and one eighth of a square long. As a previous poster suggested I push it into place against the powder with an allen wrench.

If done correctly (and I inspect the charged cases before seating bullets in them) it will "puff" back up to completely cover the powder in a .30-06 case and hold it in place. Unlike kapok, dacron, or other fillers though, it will not fill the case up to the base of the bullet.

Anyway, there is so little TP involved, I can only assume it is all completely burnt up by the flame of the powder charge. At least I have never gotten a ring using it, and I have never found one of the little tiny pieces of TP on the ground at ANY distance in front of the muzzle.

Having said that, I will add that I DO NOT know that it will never ring YOUR chamber and am not professing that it won't. Am just reporting my experience with it. It did very much improve the accuracy of my loads of 17 grains of SR 4759 with the Lyman 311467 GC bullet in the .30-06.

Well I've had a bit of luck.

All tests were two rounds into a target at 50 yards.

25 grains 2207 with two wool wads 2.315"
54 grains 2209 with no wads 1.090"
51 grains 2206H with one wool wad 0.480"

I think we have a winner with the 2206H I will try it again at 100 yards when I get a chance.

Thx for your help.

Very nice cast bullets. Who made the bullet molds?

NOE (Night Owl Enterprises) over on Cast Boolits Forum.


http://castboolits.gunloads.com/

+1 on the caution with respect to using filler. Do a search both here and over on the Cast Boolit forum on the use of filler and be sure you are as knowlegable as possible before you use filler of any kind.

Code4,

I have a mate who is a ballistic lab tech for ADI. You should recognize ADI as your Australian Defense Industries and the maker of many Hodgdon powders. He and I discussed this very topic.

Here are some excerpts from our conversations.

First one----

""""Hi Alan,

Below is some info by doing a search on cast lead bullets for 9.3X62, so, from this I would use Hodgdon Powder Universal (very close to Alliant Unique) for plinking/practice loads. And the IMR 8208 XBR or H4895 for hunting loads. IMR 3031 is close Hodgdon Benchmark

Regards


I've done some with 280 grain beveled base and 290 gas checked bullets in my model 46a ,
13 gr unique = 1250fps
15 gr unique= 1400 fps
42 gr H335 = 1950 fps with some leading
38 gr Imr 3031= 1750 fps
43 gr Imr 3031= 2023 fps with leading
"""

Second one----

""""Hi Alan,
I don't see any problems using the IMR 8208 in your 9.3x62 with cast lead bullets, burn rate would be around H4895, a tad slower, so if you can find loads for the H4895 or IMR 4895, then this is what I would use.

Hope this helps.

I don't have my Lyman cast lead bullets book with me at work, it's a home. But this is a good reference to use. (Here he was referring to my 170 gr FN bullet and comparing it to 30-06 and 170 gr data).

Best regards and keep well"""""

3rd one----

"Alan,
(Here he refers to my query about using IMR 8208) I would use the same rule as the 60% H4895, this would be a good start, just need to chrono your loads.

Regards""""

Hope this helps! It didn't for me because I eventually had Veral Smith make me 170 gr FN mold

Alan

I load a 290 grain cast GC bullet in my 35 Whelen and I would think my loads would be fine in your 9.3x62.
I have settled on IMR 4759 at 31.5 grains with Dacron filler. I also use Lee LLA film over the hard lubed bullet. I also have used Ramshot TAC and AA-2015 successfully with this bullet. 36.9 of the AA-2015 up to 41 grains. TAC I have tried 41 - 45 grains. All with Lee LLA and Dacron.

I don't know if there is an Aussie equivalent, but Accurate 5744 works great in my 35 Whelen Improved (very close to the 9.3x62).

I shoot 32.5 gr under a 250 gr gas-checked bullet very similar to yours, Federal 215 primers, and no fillers. This gives about 1900 fps with no leading in my rifle and 2.0 inch groups at 100 yds.

AS a member of the Cast Boolit board I got in on a group buy of remake of that mold. We got told that it was done and waiting to ship Monday. I also got in on a group buy here in the left hands forum for LH Zastasa mod 70 and 85. I have a 9.3x62 coming mid May. With any luck will be shooting it by June.WAHOO Clint

Clint,
I have been shooting the Whelen quite a bit lately and both the AA-2015 at 38 grain with Dacron filler and the 40 grains of Ramshot TAC shoot well.
The bullets I have used have had both a hard melt lube and now a Lyman Moly lube and I cover them both in Lee Liquid Alox as my old gun loves lube. Smokes and belches but no leading and very nice groups.
Killed a nice doe last fall with a head shot at about 80 yards. Peep and Gold bead just like back in the 1950's when she was made. It is a hoot to use. You will love your 9.3x62 I am sure with Cast!

code4: For my 35 Whelens using a 287 grain 358009 cast, gas checked I have been using 40 to 42 grains of H4895. The heavier charge being used with a bullet slightly harder at BHN16 than air-cooled W/W. Velocity runs from about 1900 to 2000+. No filler required or even desirable. I wouldn't hesitate to use those loads as a starter in a strong 9.3 X 62. The initial advice re: H4831 was probably quite ok. I wouldn't fill the case to the top of the neck but just full enough to get a slightly compressed load at your indicated seating depth. If you use less H4831 than that I would suggest a granulated or spherical filler like PSB to give some load compression. H4831 is a slower powder than those commonly used for jacketed bullets in these cartridges and has a slower pressure rise which is a bit kinder to cast bullets. Make sure the bullet bases are free of lube where they would come in contact with the filler or it can bind up the filler.

Code4: your H2206H is Hodgdon H4895. It is the most predictable powder there is for velocity and pressure changes. Velocity changes are 1 to 1 and pressures are 2 to 1. If you increas a load 5%, you will get 5% increas in speed but a 10% increse pressure. Conversly a 10% decrease in a load will give you 10% less speed but a 20% decreas in pressure. The max load for a 286 bullet w/ H4895 is 55.5gr 2331fps and 47800CUP of pressure. Your 51gr load is a 91.9% load (51 devided by 55.5) so it will give you a 8% less speed (2141fps) and 16% less pressure (41,152 CUP). A 60% load w/H4895 would be 33.3gr (55.5x.6) and 1399fps (2331x.6). To figure the pressure you need to look at it as you are decreasing the load by 40%. 100% less 60% is 40%. So the pressure would be 47800CUP - 80%(2x40%)= 9,500CUP. A 32S&W Long pistol is 12,000 CUP.