Favorite 308Win Cast Bullet loads

CBA Member

Scearcy posted this 22 January 2018

It is going to snow 8" today so it is a good day to think about new loads for this summer. First in answer to the question posed here: I have always used 4759 and IMR 4198 in my 308 regardless of bullet weight. In the 1600 to 1800 fps velocity range, these have done well for me.

For several years now I have shot the 300 Blackout and a 243 Winchester rather than the 308. Long story short, playing with the 300 Blackout caused me to be interested in CFE BLK which in turn lead to an interest in CFE223. These are of course new Hodgdon powders which are very good with jacketed bullets. Have any of you tried either of these powders in the 308? The burn rates are interesting but I realize that is at best a fairly poor indicator of suitability. CFE BLK functions well with low pressure subsonic loads in the 300 BLK. Might this characteristic apply to a larger case? I don't know.

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CBA Member

beltfed posted this 28 November 2017

THanks, Jim,

INdeed, I generally have been working with the IMR 4227, 4759, and lately Re7, and Lil Gun.

Not necessarily in that order for 30 cal loadings. I work with straight LIno as my "standard",

but also with my 'go to" of 9+1 ww/lino

Arnie

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CBA Member

Jim Betush posted this 28 November 2017

Hi Arnie,

Using one of the available lead alloy mix calculator excel spreadsheets, I make an approx. 11 BHN alloy that seems to work very well for .30 caliber 100-200 yd. target loads. Initial accuracy test load default powder is 2400 @ 14 to 16 grs. If that does not deliver the goods, then SR 4759 and/or Accurate 5744 are next up. Most importantly, for bullet choice, I decide which one (of my 20 or so .30 cal moulds) has the best slip-fit to a very snug fit on the bullet inserted nose first at the muzzle. On longish nose bullet designs, a little nose engraving can be a very beneficial to getting the bullet started down the barrel in a straight manner. Those that pass muster are then seated in dummy cases and chambered to see which ones seem to have the best throat fit is. I am seldom disappointed with the downrange results. YMMV, but the above process of choosing a load works well for me.

Jim Betush

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CBA Member

beltfed posted this 27 November 2017

Bill,

I tried a can of 5744 in the '06 Vin mils. Not as good as the IMR 4759 loadings.

I had heard about that change to the 5744. Kind of bothersome if a guy gets

up loads for the old and then they change it over. This happened many years ago with

Hercules 2400. Was great in my SW 44m. Keith loads of 22 gr under his SWC. When

they changed it, now the max load is 20.5gr. Meanwhile, I went to 4227, and happy with that since for a lot of loads.

Now, lately getting back into modern CB loading for the Vin Mil 06s, and now the 308. Have been working off a 12# keg of DuPont IMR 4759-about half gone. Yes, its again discontinued, but I recently got lucky and picked up a recent IMR plastic 8# and a 4# reasonable. So, will continue to be happy with results of 4759-that is if its still the same now that Hodgdon's owns IMR brand????. Will probably check it out in the spring. At 76 yrs old, Probably last me my lifetime .

Arnie

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CBA Member

R. Dupraz posted this 27 November 2017

I use IMR 4227 exclusively for all my cast bullet rifles.

Alloy - 50/50 wheel wts. & lino

Israelie FN 98 Mauser 7.62x51 ---- 17grns. & RCBS-165-SIL, or 17.5 grns.& the RCBS 30-180-SP 13" twist.

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CBA Member

billglaze posted this 27 November 2017

I posted this a few years ago, when the event happened, but....... I had been buying 5744 by the pound, and, accuracy-wise, felt I had struck gold. So much so, that I bought an 8 lb. caddy. It (the new stuff) just wouldn't shoot well; I couldn't get it to. The powder fouling was simply incredible.

Thinking that I would do a little checking, I pulled a can of the older stuff out, and it shot great. I contacted the factory, and they got right back to me. The first thing that they said was that they had "improved" the powder, (new manufacturer in Canada) and were getting higher velocity with less pressure. Exactly what I DIDN'T want. They were kind enough to send me a list of loads that they said would reduce the fouling. The loads were all well above what I was looking for in cast; they would have been suitable for jb's. Benched the 5744; there it stays until I can figure something out, but I've been having pretty good luck with Red Dot and my favorite, Titegroup.

Bill

In theory, there's no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is. My fate is not entirely in Gods hands, if I have a weapon in mine.

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Online CBA Member

Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 13 October 2017

it has been a long time since i scored wheelweights worth salvaging ... but back then i added about 1 per cent tin by weight ... a better pour .... i just buy tin in sticks from the foundry ... at 1 per cent it goes a long ways ... i might mention i use 92-6-2 from rotometals for my rare serious spells but i now buy most of my plinking lead from ebay ... kinda like a box of chocolates ... ( g ) ... if you find a quality ebay source, try to stick with that guy .... when your melt pot resembles play-dough, you might not want to order from that source again . ken

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Standard Member

JSH posted this 12 October 2017

My favorite powder for jacketed often works well at a start load with cast of similar weights. Other than that, I have found Lyman's suggested accuracy load to be a good place to start.
I have a large amount of WW alloy from the 80's that seems to work well most times. I may have to add a touch of tin once in a great while.

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CBA Member

Ed Harris posted this 07 October 2017

Agree with Ric on lino for competition bullets, but 99% of the bullets I cast are 1:4 lino-wheelweights, or backstop scrap.

In the .308 Win. or any case of its approximate size, such as the Krag, .303 British or 7.65 Argentine, 18 grs, of 4227 with #311299 shoots well in most rifles. OK to substitute a lighter bullet like Accurate 31-160H or similar NOE design if they fit your rifle throat.

I've also had good results with 20 grs. of 4198, 24 grs. RL7, 26 grs. 3031 or 30 grs. of 4895, 4064, RL15 or Varget.

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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oldblinddog posted this 07 October 2017

I mix about 5 lbs of Rotometals hardball with 4.5 lbs 16/1 (ten lb pot) for ~ 93/3.5/3.5 alloy. 99% of the time they are aircooled. The group in my avatar is the 311466 over 13.0 grs Red Dot with this alloy, shot at 50 yards.

USMC (ret.), CBA, NRA, TSRA, ARPC

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Standard Member

JeffinNZ posted this 22 September 2017

311466 is hard to beat. My Husky .30-30 LOVES it.

Cheers from New Zealand

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CBA Member

RicinYakima posted this 21 September 2017

I use lino for match bullets because I can make them +/- 0.1% in weight quickly with no visual flaws. However, they don't shoot any better, but reject rate is very very low. For me 2% tin and 2% antimony is just as accurate, but my mould throws about 5% rejects.

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CBA Member

beltfed posted this 21 September 2017

Yes, I did note that Gary and Paul have mentioned alloys.

beltfed/arnie

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CBA Member

beltfed posted this 21 September 2017

How about comments on bullet alloy,please?

My long time for 30 cal Target is straight Lino.

How about my go-to for almost all other, namely 9+1 WW/Lino ?

thanks again for all the responses. Hope it helps others besides myself

beltfed/arnie

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CBA Member

oldblinddog posted this 21 September 2017

If you have Unique, use 12.5 grs.

USMC (ret.), CBA, NRA, TSRA, ARPC

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CBA Member

beltfed posted this 21 September 2017

Thanks, oldblinddog,

I have some 311466 on the shelf and have been meaning to try them along with

the 311467 in both the 308 and my M1941 MC Sniper rifle(03A1)

Just don't have any Red Dot. But will try other of my powders. Adding Unique for some

gallery loads.

beltfed/arnie

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CBA Member

oldblinddog posted this 20 September 2017

Try the 311466 sized 0.311" over 13.0 grs. Red Dot. COAL 2.595"

USMC (ret.), CBA, NRA, TSRA, ARPC

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CBA Regional Director

Tom Acheson posted this 16 September 2017

Arnie,

My Savage in .308 likes an LBT bullet (312-185 50/50 ww/Lino, bumped, sized 0.311") in Lapua cases and CCI 250 primers, 27.0 VV N-135. At a 2011 local CBA match it did a 0.649" 10-round group. It also likes 27.5 of Varget with all other components the same.

Tom

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Standard Member

OU812 posted this 16 September 2017

4759 provided the most consistent accuracy for me. I never tried 4227.

I hear there are two versions of 5744...older vs. newer. My older version was manufactured 1996. Is there a noticeable difference in performance between old vs. newer.