303 cast loads 185gr .312 lee

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Blairito

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what are some good loads for around 1500-2000fps
i have imr 4895, i would prefer a bulkier powder to prevent dbl charges
i don't want to mess with fillers either
was going to start with 25.5 gns of the 4895
haven't really found anything very specific while doing research
thanks, Blair.
 
What you might try is an abnormally slow powder that fills the case without producing much pressure, for example I use 30 grs of 760 in .30/30 brass for about 1650 with a 190 gr cast bullet. In the .303 you might have similar pressure with 4831 or something similar, but some experimenting will be required.

If you are unable to get acceptable accuracy using slow powder, SR-4759 is a good choice. But a 20 gr load does open the possibility of double charging, so using a gauge ( any sort of rod that will easily fit inside the case neck will work) to measure the height of the powder column prior to seating the bullet is prudent .
 
i have purchased sr4759
and loaded 17.5 through 20 grains
would the 20grains be too fast for the softer lead i am loading?
 
If you restrict yourself to "idiot-proof" loads for cast bullets or handguns, you miss out on a huge number of good loads.

Here's a few loads you could try:

Unique - 13.0-16.0 grs
SR-4759 - 18.0-26.0 grs
Re7 - 19.0-28.0 grs
H4198 - 21.0-29.0 grs
H4895 - 28.0-32.0 grs
Varget - 30.0-35.0 grs
H4350 - 41.0-46.0 grs
H4831 - 44.0-47.0 grs

Except for the lower end loads for the first four powders, you'll be at or above 2000 fps, and wanting to use a gas-check bullet like that Lee 185 gr.
 
Lyman cast bullet Handbook 4 has some loads for this specific bullet. I'll see what I can find.
 
I've had good results using that bullet in .303 brit.with 17gr of either 2400 or H110. As previously stated, it's possible to double charge with these loads, so be careful.
Grouch
 
I'd be looking real hard at AA5744, e-mail Western Powders and see what they have if you don't find good info on it elsewhere. It nay be in Lyman books, or on the AA website, it is certainly mentioned on castboolits and 303british as being used, so Western likely has data for it. Gooood stuff with cast boolits.
 
16.0 grs. of Alliant 2400 or 13.0 grs. of Alliant Red Dot developed by Ed Harris are two universal loads that work very well in most 30 cal. military cartridges with no tweaking. I've shot them both for several years in my 7.62 x 54r with 170 gr. cast bullets.

Red Dot is more bulky and fill 50% or more of the cartridge case depending on case size than 2400,however if you use good reloading practices and inspect your charged cases with a light before seating the bullet a double charge is easily detected.

The plus side is that both these loads provide great accuracy using half the usual powder charge over slower powders with no need for fillers.
 
Boomer said:
If you are unable to get acceptable accuracy using slow powder, SR-4759 is a good choice. But a 20 gr load does open the possibility of double charging, so using a gauge ( any sort of rod that will easily fit inside the case neck will work) to measure the height of the powder column prior to seating the bullet is prudent .
Click to expand...

X2. Been using this technique for years with reduced cast loads in many calibers. Simple, cheap, quick and effective (unless you are loading 100's of rounds and/or using a progressive).
 
I use trail boss with that exact bullet. very accurate and clean, impossible to overload with this powder. Fill the case without compressing the powder and you are good to go.
 
Ive tried some loads with sr4759, drop was only 2 moa up from my zero for my jacket loads
17.8grs seemed to be the best, moving up to 20 grns, things started to open up
not sure if it was fouling or just liked the slower rounds, no clue what im running in the fps
what would a min and max load be for the powder
20grns showed no overpressure reading the primer .
 
Blairito said:
Ive tried some loads with sr4759, drop was only 2 moa up from my zero for my jacket loads
17.8grs seemed to be the best, moving up to 20 grns, things started to open up
not sure if it was fouling or just liked the slower rounds, no clue what im running in the fps
what would a min and max load be for the powder
20grns showed no overpressure reading the primer .
Click to expand...

The only primer "pressure sign" that's reliably meaningful is a loose primer pocket, and you'll never see that with cast bullet loads.
 
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