Cast Boolit challenge!

I'm in. Took out my 03A3 last week with a partial box of loads that were in the ammo locker. Tried 5 shot groups at 50 and 100yds. Best at 50 was a measured .621 center to center. Best at 100 was 2.302. Both 5 shot groups. My load is 311291's sized 311 over 21 grs of 2400. WLR primers. Barrel is 2 groove military replacement which was brand new a few years back. It has never experienced a jacketed bullet.

As with all internet loads check reliable sources before using.

I'm somewhat computer challenged. May have to get my nephew to post my photo's. Looking forward to the 10 at 100 challenge. Got some reloading to do. Plenty of boolits stockpiled.

Old Ranger
 
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This has turned out more difficult than I thought!! I set out to be "sporting" about this challenge, using my iron sighted 30 40 Krag. Have shot several 10 shot groups +/- 2 1/2", and will try again before going to one of my better rifles. Can someone tell me out how to post pictures?
Grouch
 
I didn't know about this challenge but shot this the other day while working up loads for my .458 Lott. It has potential seeing as the bullets are just plain based, unsized and tumble lubed.

 
I'm down for the challenge but will have to be in a month or so once I'm done trapping the northern line. Just ordered Lee's 22 bator mould and can't wait to see what this bullet can do in my 556 VZ 58. Regularly shoots sub MOA off the bench using 55gn vmax bullets and cfe powder. Don't expect those results with cast but may be loading these in subsonic loads in the future for close range plinking or small game hunting if I can get them accurate enough to reliably hit a grouse in the head at 10-15m. Good luck fellas n happy casting n shooting.
 
Finally found the time to put together a few rounds and get out to the range. I decided to share my "failure" to hopefully inspire/instruct/intimidate :redface: the others. My targets didn't satisfy the group size, which may be a more common problem for many of us. Ten shots is a lot to make without a single flyer. I apologize for not using the calipers but it shouldn't matter since I'm not claiming to have attained the criteria.

Here are the boolits, cast from lead picked up at indoor range, mostly .22 and lead pistol boolits, don't know hardness but will eventually measure it. It's pretty soft.

http://s1093.photobucket.com/user/nilsek/media/CB-target/aAloxed_gas-checked_zps5b8a5b40.jpg.html?sort=9&o=0

Iron Sights
Savage 1899 .303 Savage, (year 1916) with Marbles tang peep sight. 26" barrel 1:12", slugged .302"-.308"

http://s1093.photobucket.com/user/nilsek/media/CB-target/b1899_setup_zps23236945.jpg.html?sort=9&o=1

View from the shooting bench: no sky makes for a boring view, and if your trajectory isn't flat enough, 200 yards is off limits. :(

http://s1093.photobucket.com/user/nilsek/media/CB-target/c1899_setup_zoom_zpsc6e77a28.jpg.html?sort=9&o=2

Boolit used for this test: Lyman 311467 (185gr), Lee Aloxed and sized/gas-checked to .309"
Brass: assorted (Imperial, Dominion) .30-30 brass resized to .303Sav, with a single wrap of 1/4"-wide masking tape around the base. Now before anyone gets their sheriff's badge out, I've loaded and shot about 100 or so using this method, and they actually perform better than the real .303 Savage brass. I have an ample supply of the latter but it doesn't hold up more for than a couple of these low-pressure reloads before failing, with neck cracking or total separation. Annealing didn't seem to make much difference. The .30-30 brass is simply better for the loads I shoot in the 1899.
Primer: Winchester Large Rifle
Charge: 18gr IMR 4227
The same round except with 18gr H4198 chronographed last summer at 1400fps...

http://s1093.photobucket.com/user/nilsek/media/CB-target/d303Sav_reloads_3030brass_zpsb230d4e5.jpg.html?sort=9&o=3

Conditions: 0degC, snow, wind from 9:00 @ 20mph

10 shots at 100 yards (10 minute relay)

http://s1093.photobucket.com/user/nilsek/media/CB-target/e1899303Savage_100yds_20141114_zps9cf4d97c.jpg.html?sort=9&o=4

Spread: 4.75"
6 shots completely inside 1.75" circle

http://s1093.photobucket.com/user/nilsek/media/CB-target/f1899303Savage_100yds_20141114_remarks_zpsc4f9046e.jpg.html?sort=9&o=5

I realized after finishing that the peep-sight aperture eyepiece had shaken loose! So I could blame the flyers on that, except that my last shots were the ones with the tightest grouping !! :p

Scoped Rifle
Savage 99F .300 Savage (year 1951). 22" barrel 1:16", slugged .302"-.308". Scope is a Redfield 4X

http://s1093.photobucket.com/user/nilsek/media/CB-target/gSavage99_setup_zps5715900f.jpg.html?sort=9&o=6

Boolit for this test: Lyman 311467 (185gr), Lee Aloxed and sized/gas-checked to .309"
Brass: assorted (Imperial, Dominion, R-P)
Primer: Winchester Large Rifle
Charge: 22gr IMR 4227
Chronographed at 1779 fps.

http://s1093.photobucket.com/user/nilsek/media/CB-target/h300Sav_cartridges_zps2fc24c17.jpg.html?sort=9&o=7
I had loaded some of the Lee C312-185 boolits, but didn't shoot them this time.

Conditions: 0degC, snow, wind from 9:00 20mph.

10 shots at 100 yards (10 minute relay)

http://s1093.photobucket.com/user/nilsek/media/CB-target/iSav99300Savage_100yds_20141114_zps4bd1ac39.jpg.html?sort=9&o=8

Spread: 3.125"
9 shots completely inside 2.25" circle

http://s1093.photobucket.com/user/nilsek/media/CB-target/jSav99300Savage_100yds_20141114_remarks_zps764a7499.jpg.html?sort=9&o=9

Earlier this year I had shot the same loads, as well as some using H4198. The latter gave tighter grouping, but they were shot at 50 yards. This 100-yard challenge is, well, more challenging. I hope to eventually do some more ten-shot strings to see if the H4198 loads are indeed superior, as well as testing the Lee C312-185 boolits more thoroughly.
 
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Finally - 257 roberts. Arisaka action, bauska barrel, home made stock. CBE 25790 bullet, WW+2% tin, 20gr WC845 powder,WLR primer.
10 shots, 100yds. Caliper zeroed across a bullet hole, measurement shown is center to center.
Grouch





 
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Dogleg said:
I didn't know about this challenge but shot this the other day while working up loads for my .458 Lott. It has potential seeing as the bullets are just plain based, unsized and tumble lubed.

Click to expand...

The lott chamber is VERY cast friendly. The best mold is the 500 gr lee GC bore rider(Can't believe I said that, I hate Lee). Seat that out till the full dia touches lands (aprox .180 freebore on my ruger) and it will one hole. They are better water dropped a bit hard though with the magnum twist
 
OK, I'm in. But things will have to wait until the weather gets a bit warmer. These old bones don't like the cold. Firstly, these photos don't count - they're just a teaser.
The large group was shot a few years back with my Browning BPCR in .45/70 with iron sights at our 200 yard range. The other was with a .308 CIL 950T, made by Savage with a 3-9 Redfield that I picked up about two months back. Whoever mounted the scope never fired it since the rear mount was cranked all the way over to one side when I got it. The closest I could get it was about 4 inches away from the aiming point at 25 yards. I took it home and moved it to the center and with my last 5 shots with my first load, I shot this group at 50 yards. I liked it so much that I just bought a 950T off the EE and have fitted it up with peep sights.

 
I finally had the chance to go do some cast boolet shooting!
I only loaded 5 rounds of each test load. It is amazing how much difference a small change in powder charge can make with cast boolet shooting!
I am shooting a P14 Enfield in 303 British.



The day was extremely bright and the glare was extream! My first group was terrible! It was discouraging, and it made me buckle down a little. The first group measured 5.727" at 100! Yuck!


The second group was fired when a cloud covered the area and reduced the glare. When I got up to the target, I was a little surprised, AND pleased!


The third group was a let down after group two! LOL! Back out to re try these loads with 10 round tests.


I know these groups don't conform to the thread standards, "YET", but this is just to show you gunnutz what these old rifles can do.

This picture is all three groups on the target, with the load info and group sizes documented. You will notice a larger hole at The 11:00 position of the bull. As indicated on the target, this is a 45-70 418 cast boolet I shot off hand at 100 yards. I missed horribly I know! LOL!

 
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I have totally been neglecting my casting since duck season opened lol. I'm planning on firing up the pot and casting some new boolits over the holidays to give this another try. Damn Grouch did good!
 
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Almost made the 2.5" iron sights category yesterday:

http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i433/nilsek/CB-target/100yd_303SAV_zps57960a49.png

Equipment, load info, etc. is on the image.
Very gusty conditions, I waited for a lull and started shooting, first five rounds in about 3-4 minutes. I could see one big hole forming! Then disaster at shot #6: a weak "pum!" sound (not "bang!") and a puff of smoke. The case split completely lengthwise. I was surprised the boolet even made it to the target. I'm pretty sure that one was the outlier at 10 o'clock. After that I gave up waiting for another lull in the wind and finished the other shots.
Still, not too bad results. I'll have to inspect brass a bit more closely, usually I spot those bad ones.
 
Barkin at Your heels
I won't do a 10 group @ 100 till we get weather but, here's 4 @ just under 80
The one high right is zeroing the unit. Yep 4 40 cals in that worm hole
securedownloa_zpsba8ee9c0.jpg

Going to have to go pretty stupid from there to 100 not to be a contender. I wish user Alox would post a group or two. Come on Alox . Seriously this guy will put out a cast group that puts snipers to blush
 
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