Powder for cast

desporterizer

desporterizer

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I am shooting mostly cast these days out of various milsurp cartriges. Assuming I want to keep velocity in th 1300-2000 fps range what powder would you recomend to stock in large quantity?
 
I've tried a lot of them over the years. Both 4198's, RL-7, SR4759, Trail Boss, 5744 and 2400. Trail Boss works but I was never impressed with the accuracy. Going to play around with 5744 again. Had problems with unburnt powder but probably wasn't going hot enough. 4198's worked fine with good accuracy. Have kind of settled on 2400 as the favour of the month over the last couple years. Been shooting 3006 (03a3), 7.62x54 in several MN's, 8x57 (M24/47) and 8x56R in 95 carbine mostly the last while. Got a new to me Arisaka Type 99 to fool around with this spring (only 25 rds through it so far)
One thing I will add about 2400 in 30 cal milsurp cartridges is that I had gas leakage/sooty cases until I got over 18.0 grs with nearly every rifle. Starting loads are usually given as 16.0 grs.
As always check reliable sources when starting load developement.
 
Old Ranger said:
I've tried a lot of them over the years. Both 4198's, RL-7, SR4759, Trail Boss, 5744 and 2400. Trail Boss works but I was never impressed with the accuracy. Going to play around with 5744 again. Had problems with unburnt powder but probably wasn't going hot enough. 4198's worked fine with good accuracy. Have kind of settled on 2400 as the favour of the month over the last couple years. Been shooting 3006 (03a3), 7.62x54 in several MN's, 8x57 (M24/47) and 8x56R in 95 carbine mostly the last while. Got a new to me Arisaka Type 99 to fool around with this spring (only 25 rds through it so far)
One thing I will add about 2400 in 30 cal milsurp cartridges is that I had gas leakage/sooty cases until I got over 18.0 grs with nearly every rifle. Starting loads are usually given as 16.0 grs.
As always check reliable sources when starting load developement.
Click to expand...

Even 18 grains is pretty light.
First edition, Lyman cast book, shows max of 26 grains of 2400 with 30-06 and bullets up to 175 grains. Ditto for the 303, 7.7 jap, etac.
 
I've been using RL7 and 2400 quite a bit, along with H335 and 748 when the data lists it - I choose powders for case filling and good metering, so short stick and ball powders make me happy. I will grudgingly use SR4759 when I have to, but I hate running it through my measure.

I'd like to try 5744, but can find it nowhere.
 
Trail Boss, for some reason, shoots 1.5 MOA in 300WM with 185gr cast bullets for me. Only cartridge it works that well in though.

My standard go-to powders for cast are Unique, Blue Dot, SR4759, and IMR/H 4895. SR4759 gets the most use and delivers pretty good results in bottleneck rifle cases. For cast in straight wall cases (44 mag and 45-70 for me) I use more Unique and Blue Dot.
 
Red Dot, SR4759 and H4198 handle 90% of my cast bullet needs.

I use full cases of pulled 8X63 Swede in 41 Swiss and 12.7X44R. Burning Rate is near IMR4064, and some unburnt powder is to be expected.
 
For light cast loads, try 4227. 25 grains with a 170gr bullet shoots great in .303. My dad uses it to load everything from 44 mag to 30-30, .223, and 45-70.
 
Go to Lawry's Shooting Sports and pick up a 8lb key of Promo for 100bucks. It's basically the same as Red Dot. I use 14g in my mosin behind a 200gr cast. I also use it in 9mm, 44 special, and 12 gauge.
 
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