Gentlemen. I am fixing to load some 200 grain cast bullets in a '06, and am wondering if it is still conventional wisdom to stay away from slow powders with cast bullets. My choices from my cabinet are H335, and 3031, and a couple of surplus powders that are in the 4831 range. Thanks.
Speed of powder for cast bullet
- Thread starter 22to45
- Start date
just having some fun
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I do not own a 06 but I pulled out brand new Lyman Cast book
and for lead cast Lyman #311299 200g bullet it list powders for
Unique
2400
SR-4759
IMR 4227
5744
N130
Imr 4198
Rx7
N133
Varget
And IMR has a formula for using Trail Boss in almost anything
the cast boolits Site even has data (start point) for using cast in a Garand that works and is safe in a semi (works as a semi too)
the best i have heard of is 3-4" 5 shot group at 200 yds
The reason you generally stay away from slow powders is that you need to keep the pressure lower than for jacketed bullets, and slow powders don't behave well much below their intended pressure range.
Of those three, none are great choices, but I'd stay away from 4831 (too slow), and H335 (ball powder that does not like reduced loads). IMR3031 would be ok.
Of those three, none are great choices, but I'd stay away from 4831 (too slow), and H335 (ball powder that does not like reduced loads). IMR3031 would be ok.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
For best performance with cast you'll need to pick up some faster powder. Although 29 grs of 3031 should produce acceptable velocity, you might observe some significant extreme spreads in velocity, IMHO the .30/30 is better suited to cast bullet shooting with 3031 than the '06. My favorite cast bullet powder in the .30/06 is SR-4759, although I seem to use Unique more often than not. Take care not to double charge small charges of fast powder.
The two best powders for cast bullet shooting in 06, 300 mag etc is Trail boss, followed by 4759. For Trail Boss, fill to base of neck, weigh, start at 70% and work up till you find na accurate load. Most of my guns will shoot under an inch with Trail Boss and jacketed bullets, and with cast it all depends on the quality of the bullets but 1.5" is pretty common. You can also work down if you want to.
Reduced loads of 4895 also work very well (Hogdon site has youth loads listed that work with cast just fine, and loads of 30% less than published for any bullet weight work fine if there isn't a youth load for 200 grain bullets), if you can't get easy access to the other two.
Reduced loads of 4895 also work very well (Hogdon site has youth loads listed that work with cast just fine, and loads of 30% less than published for any bullet weight work fine if there isn't a youth load for 200 grain bullets), if you can't get easy access to the other two.
What kind of load are you looking for: plinking, mid-range, hunting or? The light loads of fast powders were used for the plinking mid-range loads. But, the pressure rises too quickly with those powders to be suitable for many hunting load applications.
The medium to slow burning powders have slower and longer pressure rises and will get you a hunting load quite easily. There are tricks to using powders such as 4831 but may be more nuisance than you want. H or IMR 4895 is a good bet if you want a load in the 1800-2000 fps range.
The medium to slow burning powders have slower and longer pressure rises and will get you a hunting load quite easily. There are tricks to using powders such as 4831 but may be more nuisance than you want. H or IMR 4895 is a good bet if you want a load in the 1800-2000 fps range.
- Location
- Golden Lake
My best cast bullet loads in the .30-06 has been 20 grs 2400 with either the Lee 170 gr flat nose or the Lee 200 gr round nose (both gas checked).
30 grs 3031 was almost as accurate with the 200 gr bullet.
30 grs 3031 was almost as accurate with the 200 gr bullet.
22to45:
I have Quickload. If you want me to work up a load for you using your powders, pm me. I will need to know your barrel length, altitiude where you are firing, COAL, bullet length, bullet hardness & a couple of other things.
Jim
I have Quickload. If you want me to work up a load for you using your powders, pm me. I will need to know your barrel length, altitiude where you are firing, COAL, bullet length, bullet hardness & a couple of other things.
Jim
I am just looking for a shootable load in the 1800 fps plus catagory. I would like to get2200 or so, and still have hunting accuracy. The gravel pit I shoot at is still muddy, I will be at it in a few weeks. I will try the 3031 and let you guys know how it works. I have a chrony, so I can check how fast they are going. I have no intention of going into uncharted territory, I have lots of jacketed bullets if I want to push for velocity. I just want a good hunting load, and I want to outshoot my nephew, who is loading cast bullets for the first time.
In my 300 win mag, I've been shooting 180's over top of 16.5 grains of Unique for years now. They always shoot around 1" groups if I haven't had a pot of coffee before hand.
I'm a fan of Alliant Red Dot/Promo powder for casts.Cheap,meters very well and relatively clean burning-I use it in all my milsurps.
For example 13.8 Gr of it loaded in 8x57 Yugo Mauser propels 165 Gr to 1550 fps with very nice accuracy and not so stout report.Same load works in 8x56R Steyr , but in 8x50 Lebel all I need is 11.2Gr.
The only other powder I tried with better results was AA 5744,unfortunately I could never find reliable source of it.
For example 13.8 Gr of it loaded in 8x57 Yugo Mauser propels 165 Gr to 1550 fps with very nice accuracy and not so stout report.Same load works in 8x56R Steyr , but in 8x50 Lebel all I need is 11.2Gr.
The only other powder I tried with better results was AA 5744,unfortunately I could never find reliable source of it.
