Author Topic: Anybody use cast bullets in .243, .308, or .30-06? (Read 786 times)

Selmer · « **on:** February 03, 2004, 05:36:22 AM »

Just curious to know if anyone uses any cast bullets for plinking or small-game hunting out of their .243, .308, or .30-06. I'm looking for light loads, less than 2000 fps, preferable closer to 1500 fps. What powders do you use and what kind of accuracy is possible? They'll be used in bolt-action rifles. Thanks for the help.
Selmer

Carl l. · « **Reply #1 on:** February 03, 2004, 06:44:45 AM »

Selmer, You need to buy some of the old lyman and Ideal handloading books, at least from 1960 to 1970 and even in the 50th's. They have the loads for all cal. that your are asking about. I have knew fellows to load there 30-06's to hunt squirrel's and small game with and they were real acturate. If you watch e-bay, you can buy them there. I hope this helps. Carl L.

Selmer · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2004, 07:30:01 AM »

Dad has one of the old Lyman books from the '70s I'm going to try to get that from him. The newest, the 48th edition, has quite a few different loads for the .30 calibers, but only one bullet is listed for the .243. I think the .243 would be great fun to hunt squirrels with with reduced cast loads, and probably with minimal damage. I shot a few with reduced loads from my .454 Casull, but the bullet is just too big to prevent meat damage. My goal is to have loads for my big game rifles and pistols that I can hunt small game with without reducing them to mincemeat before I get to butcher them.
Selmer

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 03, 2004, 11:52:20 AM »

Not yet, but working on it as quickly as the mail system permits. In the Third Edition of the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook there is an article by Frank Marshall Jr. In the article, Mr Marshall cites what I've always believed: Heavy, for calibre, cast bullets at moderate velocities are the most accurate. Then Mr Marshall goes on to prove that his claims are correct. His load in this article is: 21 grs. of SR-4795 and a #311284 bullet. He expounds on his successes in CBA competitions with this combination. Somewhere, he mentioned velocities in the 16-1800fps range.
I have this mould enroute to try with a single shot 30-30. I really believe that 1800fps should be easily obtainable, if it's not, I'll be plenty happy with 1600.
I have an old Lyman reloading manual and the new Cast bullet handbook. Many loads for the above mentioned calibres, If you have a bullet or a powder in mind, I'm more than happy to pass on what information I may have

Carl l. · « **Reply #4 on:** February 03, 2004, 03:01:38 PM »

Selmer, I forgot to tell you, I can send what information that I have in the old Layman handbooks if you would like to have them. Carl L.

Selmer · « **Reply #5 on:** February 03, 2004, 03:33:32 PM »

I'll look and see what dad has in his old Lyman manual before I ask you to go the expense of copying and mailing them out. Thanks for the offer though!
Selmer

Tom W. · « **Reply #6 on:** February 03, 2004, 04:19:33 PM »

Try starting with 30 grains of IMR 3031 and a 160 gr cast bullet in the 30/06.

jgalar · « **Reply #7 on:** February 04, 2004, 03:20:15 AM »

I use 9 grains of Unique in my 30-30 170 grain bullet. Very good accuracy. The other day at the range another guy's 30-30 was just making popping noises so I talked to him - he was using 7 grains of Unique.

I use 11 grains in my 303Brit with 185 grain bullet and it does well.

Don't have a chrony but would guess I am around 22LR velocities.
Dirt cheap to load and shoot. The Unique doesn't appear to be case sensitive so I don't use a filler.

Both loads were worked up from Lyman Cast Bullet manual.

Duffy · « **Reply #8 on:** February 04, 2004, 06:27:04 AM »

You might even check with Veral on a bullet & mould fit to your gun. The increase in accuracy and ease of casting is worth it.