Accuracy with Spire Point Boolits

[WayneS]

Just wondering what sort of 200 yd. accuracy potential boolits like the Lee 311-155 and other spire point boolits offer out of bolt guns and M1 & M1A1's ??

[Larry Gibson]

Generally the accuracy is poor if you want the actions to function.  The reason being that bullet is too light to give sufficient gasport pressures to function the action at an accurate velocity.  Better to use Lymans 311299/314299 over a medium powder like 4895 and keep the velocity down in the 1850-1950 fps range.  Accuracy can be very good then.  The more pointy, spitzer shaped bullets generally have a shorter bearing surface and do not shoot well at higher velocities.  A bullet with long bearing surface and minimal nose is best like a Lovern design.

Caveat;  if you have an M1A with a 12" twist then you may get reasonable accuracy with the lee bullet in the 2000-2100 fps range.  I get very good accuracy at 2300 fps in mine with 160 gr 311466, a Lovern design.  There is a LBT 154 gr bullet that holds promiss in the 2300+ fps range in the 12" twist M1A barrels also.

Larry Gibson

[Cat Whisperer]

Your best accuracy is often with a bullet with lots of contact with the bore - as in the Lovern designs and bore-riders.  Spitzers have a lot of mass that is unsupported, so the initial alignment of them in the bore becomes extra critical.

[WayneS]

thanks Cat & LG, the mold in question has a nose Dia. of .291  so while it looks good it wouldn't shoot worth   "shineola"

[Larry Gibson]

thanks Cat & LG, the mold in question has a nose Dia. of .291  so while it looks good it wouldn't shoot worth   "shineola"

"shinola" is probably a very good assumption in that case.

Larry Gibson

[jhalcott]

  Wayne, perhaps a change in alloy MIGHT fatten up that bullet so the nose rides closer to the bore. A ww or ww/lead mix will often drop a bit larger than a Lyman #2 or Linotype alloy. This may or may not mean a change in velocity. Just my thoughts!!