Where should i start loads for 308win

[orgoniun]

I have been loading cast for a few years in 9mm, 357 and 45acp & 45colt with great results and now want to cast and load for my Tika T-3 hunter in 308win.

I shoot mostly targets out to 200 yds or less.

I recieved 50 200gn SP 311365 boolits from a guy a couple years ago that are siezed .311, checked, lubed with Bens red that i want to try out. I got very little information on load data from another site that said i should start with Varget with 32gr and work up from there but i'm still uneasy about this. Will this work ?
I would like to be in the 1600-1800 FPS area. My OAL needs to be 2.775 to fit the magazine.

I do have a Crony to work up loads with.

I will do a pound cast soon after i read the sticky again to understand the measurements

I have lots of powders to choose from, Unique, 231, Varget, IMR 4064, IMR 8082, Enforcer, 296, WSF & Bullseye.

If the gun shoots these O/K i will be getting a NOE 311-180-fn for hunting and target shooting and will probably be the only boolit that i shoot in it and could use some help on starting loads for any of the powders for them also.

Thanks very much for your help, Steve

 

[Ian]

Sounds like it's time to buy a book with cast bullet loading data. Anything by Lyman (current is #49 IIRC) will have data you need. Also the Lee reloading book has some sorta kinda maybe trustworthy data for reduced .308 loads using slow powders, and there are other printed sources. I could give you a starting load for any of those powders but do not feel comfortable doing so if you don't have information handy to cross-check and reality-check any information you get from the internet.

 

[KHornet]

Ian's advise is the best that anyone could give regarding this thread!

 

[orgoniun]

I have the Lyman and Lee current books and several other older ones, but the lyman did not have a load for the 311365 boolit.

Can i use the information for a different 200gn boolit ?

I load for the 308win with jacketed bullets from 165gn - 200gn and they work well, Just unsure where to start with the Lead.

Thanks, Steve

 

[Ben]

Can i use the information for a different 200gn boolit ?

Yes, 200 grains is 200 grains , shape isn't all that critical.

Ben

 

[Missionary]

Greetings
Loading cast I use the loading information given for jacketed thangs of the same weight if the load is near where my desired velocity is. That is the catch. Most manuals only list upper velocity loads.
The Lyman on the other hand gets you going. The recommended powders are the useful ones.
If you desire to use some unlisted powders I have called the powder manufacturer and told the "tech man" my desire using which ever powder I wanted to use. Last place I called was what used to be Accurate Arms and they were very helpful especially with a 50-95 repro.
Mike in Peru

 

[orgoniun]

Thanks Ben,

Make's me feel better, That's what was throwing me of mostly was the shape of such a long boolit.

 

[fiver]

I doubt you could find the powder I'd give you a load for.
it'd be easier to find a powder and look for data.

 

[orgoniun]

If you desire to use some unlisted powders I have called the powder manufacturer and told the "tech man" my desire using which ever powder I wanted to use. Last place I called was what used to be Accurate Arms and they were very helpful especially with a 50-95 repro.
Mike in Peru

Thanks Mike,
I did not know you could do that, Will keep it in mind.
Steve

 

[Rick]

I doubt you could find the powder I'd give you a load for.
it'd be easier to find a powder and look for data.

Same here, if you have or can find some SR4759 18-19 gr under the RCBS 180 SP is a fine shooter in my 308 single shot at 1900 fps. Air cooled CWW + 2% Sn @ 12 BHN. Downside is that 4759 has been discontinued recently, still possible to find some on dealers shelf but getting pretty scarce.

 

[KHornet]

AND--in addition to the advice above: I suggest you see if you can find a caster/reloader and see if he would be able to mentor you for the few first casting/loading sessions. It is one thing to read, another, to be shown what you have read by someone with experience doing it with you. Loading and shooting cast in rifles can be a horse of a different color compared to loading for rifles. Good luck!

 

[Winelover]

I recieved 50 200gn SP 311365 boolits from a guy a couple years ago that are siezed .311, checked, lubed with Bens red that i want to try out. I got very little information on load data from another site that said i should start with Varget with 32gr and work up from there but i'm still uneasy about this. Will this work ?
I would like to be in the 1600-1800 FPS area. My OAL needs to be 2.775 to fit the magazine.

I have lots of powders to choose from, Unique, 231, Varget, IMR 4064, IMR 8082, Enforcer, 296, WSF & Bullseye.

I have done a lot of testing with the 311365 in the 308W.....however mostly with an AR-10. And I can tell you that accuracy drops off as velocity increases. Velocity is important for me because I need for the rifle to function as an auto loader...hence I can not use low velocity loads, even though they tend to be more accurate. That being said......I abandoned Varget with the 311365 SP. Could not get groups under 4 MOA. My test targets show I started with 27 grains and took it up to 34 grains......book maximum. Thirty one to thirty two grains worked the best, if your satisfied with 4 MOA. BTW, all testing was done with military brass.

I did not test IMR 4064 but did try AA 4064 and it showed more promise with the 311365 SP. Groups were in the neighborhood of 2 MOA with 27-28 grains. Both powders are very close to each other on the burn chart so they should behave similarly......just check for data with IMR 4064 and any 200 grain jacketed bullet.

I do not have velocity readings on my loads. My Shooting Crony keeps getting errors due to horrendous muzzle blast, with this rifle. Blast shield set up is a PITA.

Hope this helps.

 

[Ian]

John, you have that little chronograph problem fixed now I understand, but with eleventy gillion different kinds of 5/8x24 muzzle devices on the market today I can't fathom why you haven't changed your brake to something more tolerable?

ETA, 4895 should give you the right amount of gas and a lot less muzzle blast, not sure what is your alloy though, it might not like powder that fast.

 

[Rick]

I doubt the thought of changing the flash suppressor ever occurred to him. It's zero problem for the shooter, only for sky screens and anyone else that happens to be on either side of him. He would sure make no friends at a public range shooting that thing.

Yep, the sky screen problem is solved. Isn't the 21st century wonderful?

 

[Brad]

A rifle like that is a good thing at a range some days. Ever have a guy with an SKS spray brass all over you? That is a perfect response. Only thing better is a short barreled handgun with stout loads. A little muzzle blast tends to drive morons away.

 

[Winelover]

John, you have that little chronograph problem fixed now I understand, but with eleventy gillion different kinds of 5/8x24 muzzle devices on the market today I can't fathom why you haven't changed your brake to something more tolerable?

ETA, 4895 should give you the right amount of gas and a lot less muzzle blast, not sure what is your alloy though, it might not like powder that fast.

If it ain't broke...don't fix it.....unless I decide to go the suppressed route. This carbine is capable of one hole groups with J-words.....not even close with cast. It's a work in progress and I have tried many cast bullet and powder combinations. Have two, thick 3 ring binders, full of notated targets. Started with NOE's 311365 SP and pretty much gave up on that bullet, after going through all the different the powders that Rick and I have. Much better results with NOE's 311414 SP, which is essentially a shorter version of the former. Also using Miha's 180 silhouette bullet with satisfactory results. Just not attaining consistent 1 MOA groups. Still much testing to be done.....so little time and less published data. Much of the load testing was done by guesstimating......to be able to chronograph will be a great advantage.