KHornet
Well-Known Member
About 4-5 years ago at a Lincoln gun show, I bought a new Stevens rifle in 308 because the price was right and I haden't had a new off the shelf rifle in a long time. Didn't need it, but thought I would keep it strictly a cast shooter. Went home, put a 4-16 BSA scope on it, and over the next few years, put maybe 150 rounds thru it. About 3+ years ago, I had loaded 40 rounds of 308 with 311413HP, over 16 gr of 2400, and forgot about them until yesterday. There has been a fair amount of traffic on this forum in the past few months, and the love/hate relationship with the 413 by some members. Anyhow, I had loaded RP brass, neck sized and 20 without fill, and 20 with fill. It has been a long time since I shot more than a 10 shot group out of any rifle, but decided to do two 20 round groups. The Bullets were sized .311, and were lubed with Lars Can Red. It was a cool day at about 40 degrees when I started shooting, warming up to 54 when I left. It was cloudy with ocaisional break thru of the sun. Winds were fairly steady between 10-15, and I had the range to myself (I like that). Considering the wind, I shot at 50 yds. The first shot with the no fill ctg went low left , and I fired the next 9 rounds into about an 1nch group, and then adjusted the scope up and to the right a bit. Even with th scope adjustment excluding the first low round, the rest of the 19 rounds went into 1.86. I let the rifle cool for about a half hour and went to shooting my K31 Swiss, but that's another story. The first shot out of the ctgs with fill (additional scope adjustment) went dead center, and the next 19 rounds grouped into 2.3" showing me that the loads without fill were probably the most accurate. I could not find any more of the 413HP's so I see a casting session with that mold in the near future. I neglected playing with this Stevens for reasons unknown. However, will not neglect it in the future. I also shot 2 ten round groups with 155 PB lees over .6 gr of American Select, and the best I could do with that load was 1.77", none of the bullets were weighed I had noted. I don't know if I had weighed the 413's. I am very glad that I had Buckshot HP that mold for me in times past. I also have a single cav 413, and a single 414, that I may have to give a try one of these days when I feel up to casting with single cav molds. As to the rifle, it is a basic Savage 110 of times past with a plastic stock, no iron sights, and definitely a Plain Jane. Would make a good starting deer rifle for a new or young hunter.
Paul
Paul
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