Cast bullets in .308
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All handloading data posted on Full-Bore UK from 23/2/2021 must reference the published pressure tested data it was sourced from, posts without such verification will be removed.
Any existing data without such a reference should be treated as suspect and not used.
Use reloading information posted here at your own risk. This forum (http://www.full-bore.co.uk) is not responsible for any property damage or personal injury as a consequence of using reloading data posted here, the information is individual members findings and observations only. Always verify the load data and be absolutely sure your firearm can handle the load, especially older ones. If in doubt start low and work your way up.
All handloading data posted on Full-Bore UK from 23/2/2021 must reference the published pressure tested data it was sourced from, posts without such verification will be removed.
Any existing data without such a reference should be treated as suspect and not used.
Use reloading information posted here at your own risk. This forum (http://www.full-bore.co.uk) is not responsible for any property damage or personal injury as a consequence of using reloading data posted here, the information is individual members findings and observations only. Always verify the load data and be absolutely sure your firearm can handle the load, especially older ones. If in doubt start low and work your way up.
Re: Cast bullets in .308
Just a thought, is that the 'scope off your SSG? They are usually glued onto place in the rings.
Re: Cast bullets in .308
No that's another one I have. The SSG is fitted with the original scope it came with. The one on the SSG is a earlier model and yes you are correct the scope is glued into the rings. The rings are the original quick release type.
Re: Cast bullets in .308
Your answer as above to my post as been going round and round in my head. I think you are right this rifle is really not for me. Milsurp rifles are my bag nothing about this feels right. I intended to chop the barrel and have a go at re chambering etc. But in reality my work shop is not big enough. My lathe is not big enough and the Mill is not big enough.It looks OK in the pictures and should be a handy rifle, why are you struggling for motivation, is it just the other rifles calling to you or do you believe this is not really a rifle for you?
The rifle is worth nothing to me some one may be interested in the original rear sight. Ill probably just scrap it and move on.
Or maybe I can swop it for a milsurp.
Re: Cast bullets in .308
Scrap, not a good word.
I am very much against scrapping rifles if there is the vaguest chance they can be shot again and even if a rifle is not for you I am sure there is always someone else who would be very happy to give it a home.
I am very much against scrapping rifles if there is the vaguest chance they can be shot again and even if a rifle is not for you I am sure there is always someone else who would be very happy to give it a home.
Re: Cast bullets in .308
I have not done anything with this for a little while. You may be right perhaps I should not scrap it. The scope rail is fitted up and its wearing a Kahles scope. So I guess I should have a bash at casting a suitable bullet and actually shooting the thing.
Re: Cast bullets in .308
Well I have a mould I guess I should give it a go. The rail is fitted its scoped. Ovenpaa is right its probably not a good idea to just scrap the rifle. I'm not sure its a good idea to shorten the barrel either if I do I probably would not be able to move the rifle on. As it is I can return it to the original and it may have some value or I could just sell the rear sight.
Any way back on track I'm going to schedule a casting session and sort some thing out for my next range day. I'm intending to cast the bullets in wheel weights unless some one has a better idea.
Or may be some one would swop it for a P14 or a Mosin Nagant even.
Hmm I guess not.
Any way back on track I'm going to schedule a casting session and sort some thing out for my next range day. I'm intending to cast the bullets in wheel weights unless some one has a better idea.
Or may be some one would swop it for a P14 or a Mosin Nagant even.
Hmm I guess not.Re: Cast bullets in .308
This rifle has been sat in one of my cabinets for ever I stumbled across it while looking for some thing else. I pulled it out and sat it on the bench pulled up a chair and just sat and stared at it for a while.
Some thoughts ran through my head. How old is this rifle. Is it still a shooter. Would any one buy it in its original set up. Would some one buy the sight if not the whole package.
Why did it end up in my cabinet and why have I ignored it for so long. Because I wanted the Khales scope I put on it for some thing else.
But now I have a scope recently acquired that cost me very little that I want to check out. I actually don't have a rifle I can check the scope out on.
So I'm thinking to carry on with the project. I have ordered a G98 mauser action dedicated scope base. I'm not going to bother with the rear aperture sight base. I'm going to see if I can sell the base and sight.
My machining skills are much improved and the thought of drilling and tapping a receiver to accept a scope base no longer sends me into a melt down. Chopping the barrel refacing it then re crowning no longer scares me. My work shop is a lot better equipped than it was 12 months ago.
So this project is back on I guess.
Some thoughts ran through my head. How old is this rifle. Is it still a shooter. Would any one buy it in its original set up. Would some one buy the sight if not the whole package.
Why did it end up in my cabinet and why have I ignored it for so long. Because I wanted the Khales scope I put on it for some thing else.
But now I have a scope recently acquired that cost me very little that I want to check out. I actually don't have a rifle I can check the scope out on.
So I'm thinking to carry on with the project. I have ordered a G98 mauser action dedicated scope base. I'm not going to bother with the rear aperture sight base. I'm going to see if I can sell the base and sight.
My machining skills are much improved and the thought of drilling and tapping a receiver to accept a scope base no longer sends me into a melt down. Chopping the barrel refacing it then re crowning no longer scares me. My work shop is a lot better equipped than it was 12 months ago.
So this project is back on I guess.
Re: Cast bullets in .308
I have been looking on line at stocks I think I can get a wooden stock for about £150 I might have to do a bit of fettling to inlet it for the barrel but that's not an issue.
A proper Mauser dedicated scope rail is about £65.00 I am going to order one to morrow. If it doesn't work I can all ways sell the rail on.
I'm looking to shoot it at the end of the month with cast boolits at 100 yards. If I have enough gas checks. I will be using wheel weights for the alloy.
My stock of wheel weights is getting seriously low obviously there wont be any more after they have gone. On the up side I have enough pure lead to sink a battle ship. Unfortunately the ingot sizes are the size of house bricks and they don't fit in my lead pots so I spend more time cutting them up to fit in the pots than smelting them. Another reason I got peed of with this project.
A proper Mauser dedicated scope rail is about £65.00 I am going to order one to morrow. If it doesn't work I can all ways sell the rail on.
I'm looking to shoot it at the end of the month with cast boolits at 100 yards. If I have enough gas checks. I will be using wheel weights for the alloy.
My stock of wheel weights is getting seriously low obviously there wont be any more after they have gone. On the up side I have enough pure lead to sink a battle ship. Unfortunately the ingot sizes are the size of house bricks and they don't fit in my lead pots so I spend more time cutting them up to fit in the pots than smelting them. Another reason I got peed of with this project.
Re: Cast bullets in .308
I purchased a dedicated scope rail for the old Girl I am just awaiting delivery. The plan is to drill and tap the action and fit the rail.
The Parker hale aperture rear sight and dedicated mount will be offered for sale in the appropriate section of the forum and I guess the front tunnel sight as well if they wanted it once I have cut it off. The plan is to cut the portion of the barrel with the front sight off using a hack saw leaving enough barrel to give me either 24" or 26" Im open to advice as to the the length. Then if all goes well to face the barrel off in the lathe after clocking it in and cut a 11 degree taper at the muzzle then lap it smooth. If it doesn't go well it will end up in the scrap bin and that will be the end of this post.
(That's not beyond the realms of possibility)
The next bit is case prep and load development.
I recently took delivery of 100 once fired .308 GGG cases so these babies will be pressed into service for this project.
I wont bore you with the details. Or may be I will.
First thing I did was re size them using a Reding .308 body die I have not touched the necks YET as this is a cast boolit project Im expecting them to be opened up with a Lyman type M die to approx .312. But more on that later.
I uniformed the primer pockets using my L.E.Wilson trimmer with a suitable primer pocket reamer installed. Then all the cases were checked to see if they are a uniform length. I could post a picture of the trimmer in action but I guess you know what a Wilson trimmer looks like so I will spare you the boring details. The cases will now be transfered to my tumbler for cleaning.
In the mean time I need to re check what boolits Im going to go with I would like a nice Loverin if possible. I need to acquire some gas checks pukkabundhooks advertises them on the web site I will have to check if he has any in stock.
Powders I have plenty of so Im Ok there.
Any way watch this space Ill try and get some pictures up so you have some thing to look at to stop you falling asleep out of boredom whilst reading the post.
The rail its a dedicated Mauser jobby.
The Parker hale aperture rear sight and dedicated mount will be offered for sale in the appropriate section of the forum and I guess the front tunnel sight as well if they wanted it once I have cut it off. The plan is to cut the portion of the barrel with the front sight off using a hack saw leaving enough barrel to give me either 24" or 26" Im open to advice as to the the length. Then if all goes well to face the barrel off in the lathe after clocking it in and cut a 11 degree taper at the muzzle then lap it smooth. If it doesn't go well it will end up in the scrap bin and that will be the end of this post.
(That's not beyond the realms of possibility)
The next bit is case prep and load development.
I recently took delivery of 100 once fired .308 GGG cases so these babies will be pressed into service for this project.
I wont bore you with the details. Or may be I will.
First thing I did was re size them using a Reding .308 body die I have not touched the necks YET as this is a cast boolit project Im expecting them to be opened up with a Lyman type M die to approx .312. But more on that later.
I uniformed the primer pockets using my L.E.Wilson trimmer with a suitable primer pocket reamer installed. Then all the cases were checked to see if they are a uniform length. I could post a picture of the trimmer in action but I guess you know what a Wilson trimmer looks like so I will spare you the boring details. The cases will now be transfered to my tumbler for cleaning.
In the mean time I need to re check what boolits Im going to go with I would like a nice Loverin if possible. I need to acquire some gas checks pukkabundhooks advertises them on the web site I will have to check if he has any in stock.
Powders I have plenty of so Im Ok there.
Any way watch this space Ill try and get some pictures up so you have some thing to look at to stop you falling asleep out of boredom whilst reading the post.
The rail its a dedicated Mauser jobby.
- mauser_rail.jpg (16.1 KiB) Viewed 1777 times
Re: Cast bullets in .308
The rail arrived in the post to day I don't know how they justify the £60 odd pound price tag. Its nothing special anyway its here. I just need to sort out some taps in the correct size. I probably have some I just need to find them.
Whats more exciting a Dolphin gun vice turned up in the post as well. I'm mega mega excited about that. I can now split barrels from the actions making things so much easier to work on.
Whoop Whoop.
I know the bore is good so no problems there. The rear aperture sight and the base has been removed from the rifle. I have shoved them in a drawer for now. (When I put stuff in a drawer it normally goes missing for years.)
I'm going to cut the front sight off along with the inch of barrel its sweated onto. No idea what I will do with that.
I still need to source gas checks.
I'm still messing with the brass. I might post some pictures then again I might not. This L.E.Wilson trimmer is the mutts nuts I kid you not.
I have not touched my cast bench press in months either all my prep and reloading has been done on my computer desk using the Wamadet and my Arbor press.
This post is starting to sound like a diary but I can understand that why would people want to read a thread about shooting cast boolits(eventually)
in .308 when they can read really exciting threads about EU law changes or increases in fees for clubs or discounted bulk ammunition sales for Gods sake.
That's enough for now I have to rush off and see whats going on in the interesting threads I just mentioned. Oh and one not to be missed the fact that we are all terrorists riveting stuff.
Whats more exciting a Dolphin gun vice turned up in the post as well. I'm mega mega excited about that. I can now split barrels from the actions making things so much easier to work on.
Whoop Whoop.
I know the bore is good so no problems there. The rear aperture sight and the base has been removed from the rifle. I have shoved them in a drawer for now. (When I put stuff in a drawer it normally goes missing for years.)
I'm going to cut the front sight off along with the inch of barrel its sweated onto. No idea what I will do with that.
I still need to source gas checks.
I'm still messing with the brass. I might post some pictures then again I might not. This L.E.Wilson trimmer is the mutts nuts I kid you not.
I have not touched my cast bench press in months either all my prep and reloading has been done on my computer desk using the Wamadet and my Arbor press.
This post is starting to sound like a diary but I can understand that why would people want to read a thread about shooting cast boolits(eventually)
in .308 when they can read really exciting threads about EU law changes or increases in fees for clubs or discounted bulk ammunition sales for Gods sake.
That's enough for now I have to rush off and see whats going on in the interesting threads I just mentioned. Oh and one not to be missed the fact that we are all terrorists riveting stuff.
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