The 'Go to load' for cast bullets

[Woodworm]

Hi all,
I've started to look into reloading cast for all of my historic rifles, preservation of the bores is the main motive. I'm not a competitive shooter and not worried about pulling off long shots, I just enjoy shooting a few rounds, then talking to people about the rifle.

I am an experienced reloader and fully understand there reason to slug the barrels first. The calibers that I would like to do are, in no particular order-
.303 Brit
7.62x51/.308
7.65x53 Arg
8mm Lebel
7.92x57
6.5x51 Jap
Having been doing some digging, the go to load seems to be 16grns of 2400 as a starter for all of the .30 cal cartridges with bullets up to 180grns, then I see things that it is better to shoot heavier bullets of around 200/220grns in the .30 range. Being that this information was brought out quite a few years back and more powders now available and some that may soon not be available, could anyone point me in the direction of finding a base starting point for the calibers I have mentioned.

Having seen some barrels that have gone boom with down loaded/cast reloads (I don't know if it was reloader error double charging, or not) but I would rather have a sound base to start off with.
Any advice would be welcome to further my research
Many thanks,
Colin

[FredB]

You could use your 2400 load or 10grn of Unique with all of these. Problems with downloading come with using light charges of slow burning powders. Use pistol . shotgun powders and you should have no trouble.
Fred

[Dahonis]

I have used these loads in my 7.62x54R with great success
https://www.full-bore.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=810

[Furiouspilgrim]

Unique is your friend. Don’t make things overly complicated, use one powder for all of them.

[dromia]

I prefer to use the Vihtavuori powders due to better availability and equal or superior performance to the yankee labelled powders, switched over a decade and a half ago and I have never regretted it.

Use the burning rates in the Harris article for reference, my go to powders are N320, N340, N110 and N120 depending on velocity required.

The distributors label on the bottle is actually irrelevant it is the burning rate that is the key, any make of powder will work well so long as it is within the burning rates described.

Heavy bullets for the calibre are usually better, cast bullets have a lower start pressure that condom bullets so once you get to N340 or slower a heavy bullets mitigates against this helps the powder perform consistently, no vertical stringing on the target.

As Fred has said Secondary Explosion Effect (SEE) is a myth with the proper powders for the application, powders slower than those I have described above need to have at least 60% fill and reduce the risk of SEE. The faster powders do not have this requirement so the SEE claim does not apply to these. I suspect that nearly all destroyed guns are due to reloader error.

Do not be tempted to push the velocity envelope with the faster powders, they pressure spike rapidly so if you are seeking more velocity go to the slower powders. A rough reference is up to supersonic N320, 1100fps - 1500fps N340, 1500fps - 2000fps N110 and N120. Once you start going over the 2000 fps mark then the fill ratios of the slower rifle powders start to become acceptable and they can be used N135, N140, N160 and so on.

Obviously any loads will need to be worked up and safe hand loading procedures applied at all times.

[ukrifleman]

I would add that for loads with powder charges of less than 50% case capacity, check and double check for a possible double charge before you seat the bullet.

The method that has stood me in good stead for nearly 50 years of reloading is as follows;

I place a powder funnel spout up on the bench and drop the next case to be loaded into it head up to confirm the case is empty and the primer is seated correctly.

The powder charge goes from the measure into the beam scale and then into the case, I immediately seat the bullet and move on to the next round.

The final thing I do before storing the loaded round away, is to give it a shake and listen for the powder.

In the unlikely event there is a double charge it will sound different from a normal charge, likewise I will know if the case is empty.

ukrifleman

[dromia]

Bullets, lead or condom, rarely wear out bores with "normal" range use.

The main culprit is "hot" loads and barrel wear is at the freebore due to the heat and high pressure of such loads and powders.

So shooting condom bullets at lower velocities will save the barrel just the same as lead, however condom bullets cumulatively foul the bore whereas lead does not to any noticeable effect.

Copper fouling is god awful and is a pig to remove involving all sorts of Alchemy, just look at the plethora of copper fouling removal products pitched at shooters. Poor barrel cleaning destroys many barrels so copper fouling and its attendant removal adds to bore wear and is the main reason why lead is superior in this barrel saving context.

[Woodworm]

Hi all,
Many thanks for the replies. That was a very good point about barrel wear, I know that 'hot' rounds have a tendency to burn the throat out, but always thought that normal barrel wear was down to jacketed bullets abrading the rifling, goes to show your never to old to learn something!

If I was to settle on Viht N340 to start off with, being that it seems level with Unique and just a bit higher than 2400, can I take it that the 16grn load still applies to the .30 cal bullets up to 180 grns'ish with a possible drop down to 14grns for 6.5 and may be up to 17/18 guns for slightly heavier bullets up to the 220 weight.

Sorry if they sound like daft questions but its just good to get them all answered before you start,
All the best,
Colin

[dromia]

What velocity are you seeking and what distance will you be shooting?

[Woodworm]

With what I've read so far, I would be looking on the 1500-2000 range with a maximum of 200yrd's distance. My thinking is that most of the time I only shoot a particular rifle to demonstrate to people the way it works and handles. If I do any classic comps they are usually only up to 200 yrd's.
As long as the loads can hold a group that is 'on' target I would be happy with that.
Thanks,
Colin