Home sick so I cast a few bullets

[Ian]

Go the other way: 4895 under your 312-155s. Look for around 24-2500 fps, no Dacron. Those Barlow bullets are a waste of time at any speed over about 1900, even powder-coated.

 

[Joshua]

I hear you. I wasn’t planning on pushing the 311290 any harder. I think the 20 grain of 2400 load is around 1600-1700fps.

So, for the 312-155-2r I’m thinking a ladder from 35gr to 44gr of H4895.

Josh

 

[L Ross]

I hear you. I wasn’t planning on pushing the 311290 any harder. I think the 20 grain of 2400 load is around 1600-1700fps.

So, for the 312-155-2r I’m thinking a ladder from 35gr to 44gr of H4895.
View attachment 15950
Josh

I just chronographed the Lee 312-155-2R in a 4 groove Springfield wth Hercules 2400 unopened can from 1990. K A mil surp brass, CCI 200 primer, Oehler 35P chronograph 8' from muzzle. 16.5 grains 1,574, 1,554, 1,576, 1,542, 1,554.

 

[Ian]

Josh, I'd start around 30 and go to maybe 38 or 40. It should start coming together around 31-32 as the powder begins to start making enough pressure to burn well and hold out for, well, we don't know how much more? It is helpful to see how the coating affects the burn speed and how a long workup from below ideal pressure for the powder through several barrel nodes and gradual increase affects your groups on paper.

 

[Joshua]

I got out to the woods after work today. It was supposed to be just me and my 30-06, an evening of serious load testing.

But my plans changed. An old buddy whom I hadn’t seen in twelve years was in town, so I invited him along. My serious night of load development turned into more of a plinking session.

I did however do a little serious shooting, prone off sand bags at 50 yards.This week in the evenings I had loaded a ladder with the 312-155-2r over, 30gr to 40gr of the H4895.

312-155-2r, PC w/ GC, 30gr H4895, DEN 43, OAL 3.175”, Five Shot Group at 50 yards 2 3/8”

312-155-2r, PC w/ GC, 31gr H4895, DEN 43, OAL 3.175”, Five Shot Group at 50 yards 2 1/8”

312-155-2r, PC w/ GC, 32gr H4895, DEN 43, OAL 3.175”, Five Shot Group at 50 yards 2 1/4”

312-155-2r, PC w/ GC, 33gr H4895, DEN 43, OAL 3.175”, Five Shot Group #1 at 50 yards 1 1/4”

312-155-2r, PC w/ GC, 33gr H4895, DEN 43, OAL 3.175”, Five Shot Group #2 at 50 yards 1 1/8”

I was happy to see how the 33gr groups tightened up, and was repeatable. I have really no idea how fast these are going.

We ran out of light. That last group was fired at 8:45pm.

Next time that I get out I will be shooting the 34gr through 40gr loads.

Josh

 

[Spindrift]

That 33grs load looks fine, and it wouldn't surprise me if you get even better results with a little more powder.

I bet you had a good time with your friend!

 

[Ian]

Well I was off by a grain. You won't remember those groups in a year but you'll remember your company forever.

 

[Joshua]

if you have say like 18 different powders on hand one of the funnest things I have done is work a load with a fastish powder.
say 2400, push it some the worst that happens is you lose accuracy.
at the point you lose accuracy is your cut off point.

then for the fun.
take a slower powder and start at that pressure [grain amount] and work ahead some.
now take an even slower and another slower powder and work them to that same accuracy stopping point from the one ahead.
eventually your gonna get to a slow enough powder that it doesn't burn very good until you step it up pretty far.[something like RL-19 or 22]
now you get out the chronograph and see where you are.
use a different alloy and see what happens.

Well Fiver, this got stuck in my head!

I picked up a pound of IMR 4198, and IMR 4350, the other day, mostly because they were in front of me and I had cash in my pocket.

On order, I've got a few pounds of Reloder 7, and a few pounds of Shooters World Precision. My excuse for this purchase, Shipping was free!

I now have a range of powder burn rates to play with.

Let's go fast!

Josh

 

[waco]

I’ve had some luck running cast fast in my .308 with 4350. Even better luck with 4831 and H414

 

[fiver]

4064 is nice and smooth up in the 34-36gr range too, it's deceivingly faster than you'd think it is after shooting it.

 

[waco]

4064 is my go to with 175gr tipped SMK in the same .308

 

[Joshua]

Well, now I’m gonna be on the look out for some 4831 and 4064.

I thought I saw a few older cans of 4831 the other day in my LGS. They were either new old stock or Estate sale/consignment stuff. I’ll probably stop by tomorrow afternoon and see if it’s still available.

Josh

 

[Joshua]

I picked up a half can of IMR 4831 for five bucks.

They had three cans of Norma Magnum Powder. Doing some research it turns out that this is known today as MRP. Back then it was the same powder as Reloder 22. It was only ten bucks a pound.

So my question is should I have bought the Norma Magnum Powder or is it just to slow for this 30-06 project I’m working on right now?

Josh

 

[Ian]

RX-22 works great in the '06 but it does require some monkey business to get optimal burn. 4831 is about as slow as you wanna go without any tricks.

 

[fiver]

it takes 4831 some speed to settle down too.
you'll know when your close when it suddenly cleans up and just a touch more usually makes a clean shooting accurate load.
usually around 43grs. is getting close.

 

[Joshua]

Great! Thanks for the information and guidance.

It was hard to walk away from cheap powder. I’m still tempted. I’ve got a friend who’s dad reloads 25-06. I will send him a message, maybe they can use it.
Josh

 

[Spindrift]

Norma MRP is a great powder for jacketed, heavier bullets in the .30-06. It is maybe «The Powder» for full-power jacketed loads with 140grs+ jacketed bullets in the 6,5x55. It would probably be very good for the 25-06. I’ve never considered it for cast bullets, though.

 

[fiver]

if you got a 30-30 that 4831 is mighty useful there too.
there's a ton of cartridges that do well with it.
358 win, 0-6's and the X57 family, the 7.5 swiss, some jacketed and some just cast with jacketed loads.
never ever walk past cheap powder unless it's something that doesn't have any sort of label or only comes in 8 oz's.

 

[RBHarter]

4831 was the only one Dad shot in his 25-06' . Something like scoop the case full to the bottom of the neck and adjust from there to shrink the groups with a Sierra 100 , 115 or 117 .

I once read somewhere that the 4831 that Hogdon sold well into the 70's was from their surplus left from the last 20mm cannon job in WWII and that it had degraded slightly by the time DuPont got samples . As a result many era burn burn rate charts had DuPont/IMR listed not only slower but sometimes with another in between especially when new lots were used .
I doubt that's a thing anymore probably hasn't been since 2000 but might be handy to know if you happen into older lots and don't get the expected results .

 

[462]

My 03A3, Sierra 165-grain SBTs, and IMR 4831 are a happy threesome.