MP311-180

Ian

Notorious member
I really like the Lee tester and its calibration can be checked with bathroom scales. Close enough for what we do, anyway, and the consistency is pretty good. Other testers are also good but more difficult to get and a lot more expensive.

I haven't played with alloy a whole lot in the rifles to see what the limits are and where any areas of preference show up, but will be doing that gradually as time tkme allows. Dan of Mountain Molds used both Hi-tek and thermoset paints with 35 bhn alloy and found his best results there, while I've seen little difference from 14 to 21 and depending on the bullet style and rifle have had good luck at 2150-ish with 10.4 bhn in one instance.
 

Tomme boy

Well-Known Member
That design is a good one for 308W. Has anyone used it in the 300blkout? I am still trying to talk myself into one.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I have used it in 300 BLK. Did pretty well at 100. With H110 it get some decent velocity and make my light carbine buck a bit.
 

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
No, I haven't gotten into powder coating. I size all my rifle bullets on a Star, nose first using Carnuba Red, exclusively. This old dog doesn't want to learn new tricks. I also heat treat my rifle bullets, before lubing............gas check is seated and bullet sized, first.
 
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Spindrift

Well-Known Member
Tried this bullet with some slower powder today, same Howa .308, same alloy and lube. IMR 4064 33- 35 grs, and N- 140, 35 grs (had 5 cases left in the box...). Viht N-140 is slightly slower than 4064, I think. It is a very popular powder for .308 win in Norway, but I (for some reason) haven`t tried it before. Extruded, single base.

Accuracy was nothing special, with 4064 accuracy gradually improved with increasing loading weight, 35 grs giving a reasonable sub- 2MOA group, the others about 2,2 MOA. N-140/35 grs was equal to the best 4064- group today. I think this bullet wants some more powder, I have a feeling groups will tighten up a bit with a grain or two more. N140 will get more attention. But most of all, I need to sharpen my casting skills, make better bullets.

All in all a nice evening at the range. Some groups good, some bad. For every question answered, two new questions arise. 4280433F-7A82-4F9A-876F-CA5C86A99DA7.jpeg77D08578-51C9-4242-B689-4BBC604CFE72.jpeg
 

Ian

Notorious member
You're shooting those with just lube and a gas check, correct? Might try going up to 38 grains in half-grain increments (or smaller) and see if the groups don't continue to improve, you're REALLY CLOSE to a happy place I bet. Maybe when you get up a couple more grains you can try altering the seating depth slightly, add some crimp, or try altering the alloy slightly. IMR 4064 has done well in the .308 and .30-'06 for a lot of people with cast bullets but you have to grit your teeth and push that bullet hard with nearly jacketed-bullet amounts of the powder to get it dialed in. There's probably just one accuracy node in the top 10% of what your alloy can take pressure-wise, you're sneaking up on it.

I'd really like to see what happens without powder coat, and if it doesn't come together, try the powder coat on the bullets with and without lube if you run out of ideas.
 
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Spindrift

Well-Known Member
Yes, these groups were with hornady copper checks, and lube. I also think I am getting close to a node, exciting! Thank you for your advice, much appreciated.
I will try powder coated bullets with a softer alloy in a little while. Just felt like shooting a bit with greased bullets first :)
 

Ian

Notorious member
Yep, as long as your gun mufflers stay clean and you're getting encouraging results, no reason not to use plain lubed/checked bullets.
 

Spindrift

Well-Known Member
Nice pile of bullets, Ian! They look «perfecto». Have you ever tested the HP bullets in expansion media, or recovered bullets used for hunting?
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Only Ian labels his bullets in bulk as perfecto.
Mine are in a box marked adaqueto.
 

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
Pertinent information is labeled, with a grease pencil, on the lid. I just don't call them perfecto or adaqueto. :rolleyes:
 

Ian

Notorious member
A stack of wet news print would be better and is what I'll try to use next and actually shoot it from 100 yards away. The sawdust trap was point-blank 2460 fps, I was just messing around to see what the bullets would do in the almost dry, fluffy media.
 

Spindrift

Well-Known Member
Today, it was time to make some HP bullets. This is my first mould with an HP option. I have had a few runs now with flat points, and the mold is nicely broken in. I smoothed the pins a bit with steel wool (thanks for the tip, Ian), a bit of pencil graphite, preheated the mould on a hot plate and then some extra heat on the pins with a butane «storm lighter». It actually worked very well! With gas checks, they ended up at the advertised 175 grs.

These were cast with my very malleable BHN15 nuclear med lead with 2% tin, and should expand very well I think. Will try them with both lube and powder coat.

57466310-AC17-42F3-AA1E-302CB2A73F0E.jpegEDB4C79F-75AF-4484-B9AC-3285953A40F7.jpeg
 

Ian

Notorious member
Nice job! I'm using a out a 2.5/2.5 antimony mix, air cooled and aged, to get this at now 2596 fps (muzzle) from my Savage 24" bolt action this afternoon. 32" of lightly oiled sawdust.

20190623_195129.jpg

I think your alloy will be excellent.