Cast bullets in 30-06 for reduced loads.

[ezekiel38]

I think I mentioned it here a couple of years ago that I had a "pacemaker" installed due to "Bradycardia". My heart and I are doing fine. The rub is I am lefthanded, terribly so, and the pacemaker goes in on the left side. Not allowed to shoot anything more than a 22LR off my left shoulder. MD worries about breaking the battery in the pacemaker unit. As he said, "It breaks, you break". End of story!

I've been attempting to learn to shoot right handed and with limited success, I'm using a eye patch on my left eye, slow and mediocre accuracy. I have an old Winchester Pre 64 Featherweight in 30-06. I'm considering using a cast/gas checked bullet at 1600 to 1800 fps as a training aid and possible whitetail gun. I don't hunt elk or larger game anymore, but whitetails abound here, like jackrabbits in Leadore.

Thoughts, ideas, suggestions. I have a straight 6X Leupold on the rifle and it's a great old shooter. It's like learning something all over again in a way. Everything feels unnatural. Never shot cast bullets in a rifle before.

TIA


PS Ask Sixshot about Leadore, it's in his part of Idaho.

[dougader]

I used to buy some cast bullets from a guy over the hill, the Lyman #311041 at about 170 grains with a gas check. I used Red Dot for a light plinking load (and also as a finisher with wounded deer back when Oregon Fish & Wildlife forbid the packing of handguns unless you had a handgun hunting license ONLY on your person; stupid law has since been done away with).

10.5 grains was around 1300 fps. Max in the Lyman 46th manual is 13.5 grains for a listed 1585 fps. They don't kick at all, just a light push into your shoulder.

Do check on the castboolits website for tons of info on powder puff plinking loads. Look up member Larry Gibson for light '06 cast bullet loads.

castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?152431-Recipes-for-quot-Mouse-Fart-quot-Loads-in-30-06

[edk]

Cast bullets in 30-06 with red dot are like PB&J!

[dougader]

The link I posted shows a Lee 93 bullet with 3.2 grains Bullseye. Now there's a load with no recoil in a 7 pound rifle.

[taffin]

Apr 15, 2021 11:09:08 GMT -5 ezekiel38 said:

I think I mentioned it here a couple of years ago that I had a "pacemaker" installed due to "Bradycardia". My heart and I are doing fine. The rub is I am lefthanded, terribly so, and the pacemaker goes in on the left side. Not allowed to shoot anything more than a 22LR off my left shoulder. MD worries about breaking the battery in the pacemaker unit. As he said, "It breaks, you break". End of story!

I've been attempting to learn to shoot right handed and with limited success, I'm using a eye patch on my left eye, slow and mediocre accuracy. I have an old Winchester Pre 64 Featherweight in 30-06. I'm considering using a cast/gas checked bullet at 1600 to 1800 fps as a training aid and possible whitetail gun. I don't hunt elk or larger game anymore, but whitetails abound here, like jackrabbits in Leadore.

Thoughts, ideas, suggestions. I have a straight 6X Leupold on the rifle and it's a great old shooter. It's like learning something all over again in a way. Everything feels unnatural. Never shot cast bullets in a rifle before.

TIA


PS Ask Sixshot about Leadore, it's in his part of Idaho.

No pacemaker however the artery to my heart split about 10 years ago and I was one of only about 10% who survive SO I stick with light recoil rifle loadS. I had Decelerator pads and muzzle brakes installed on my Springfield Armory M1A and by Ruger 7.62 American. Another Ruger M77 .308 has a very heavy barrel, large scope, Decelerator, muzzle brake, and bipod. 14 pounds and recoils about like a 22. I also use a lot of cast bullets in .30-30 (Red Dot), .308, and .30-06. Check out MP5774

[potatojudge]

Any idea how often it actually paces you? What's your heart rate without it? Be nice to know how catastrophic failure would be.

IIRC I used about 8 grains of Unique under a cast bullet for the 30-06. I think relatively heavy for caliber is the ticket for these loads, so 180 grains. Gas checked, somewhat soft alloy.

Post a WTB on the cast boolits forum and I bet one of those guys can hook you up with a bullet cast to perform on game.

Been a lot of years since I messed with these, but I recall it kicking like a 22. Makes me want to dedicate my 338 Federal to cast bullets (which you need to do for hunting since POI is very different between standard and cast loads).

I'd probably wear a jacket with a recoil pad as well, just for good measure.

[dougader]

The Lee tumble lube 90 grain bullet in .314 can be used, too. Size and tumble in liquid alox and then use that light Bullseye load.

www.midwayusa.com/product/1010195352?pid=115225

[jd]

With a rimless case like the 30-06, you will need to enlarge the flash hole as otherwise the primer drives the case forward and pushes the case shoulder back. The light load doesn't develop enough pressure to push the case head back to the bolt face. After a couple loadings the headspace may be so short that the firing pin won't reach the primer. Just enlarge the flash hole and leave enough material to support the primer anvil. Once the flash hole is enlarged, you want to separate the cases and not use them for full power loads.

Cast bullets in centerfire rifles are great fun. Cheap to shoot and no recoil. I coat all of my rifle cast bullets with Lee Liquid Alox, even if they are already lubed as I find that it eliminates any chance of leading and they seem to be more accurate.

[ezekiel38]

Thanks guys, I knew you guys would have some good answers.

My heart rate without a pacemaker runs about 24 beats a minute. It slows down when I go to sleep.

Great tip on the drilling of the primer pocket. Rifle shooting sounds like it might get to be fun again. How about powdercoating rifle bullets in a cast bullet situation?

[x101airborne]

I am powder coating 245 grain bullets for full bore 308 Winchester loads out of a LR-308. 2300 fps is about max, I am running more near 2100 fps using NOE 311-240 Whisper mold.

I am about to run a batch of 311-041 gas checked powder coat. I can send you a sample batch if you like. Give it about 12 grains of Unique and it should run you into the 1800 - 1900 fps range (going off my memory so take it for what it is worth).

[dougader]

Lyman 46th says 311041/12 Unique = 1500 fps; 16.5 grains Unique is listed Max @ 1811 fps.

[ezekiel38]

Thanks again, gentlemen. So helpful. Going to purchase some .311 155s with a GC and see how they work out. Mr. Taffin, so thankful, you're still among us.