Cast loads in my 30-06

Recently picked up a Rem. 770 bolt gun in 30-06 and loaded up some test loads for it last week. I was using mixed brass by Win. Rem. and Fed. along with CCI LR primers and I use three different powders Alliant 2400, H-4198 and Unique. The two bullets I used were the Lee 170 gr. FP and the Lee 160 gr. TL RN both powder coated, gas checked and sized to .311". Targets were shot at 50 yds. as that is as far as I can shoot around here in the back yard range without making a day trip to the public range. All load data came from the Lyman Cast Bullet manual #4, below are the group but none were much larger than 1.5" and some under 1". We had some issues with the Chrono not reading probably due to overcast skies on some loads but I will be retesting those loads for data at some point as will as some additional powders I have and maybe even a primer change on a couple loads to see if that improves things. I haven't been behind the trigger since last Nov. after having surgery and weather not cooperating on my days off so I'm a bit rusty. I zeroed the scope on load #1 and just shot the other loads to see how they grouped.


Target #1
Low: 1698
High: 1715
Average: 1709
Spread: 16.8
SD: 6.78

Target #2
Low: 1731
High: 1761
Average: 1747
Spread: 29.99
SD: 11.61

Target #3
Low: 1950
High: 1981
Average: 1966
Spread: 31.30
SD 11.22

Target #4
Low: 1971
High: 2015
Average: 1989
Spread: 44.64
SD: 16.50

Target #5
No Data but shoots great, will load and shoot again.

Target #6
No Data

Target #7
No Data

Target #8
Low: 2277
High: 2309
Average: 2292
Spread: 31.71
SD: 15.39

Target #9
Low: 1635
High: 1701
Average: 1650
Spread 65.70
SD: 26.57

Target #10
Low: 1665
High: 1709
Average: 1686
Spread: 44.46
SD: 17.49

LRDGCO said:

I don't think you need look any further than loads 1 and 2! Great groups, target velocity, and a load recommended by Ed Harris (the shooter, not the actor) in his famous "Cast Loads for Military Rifles". Enjoy!

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Thanks, I have some room to play with on all those loads. I found the mid point charge weight for each powder I used and went half way back towards the Min. and half way forward towards the Max. charge weight just to get some reference points, wasn't really expecting them all to shoot that well, I have several other powders I want to test out also. I have several good candidates from the about groups that will do fine for general purpose target work but I want to see just how fast I can push that cast bullet while still maintaining good accuracy.

brewer12345 said:

When you next get a chance to cast, try the lee 113 grain flat nose bullet as well. Over 12 grains of unique, I get very good accuracy, almost no recoil, and much reduced muzzle blast. Perfect for a backyard range.

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Thanks, but I don't have that particular mold. What I do have an will be shooting is the Lee .314" 90 gr. TL SWC that I shoot in all my 30 cal. rifles including my Mosin's, SKS's, 30-30 and 300 Sav. sized accordingly with light charges of Bullseye. Great little target an small game load out to 50 yds. and I will be using it in the 06 as well.

forrest r said:

It's too bad but not a lot of reloaders shoot lead bullets in their rifles. At 1 time I had over 50 30cal molds, been thinning the herd & have them down to less then 15 molds.

With a little tweeking/tuning/testing moa accuracy can be done @ 100yds (10-shot groups) with commercial off the shelf rifles. Cast bullets make for a cheap day of plinking along testing the reloaders skills.

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Other than some commercial or surplus steel case ammo it's been years since any of my rifles have seen a jacketed bullet. For the ranges I can shoot at around here for target practice or hunting a cast lead bullet of the proper design an alloy will pretty much serve any purpose I need.

Did I mention that I used either a RCBS DUO Measure or RCBS Little Dandy to hand throw all the powder charges, scales were only used to verify the initial charge weight.