.311 bullets in a 308 rifle

[chas442]

I have a bunch of bullets that I cast and powder coated for one of my Mosins. Does anyone have any experience with loading these in a 308 win. or a 30-06. I would like to try them in my AR10.
If this has been asked and answered I apologize.

TIA

 

[Hunter86004]

My Lyman book shows cast bullets as .308, so .311 would not be something I'd shoot. Might give you a bit of a feeding problem also.

If you have a lot of them, you can pick up a Lee sizing kit, from Lee, in .308 or .309 for less than $30.00.

 

[chas442]

Looking for input before I made that purchase. It's not the cost, It's the time to get it.

Thanks

 

[LRDGCO]

In the normal course of affairs, the usual advice is that cast bullets should be .002 over groove depth (rule of thumb) and with a genuine .308, that would mean .310 bullets. In my Marlin Microgroove 336 30-30, I have used .311" bullets very successfully.

In your AR10, you are very likely to have a true .308 groove diameter. Are these bullets mic'ing .311 with the powder coating or was that before coated? The first thing to do is take a selection of 5 bullets and seat them in empty cases and cycle them out of the magazine. If they will chamber and are ejected without any significant scraping and exposed lead from chambering, then, at normal cast velocities (generally under 1800 fps is safe as houses), you are good to go. There is no pressure risk.

If they don't chamber or there are signs that you are getting scrapage and lead exposure on the ejected dummies, you can resize to .310 or .309, or use them otherwise and size the next batch appropriately before powder coating.

If they will chamber, you can't do any harm firing them, they just may leave more coating residue than would otherwise be the case.

 

[chas442]

These were sized post powder coating to .311 - .3115. If it is necessary to resize, Is it better to go .308 or .309 since I'm buying anyway.

Thanks

 

[chas442]

What is the max velocity of a bullet that has been powder coated twice?

TIA

 

[Havok7416]

What is the max velocity of a bullet that has been powder coated twice?

TIA

The same as one that has been coated once. Typically 2400-2700 is regarded as the upper limit. You would need to size the bullets after re-coating in any event.

 

[LRDGCO]

These were sized post powder coating to .311 - .3115. If it is necessary to resize, Is it better to go .308 or .309 since I'm buying anyway.

Thanks

If they will chamber and cycle, shoot 'em up!

If they won't, ideally, you need to slug the barrel, get groove depth and size to .002" over groove depth. If purchasing more bullets, it's worth getting true groove depth. If not, .309-.310 is a pretty healthy rule of thumb.

 

[chas442]

I've got a boatload of SMK and Hornady match bullets loaded in both 308 and 30-06. I want to try my hand at accuracy with the cast and coated bullets I have on hand.

TIA

 

[dgod]

30-06 is a 30 caliber bullet as is 308,30-30, 300 Win Mag. I shoot cast lead in all of them.

 

[chas442]

Hey dgod

What diameter bullet do you use?

 

[35 Whelen]

I got some of my best accuracy from .308's and 30-06's with bullets sized .310" and .311".

All these groups are from open/iron sighted rifles-



.

What is the max velocity of a bullet that has been powder coated twice?

TIA

I suppose you can fire them just as fast as a jacketed bullet. The part no one ever mentions is accuracy....or rather lack thereof.

35W

 

[chas442]

Nice shootin 35W. Never used pistol powders.

 

[jaysouth]

If they will chamber and cycle, shoot 'em up!

If they won't, ideally, you need to slug the barrel, get groove depth and size to .002" over groove depth. If purchasing more bullets, it's worth getting true groove depth. If not, .309-.310 is a pretty healthy rule of thumb.

Fit cast bullets to fit the throat. Get as tight a fit as possible in the throat. Firing the gun will reduce the CAST bullet to the proper diameter to go through the barre. Unless you are shooting a bore rider. It needs to be fitted to the bore.

Have you slugged your throat and chamber?

As suggested above, Lee sells a sizer die for less than $30. Get up with a local caster and get him to size a couple of bullets to .310 and .311. Load and shoot. Let your rifle tell you which is best.

 

[Lafitte]

I shoot .310 and .311 lead bullets in my O3A3 and 1917, in fact have shot .3115. Many people who shoot for accuracy use at least a .310. Your mileage will not vary.
Lafitte