Just tossing the idea around. I can't find a bullet mold to save my life in .309, but I have the 160gr Lee 7.62x39 mold in .312 I can size to .309 - I found the sizer online at least. Have the old .308 gas checks that worked on the .311 sized projos, so i guess that will be OK. I see WILDLY different loads bandied about, including one guy who was talking about using Unique, (!) in his .308 cast loads. Wild.
Been casting for about a decade, been loading about 15 years, not near as much as some here, so looking for words of wisdom. Incidentally, loads would be used in a bolt action rifle, unlikely they would be fired in any semi auto form yet.
I was also wondering if the gurus here could see major issues trying to size my .314 bullets down to ,309, and whether a 129 grain slug might do well powder coated in .308...
Thank you for your replies, much appreciated.
Why .309" bullets???
There's nothing wrong with that lee 160gr bullet. I use the lee 160gr tl bullet in the 308w's all the time sized to .311". I use traditional lube + a tumble lube on them along with powder coating them
The gas check shank diameter mandates if a gas check will work or not. A 30cal gc is a 30cal gc, doesn't matter if you put it on a .312" bullet or a .308" bullet.
I've shot countless 1000's of cast bullets in 30-06's and 308w's & never drilled out any primer holes. Uniform them yes, enlarge them, never found a need to.
Blammo ammo for the 308w, 8/9bhn range scrap lead no gas check needed & no problems with shoulder setback, cases in general or anything else. 10-shot group @ 50yds using 10gr of ww super handicap
10 shot group @ 50yd using 9gr of ww super handicap. pc'd bullet with no gc 8/9bhn range scrap
Same bullet, same load. This time they were traditionally lubed and had a gas check
Interesting that those 2 targets were shot using the same cast bullets cast at the same time. The only difference is 1 was pc'd/no gas check. The other was traditionally lubed and had a gas check. The pc'd bullet had higher velocities then their traditionally lubed counterpart with a gc.
You want accuracy??? Use that lee 160gr bullet and 2400. Don't bother drilling out anything just do ladder tests and enjoy. 10-shot group @ 100yds MOA accuracy.
Got some H335 laying around??? 1 1/2" group 10-shot group @ 100yds doing 2670fps+ in a 308w
When using rifle powders I like to fillers like this.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Fairfield-45-x-60-Poly-Fil-Extra-Loft-Batting-1-Each/17808678
Notice it says "extra lofting"
I typically cut it into 1/2" squares and the pull on that 1/2" square making it take up more space hence "lofting" it. The gives you full case capacity no matter what amount of powder your using. I do not use any fillers with fast burning pistol powders, no need. I do not use any fillers if I have over 80% case capacity with rifle powders.
Anyway no need to over think things. I'd start with .311" bullets and go from there. When you start sizing bullets down too much you start to change the centerline of the bullet compared to the base of that bullet. Then bad things start to happen. You can get away with it using pistol bullets and short range shots. The longer rifle bullets no so much, I never size them down over 2/1000th's. You can take the same bullets cast at the same time, same load, same rifle, same yada-yada-yada. Size some of the bullets down 2/1000th's and some 3/1000th's and do head to head accuracy testing. You'll find the bullets that have been sized the least will always be more accurate.