Reduced loads in 300 WinMag with lead bullets, effective range?

[the count]

I have been loading up some 300 WinMag rounds with IMR Trail Boss for some mild, low recoil target shooting at the range. Lots of fun. Using 20 grains of TB for about 1400 fps using 150 gr. bullets. Figured why use expensive bullets when hard cast lead would work too, so I ordered 165 grain from Missouri Bullet Co. Anybody have experience with those? How far out are those rather slow moving lead rifle bullets accurate? 200Y? 300Y?

 

[LoonWulf]

buddy of mine used to launch 170 lead round nose from his .30-30 at about 1500 fps (his guestimate), and once you figgured the drop smacking gallon size jugs out to 200-250 yds was pretty easy. That gun had a sewer pipe barrel and still shot decently with those, but leaded up pretty quick.

 

[Robert101]

I'm intersted in this question as well. I"ve got an LR308 and want an alternative to 30 cent bullets by substituting lead. I've heard that TB is a good powder for this application. My Old Speer manual also show a number of loads for SR4759 and loads start at 24.0 to 28.0 grains for 150 grain bullets: for Winchester Magnum.

 

[jogar80]

Mmmm.... I don't think lead bullets would work all that great in an AR

 

[the count]

Mmmm.... I don't think lead bullets would work all that great in an AR

Well, I am not talking AR... if Robert101 is I agree, not a good idea. Those are not made to operate on non standard loads.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

They will shoot fine to 300 yards. You just have to figure out how much drop, and then hold over, or adjust your sights/scope. This will not be much different than firing any old blackpowder cartridge at longer ranges, or a .357 carbine with heavy bullets.

 

[jogar80]

Well, I am not talking AR... if Robert101 is I agree, not a good idea. Those are not made to operate on non standard loads.

Sorry, my comment was directed at Robert101.

In your case, Count, I see no reason they should not work just fine even out to 300 yds. Your only issue will be figuring out trajectory, and re-zeroing when going back to full power loads.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

By and large, a lead bullet load is not any more limited in range than a full-power jacketed load -- you just need to set your sights properly. Remember, the old-timers used to compete at a thousand yards with lead bullets and black powder.

I like Ed Harris' "The Load" -- 13.0 grains of Red Dot in any .30 caliber from 30-40 Krag up, behind any bullet from 150 to 200 grains. In my 03A3s, I load it with a 160 grain Lee cast bullet and set my sights to 400 yards to shoot targets at 100 yards.

 

[the count]

By and large, a lead bullet load is not any more limited in range than a full-power jacketed load -- you just need to set your sights properly. Remember, the old-timers used to compete at a thousand yards with lead bullets and black powder.

I like Ed Harris' "The Load" -- 13.0 grains of Red Dot in any .30 caliber from 30-40 Krag up, behind any bullet from 150 to 200 grains. In my 03A3s, I load it with a 160 grain Lee cast bullet and set my sights to 400 yards to shoot targets at 100 yards.

The question is how fast are those cast boolits coming out of the barrel? Over 1400 fps and you start to get leading... I read up on "The Load" and came across his other load called "The Universal Load"...16gr. of 2400. How does that compare to "The Load".

PS Man is it fun getting lost in such minutiae.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The loads are pretty much the same. I don't get leading, but I use a gas check and lube copiously with liquid Alox.

 

[the count]

Found an interesting page just now, various fast burning pistol powders in large cases for reduced loads...somewhat like "The Load". No idea if these are safe but interesting reading...includes tables and graphs.


http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

 

[BK]

I don't think lead bullets would work all that great in an AR

I load cast lead bullets in my subsonic rounds. They won't cycle the action, but that is to be expected. Just have to run full house loads through intermittenly to keep things clean.

Appologize that this was not about 300WM.

 

[303tom]

Reduced Load & .300 Win. Mag. Sounds like a OXYMORON to me..............LOL

Don`t know, ain`t never tried it, I would`nt bought a .300 Win. Mag. if I was going to reduce it, I would have gotten a .308 or .30-06..............

 

[oldpapps]

" 'the count'

Reduced loads in 300 WinMag with lead bullets, effective range?
I have been loading up some 300 WinMag rounds with IMR Trail Boss for some mild, low recoil target shooting at the range. Lots of fun. Using 20 grains of TB for about 1400 fps using 150 gr. bullets. Figured why use expensive bullets when hard cast lead would work too, so I ordered 165 grain from Missouri Bullet Co. Anybody have experience with those? How far out are those rather slow moving lead rifle bullets accurate? 200Y? 300Y?"

I don't have a 300 Win Mag, but I do have a .375H&H.
My lead loading is 285gr flat points with 2400 powder. Velocities run 1600 to 1650 range and I haven't have any problem with leading, I cast the bullets rather hard.

As far as accuracy goes, as long as your bullets stabilize and you take in to account the 'rainbow' trajectory, they can be very accurate.

Be safe,

 

[oldpapps]

To 303tom,

Yes and no.
We use what we have and sometimes like to experiment.

When my 6-2 and 200 pound son was 7 and 8 years old, he readily wanted to shoot my .375H&H, so....

Some would say reworking your beautiful S.M.L.E. could be circumvented by just buying some run of the mill 308. But, I'm of the same view as you

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Reduced Load & .300 Win. Mag. Sounds like a OXYMORON to me..............LOL

Don`t know, ain`t never tried it, I would`nt bought a .300 Win. Mag. if I was going to reduce it, I would have gotten a .308 or .30-06..............

Reduced loads are for target work or small game hunting. With a hundred pounds of wheel weights, you can cast your own and shoot 8 or 9,000 rounds from your .300 Mag at very low cost, little pounding on your shoulder, and very little barrel wear. And when you've done that, you'll be a much better rifleman.

 

[Art Eatman]

My understanding is that gas-check lead bullets can tolerate around 1,800 ft/sec without stripping or leading the barrel. Maybe hard-cast can be driven a bit faster; I don't know.

My plinker load for my '06 was 20 grains of 2400 with the Lyman Ideal 169-grain gas-check bullet. (My squirrel load was five grains of shotgun or pistol powder and an 00 Buck ball.)

For group sizes on targets, about all I could offer would be, "Try it and see." I see no reason for problems out at 200 or 300 yards, though.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

With care, cast bullets will shoot about as accurately as jacketed bullets. The trick is to cast good bullets and size them correctly.