SSN Vet
Member
Well I finally got back to the range with a myriad of ammo to test in my 16” Saiga. The rifle only has ~400 rounds through it and slugs .312 at the barrel (using a 12 ga. pellet). All shooting was done off hand with elbows supported on the bench and using the stock iron sights at 50 yds.
First I shot store bought ammo., 5 WWB and 5 Federals…both 123 gr FMJ. I wanted to warm up the barrel and get a ‘benchmark” Both “groups” (I use the term loosely) had 2 holes in the 10 ring and were in the 3” to 4” range. So I knew the elevation on the sights was correct for my sight picture and range and that I didn’t have any excuses.
Next was a 5 Golden West .311 dia. 125 gr. bulk FMJs w/ 25.3 gr. of 1680. These felt slightly lighter than the factory loads and were all over the place, low on the target.
Next was the same Golden West bullet w/ 25.6 gr. 1680. This slightly higher charge got the bullets back up into the middle of the target and grouped better, bu not as well as the factory loads.
Next came Hornady .310 dia. 123 gr. JSP bullets, again w/ 25.6 gr of 1680. I had high hopes for this more expensive bullet, and was disappointed to see them shoot all over the target.
None of these jacketed loads had overly flattened primers or any other signs of overpressure.
Moving on to my cast loads, from the Lee .312-155 mold, gas checked and sized to .311 dia. I had previously had very disappointing results using 2400 and decided to start my 1680 loads at 20 gr. I shot three 5 shot groups, each with a different lube. (50/50, LLA tumble lubed over 50/50, and speed green). I got no noticeable accuracy difference from either group. I set the iron sights up one position and was on hitting the target, with a pretty large spread (which is better than the 2400 results from my last shoot). All of the cast bullets all left the barrel smooth and shiny with no leading. Also, I was concerned that this load was going to be on the heavy side, but again, the primers looked fine.
Last of all, I tested a bullet I bought on a whim. It’s really a .303 Brit. Bullet, but I thought I’d give it a try. It’s Hornady’s .312 dia. 150 gr JSP. These are long bullets and had to be seated well above the crimp groove to clear the magazine. Again, I pushed them with 20 gr. of 1680. But disappointed again, my best efforts could only put 3 on the paper and this time the primers were significantly flatter than w/ the cast bullets. Not smashed flat as a pancake, they still had radius on the edges, but noticeably flatter.
So the champion of the day was the factory ammo. & the cheap bulk bullet!
I’m planning to bump up the 1680 load for my cast bullets, having heard from some others that they have loaded up to 22 gr.
Also, I'd like to shoot some as cast (~.312) but am not sure how to crimp the checks. Not sure I'm ready to ream out the Lee .311 sizer yet, and they don't make a .312 sizer.
Any tips or recommendations are appreciated. Not sure what increment to bump up the cast load in.
First I shot store bought ammo., 5 WWB and 5 Federals…both 123 gr FMJ. I wanted to warm up the barrel and get a ‘benchmark” Both “groups” (I use the term loosely) had 2 holes in the 10 ring and were in the 3” to 4” range. So I knew the elevation on the sights was correct for my sight picture and range and that I didn’t have any excuses.
Next was a 5 Golden West .311 dia. 125 gr. bulk FMJs w/ 25.3 gr. of 1680. These felt slightly lighter than the factory loads and were all over the place, low on the target.
Next was the same Golden West bullet w/ 25.6 gr. 1680. This slightly higher charge got the bullets back up into the middle of the target and grouped better, bu not as well as the factory loads.
Next came Hornady .310 dia. 123 gr. JSP bullets, again w/ 25.6 gr of 1680. I had high hopes for this more expensive bullet, and was disappointed to see them shoot all over the target.
None of these jacketed loads had overly flattened primers or any other signs of overpressure.
Moving on to my cast loads, from the Lee .312-155 mold, gas checked and sized to .311 dia. I had previously had very disappointing results using 2400 and decided to start my 1680 loads at 20 gr. I shot three 5 shot groups, each with a different lube. (50/50, LLA tumble lubed over 50/50, and speed green). I got no noticeable accuracy difference from either group. I set the iron sights up one position and was on hitting the target, with a pretty large spread (which is better than the 2400 results from my last shoot). All of the cast bullets all left the barrel smooth and shiny with no leading. Also, I was concerned that this load was going to be on the heavy side, but again, the primers looked fine.
Last of all, I tested a bullet I bought on a whim. It’s really a .303 Brit. Bullet, but I thought I’d give it a try. It’s Hornady’s .312 dia. 150 gr JSP. These are long bullets and had to be seated well above the crimp groove to clear the magazine. Again, I pushed them with 20 gr. of 1680. But disappointed again, my best efforts could only put 3 on the paper and this time the primers were significantly flatter than w/ the cast bullets. Not smashed flat as a pancake, they still had radius on the edges, but noticeably flatter.
So the champion of the day was the factory ammo. & the cheap bulk bullet!
I’m planning to bump up the 1680 load for my cast bullets, having heard from some others that they have loaded up to 22 gr.
Also, I'd like to shoot some as cast (~.312) but am not sure how to crimp the checks. Not sure I'm ready to ream out the Lee .311 sizer yet, and they don't make a .312 sizer.
Any tips or recommendations are appreciated. Not sure what increment to bump up the cast load in.
