Reloading .308 with cast bullets

Strazznah · February 16, 2010, 04:48 PM

Has anyone reloaded .308 with cast bullets? I was looking at some 165gr, RNFP, .309 dia, containing 2% Tin, 6% Antimony and 92% Lead. These are meant for 30-30. Wondering if anyone has done this or thought about it and what are your opinions

Cosmik de Bris · February 16, 2010, 05:31 PM

I would think that the .308 velocities are a bit on the high side for lead, but wait for someone a little more informed than I am to comment.

Suwannee Tim · February 16, 2010, 05:47 PM

Sure you can do it. People used to do such things all the time. You can get loads from an old Lyman book. You need to make sure the base of the bullet is seated inside the neck otherwise the hot gasses will melt the lead and make a mess.

azredhawk44 · February 16, 2010, 05:58 PM

Gas-check them, too. It will help prevent leading.

steelman762 · February 16, 2010, 06:33 PM

I was fooling around with 154gr LRN for my 30-30 Win 94 last fall. I was using Lyman data. I loaded the cartridge with 9.5gr of IMR 700X. I had speeds around 1540fps. I tried 10.5gr but with little differance. I think I reached the point of deminishing returns. I don`t think it was enough to push the bullet out to effective range. I had to raise the sight elevation all the way and the bullet still had a 10" drop at 50yrds. It was fine at 25yrds. I was just looking for a plinking round for my back yard. I did not have time for anymore experimentation.

Strazznah · February 17, 2010, 12:06 PM

Suwannee Tim,
you state "make sure the base of the bullet is seated inside the neck otherwise the hot gasses will melt the lead and make a mess"

So you are saying the base of the bullet should be seated inside the neck as opposed to down further into the shoulder or below?

jimkim · February 17, 2010, 03:18 PM

If your just wanting to plink try 10.0gr of Unique with the ones you have. If they are Gas Checked you can push them faster.

Lyman 49 has cast data in it.

If your barrel is smooth, the bullet fits good, the lube is up to the task, the alloy is right, and it is gaschecked, you can push it pretty dang fast.

Lyman 49 has 2600+fps cast data in it.

February 16, 2010, 04:48 PM	#1
Strazznah Member Join Date: January 12, 2009 Location: O'Fallon, MO Posts: 47	Reloading .308 with cast bullets Has anyone reloaded .308 with cast bullets? I was looking at some 165gr, RNFP, .309 dia, containing 2% Tin, 6% Antimony and 92% Lead. These are meant for 30-30. Wondering if anyone has done this or thought about it and what are your opinions __________________ "As you swim the river of life, do the breast stroke. It helps to clear the turds from your path." -George Carlin

February 17, 2010, 12:06 PM	#6
Strazznah Member Join Date: January 12, 2009 Location: O'Fallon, MO Posts: 47	Suwannee Tim, you state "make sure the base of the bullet is seated inside the neck otherwise the hot gasses will melt the lead and make a mess" So you are saying the base of the bullet should be seated inside the neck as opposed to down further into the shoulder or below? __________________ "As you swim the river of life, do the breast stroke. It helps to clear the turds from your path." -George Carlin

February 17, 2010, 03:18 PM	#7
jimkim Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2008 Location: middle GA Posts: 326	If your just wanting to plink try 10.0gr of Unique with the ones you have. If they are Gas Checked you can push them faster. Lyman 49 has cast data in it. If your barrel is smooth, the bullet fits good, the lube is up to the task, the alloy is right, and it is gaschecked, you can push it pretty dang fast. Lyman 49 has 2600+fps cast data in it. __________________ Jan. 4, 2007 gasoline $2.10 gal....HMMM?

February 16, 2010, 05:31 PM	#2
Cosmik de Bris Member Join Date: December 15, 2008 Posts: 65	I would think that the .308 velocities are a bit on the high side for lead, but wait for someone a little more informed than I am to comment.

February 16, 2010, 05:47 PM	#3
Suwannee Tim Senior Member Join Date: June 27, 2009 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 320	Sure you can do it. People used to do such things all the time. You can get loads from an old Lyman book. You need to make sure the base of the bullet is seated inside the neck otherwise the hot gasses will melt the lead and make a mess.

February 16, 2010, 05:58 PM	#4
azredhawk44 Junior member Join Date: September 28, 2005 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 6,465	Gas-check them, too. It will help prevent leading.

February 16, 2010, 06:33 PM	#5
steelman762 Member Join Date: January 18, 2010 Posts: 61	I was fooling around with 154gr LRN for my 30-30 Win 94 last fall. I was using Lyman data. I loaded the cartridge with 9.5gr of IMR 700X. I had speeds around 1540fps. I tried 10.5gr but with little differance. I think I reached the point of deminishing returns. I don`t think it was enough to push the bullet out to effective range. I had to raise the sight elevation all the way and the bullet still had a 10" drop at 50yrds. It was fine at 25yrds. I was just looking for a plinking round for my back yard. I did not have time for anymore experimentation.