I just ordered hardcast lead bullets for my .308...

Desert Dog · March 31, 2001, 01:28 AM

And I would like to know what kind of powder you suggest and maybe a starting load or two. The bullets are from Mid-Kansas, 16 BHN, .309", 185 gr. RNFP's.

I heard that you can use really slow powder (8700) and get about 1800 FPS. That is almost too fast for what I want to use it for. I would hazard a guess of H4227, or AA1680, but none of my load books say anything about lead in a .308, so I wouldn't know where to start.

They will be shot in a 1967 Ishapore Enfield that I have refined and restored. The wood on the old girl is just a beautiful, mottled mahogany; the barrel is pristine, and I want to keep it that way, and shoot it on occasion at the same time.

Thanks in advance for your time...

Quantrill · March 31, 2001, 09:47 AM

Desert Dog,
4759 if you can find it. 20gr for a starter load up to 25 gr. for about 2000fps. Quantrill

labgrade · March 31, 2001, 12:09 PM

I've had pretty good to excellent luck with Unique. I'll say luck because I never tried anything else - just had some on hand & started dinking around.

Quoted from memory - PLEASE - don't use this without checking first (& if you e-mail me, I'll prvide quite a few listings from Lyman's book) 19 grs Unique for about 1300fps with a 173 grain bullet. The above load isn't pushing max by any means, but it is from mem so please do check before using.

One thing I've noticed about cast bullets in rifles (in mine anyway) is they like to be seated out so the bullet hard engraves against the rifling - perhaps as much as .010" overlong. You may run into mag length probs using this method - maybe not. Unless you want to just shoot single shot, I'd seat as long as your mag will allow.

Do send an e-mail & I'll throw together a table from Lyman's book.

March 31, 2001, 01:28 AM	#1
Desert Dog Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 1999 Location: Deep East Texas Posts: 474	And I would like to know what kind of powder you suggest and maybe a starting load or two. The bullets are from Mid-Kansas, 16 BHN, .309", 185 gr. RNFP's. I heard that you can use really slow powder (8700) and get about 1800 FPS. That is almost too fast for what I want to use it for. I would hazard a guess of H4227, or AA1680, but none of my load books say anything about lead in a .308, so I wouldn't know where to start. They will be shot in a 1967 Ishapore Enfield that I have refined and restored. The wood on the old girl is just a beautiful, mottled mahogany; the barrel is pristine, and I want to keep it that way, and shoot it on occasion at the same time. Thanks in advance for your time... __________________ Yes, in fact I do have a 454... in more ways than one. "No provision in our Constitution ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprises of the civil authority" - Thomas Jefferson

March 31, 2001, 09:47 AM	#2
Quantrill Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 1999 Location: Arizona, USA Posts: 725	Cast Bullets in .308 Desert Dog, 4759 if you can find it. 20gr for a starter load up to 25 gr. for about 2000fps. Quantrill

March 31, 2001, 12:09 PM	#3
labgrade Member In Memoriam Join Date: November 29, 1999 Location: west of a small town, CO Posts: 4,346	I've had pretty good to excellent luck with Unique. I'll say luck because I never tried anything else - just had some on hand & started dinking around. Quoted from memory - PLEASE - don't use this without checking first (& if you e-mail me, I'll prvide quite a few listings from Lyman's book) 19 grs Unique for about 1300fps with a 173 grain bullet. The above load isn't pushing max by any means, but it is from mem so please do check before using. One thing I've noticed about cast bullets in rifles (in mine anyway) is they like to be seated out so the bullet hard engraves against the rifling - perhaps as much as .010" overlong. You may run into mag length probs using this method - maybe not. Unless you want to just shoot single shot, I'd seat as long as your mag will allow. Do send an e-mail & I'll throw together a table from Lyman's book.