[James Gates]

Marshall and The Forum....I'm getting back into playing with Marshall's 173 gr .30 bullet in my Ruger No 1 Light Sporter in .30-06.Marshall has giving my some suggestd loads that look good. My next question is..sice the HC lead bullets are .310 vs .308 for jacketed...should I outside neck tuen to thin up the brass or use a larger expander ball ? I really only tave to have the bullet snug in the case for this SS and plan on using Lee collet crimp die to tighten and line things up.Any suggestion?
Best Regards from The Hammock....James

 

[Marshall Stanton]

Mr. Gates,

In my experience, those Ruger rifles have large fairly sloppy chambers.   The ones that I've rechambered to Ackley Improved versions of their original chamberings have required setting the barrel back two full turns before having enough meat to make a nice tight chamber.  

Those chambers are loose enough that you could chamber .312" bullets in your brass if the throats weren't too tight!  Your '06 will do great without having to neck turn or ream the brass.... a sure thing!

You'll enjoy shooting some cast in that rifle... all the Rugers I have used cast in shot very well with properly fit bullets.

God Bless,

Marshall

 

[James Gates]

Marshall...I agree that Ruger should tighten up their chamber specs some. I was more concerned with seating the .310" HC bullets in a sized case. Years ago we had problems with shaving the bullets, but I am sure they were not as hard as yours.
By the way, Cissey mailed a package off to you yesterday.
Best Regards from The Hammock.....James

 

[Marshall Stanton]

I would highly suggest getting a Lyman "M" die for the necks on those .30-06 cases you're going to shoot cast in, or a die of similar characteristics from another manufacturer.

Also, a good, heavy inside champher on the case mouths makes a real difference as well.

I doubt you'll have any problems seating those pills!

God Bless,

Marshall

 

[James Gates]

Marshall...You were right about Ruger No1 chambers.
Hank and I drove up to our range today "to heat up some scrap iron"! My main purpose was to keep shaking out this new Ruger No1 Light Sporter in .30-06. I had some "comfort' loads with 125 gr Sierra spitzers, that had some accuracy potential at 3000 fps. Also some trial Nosler 165 gr Partition's, which the Ruger did not like at all. But...the real test was 180 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips with 57.1 grs of VV160 for an honest 2675 fbs out of that 22" barrel. That light rifle put those heavies into 1" to 1 1/4" 5 shot groups all aftrnoon. After 2 - 5 shot groups, I would swab down with Hoppe's #9, leave it wet, and let 'er cool down. Then wiped out with 2 dry patches and go for another pair of 5 shots. Man...Let me tell you that load would set my 6' 3 1/2"...250 lb frame back in that light rifle!.....But would it hammer then it! Tonight I miked some fired cases...and they were larger than I would like. In fact, the bolt on my last custom 98 Mauser would not come near closing on them!
Oh well...If it keeps hammering those 1", or so, groups..I'll not worry about over working the brass.
Best Regards fron The Hammock....James  

(Edited by James Gates at 8:45 pm on Jan. 17, 2001)

 

[Bill Lester]

Mr. Gates,

I'll second Marshall's suggestion to use a Lyman M die to slightly expand the case necks of your '06 brass. When I first started using cast in rifles I had some shaving. Once I'd obtained that Lyman die the problem was solved and accuracy improved by a substantial margin in a 1903A3 Springfield and Ruger M77R.

 

[James Gates]

To Marshall, Bill Lester & All...Thank you all for your response..My main reason for the original Post was to see what everyone was doing today vs 25 years ago. Case preparation seems about tha same, but with better bullets.
The most accurate rifle, using cast bullets was a new 1903 A3 Spingfield with a new 2 groove barrel that we lapped out with JR1 (jeweler's rouge 1) crushed in oil. Our favorite bukket was the old Lyman # 308329 - 185 gr spitzer - gas checked, and with one large lube groove. Our lube was pure beewax, graphite, and whale oil ( pretty primative by todays standards) melted, mixed, and poured in a 450 sizer/lube machine. Our bullets were linotype (sized .310"), monotype (sized .310"), and a zinc die casting metal called "Superdie #1 (unsized, out of the mould @ .3105"), all gas checked. We ran the linotype @ 2200'/", the monotype @ 2400'/", and got up to 2700 '/" with the "Superdie", which left a zinc wash that did not build up. We had two quarts of mercury that was "acquired" from NASA and cleaned the lead and zinc wash out with it(we were younger and foolish in those days)
I do have a "M" die that mikes .3075" that I use with jacketed bullets in my single shots. This give a springback on the necks @ .306". I like .002" tight on Jacketed. I have a modified RCBS expander ball that mikes .3095", which gives a springback of .308. This gives me .002" on .310" bullets. I like the "M" and also use one on .357 Magnum and .35 Remington.
The zinc #308329 weighed at 150 grs (linotype @ 185 grs) and had traj. path about like the 153 gr military. When shot in the M1's, had less wash on the operating rod and gass cylinder.
I firmly believe that the #308329 made out of "Superdie", with a meplat that we know today, at 2700'/" would be a good deer, etc. load
Best Regards from The Hammock....James

(Edited by James Gates at 8:56 pm on Feb. 1, 2001)