Y

(ISSN 001 7-73!#) '

DAVE WOLF E Publisher and Editor

MARK HARRIS Assistant Publisher

AL MILLER Assistant Editor

JANA KOSCO Advertising Manager

DAVE LeGATE Art Director

BARBARA WHITE Production Supervisor

JOYCE BUETER Circulation Director

SUSAN HEYER Circulation Manager

TERRY BUETER Accounting

MARDELL HARMS Executive Secretary

HOLLY McLEAN Editorial Assistant

RANDY SWEDLUND Photographer

TECHNICAL EDITORS

BOB BRACKNEY SAM FADALA BOB HAGEL NEAL KNOX WALLACE LABISKY ED MATUNAS LUDWIG OLSON HOMER POWLEY LAYNE SIMPSON CHARLES R. SUYDAM MIKE VENTURINO KEN WATERS

Published by Wolfe Publishing Co., Inc. Dave Wolfe, President

Handloader The Journal of Ammunition Reloading

July-August 1984 Volume 19, Number 4 P.O. Box 3030, Prescott, Arizona 86302

FEATURES: Light for Loading .............................. Howard M. Schmies 20

Pet Loads: .307 Winchester.. ......................... .Ken Waters 21

Practical Velocity in the Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bryan Logan 24

26

Variables in Handloading (Part I). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Layne Simpson 30

New Plastic Cased Ammo .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mike Nesbitt 35

36

Cast Bullets in the Various .25s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Don Zutz 38

7mm International Rimmed ........................ .Philip C. Briggs

Old and New Shotshell Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wallace Labisky

DEPARTMENTS: Reloader's Press . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Benchtopics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Capitol Watch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Wildcat Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Reader Bylines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Aiming for Answers . . . . . . . . . . .18

Loading Shot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Propellant Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . .66

Cartridge Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 ProducTests. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

The Handloader. copyright 1984. is published bi-monthly by the Wolfe Publishing Company, Inc., P.O. Box 3030, Prescott. Arizona 86302. (Also publisher of Rifle Magazine.) Telephone (802) 4457810. Second Class Postage paid at Prescott, Arizona, and additional mailing offices. Subscription prices: U.S. possessions and Canada - single issue, $2.50: 6 issues, $13.00; 12 Issues, $25.00; 18 issues, $37.00. Foreign - single issue, $3.00 6 issues, $16.00; 12 issues, $31:00; 18 issues, $46.00. Advertising rates furnished on request. Al l rights reserved.

Publisher of Handloader is not responsible lor mishaps of any nature which might

of The Staff. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permis- occur from use of published loading data, or from recommendations by any member

sion from the editor. Manuscripts from free-lance writers must be accompanied by stamped self-addressed envelope and the publisher cannot accept responsibility for lost or mutilated manuscripts.

Change of address: please give six weeks notice. Send both old and new address, plus mailing label if possible, to Circulation Dept., Handloader Magazine, P.O. Box 3030. Prescott. Arizona 86302.

ON THE COVER Preparing to f i e a traditional Independence Day salute is a model of a smoothbore Napoleon, a scaled-down version of the artillery piece which played such a prominent role in our Civil War. A 580-grain ball backed by 35 grains of Pyrodex can turn the accurately detailed miniature into an impressive performer. The .75-caliber muzzleloader weighs 18 pounds and is imported by Armsport of Miami, Florida. Photo by Randy Swedlund

4 HANDLOADER 110

KEN WATERS

The .263 Express

HE WAY I FIGURE, a firearms T writer ought to have some pre- rogatives, like telling about his own wildcat cartridge designs, not just those of other folks. So from time to time, I plan to use this column to talk about some of the experiments I have made with wildcat cartridges.

Most were unsuccessful, but in the process I learned a lot. In a few instances they provided additions to my battery of hunting rifles which proved effective. All were lots of fun. First and foremost, each was worked up with a specific purpose in mind. I believe a wildcat cartridge should be intended to satisfy an achievable need rather than just be something different. Whether it proves success- ful in that mission is, of course, another matter.

One of my earliest attempts, dating back to 1956, I called the “.263 Express.” I had been thinking about expanding the necks of .250 Savage cases to accept 6.5mm bullets with a view of providing Model 99 Savage rifles with better big game killing power than the .250 possessed, com- bined with less recoil and a flatter long range trajectory than the .300 Savage offered. I was not completely satisfied with the idea. The .250 case did not have enough powder capacity to suit me. Nonetheless, I wanted a short case - shorter than the .257 Roberts.

Then the .243 Winchester was announced and I was sent a test rifle in that caliber. Those short cases with their reduced body taper had about 15 percent more volume than .250 Savage cases. That seemed about right. I reasoned that the .243 Winchester case necked up to .263 inch (most 6.5mm bullets in those days were .263 diameter) would make possible the use of bullets from 87 to 160 grains, conferring greater versatility as well as increased killing

16

power, especially if game larger than deer were sought.

Still with lever action rifles in mind, I considered the applicability of this cartridge to the then-new Model 88 Winchester. Remember, this was before we had such factory cartridges as the .284 Winchester and 7mm-08 Remington, and thoughts of a car- tridge that would approach .270 bal- listics in a lever action were a perennial challenge.

At the time, the only rifle action I had available for barreling was a 1903 Springfield. I decided to use it, figuring that if all went well, I could make up a second rifle on a late-issue lever action. A Buhmiller barrel, 22 inches long with .263 inch groove diameter and a 1-in-8 inch twist rate was purchased. The gunsmith was instructed to use a standard .243 Winchester reamer for chambering, after which a straight reamer of .296 inch diameter was run in to open up the chamber neck area to accom- modate the expanded case necks. While not as good a system as using a custom chambering reamer, it worked fine and helped keep costs down since the gunsmith was able to use reamers he already had in his shop.

In Volume I of Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders, P.O. Ackley mistakenly stated that this cartridge is made by necking down .308 Winchester cases. While this would be possible, I preferred to use .243 Winchester cases necked up, finding it easier and faster, with less strain on the brass. Using .243 cases meant it wasn’t necessary to ream case necks, as would be required if .308s were necked down to 6.5mm.

Loads were worked up gradually from a safe starting point, finally settling on 43 grains of IMR-4350 with either 140-grain Speer or Nosler

Partition bullets for my deer hunting rounds. With these loads, the Spring- field, stocked to the muzzle in Mann- licher style, successfully downed several nice deer. Accuracy with 140- grain Sierra spitzers and selected loads was on the order of 1% MOA. In one test a t 400 yards, five shots went into a shade over six inches. Some of the powders I used are now obsolete.

Velocities had been estimated, not having a chronograph in the 50s. When one of the early chronographs with wire screens finally became available, I experienced pome dis- appointment; actual muzzle speeds from the 22 inch barrel proved to be 200 to 250 fps below estimates. (I just recently came across those old records.) A deer load of 43 grains of IMR-4350 registered 2,625 fps. Indi- cations of high pressures further dis- enchanted me. I t soon became apparent that further study, includ- ing an analysis of what was causing those pressures, had to be under- taken.

The first problem seemed to be that 6.5mm bullets of 140 grains and heavier - especially those of 160 grains - have such long bearing surfaces that resistance mounts rapidly with increases in velocity. To avoid this, three alternatives were open: (1) I could limit bullet weight to 140 grains or less; (2) be content with velocities around 2,600 fps with them; or (3) use two-diameter bullets (only the base section is groove diameter, the front two-thirds ride on the lands). This last is what Winchester did with their .264 Magnum, I suspect for the same reason: to keep pressures from soaring out of sight when driving long 6.5mm bullets a t high velocities.

None of those alternatives appealed to me as I wanted higher velocities, but have a chronic dislike for two- diameter bullets, which are seldom as accurate as I require. I could live with the weight restriction if neces- sary, and recalling that Newton had chosen 129 to 130 grains as optimum bullet weight for his famous .256 car- tridge, that could be the way to go. In this relatively small case, 160- grain bullets can’t be given enough

HANDLOADER 110

inches. Unless &e rifleis throated long, bullet ogives may contact the rifling origin. This too will boost pressures. What is more, an overall cartridge length of three inches makes it too long for a Savage 99 action. The Model 88 Winchester, of course, was discontinued years ago.

Not being able to effect the changes I felt were called for (short of starting over with a new barrel), I gave up on this cartridge after several seasons use, rechambering the Springfield for the 6.5 Remington Magnum cartridge.

Rather surprisingly, I still receive' inquiries about the .263 Express. Evidently some riflemen see merit in the old wildcat, and I'm toying with the idea of having a new rifle built for this cartridge. If I do, I'll see to it that the lessons learned with the first rifle are incorporated in the specifica- tions. For those who may be interested, here are some of the changes which will be made:

(1) Barrel length will be 24 inches rather than 22 inches.

(2) Barrel groove diameter will be .264 inch rather than .263, and I'll call for a rifling twist rate of 1-in-10 inches (or possibly 1-in-g), planning on usina bullets no heavier than

>

velocity to interest most modern Using powders such as IMR-4350, grain Hornady spirepoints, 125-grain shooters. H-4350 and Norma-204, these Nosler Partition, or 120-grain spitzer

A second pressurecausing suspect changes should make it possible to softpoints from Speer, Sierra and was that rifling twist. If reach 2,800 $8 mv with l4O-grain Nosler should make it possible to bullets no heavier than 140 grains bullets without encountering exces- reduce overall cartridge length to 2.8 were used, a twist rate of 1-in-g sivepressures. Thi~wouldbeall that inches maximum, with lower pres- inches, or even 1-in-10 inches should is needed for medium big W e , While sures- be adequate to stabilize them, and providing the The old .263 E~~~~~ (we would would have a pressurereducing dY have to call it the 264 Express) may effect. As for the initial concept of a wild- have a future yet. If it shows signs

Third, as bullets of .264 inch cat cartridge for the Savage Model 99 of a rebirth, you can be sure I will let diameter (rather than .263 inch) (and the Browning BLR), use of 129- everyone know. 0 began a p m , yet another pressureramng factor was present. Further, there was the matter of bullet seating depth. If 140-grain bullets are seated to hold overall cartridge length to 2.8 inches, their bases will extend below the short neck of the .243 case, intruding into the powder space and increasing pressures.

On the other hand, seating bullets out so that their bases are flush with the base of the case neck, results in an overall cartridge length of three

r v

rm:m

the expertskhoice for M " ' 'm'm Y

Handloading experts choose Du Pont powders

consistent and reliable. They should be. No other powders are backed by more than 180 years of explosives experience.

Insist on Du Pont powder. Only Du Pont has the most complete selection of powders, each packaged in 3 conveniently-sized containers, to meet your handloading needs.

you want in the package size you need, write Du Pont, Room X40294, Wilmington, DE 19898,

because they are uniform,

Accept no substitutes.

If your dealer doesn't have the Du Pont powder

ii

- and give us the particulars. / A

Y DupOntsmokelesspowders 140 gr&s.

(3) The barrel will also be throated long enough to permit an overall cartridge length of three inches, with bullet noses about 3/32 inch short of touching the rifling, and a chamber neck clearance of .003 total.

5 U L . I I . T U 011

17 JULY-AUGUST 1984

!

3 JULY-AUGUST 1984

N OLD WISE man once said A that, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” He was right, not only about the world in general, but the world of riflery in particular. For a lot that is new in the way of rifle chamberings these days is actually a repeat of the past; instead of new cartridges being developed, oldtimers are being rein- troduced.

At the heart of all this are the various .25 caliber cartridges which fell by the wayside when the 6mm rounds came storming in during the 1950s and 1960s. A list would include the .25-35 Winchester, the ,250-3000 Savage, and the .257 Roberts. Although the .25-06 was not yet a commercial cartridge in those days, it was a well known wildcat, and we can classify it with those other .25s because it wasn’t until the 1970s that the .25-06 became a standard chambering. That predated the renewed interest in the .250-3000 and .257 Roberts slightly, but not by one heck of a lot.

This current surge of interest in the .25s has been reflected through the industry. Ruger started it with a limited run of Model 77s in .257 Roberts and some in .250-3000. Savage brought back the .250-3000 in a straight gripped Model 99A. Remington then legitimized the old .25-06 wildcat, and practically

3 8

will become interested in matching BULLETSI lead bullets with the resurrected ~ -

~ I rounds. Perhaus some of them will fall victim to the old saw that: “Smallbores don’t shoot accurately with lead.” My own advice is - ignore it! With good bullets and VARIOUS inthe I some trial and error load develop-

I ment. the .257s will aive a aood I

account of themselves with &ked @ ~ S S J everyone else picked up the cham- bering.

In rapid succession, Remington made limited edition runs of the neat Model 700 Classic in .257 Roberts and ,250-3000, while Winchester’s ornately styled new Featherweight Model 70 can also be had in .25? Roberts.

Not to be denied, Browning has begun chambering a pair of rifles for the ,257 Roberts, namely, the short action Lightning Bolt turnbolt and the revamped lever action. Thus, a totally new generation is coming in contact with cartridges which, just 10 to 15 years ago, were dead or dying.

This return of the .25 calibers comes at a time when, I am told, interest in cast bullets is also at an all- time high. N o doubt many shooters

lead slugs.

This presupposes a good barrel, of course, as a roughly turned tube can make a trim rifle and next-to-perfect lead bullets look bad to horrible. Since I was once a devout fan of the .25 calibers, I would like to set down some of the results I’ve achieved with them . . .

I can trace my interest in .25s back to my grade school years in the 1940s when the .250-3000 Savage was getting rave notices as a quick knockdown round in the brush country of my native Wisconsin. It killed by shock, we were told, not just by penetration. The same was supposedly true of the .257 Roberts. That number was not as popular in the upper Midwest because it was not made in a lever actioned rig, and at that time brush country deer hunters had not yet accepted the turnbolt sporter to any extent.

When I finally got out of college and outgrew my first .30-30, I

HANDLOADER 110

left, Don found most -25s grouped cast byllets best when their diamders measured .258. That Ruger 77 he’s holding is one of the first chambered in .257 Roberts.

Right, one of the most accurate combinations Don ever cooked up featured Lyman bullet 257312, backed by 15.0 grains of Hercules

2400. That load, in the .257 Ruger, punched out the group on the far right.

became a fan of the .25s. I owned a Model 99E Savage complete with .410 barrel, and later, for a short time, a Remington 760 in .257 Roberts. A pre-64 Model 70 in .257 also graced my rack for a period. When I tired of the standard .25 caliber rounds, I eventually built a .257 Roberts Improved and a 25-284 wildcat. From Roy Weatherby I received a consignment ,257 Magnum for testing, and a friend supplied a .25-06. Finally, I worked with the .25-35 in a T/C Contender. To a certain degree, I tried lead loads in all of them, but the .250-3000 and .257 Roberts got the most extensive work. The remainder of this article will point out what transpired with all of them.

At one time I had a friend who was willing to cast any and all bullets, and together we tried a number of different designs. Since we were both teachers then, we had summer after- noons to try the reloads. Eventually, he tired of punching holes in paper, packed up, and moved west. By then, however, we had already settled on a trio of cast nuggets which seemed to give the most con- sistent accuracy in the various .25s.

The lightest was Lyman’s 257420, a stubby flatnosed 63 to 65-grainer made for gas checks. The inter- mediate weight bullet was Lyman 257312, which was also a flatnosed design, but weighing 90 grains and made for a gas check. The heavy- weight we settled on was Lyman 257325, a roundnosed gas check scaling a nominal 113 grains. We never worked seriously with plain- based bullets, but Lyman 257231 appeared to be the best of that lot.

The bullets which shot best had relatively long cylindrical shanks and conservative ogives. Designs with sharply pointed noses and/or long noses relative to the shank did poorly. Pointed cast bullets in these

JULY-AUGUST 1984

smallish calibers must be cast per- fectly and then seated and aligned perfectly. Because getting that degree of perfection is difficult in casting, we bypassed the concept quickly. The best pointy cast bullet seemed to be Lyman 257454, a gas check model that can be had in 92 grains. It is mainly shank with an abrupt nose cone. A design that catches my eye now, but which we didn’t use, is Lyman 257306, a gas checked item about 115 grains. So much for bullet designs.

Of the above mentioned trio, 257312 was the most versatile, showing potential in standard rifling twists. That’s an important aspect, as some of the older .25s, like the .250-3000 in 99 Savage rifles, have rifling twists of 1 turn in 14 inches, while the newer .25s have generally been given faster twists of 1 turn in every 10 inches. My old 99E had the 1 in 14 twist, and it shot best with bullets of 100 grains or less. With the 115-grain 257325 aboard, that slow-twisted 99 would keyhole practically every shot.

When it comes to the 1 in 10 twist, 65-grain 257420 is oversta- bilized, but the longer 257325 and old reliable 257312 jibe with the twist. If your .25 is a golden oldie, check the rifling twist before deciding upon a bullet mould, For slow twists use something below 100 grains. For fast twists of 1 in 10 inches, go with those of 90 grains or more.

At the time we experimented, hard cast bullets were not as popular as they are today. We went to no extremes, our hardest alloy being a simple copy of Lyman’s number 2 mixture: 10 parts lead, 1 part tin,

The aid of an expanding die is a must if cast bullets are to be seated without damaging bases or shaving lead from their sides. The two-step expander plug, shown above, is from a Lyman M-die.

and 1 part antimony. The accuracy results reported herein are based on that mixture, which still seems sub- stantial today for moderate velocities. I have since conducted some accuracy trials with 257312 cast of wheelweights which had 9 percent antimony, 1 percent tin and 90 percent lead without getting anything more accurate than the basic Lyman number 2 mixture produced.

Practically all the .25 caliber cast bullets with which we developed any accuracy were sized to ,258 inch. We did not slug the barrels. However, being ,001 inch over caliber designation is generally a good starting diameter for cast pills in .25 caliber.

All bullets used a lube mixture of 50 percent 2138F Alox and 50 percent A1 beeswax. Nothing fancy was tried. The mixture and amounts

39

Vhese three bullets worked well in most of the guns tested. All are Lyman designs. From left: 65-grain 257420, %grain 257312 and 115-grain 257325.

Left to right: a .250-3000, a .25-35 and a 256. Don’s favorite bullet, a 90-grain Lyman desidn 257312 is seated in each.

were deemed sufficient, as they still tended to shoot well from 24-inch tubes wherein lube burnout would have hindered accuracy rather than enhanced it.

Observation4 Some interesting

were made relative to powders an averall loaded length for each round and rifle. As a rule of thumb, the: best accuracy came with either the, fastest burning flake powders or ths! slowest burning extruded types. Although bullet seating was somewhat of an individual matter fon each rifle, it became obvious that in most instances the optimum results came when bullets were seated shod of touching the leade which, of course, is contrary to the old reload- ing dictum to load cast bullets t o engage the rifling upon action, closure. Let’s illustrate with each cartridge in turn . . .

The .25-35 was tried only in ai T/C Contender, and it flopped. 1; never developed one load that would have sufficed for metallic silhouette, short range varminting, or even good1 practice. Perhaps the concept and: the loads are not as much to blame! as the round’s long, tapering body1 and shallow shoulder angles. It shot poorly with the 115-grain bullet and k e d the 65 and 90-grainers best. Fast burning powders from Red Dot to Unique gave the top perfor- mances; anything slower burning than Unique gave patterns rather than groups. In general, the .25-35

40

handgun pairing seems to have been a mismatch, and T/C has dropped it. I can understand why.

The .250-3000 Savage was tried in a Savage 99E and a Ruger 77. It gave far better groups, on average, than the .25-35 handgun, although it was fussy on a rifle-to-rifle basis. The best performances from the 99 came bith Hi-Skor 700-X, Unique, or 2400 under 90-grain 257312 or Red bot or Hi-Skor 700-X with 65-grain 257420. It didn’t want the bullets touching the rifling upon chamber- ing, preferring a hairline crack betwixt bullet and leade.

In the Ruger 77, 257325 became a fair performer ahead of 14.0 grains of 2400. Loads which produced good groups with 90-grain 257312 were 8.5 grains of Hi-Skor 700-X, 9.0 grains of Red Dot, and 8.0 grains of Unique. The little 65- orainer enjoyed 7.0 grains of Hi-Skor 700-X. Unlike the Savage 99, the huger 77 wanted its bullets cozied up to the rifling, especially the lengthy 115-grainer. A promising load in the ,250-3000 with 90-grain 257312 was 15.0 grains of 2400, which may do exceedingly well in other guns.

The .257 Roberts displayed a healthy appetite for cast bullets. Both the Remington 760 and Ruger 77 punched groups of 2 to 21/2 inches at 100 yards with the 115-grain 257325 tiding 10.0 grains of Hi-Skor 700-X. The main problem with this load was a tendency for an occasional slug to print low, as illustrated in an accom- panying photo.

Different rifles often require different seating depths for best accuracy. Here, the 115-grain bullet is seated well out of the .257 case on the left while that in the center has been stuffed farther into the case to duplicate the overall length of the factory round on the extreme right.

The best cast bullet load developed for any of the .25s was 15.0 grains of 2400 using 90-grain 257312 and Winchester 8%-120 primers. It gave the most symmetrical groups and could be counted upon for less than a two-inch spread at 100 yards. Also good under the 90-grainer was 8.5 grains of Red Dot, Hi-Skor 700-X, or 9 .5 grains of Unique.

Neither the 760 nor the 77 Ruger wanted its cast bullets seated to touch the lands. A tiny jump was favored. This was possible in the first run Ruger 77, as it had a short throated interior despite its ’06-length action. However, when a second Ruger with a long throat (factory cut) was tried, no cast load shot even acceptably well, and the rifle was traded off. This was deemed a barrel fault, not a load problem, as jacketed projectiles wouldn’t do well from that particular Ruger, either.

In a pre-64 Model 70, the same loads gobbled up by the earlier Ruger printed excellent groups. This rifle also had a relatively short (original) throat, and it didn’t care whether bullets were seated out to touch the lands or seated a mite short to require a minor jump. Here again, 2400 was the slow burning number and Hi-Skor 700-X was the fast burner.

When I worked with a .257

HANDLOADER 110

Roberts Improved (28-degree shoulder), 17.0 grains of 2400 and 10.0 grains of Hi-Skor 700-X prbved most accurate with 90-grain 257312. This Shilen tube didn’t like the 65- grain pill at all, but 16.0 grains of 2400 averaged two inches or slightly less with the 115-grain 257325 seated to touch the leade.

Only the .25-06, a Remington 700 BDL, handled slow burning flake powder with anything but dis- astrous results. It grouped around two inches at 100 yards with 14.0 to 14.5 grains of SR-4756 and the 90- grain Lyman 257312. But that was the only excursion taken by the .25-06. After that, it also printed best with 2400 and Red Dot or Hi- Skor 700-X regardless of the bullet.

The .25-06’s long case and neck made it natural for one to try seating bullets well out, but that was not necessary with the lighter 90-grain bullet which shot well after making just a minor jump. However, the 115-grain javelin liked a longer overall loaded length so that it con- tacted the leade upon being chambered.

The -257 Weatherby Magnum was hardly a top cast bullet per- former. Its spacious case undoubt- edly caused erratic ignition which, in turn, hindered accuracy. We did not try filling the case with dacron or any other material, which may be the way to go with this hull. Groups ran 2% to 3 inches for the best loads, but there were times when even the best lacked uniformity and spread to 4 and 5 inches.

From just a few additional cursory sessions, we found the .257 Weatherby grouped best when bullets were seated to the base of the case neck regardless of bullet, powder charge or the fact that German made .257 Weatherbys had long throats (something technicians term “freebore”). Loading bullets far out so that they were gripped only by the very case mouth did not improve results.

The best loads were built with heavy charges of Hi-Skor 700-X, such as 15.0 grains and the 90-grain 257312. This fast burning powder seemed to ignite well, besides filling the case reasonably well due to its bulky, big flaked nature. As a second powder for the .257 Weatherby, 17 to 18 grains of Unique looked promising with the 90-grainer, but it never really settled down. Perhaps in some other rifle?

JULY-AUGUST 1984

It was only in this case that 2400 did not look good to us.

In all the rifles mentioned, ultra clean barrels were an absolute must for good accuracy with cast bullets. The only one that was tolerant of some fouling was the medium heavy- barreled Ruger M77 in .257. Clean barrels may be one item not con- sidered by casual shooters who have experienced poor cast bullet accuracy in smallbores. There is a lot of sloppy shooting going on, and there is also a tendency to blame equip- ment for our own shortcomings. Don’t expect cast bullets to shoot well after you have blasted away several tests of jacketed bullets! Start with a clean tube and do the cast load testing first. - And it may not be a bad idea to take a cleaning rod along to sanitize the bore while running cast load series.

Poor groups can also mean defec- tive bullets. Cast imperfections affect smallbores more than they do massive calibers like .45s, .50s and .54s. Take care when casting such little nuggets, and scrap anything that is suspect. Moreover, cast with a single cavity mould, as no two cavities are ever exactly alike, and variations tend to magnify in the smallbores.

Powder positioning in the case can cause erratic grouping. Our best results came when the powder was settled back against the primer before shooting. If pressures are low due to poor ignition because of powder location, the inevitable result for us was a low point of impact. This low shot condition was more prevalent in the larger cases like the .25-06 and .257 Weatherby than it was in the .250 Savage or .257 Roberts, but it occurred nevertheless.

To get good cast bullet accuracy in .25s, one must apply the finer points of bullet casting and must have the patience of a saint when working up experimental loads. The trial and error work can go on for a long time, and it may not result in good accuracy at all if the handloader approaches it in a haphazard fashion. For starters, try Hi-Skor 700-X and 2400 powders regardless of the bullet. Stick with standard force primers, but vary the brand. I had some excellent accuracy with CCI 200s and Remington 9 % ~ . For additional powders, try Red Dot, Unique and IMR-4227. And vary the seating depth for the same loads, as smallbores seem to be fussy about that sort of thing. a

Selected Cast Bullet Loads

powder charge velocity (grains) (fps)

.250-3000 Savage 90 Lyman 257312GC Hi-Skor 700-X 6.0 1,400

8.5 1,710 Unique 7.0 1,490

8.5 1,705 Red Dot 7.5 1,545 115 Lyman 25732SGC Hi-Skor 700-X 6.0 1,225

8.0 1,460 Unique 6.0 1,220

9.0 1,540 Red Dot 7.0 1,310 Green Dot 8.0 1,495

-257 Roberts 90 Lyman 257312GC Unique 8.5 1,560

12.0 1,900 2400 12.0 1,500

15.0 1,875 Hi-Skor 700-X 7.5 1,480

11.0 1,870 115 Lyman 257325GC Hi-Skor 700-X 7.0 1,300

10.0 1,630 9.0 1,455 Unique

12.0 1,725 2400 13.5 1,545

-25-08 Remington 90 Lyman 257312GC Hi-Skor 700-X 9.0 1,700

12.0 1,965 SR-4756 10.5 1,700

14.0 1,935 115 Lyman 2573256C SR-4756 12.0 1,610

15.5 1,870 Hi-Skor 700-X 10.5 1,600

12.5 1,760 2400 23.0 2,050

.257 Weatherby Magnum 90 Lyman 257312GC Unique 12.0 1,820

17.0 2,050 Hi-Skor 700-X 12.5 1,840 2400 17.5 1,870

19.5 2,000 115 Lyman 257325GC Unique 12.0 1,650

15.0 1,870 Hi-Skor 700-X 12.0 1,680

15.0 1,975 2400 17.0 1,735

19.0 1,890 Be alert - Publisher cannot accept responsibility

for errors in publlshed load data.