Primer or powder

[outrider58]

I’m currently employing the shop vac technique as well.

Not a shop vac, but a small portable canister vac with a small reduction tube to allow me to get into all the tight spots on my Dillon. It allows me to vac all around the shell plate without sucking powder out of a case or a primer from the feeder/press. I can vac while amidst the loading process.

 

[John from MD]

Not a shop vac, but a small portable canister vac with a small reduction tube to allow me to get into all the tight spots on my Dillon. It allows me to vac all around the shell plate without sucking powder out of a case or a primer from the feeder/press. I can vac while amidst the loading process.

I've been making one of those reduction tubes since the last time I sucked up a cartridge positioning pin from my 550. As soon as I get a ROUND TUIT, I will finish it up.

 

[John from MD]

If you haven't yet, join castboolits.com and learn about cast bullets. Then start shooting them in your 300 BO. They are cheaper than jacketed or plated and the 300 BO takes to them really well.

 

[outrider58]

I've been making one of those reduction tubes since the last time I sucked up a cartridge positioning pin from my 550. As soon as I get a ROUND TUIT, I will finish it up.

On me. No excuses now...

 

[John from MD]

Only on MDS could someone find a ROUND TUIT.

 

[outrider58]

Only on MDS could someone find a ROUND TUIT.

I know. Usually they're...

 

[Pinecone]

That’s something to think about. Now that I feel that I can reload, somewhat reliably, I’m thinking about the different components of the cartridge.
When you say metering in your equipment. I’m using lee powder measuring equipment. I use Winchester 231, 296 & 748 and they all seem to leak from the measurer. I’ve searched for solutions but I haven’t been successful.

Explain suitability in your firearm.
I find myself thinking that now I can make my gun go boom . . . now what?
I understand & cherish the freedom of reloading regardless of the current political or social situations.
Ultimately I compete in some 3 gun competitions. So economically I can save some money and/or practice more by reloading. I can see myself finding loads that lower recoil thus allowing faster follow up shots on target.

Get a better powder measure.

I run 231 through Lyman and Dillon measures without leakage. And 748 through the Lyman without problems.

And H335 through both, H110 through the Dillon.

etc

One measure of suitability is reasonable pressures for the velocity that you want. If I have two powders listed, with the same velocity, but one has a higher pressure, then I will not use that one. Unless I am loading for a comped pistol, which needs the pressure to work better.

Also things like, I found that 231 was not suitable for cast lead bullets in SIG 229 in .40. It was too fast, so it stripped the rifling, leading to tumbling bullets. HS6 gave the same velocity, but without stripping.

Of course, the first thing is, you would not use 231 in a rifle cartridge. Or 4350 in a .223 round.

 

[Speedluvn]

If you haven't yet, join castboolits.com and learn about cast bullets. Then start shooting them in your 300 BO. They are cheaper than jacketed or plated and the 300 BO takes to them really well.

This! It’s my understanding that the 300 BO pretty much prefers jacketed bullets??? Cast bullets in the 300 won’t foul my barrel? At the moment I don’t see the point of a silencer so I’m shooting, I’m assuming supersonic rounds; 150, 147 & 125 grain rounds. I just tried some 210 “subsonic” rounds yesterday. I’m all ears on the cast 300BO options! You have my attention.

 

[outrider58]

This! It’s my understanding that the 300 BO pretty much prefers jacketed bullets??? Cast bullets in the 300 won’t foul my barrel? At the moment I don’t see the point of a silencer so I’m shooting, I’m assuming supersonic rounds; 150, 147 & 125 grain rounds. I just tried some 210 “subsonic” rounds yesterday. I’m all ears on the cast 300BO options! You have my attention.

Look at Gallant. They're OOS now, but won't be forever. They've actually broadened their line of .30 cals, looks like to me.

https://gallantbullets.com/collections/30-caliber


King is another one I've used, but I still prefer Gallants
https://www.kingshooters.com/bullets-pc-bullets-not-ammunition-/-3014

 

[Speedluvn]

Look at Gallant. They're OOS now, but won't be forever. They've actually broadened their line of .30 cals, looks like to me.

https://gallantbullets.com/collections/30-caliber


King is another one I've used, but I still prefer Gallants
https://www.kingshooters.com/bullets-pc-bullets-not-ammunition-/-3014

Does the coating prevent the bullets from fouling the barrel? I’m curious as to the blunt nose 300BO creating feeding issues in others barrels?

 

[John from MD]

All I shoot in my 300 BO these days is lead bullets. Some are powder coated, some are XLOX coated. At 1800-1900 FPS, neither gets any leading. The only lead I have ever seen in an AR is on the tail of the bolt (wire wheel cleans it off) and sometimes in the bolt carrier on the back wall ( a carbon scraper takes it off). You don't really need to clean them but maybe every 1000 rounds it is that minute.
I have never seen a gas tube ever get lead in it.

With PC bullets, the leading issue is moot.

I usually shoot 200 rounds at a sitting and have easily over 10,000 rounds of lead bullets fired through my 300 BO and 7.62X40WT. I make my own bullets out of range scrap and sometimes I PC them if the humidity is right other times I coat them with XLOX. I don't weight them but only do visual as all I am looking for is 2 inches at 50 yards and 4 inches at 100 yards. Many times I am shooting double and triple taps using magpul drum magazines on a bi pod. My barrels get hot enough to cook an egg on and I have no issues with lead bullets.

 

[John from MD]

My AR's won't feed flat points. I use these two bullets for supersonic loads. https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop/308-311/311-152-sp-l1/311-150-sp-l1-2-cavity-1gc-1pb-311414 and LEE .312-160-2R.

 

[outrider58]

I don't shoot the flat points either. I would probably need to recut the feed ramps to make them cycle reliably, which I'm not about to do. They're better in single shot or bolt guns.


I also recommend resizing PC bullets before loading them.

 

[Speedluvn]

I don't shoot the flat points either. I would probably need to recut the feed ramps to make them cycle reliably, which I'm not about to do. They're better in single shot or bolt guns.


I also recommend resizing PC bullets before loading them.

I was concerned about flat points and potential feeding issues.

How would I resize the bullets?

 

[John from MD]

Buy a size die from Lee, the are pretty cheap. Since the 300 BO chamber is cut with really no lead, I suggest sizing them to .309. Most of my lead shooting guns are sized .002 for better accuracy but the 300 BO will give you feeding problems if you size to .310.

https://www.amazon.com/Lee-Precisio...+sizing+die&qid=1594248745&sr=8-1&tag=mh0b-20

 

[Speedluvn]

What weight 300BO cast bullets are you guys using?

 

[John from MD]

I use 150 and 160 grain lead. Sometimes for hunting, I use 120 grain factory loaded with Barnes bullets. All supersonic.

 

[outrider58]

I only use PC lead bullets for plinking.

I use 110g V-Max for deer.

 

[Speedluvn]

I use 150 and 160 grain lead. Sometimes for hunting, I use 120 grain factory loaded with Barnes bullets. All supersonic.

I only use PC lead bullets for plinking.

I use 110g V-Max for deer.

Thank you. I saw the cheaper lead cast bullets but wasn’t sure.

 

[Seabee]

Could be unburnt powder, probably from the 300(short barrel).
I use magnum primers in my 300 subs only. Supers get standard SRPs.

Likely true.
I shot some A-1680 in my 454 Casull which were hot loads and they were squibs, stuck bullet in the barrel. The powder sort of fizzled and the granules were all over the place but were a sandy color. Looked like I dumped sand in the action. I contacted Western powder about this and they never did figure it out. They suspected that the load was a bit light but it was compressed, then thought a heavier crimp might help but I just stopped using that powder. Perhaps you arent getting a complete burn. Magnum primers may work better for magnum ball powders.