Cast loading for the Remington 700P LTR

[ziconceo]

Title says it all (well most of it). I'm making cast reloads for my Remington 700P LTR rifle. So far I have had really good success with my reloads and my rifle seems to like them Here are the specs for my reloads:

1. Random wheel weight lead
2. 155 grain cast lead gas checked, lubed, and sized to .309
3. Various brass ranging from CBC to Hornady match grade
4. Winchester large pistol primers (it was all the store had )
5. 20 grains of IMR 4227
6. Reloaded with lee 308 Winchester deluxe die set

I shot my groups using my bi-pod and a table
First group was a 6 shot group that achieved 2.280 inches at 100 yards
Second group was also 6 shots and that was 1.835 inches at 100 yards
I dont have any more good groups to show because my GF used the rest of the bullets
I would like to ask my fellow calgunners this:

1. Would "Accurate 4350" powder work better?
2. Should I work up or down my loads? (I've only tested 20 grains)
3. Is this....well is this a pretty good group at 100 yards? (given my current data on a scale of 1-10)
4. Does it piss you guys off I'm shooting lead out of a precision police rifle?

[RandyD]

Excellent experiment, and those are good groups especially since they are six shot groups instead of the standard three shot group. I believe that shooting lead with low powder loads will not give you very much barrel wear, and you can practice more.

[ziconceo]

2.280 inches at 100 yards 6 shot group

1.835 inches at 100 yards 6 shot group

[Bill Steele]

In the Lee 2nd Edition, he lists a bunch of lead loads using more traditional 308 powders like 4895, BL-C(2), Varget, etc. You might find one of those that will shrink those groups a lot.

[ziconceo]

@RandyD Thanks and yes, I'm pretty sure my lead loads will keep the barrel in specs for a very long time

[ziconceo]

@Bill Steele only powders i have right now are:
1. Accurate 4350
2. IMR 4227
3. Hodgdon H4350
4. Random powder I've extracted from surplus rifle rounds over the years that were dented to the point to where they were not safe to fire.

[ziconceo]

Here is the rifle:



And here is one of my reloads: