Krag Collectors Association Forum

I have read an awful lot here on what seems to be "The Load" for the 220gr jacketed bullets, i.e., 40gr IMR/H4350. Is there similar consensus on The Load for cast bullets in the 210/220gr range?

Yes, I do own a goodly number of reloading manuals but I am interested to hear what others have used successfully.

Thanks!
Hoot

For benchrest shooting in cast bullet matches (out of my modified sporter), I'm shooting an NOE 311365 at 185 gr. My load is with 19.0 grains of Accurate 5744, and at 200 yards, it's pretty good!

The heaviest 30 caliber bullet I have is a copy of a Don Eagan design, made by Accurate Bullet Molds. It's their 31-230E. It weighs 223.7gr and is a single load only proposition due to the large meplat. Whether or not you can get 2000fps with accuracy depends very much on alloy, whether or not the alloy will take the pressure you generate. Data for jacketed loads doesn't quite work out. A load with an equal weight cast bullet will generate less pressure and more velocity than a jacketed load. 36-37gr of 4350 will get one 2000fps with cast. I use that amount of RL19, fired with a magnum primer. Because of the hard alloy I use, linotype and harder stuff, my bullets don't weigh as heavy as they should. For instance my NOE 311284 bullets weigh only 203gr checked and lubed whereas it would weigh closer to 210gr in WW. The NOE Bullet Molds version of the 311284 has a larger nose than Lyman's offering, mics .302" on mine and really fills the throat. It is probably the best feeding bullet one could find for the Krag, it's almost as if it was designed for the rifle! Oh, I guess it was! Member Mark Daiute has got some good results with cast bullets over a caseful of W860 or W870, cheap surplus powder under his bullets.

Good solid information. Thanks fellas!

I shoot a lot of cast in a number of arms. And, I wasn't expecting to duplicate jacketed performance. Not really a problem as none of my rifles has the issued sights. Have heard a bunch about surplus powders but haven't ventured there yet.

Cheers!

Have been using 10.2 grs of Blue Dot with the NOE 311284 in my 1894 sporter. Accurate enough for my eyes, and easy on brass and my shoulder. No idea how fast it is movng but not sub sonic.

I've used Blue Dot with lighter bullets, an Eagan 168gr. I shot the first group at 100yds and couldn't believe my eyes! 12 or so shots, most touching, with a couple outside the group. I also used it a couple years back with 123gr .310 jacketed bullets and they shot very well with it. It's a high nitroglycerine powder and the throat of that rifle, like new when I got it, went forward pretty fast. Not burnt out or ruined, the origin of the rifling, the lands that are not full height to begin with, moved forward fast. It's also the powder I was using the day a friend and I were shooting at golf balls with a Belding and Mull 311169 at 100yds and hitting them pretty regularly. Here's the first Blue Dot group, that surprised me so much. One of the fliers I called as I felt the rifle slip on the rail of my back porch as the striker dropped. The hole barely visible at the bottom of the pic was the beginning of a different group. The Eagan was going a bit over 2000fps.

For use in my 1898 Krag sporter and Ruger No. 3 carbine :
#311284 & C312-1R-185 Lee are both Hornady GC & Lee push through sized to .311 with Allox , ACWW and loaded with 20.5gr AA5744

Thank you RedOak. I have both of those molds and a No. 3 carbine!

Cheers,
Hoot