Cast Bullet Basics For Military Surplus Rifles [condensed version, see full at
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By C.E. Harris Rev. 9-6-93
Cast bullet loads usually give a more useful zero at practical field ranges with military battle sights than do full power loads.
1. 125-gr., plainbased "small game/gallery"
900-1000 f.p.s., 5 grains of Bullseye or equivalent.
2. 150-gr. plainbased "100-yd. target/small game",
1050-1250 f.p.s., 7 grs. of Bullseye or equivalent.
(I use 6-7 grains of almost any fast burning pistol powder, including Bullseye, W-W231, SR-7625, Green Dot, Red Dot, or 700-X. I have also had fine results with 8 to 9 grains of medium burning rate pistol or shotgun powders, such as Unique, PB, Herco, or SR-4756 in any case of .303 British size or larger.)
3. 150-180-gr. gaschecked "200-yard target"
1500-1600 f.p.s., 16 grs. of #2400 or equivalent.
(...you can freely substitute 17 grains of IMR or H4227, 18 grs. of 4198, 21 grs. of Reloder 7, 24 grs. of IMR3031, or 25.5 grs. of 4895)
4. 180-200-gr. gaschecked "deer/600-yard target"
1750-1850 f.p.s., 26 grs. of RL-7 or equivalent.
None of these loads are maximum when used in full-sized rifle
cases such as the .30-40 Krag, .303 British, 7.65 Argentine, 7.7
Jap, 7.62x54R or .30-'06.