Cast bullet reloading

[NathanJ]

Greetings all. I have looked everywhere for a load for a 185 grain .312 lead cast bullet (Lee mold). I have also looked for a .313 mold and all I can find in that size is for a 32 caliber flat nosed projectile around 100 grains. I primarily use IMR 4895 for my reloads. Anyone have anything? Thanks! By the way it's for a 1921 Lithy No1 Mk III*

Information

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[rayg]

I use 10 grs of Unique or 16 grs 2400 for my 303's which are nice light loads and very accurate. Most of my Enfields have groves of .314 and I need to enlarge my .314299 mould that only casts .313 so I enlarge the mould by "beageling" it a couple thousands larger. Beagling it consists of putting strips of furnace tape on the faces of the mould blocks which increases the bullet size. They come out of round but when fired they true up. Go to this site and search "beagling", and 303 and you'll find all kinds of great info. Cast Boolits - Dedicated To The World Of Cast Bullets! Ray

[Alan de Enfield]

Maybe of no help at all - you decide :

Hodgdon Reloaing Manual #26
180gr Gas Check bullet .311 diameter
H4895 34 gr Maximum Velocity 2098
H4198 24 gr Maximum Velocity 1842
H4831 44 gr Maximum Velocity 1950
H4227 17 gr Maximum Velocity 1554

[NathanJ]

Thanks greatly to you both. I may be very seriously retarded but I can't just pick up thee new bolt actions. Sure they are fine rifles but they all look, er, um, plainly generic? I wish we could all know of these battle rifles personal histories. They are just magical to me.

[Curator]

NathanJ

Cast bullets are very "do-able" in the Lee Enfield. Best results come with throat diameter slugs but with some fiddling you can get others to work well too. Check out Steve Regwell's website 303british.com and look for the article on "Cast bullets in the Lee Enfield." There is very good information on bullet designs, powders and loads as well as the use of fillers to offset bullet diameter problems.