K31 Cast bolits load

[1mauser]

Does anyone uses cast bullets on the K31? I'm new into casting and I would like to try some different bullet weights,type and loads on my two K31. I'll need some guidance as well as data to built some of the low velocity loads.
TIA
1mauser

[Pb head]

Harder to find a cast load that doesn't shoot well then a good one in my three K 31's. Favorite boolits are Seaco #315 & Lee 155gr sized .309. Lots of powders work, but being as fugal as I am my favorite load at this point in time is the #315 in front of 19gr WC 820. My 820 is AA 9 burn rate. On the days my eyes are working right that load will shoot 1 1/2 inch groups on a calm day at 100yds off a bench with issue sights set on the lowest setting. Those K 31's get shot more often then any of my other rifles. I just can't tell you how addictive they are. Have fun.

Pb head

[Buckshot]

...........Another poster here, Maven is also afflicted with K31-itis and could prolly lend a hand on loads.

A local sporting goods retailer has them in their current add on sale for $89. Guess I'll have to go get one, darn it!

..............Buckshot

[LowPE]

I've used Saeco 254 -- a 115 grain bevel based plinker -- with 15 grains of WC820 (aa9) for a good 50 yard load. Sized to 309. Shoots to the right but very fun and cheap.

I am using gp11 brass, putting in a pmc berdan primer.

[Maven]

1Mau., The 19gr. WC 820 + Saeco #315 recipe is right on the money! All you have to do is to remove all Cu fouling from the bbl., size your CB's (more to follow) to .309", FL size your brass and you're in business. Btw, 21-22gr. AA 5744 or H/IMR 4198 will also work very well. As for CB designs, the K-31's seem to shoot most of them (Ly. #s 311291, 311041, 311466; Lee C-309-180R, Lee 113gr. "wadcutter," etc.) exceptionally well, but you'll have to seat them deeply into the case, given the abrupt throats on the carbines. Btw, if you have a Lyman pistol powder measure, rotor #11 will give you ~19gr. WC 820. Slow-burning milsurp powders will also work, but you'll use substantially more of them (and mag. primers as well): 47-48gr. IMR 5010 + .7cc Grex; 47-48gr. WC 860, NO filler.

[Bob S]

I had this one posted on the old board, so it's probably lost to antiquity. The target is a composite of the "Garand Match" Course A, fired at 100 yards. There are four sighters (marked) ... up to 5 are allowed; ten shots prone slow fire, ten shots standing to prone rapid fire (70 seconds); and ten shots standing slow fire. The load is the Lee C3121552R, old wheel weights, .309, Alox-beeswax, new Hornady GC; powder is either 14 or 16 grains 2400 (I am at the office without my notes, but both are capable of this!). The issue sights were used and the elevation if I remember correctly was 400 meters.



Resp'y,
Bob S.

[KCSO]

Same bullet as Bob S and 12.5 of Red Dot will do the same thing. For a long range load try the Lee 185 made for the 303 sized to 310 and pushed by 32 grains (work up to this) of W/W 748 and lubed with Rooster Red. From my scoped gun this is giving close to 2000 fps and is shooting under 1 1/2" at 100 yards consistantly.

[1mauser]

Bob,
When you used that charge of 14to 16 grains of 2400, do you used any fillers at all?

1mauser

[jh45gun]

Bob,
When you used that charge of 14to 16 grains of 2400, do you used any fillers at all?

1mauser

2400 does not need any fillers and is not position sensitive. In other words you can fire it with out having to tip the barrel to seat the powder against the primer like you may have to with others with out using a filler. 2400 is my powder of choice so far with cast loads just because of those properties mentioned and it is miserly too you do not need much to get the job done. Jim

[Bob S]

Herr Mauser

With 14 grains I used 1/2 grain of dacron; with 16 grains I did not use anything.

Tipping the rifle up with a round chambered is a non-starter on most ranges around here and will get you thrown off the range. In the type of shooting that I do, you can't phyisically do it, anyway. For consistency, in slow fire, I slam the bolt shut smartly as I would do in rapid fire. That places the powder charge consistently forward in the case in loads with no Dacron. It works.

Resp'y,
Bob S.

[jh45gun]

Herr Mauser

With 14 grains I used 1/2 grain of dacron; with 16 grains I did not use anything.

Tipping the rifle up with a round chambered is a non-starter on most ranges around here and will get you thrown off the range. In the type of shooting that I do, you can't phyisically do it, anyway. For consistency, in slow fire, I slam the bolt shut smartly as I would do in rapid fire. That places the powder charge consistently forward in the case in loads with no Dacron. It works.

Resp'y,
Bob S.

I guess our range is not that fussy but then most folks around here do not shoot loads like that either most shoot moderate to high powered or factory loads. The one time I shot some 30/30 Unique loads that were mild out of my 30/30 some guy came up to me wondering what I was shooting because it was so quiet. I have a half a can of some old unique to shoot up that I will probably use for some mild loads for the 30/30. All of my other cast loads I use 2400. I would consider some other types if I found it cheap enough. Jim

[waksupi]

I haven't done all that much load work with this rifle, so thought I would see what I could do with some WC860.
I'm using reformed 284 Winchester brass. These were neck sized, with the sizer turned down to size about 3/4 of the neck. Bullet du jour was the 160 gr. Saeco SPGC, lubed with FWFL, 9 1/2 Remington Magnum primers. These bullets carry VERY little lube, but I had no problems with leading, and had a good lube star on the muzzle. This has me thinking on other bullets I'm shooting with much more lube capacity, so will be reviewing some of those this summer when it gets hot. I suspect I may have overlube conditions with some other loads.
I ended up with the best load, 59.5 gr. I had to tap on the loading tay to get the powder level down a bit, and it was still slightly compressed. I put a very slight crimp on the bullet, to genearte a bit more pressure with this slow powder. It seemed to work, as it was shooting surprisingly clean, with no powder dents on the cases. I'll play with crimp tension a bit more on this. Velocity was right around 2300 fps. Groups averaged under 2.5 inches, with the best group going into 1.65". I imagine this is about as good as I can see with iron sights, so I'm happy with this one.
When time permits, I'll try the Lee 160(?) gr mold I have.

[Buckshot]

...............Ric, sounds like pretty good work to me. You got'em scooting right along there, doncha?

.............Buckshot

[waksupi]

They're pooping right out the chute. Wasn't really interested in making them go fast, that just happens to be where the load wanted to shoot. I'm starting to think the WC860 may shoot well in most cartridges, as long as the compression is at a particular level. This leaves open more experimentation with fillers, to see if the accuracy can be matched with a lesser charge. Fun, ain't it?

I thought you may like the load info, as you are expecting the rifle stork to arrive with yours shortly.

[Maven]

Ric, Compression and/or heavy CB's work well with WC 860 (with mag. primers), but reserve the filler(s) for other powders as they don't seem to make much difference with 860.