I have been casting pistol bullets for a good while and am quite satisfied with Lee products, including molds. Have just purchased .308 and want to cast bullets for inexpensive target shooting, but probably not hunting. Rifle has 1 in 10 twist. Lee has 160, 180, and 200 grain molds for round nose bullets. Which would be best weight for volume target shooting? I have read that long for caliber cast bullets are better. Is that really so? Also, what powders would be best for linotype bullets w/gas checks shot at around 2000 ft per second?

I have been casting pistol bullets for a good while and am quite satisfied with Lee products, including molds. Have just purchased .308 and want to cast bullets for inexpensive target shooting, but probably not hunting. Rifle has 1 in 10 twist. Lee has 160, 180, and 200 grain molds for round nose bullets. Which would be best weight for volume target shooting? I have read that long for caliber cast bullets are better. Is that really so? Also, what powders would be best for linotype bullets w/gas checks shot at around 2000 ft per second?
The 'best' bullet will depend on what you mean by inexpensive target shooting, and what you are satsified with as a target round. If you only want to shoot out to 100 yards, or so, then most bullets will do. I hve used the Lee 115 grain FN, with a gas check, and found it to be very accurate out to 50 yards (the distance I normally practice at). If you want to do a lot of shooting at longer ranges, then the heavier bullets have the potential to do a better job. They can all be started at the same velocity, but the heavier bullets tend to resist wind drift more than lighter bullets.
Nothing wrong with any of the three weights that you mentioned. If it were me, and I was planning to shoot at 200 or 300 yards with them, I would choose the 200 grain over the 160 grain. The 180 is a good compromise, especially if it informal target shooting that you want to do.

I have been casting pistol bullets for a good while and am quite satisfied with Lee products, including molds. Have just purchased .308 and want to cast bullets for inexpensive target shooting, but probably not hunting. Rifle has 1 in 10 twist. Lee has 160, 180, and 200 grain molds for round nose bullets. Which would be best weight for volume target shooting? I have read that long for caliber cast bullets are better. Is that really so? Also, what powders would be best for linotype bullets w/gas checks shot at around 2000 ft per second?


Have to agree, will eventually have severl bullet weights if the cst bullet bug bites you. But for a start, either the 160 or 180gr. bullet. The 200gr. is a good bullet, i've used the Lee offering and some older lymans in this weight range, but found them to be more particular abut the load being used than the 160-180gr. weights. Given a good load, they'll shoot...but it's easier to find a good load with the 160-180's.

Not sure weight is the only measure...bearing area seems a better measure, but USUALLY the bearing area goes up as weight goes up.

Your GC'd lino bullets should be hard enough to withstand 2000 fps in a 10 twist, but not much more - that's 144K rpm - and still shoot a group at a hunert. I would start with the 180. If it had been a 12 twist, I would have suggested start with the 160 and it would run 120K rpm which is much more cast friendly. My best loads in 10 twist .30 bbl are in the 180-200 range. Another thing to consider when going up in weight (length) is feed and function - will it fit the magazine (and feed) and will it chamber without any or too much hanging back into the powder area of the case. Just some thoughts. sundog

I use the Lee 170 grain FN gas checked 30/30 boolit in my .308, and it is very accurate up to 2200 fps. cast of straight linotype. I also cast in wheelweights and load down to about 1700 fps with good results. I recently tried a new load utilizing 20 grains WC 820 milsurp powder, which is comparable to AAC#9, CCI 200 primers and wheelweight alloy. I have not yet chronographed this load, but estimate it to go about 1700 fps. This load shoots 2" groups at 100 yds, and amazingly to the same point of aim as my favorite 165 grain jacketed full power loads. Who could ask for more?