I am trying to decide on a Heavyweight mould for my 7.62x54r M44. I've narrowed it down to either the 220grain CBE or the 238grain CBE. I already cast lee's 185 grain gas check and it shoots well. I just don't feel confident that it will not shatter at 2500fps, so I load it to 2400 chrony verified. I also detemper the noses. I know that this is a lukewarm load, but it is a plenty for deer. The heavy bullet would be for hogs and Black Bear. I've use the woodleigh 215 jacketed(2400 fps crony verified) to take a hog and it did great, but $30 for 50 makes sighting in expensive, much less practice. I know the 220 will work, but I want to run a top load and I think 220 will still get too close to 2500fps to be reliable. My questions are as follows.
1. Is the 238 too long to penetrate well?
2. Is the 238 too long to permit a good load and still fit in the mag?(Max Col is 3.05", but I think some clearancing is possible)
3. Does anyone cast a reliable bullet that will work at 2500fps?
4. If so what is your technique.
I Know that most have not used this cartridge, but it is so close to the 30-06, that experience with the 06 will probably help.

35

I would be real concerned about the 238 gr. bullet stablizing. What twist rate does your gun have?

I would be real concerned about the 238 gr. bullet stablizing. What twist rate does your gun have?

Mike
1in9.5 inches. I was concerned about that too. I just forgot to ask in the original post. Thanks


35

Coin toss, I guess. It might stablize... and it might not. Hope someone who has that mould, can answer.

The bullet will be right around an inch and a quarter long. Gonna need about a 1 in 9" twist to stabilize. You might be able to push it fast enough to get away with it, but it'll be sort of dicey.

DC

If it were me, and I wanted a bigger boolit, I would go to an 8mm or 35 cal. IMO anything past 220 gr in a 30 cal is pushing past the outside edge of the envelope. Not that it can't be done, it's seems there are better ways to get there. Consider this, a .35 280 grainer will stabilize very nicely in a 14 twist. Velocity can be easily pushed to 2400 fps - - - 35 Whelen. sundog

If it were me, and I wanted a bigger boolit, I would go to an 8mm or 35 cal. IMO anything past 220 gr in a 30 cal is pushing past the outside edge of the envelope. Not that it can't be done, it's seems there are better ways to get there. Consider this, a .35 280 grainer will stabilize very nicely in a 14 twist. Velocity can be easily pushed to 2400 fps - - - 35 Whelen. sundog

Sundog
I am of the same school. I have used a slightly modified .358 jdj based on a Rossi single shot .357 to duplicate whelen balistics. Of course my biggest problem was the 1 in 14 twist. Did well with everything including 250grain casts. It did keyhole 250grain speer spitzers though. I still have that rifle, but want a repeater for heavy cover. I have further handicaped that rifle by not measuring the height of the breachblock and now the extractor juts out under the reciever bridge locking up the gun, so I run it sans extractor. This makes for awful slow reloading when this country boy gets excited about a pit bbq'ed feral pig. I use it for deer and one shot stops are easy. It was a 357 maxi before this current chambering an I had a bunch of Hornady 180 grain ssp's. They border on failure at 2850 but at 2700 they expand like the old winchester silver tips. To explosive for tough hogs, but perfect for small bodied whitetails. Never had one go far if I put it anywhere near the heart lung area. I've got a rcbs 204grain mould for it though and I can always make do with that.

Coin toss, I guess. It might stablize... and it might not. Hope someone who has that mould, can answer.

got 220gr. to spin in a 1:10" 308. Some of it depends on the nose shape...it's bullet length that has the most to do with barrel twist rate, so a blunt nosed bullet willb e shorter (even if heavier weight).

Still playing around with the edge of stability, and just becasue it stays stable to a 100yard paper target doesn't mean it will (1) be stable farther out than 100yards or (2) stay stable once it impacts something more solid than a sheet of paper.

think there is a reason the most popular .30cal. cast bulelts are in the 150-190gr. weight.

Back in 1906, Dr. Hudson used the then new Ideal 308284, 220gr. r.n. bullet at 1,500 f.p.s. in the.30-40 Krag to shoot decent scores @ 600 yards.

Fast forward to 2004. Using my '94 Centennial .30-30, I shot the 311284 at 1,600 f.p.s. out to the 500 meter ram and they shot well. The mold I use drops bullets at 222 grs. (w.w. + 2% tin). This rifle has a 1/12" twist.

Back in the late 1980's I experimented with a modified 311620 bullet which weighed 265 grs. in w.w. + 2% tin. THis bullet was 1.50" long. Using my Rem 788 .30-30 with a 10" twist, it was stable at 1,750 f.p.s.

I'd say give the 238 gr. bullet a try. You just might have some good success.

Good luck,
John