Stan’s super muzzle loader group prompted me to post this target I shot during our State Military Bolt Action Benchrest Match in October.

My rifle is an as issued Remington 03A3. Per the rules, no bedding or sight mods are allowed. The barrel is a two groove circa 1943.

The 10 shot group measured just over 1” shot at 100 yards.

I finished third with a 298-14x X 300 on the agg 3 relay score competition. There were two 299’s ahead of me.

There were also two 10 shot relays for group size.
True to form, I shot my best groups in the score competition😀.

My load is very mild. 24.4 grs. of 4227 behind a 168 Speer Gold Match Bullet and Federal BR primer.
Remington brass is neck sized only as pressure is not enough to require full length sizing. My brass has been fired multiple times with no bolt closure issues. I compare it to shooting one case multiple times as in Sheutzen competition. Bullets are seated to just engage the rifling.

https://ibb.co/CVXQPKt

Ken,

Do you use any filler in the case or do anything to control for powder position? I find 4227 very position sensitive in my .38-55, unfortunately. Schuetzen shooters that breech seat do well with that powder but they are ultra careful to be sure the powder is in the same position in the case for every shot.

Brent,

I do not use any fillers with my load. I do place the cartridge nose up and tap before chambering.I started using 4227 when my supply of H108 ran out a couple of years ago. I’ve tried AA#9, results were OK but not as consistent. I’m now using 4227 for my .32 Miller Short MD, 32-40 HiWall, and 38-55 HiWall. The 38-55 is the least consistent but I’m still trying to figure out which bullet to use for it.

Thanks,
Ken

Great shooting, Ken.

Your post includes a lot of elements that interest me. Do jacketed bullets have any significant differences from cast bullets as to the pressures they produce when shot using light loads? I have a lot of 30-caliber jacketed bullets and a Lyman cast bullet reloading manual I would like to use to comfortably reduce my inventory and have a little fun. Thank you.

I'd not try substituting jacketed into lead recipes. Just don't know if that works or not. However, you can get a lot of recipes from Hodgdon'
s and Alliant's on-line reloading websites. Probably a better source than Lyman for jacketed stuff. I was just trolling for a .30-40 recipe a couple of days ago.

Thanks for the advice. I read of your and Ken Nelson's use of 4227 and did go to Hodgden's to see if it was listed and didn't find it on the website, but it was listed with the 150 and 169 grain cast bullets in my manual. I have made some jacketed bullet loads using Trail Boss (hard to find) but I have been trying to confirm some low-velocity loads for my jacket bullets. My online research has been ambiguous. I bought some H4895 for that purpose too. Thank you for the reply.

For Ken

Sweet shootin', Ken.

Alvin York would have liked that.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...fle-with-provenance.cfm?gun_id=102074109

Liverwort:

Be careful with low velocity loads with jacketed bullets. You can end up with a bullet stuck in the barrel if you don't provide enough pressure to clear the muzzle. I've had a similar problem with a .32-20 with jacketed bullets. Different cartridge, I know, but something to consider as you develop loads.

Rem

I continue to search for reliable data but can only find loads listed on other forums, I am not saying they are unreliable, but I am aware different primers and case and jacket thicknesses can vary the pressure. Thank you for the words of caution.

I started using fast burning surplus pistol powders with jacketed bullets many moons ago when our club started the MBBR competition. Back then guys were using either conventional cast bullet loads or full power jacketed loads. I was dissatisfied with the occasional flyers I was getting with cast loads and didn’t care for the beating I would get when shooting 60-70 full power jacketed loads thru my 03’s. On a whim I loaded (10) rounds:20 grains of H-108, 168 grain Sierra MK, standard LRP in LC brass and shot it thru my well worn NRA sporter. It held the ten ring of the match target. There were no warning signs and it was pleasant to shoot.I eventually settled on 21.2 grains of H108.My shooting buddy started using the same load and began winning matches (group/score) immediately. Now nearly all our club members are using some variation of the load. Since H-108 is long gone, AA#9 or 2400 are being subsistuted.I have found 4227 to be most accurate in my guns. As I stated, the load does not produce enough pressure to require full length sizing of the brass. I’m neck sizing only. Bullets are seated to engage the rifling.
FYI: there were a lot of raised eye brows when I started using these loads.I wasn’t offended nor was I trying to convince anyone. They were developed for my use only. As with any loads proceed with caution.

Regards,
Ken


I’ll be dipped! Here is load data for .308 reduced loads using some of the powders I mention. Bullet used is a 150 JSP.

https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/ammunition_st_practic308loads_201008/99873

Thanks Stan,

I guess Sgt. York wore out the original barrel on his 03. Pic’s show a 5-44 HS barrel.

Regards,
Ken