Handload & Cast Bullet Data
for various calibers
Updated January 23, 2011
I wouldn't normally share handload data as I feel its something that you should work up yourself. But these loads are all prudent and mediocre for the most part. You are responsible for your own safety and will use this data as a suggestion only. I've been a handloader for 40 years and I'm still enjoying learning.
My equipment includes a Dillion 450b that I bought new in 1984. I've been very pleased with it and have had no problem whatsoever. I highly recommend Dillion equipment. I also use a Lee 4 station turret press for a great deal of my cast bullet rifle loading as its more suitable for small lots of 10 to 50 rounds at a time. have a great deal of Lee equipment. Its excellent equipment and very reasonably priced with many innovative features. Don't let anybody tell you that Lee is junk or won't produce good accurate ammunition. It most certainly will and is backed by great customer service.
Reloading dies I use are all kinds: RCBS is probably the highest number, Lee is well represented, Redding are excellent dies, Pacific, Lyman, Hornady New Dimension are excellent dies with their superior bullet seating die, and one set of old Herter's.
My case trimmer is the Lyman Universal and I also use the inexpensive Lee hand-held case trimmers. I have several powder dispensers starting with the excellent RCBS Uniflow, Lee Deluxe AutoIndex and the Dillion on the 450b press. I also have the complete set of Lee hand dippers.
Notes: I am now casting many of my own rifle bullets but when
I make reference to (Doudna) or (Gardner)
it means that's where the bullets were purchased.
Doudna has gone belly up, sad to say.
When I note Lee crimp it refers to that type
of crimp.
When I note "1.6cc Lee dipper", it means
I used the Lee powder measure scoops.
They're capable of excellent accuracy
and I enjoy using them for small lots of
rifle cartridges.
Abbreviations:
gr = grains of weight, 7,000 grains = 1 pound
fps = feet per second
RN = Round Nose bullet shape
FN = Flat Nose bullet shape
2400 = Alliant 2400 powder
Unique = Alliant Unique powder
R-P = Remington-Peters
6.5x55 Swedish Mauser
m/96 29" barrel
Lyman 266673 150 gr. .266"
lube with BAC beeswax-allox-carnuba
13.2 grs 2400, velocity not known yet
incredible 5 shots in one hole @ 50 yds. There's no point shooting anything else!
This was shot with a Gustaf m/38 with scope.
140 gr Loverin .266" (Doudna)
13.8 grs 2400
An X ring load.
130 gr Loverin .266" (Leadhead)
12 gr Unique
average 1,730 fps
Lee crimp
note: not accurate enough
6.5x55 m/96 Swedish Mauser 140 gr Loverin .266" gas check (Doudna)
10.5 grs Unique, no filler
velocity average 1,500 fps
Lee crimp
Extremely accurate, surprised me!
6.5x55
170 gr Lee .267" "cruise missle" - special order mold
13.8 grs 2400
1.0cc Lee dipper
coal: 3.011"
bullets hitting yawed but
quite accurate in m/38 Gustaf
12Apr08
order mold from Midsouth Shooters Supply
77 gr Norma soft point
45 grs IMR4831
not as accurate as the Sierra 85 gr. Needs more work.
m/96 with 2-7x32 LER scope.
85 gr Sierra hollow point
41 grs H4895
4 out of 5 rds into 3/8" @ 50 yds.
m/96 with 2-7x32 LER scope.
120 gr Sierra Match King
H4895 (misplaced the charge weight)
4 of 5 into 3/8" @ 50 yds.
m/96 with 2-7x32 LER scope.
120 gr Sierra Match King
45 grs IMR4831
4 of 5 into 3/4" @ 50 yds.
m/96 with 2-7x32 LER scope
I was shooting cast at 50 yds that day so that's why
these jacketed loads are all at 50 yds.
139 gr Swedish m/41 bullet
45 grs IMR4831
5 into 3/4" @ 50 yds.
Not the best load for this bullet. Needs more work.
160 gr Hornady round nose
44 grs H450 (obsolete powder)
4 of 5 into 3/8" @ 50 yds
Most definitely a good load but this powder
is now out of production.
m/96 with 2-7x32 LER scope.
160 gr Hornady round nose
44 grs IMR4831
4 of 5 into 1/4" @ 50 yds.
m/96 with 2-7x32 LER scope
an extremely promising load.
7.62x54R Russian
1891 "Peter the Great" Mosin-Nagant rifle
200 gr RN .312" Lyman 311299 (Doudna)
20.5 gr 2400
average 1650 fps
Lee crimp
200gr RN .312" Lyman 311299 (Doudna)
13.5 gr Unique
average 1,400 fps
Lee crimp
This load when fired in the 1891 Finn Mosin
with the B-barrel is exceptionally accurate
to the tune of 5 out of 6 shots in one hole.
at 50 yards.
200 gr RN .312" Lyman 311299 (Doudna)
10.5gr Unique
average 1,270 fps
Lee crimp
for women and children
157 gr copper plated cast bullet .312"
13.5gr Unique
average 1566 fps
extreme spread 43.95 fps
18.73 standard deviation
Lee crimp
158gr Loverin cast g/c .311"
13.5gr Unique
average 1,600 fps
Lee crimp
East German m39 headstamp 10/89
This is 123gr AK bullets loaded in 7.62x54R
Mild loads
average 2,550 fps
Czech plastic core bxn 79
1- 3730 fps
2- 3659 fps
3- 3753 fps
Very small amount of fire out the bore
with a 31" barrel.
7.65x53 Argentine Mauser
1891 Argentine rifle
170 gr Lee flat nose Lee .314" (.30-30)
10.5 grs Unique, Norma cases
10 rds in 1" @ 50 yds with the 1891 Argentine rifle.
Lyman 314299 .314" 205 grs. (my own)
12 grs Unique, Norma cases
The 1891 likes this but it needs more work.
200 gr RN .312" Lyman 311299 (Doudna)
12gr Unique
average 1,404 fps
extreme spread 38.13
std deviation 21.37
exceptionally accurate in the 1891 Argentine rifle.
not quite as accurate in the 1909 rifle
1909 Argentine long rifle w/excellent bore
170 gr Lee .313" (my own)
11.6 grs 700X
4 of 5 into one hole @ 50 yds.
Best cast accuracy so far with this rifle.
7.7x58 Japanese Arisaka
Type 99 short rifle, non-chrome bore
200gr cast RN g/c .311" (Doudna)
12 grs Unique, Norma cases
Lee crimp
Very accurate load and rifle
7.5x55 Swiss
K31 Schmidt-Rubin
180gr cast RN g/c .309" with .300" nose diameter (Doudna)
10.5 grs Unique
Norma brass
Nice load, pleasant and yet not too light
.311" bullets with .304" nose diameter will
not work in the K31 due to short throat.
1896/11 7.5x55
180gr cast RN g/c .309" .300" nose diameter
10.5grs Swede Gallery Powder
Norma cases
Lee crimp
More accurate in this rifle than K31
.30-06
1903 Springfield & U.S. Model 1917
M1903
210gr RN .309" (Gardner)
20.5gr 2400
1.6cc Lee dipper
oal - 3.296"
case - LC 62 Match
Lee crimp
Very accurate
M1903 190gr RN .311" (Gardner)
20.5gr 2400
1.6cc Lee dipper
OAL - 3.158
Lee crimp
case - LC 62 Match
Exceptionally accurate
M1903 190gr RN .311" (Gardner)
13.5grs Unique
1.6cc Lee dipper
oal - 3.183"
Lee crimp
commercial once fired brass
Very accurate
M1903
200gr RN .311" Lyman 311299 (Doudna)
20.5gr 2400
1.6cc Lee dipper
oal - 3.275"
Lee crimp
Greek cases
Very accurate
M1917 5 groove barrel
190gr RN .311" (Gardner)
20.5gr 2400
1.6cc Lee dipper
oal - 3.158"
Lee crimp
case - LC 62 Match
Exceptionally accurate
M1917
210gr RN .309" (Gardner)
20.5gr 2400
oal - 3.296"
Lee crimp
case - LC 62 Match
Exceptionally accurate
M1917
200gr RN .311" Lyman 311299 (Doudna)
20.5gr 2400
1.6cc Lee dipper
oal 3.275"
Lee crimp
Exceptionally accurate
M1917
190gr RN .311" (Gardner)
13.5grs Unique
1.6cc Lee dipper
oal - 3.183"
Lee crimp
Greek cases
battle sight setting
Very accurate
8x57 Mauser
Persian 98/29 long rifle
215 gr Lyman 323471 (Doudna)
15.5 grs Unique
4 of 5 shots in one hole @ 50 yds.
This rifle loves heavy bullets in cast or jacketed.
170 gr flat point .323" (.32 WCF) (Gardner's)
12 grs 700X
2.925" overall length
5 rds under 3/4" @ 50 yds.
170gr Flat Nose .323" .32 WCF (Gardner)
20.5gr 2400
oal - 2.793"
Lee crimp
R-P cases
400m sight setting @ 50 yd
Best load overall for this rifle
220 gr Sierra soft point
44 grs H4895
The Persian prefers this over everything else I've tried.
Gewehr 1898 - 8x57mm
8x57mm Mauser
Turk primed case (corrosive primed)
165 gr Loverin .324"
10.5 grs Swede Gallery Powder (nearly the same as Unique)
(substitute 10.5 to 11 grs Unique)
coal: 2.880"
lee crimp
20July06
extremely accurate in Gewehr 1898
Mauser Oberndorf 1917
170 gr flat nose .323" (.32 WCF) (Garnder's)
15.8 grs Unique
Put all 5 shots in the X ring of a 50 yd slow fire target.
This is an excellent load!
170 gr flat nose .323" (.32 WCF) (Gardner's)
20.5 grs 2400
All 5 shots in the X ring @ 50 yds using 50 yd slow fire target.
K98k
170gr FN .323" .32 WCF (Gardner)
20.5gr 2400
1.6cc Lee dipper
oal - 2.793"
Lee crimp
500m sight setting @ 50 yd
Very accurate, best load for this rifle
170 gr Lee .325" (my own)
14 grs Unique
Very promising load. Not one hole but shows potential.
K98k with Tasco 3-12x32 receiver scope.
12,7x44R Swedish rolling block
30" barrel sporter
Chronographed with 1867 Remington sporter
using Doudna 450 grain FN bullets .512".
All are excellent loads.
Blackpowder loads uses vegetable wad card
on top of powder (Buffalo Arms).
Cases - reformed .348 Winchester
Standard primer for Unique & XMP5744
Magnum primer for blackpowder
12.5 grs. Unique = 1074 FPS average
very accurate load
24 grs. XMP5744 = 1089 FPS average
26 grs. XMP5744 = 1151 FPS average
27 grs. XMP5744 = 1211 FPS average Do not exceed
70 grs. FFg = 1214 FPS average
350gr FN (Doudna) .512"
29 grs XMP5744 = 1337 fps average Do not exceed
44.44 extreme spread
18.02 std deviation
This is a very accurate load in my 1867 sporter
m/1889 Swedish rolling block - 8x58R Danish
8x58RD
165 gr Loverin .324"
12 grs Unique
10 shots in ONE HOLE @ 50 yds.
1889 sporter has Marble's tang sight.
165 gr Loverin .324"
20.5 grs Reloder 7
Shows promise but needs a little more work.
170 gr flat nose .323" (.32 WCF) (Gardner's)
20.5 grs Reloder 7
A little more accurate than the 165 gr Loverin using the same load.
My 1889 sporter has a .324" groove diameter.
© 2009
D.L.van den Brink
~Dutchman~
No photos or text may be copied
or used without written permission