Howdy,
A while back on usenet misc.survivalism there was a thread about reloading .30 cal at low power
with cast bullets or #1 buckshot.
I had the thought that this might be perfect for 25m shoots as an alternative to .22s
(Wouldn't work in semi-auto, fine for bolt action though).
Accuracy with buck in teh 30 cal is problematical. sometimes you keep 1-2 MOA uaually its more like 6.
A nice light cast bullet load like 311291 over 5 grains of Red Dot works very very well and in most weapons will maintain very good accuracy.
I use 311291 with 7 gr Unique in my 06's for a light load to shoot rabbits and such. It'll shoot very well.
Sam
In most cases,using a very light charge of fast burning powder you need to use a filler to take up room in the case. I have used everything from oatmeal to dacron. I used dacron batts and cut it into small pieces for my filler most of the time.
Years ago, Ed Harris experimented with using 13 grs. of Red Dot in several military calibers without fillers and he said it worked great in most of them.
Some of the best light loads I have used with cast bullets is a case full of slow burning powder such as 4831 or 4350. Just fill the case and seat the cast bullet and compress it.
This gives you a light load and no problems with powder moving around inside the cartridge. This was in 7.62X51,30/06, .303.7.7 Japanese and 8 m/m
You can get cast bullets to function an M1, M1A/M14 or any other gas operated semi-auto, by using a slow enough powder.
When you've got it right, you get enough port pressure to function the action.
Of course 4831 with regular power loads will KILL an M1 Garand, because the port pressure is so high, but reduce that load enough for cast bullets, and it's about right (close enough).
MAJ George Nonte did some experimenting with this stuff, and it's in his book on reloading.
You also ccan find info on the Cast Boolits Forum.
I ran cast all of day one at the Raton Appleseed last weekend without a malfunction(unlike the condomized loads on day 2).
308165 SIL over 41 grains or Herters 101 and CCI LR primers.
Sam
for reduced power 308 loads look at Trailboss powder and your choice of bullet.
Trailboss is widely used for subsonic loads in .308.
If you want more specific info let me know and I'll look it up in my logs.