Need 30-30 Cast load data

gpracer:
Are the bullets lubed and equipped with a gas check or are they a plain base bullet? Your top velocity expectations have to suit the bullet. Gas checked bullets can be pushed quite a bit faster then plain base. 2400 is also a useful powder as is IMR 3031 for cast loads.
 
Try 15 grains of IMR 4759, best powder I have found for cast rifle loads. Over the cronograph it is very consistent.
(less than 20 fps between the hi and lo)
 
gpracer said:
Charge weights for Unique? I have some of this. Have H4895 also. Have lots of different powder on hand actually...
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Lee's Modern Reloading lists charge weights for H4895 with 170gr cast bullets from 15gr @ 1300fps up to 29gr @ 2040 fps. The pressures begin at 12400psi for the 15 gr load up to 34800 psi for the 29gr load. The manual lists another six powders with 170gr cast bullets, plus lighter bullets down to 100gr. The H4895 seems like it's a good one though

Regards,

Frank
 
Bullets are lubed, but not gas checked, not really looking for reduced loads or reduced recoil myself, just looking for some good cowboy action type loads, not blistering hot loads though..

I have the speer manual, no cast loads for the 30-30..
 
You're going to need some gas checks. My Lyman book has data for a 120, 150, 173, 176 and 183 grain cast bullet all with gas checks. Lyman also puts out a manual specifically for cast bullets.
 
Most of the standard jacketed loads will work just fine in the 30-30 for cast loads. The faster powders will work better, ( like H4198, or faster) or they have for me.
You do need a gas check, and a good bullet lube, to get velocity with accuracy, without leading the hell out of the bore.
If you want to shoot at velocities below 1600fps, (better at 1200) you may get reduced leading without a gas check.
 
From the Lyman Cast bullet book

An old Lyman cast bullet book shows the following for a 30-30.
With flat base (meaning not gas checked) 150 gr. bullets, Lyman lists the following.
With 2400 powder, from 1700 to 2180 fps, with 14 to 20 grains. 2400 powder is very adaptable for lighter loads.
With 4227 powder, 15 grs. for 1700, or 23 grs. for 2225 fps. (maximum load.)
20 grains of 4759 (maximum load) is shown as giving 1880 fps, while 15 grains is shown as 1700.
They show a max of 15 grains of Unique, for 1850.
When I poured my own bullets for use in a 30-06, I shot them right out of the mold, after hand lubing them. One mold was about 311 and another was about 313. They were actually more accurate than when sized to 308.
With the 30-30 I found the pressure went up if I didn't size them.
I am not advocating, or advising, that you use these loads in your rifle. I am just showing you what is in an old Lyman book.
 
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gpracer: Although some guys are saying you need gas checks I haven't seen any information that would confirm the bullets are designed to accept gas checks. Perhaps they know the bullets you are using and are commenting on that basis. Does the base of the bullet have a reduced diameter step (not just a bevel) or are the sides at the bottom (below the lower lube groove) of the bullet straight and constant diameter? If you need gas checks Wholesale Sports usually has them but they are not particularly close to you.
 
stocker said:
gpracer: Although some guys are saying you need gas checks I haven't seen any information that would confirm the bullets are designed to accept gas checks. Perhaps they know the bullets you are using and are commenting on that basis. Does the base of the bullet have a reduced diameter step (not just a bevel) or are the sides at the bottom (below the lower lube groove) of the bullet straight and constant diameter? If you need gas checks Wholesale Sports usually has them but they are not particularly close to you.
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The base of the bullet is just beveled, it does not have a reduce diameter step and measures a consistent .308. looks like gas checks are not an option. Should not be a problem if I keep the velocity down. Good cleaning practices with Butches bore shine works wonders on my pistols after lead shooting, the rifle should be much the same. The data actually shows lower velocity than some of my .357 loads..
 
A good powder for cast bullets in a rifle is 2400.


Powder burns most consistently at high pressure, but when using a conventional powder (say 4895) you use a reduced charge to keep the velocity down. This measn the pressures are lower and more erratic.

2400 is designed to be consistent at much lower pressures, as are found in handguns). I use it to make 308 sub-sonic sniper ammo for silenced rifles.

If you are going to be loading cast bullets and need to buy powder anyway, 2400 would be a good choice.
 
Here are some 30 cal bullets, poured many years ago, so they are not the shiny specimens they once were. All are from Lyman molds.
On left is 210 grain shown with and without the gas check.
Next are 170 grain round nose, with and without.
Two on right are 170 pointed, with the one on the right recovered from being shot in a snowbank. Notice that no gas has escaped by the bullet in firing.
When gas escapes, it cuts a neat groove down the bullet.

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q65/H4831/P1020629.jpg
 
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