Best size for 30-30 cast boolits

roseau river rat

roseau river rat

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so i want to cast some 30 cal bullets for my Win 94
i have 2 lyman 450 lube sizers that i got from an estate sale along with 4 different 30 cal moulds! " yah i lucked out big time" and a few sizing dies of which one of them is .309.
so is .309 the right size?
the jacketed bullets that i normally load are .307 so is a couple thou bigger ok?
ive been reloading for years but i have never loaded cast so thats why im asking.
i want to order some gas checks and get into some cast loads, advice and pet loads would be much appreciated.
thanks.
Dan
 
roseau river rat said:
so i want to cast some 30 cal bullets for my Win 94
i have 2 lyman 450 lube sizers that i got from an estate sale along with 4 different 30 cal moulds! " yah i lucked out big time" and a few sizing dies of which one of them is .309.
so is .309 the right size?
the jacketed bullets that i normally load are .307 so is a couple thou bigger ok?
ive been reloading for years but i have never loaded cast so thats why im asking.
i want to order some gas checks and get into some cast loads, advice and pet loads would be much appreciated.
thanks.
Dan
Click to expand...

No kidding you lucked out! Good find!

.309 is what I load in my Marlin 30-30 and it works fine. But the only way to know for sure is to slug your barrel.

You can use 30 cal gas checks, I buy mine from Wholesale or Cabela's.

If you gas check them there's no reason you can't fire them up to jacketed velocities without problems. But you probably don't want to start there in case you run into issues.

I like using IMR Trail Boss for my 30-30 cast loads. Makes for a nice, low recoil and cheap round to shoot. And I don't think you necessarily have to GC them cause TB is made for Cast Bullet velocities. IMR SR4759 is also a good powder for lower recoil Cast Boolits.

Hope that helps!
 
These are loaded with 180 gr .310" cast bullets, 10 gr of AL5 (which is a bit slower than Unique), and CCI 200 primers.

180cast.jpg


The muzzle velocity averages around 1335 fps with a bit of polyester tufting under the bullet to keep the powder against the primer.

That is about the same velocity as a 22 long rifle, but with a bullet that weighs four and a half times as much! It is quite accurate and actually a very deadly load. Easily penetrates 10" of green spruce at 50 yards.

Ted
 
Why not? said:
These are loaded with 180 gr .310" cast bullets, 10 gr of AL5 (which is a bit slower than Unique), and CCI 200 primers.

180cast.jpg


The muzzle velocity averages around 1335 fps with a bit of polyester tufting under the bullet to keep the powder against the primer.

That is about the same velocity as a 22 long rifle, but with a bullet that weighs four and a half times as much! It is quite accurate and actually a very deadly load. Easily penetrates 10" of green spruce at 50 yards.

Ted
Click to expand...

I notice you didn't seat your bullets to the crimp groove (cannelure on the boolit)... any reason?
 
Single loading, and wanted to have them just kissing the lands for best accuracy.

They will not feed from the mag at that length, because they are too long to sit on the elevator of the Model 94.

As well, they are too long at that length to chamber in my Marlin 336.

Ted
 
Great advice and replies so
Far thanks.
And yes the box of hornady bullets says .307 on it?
Seemed fairly accurate considering I could
Hit an 8 inch gong at 100 yards with peep sights.
 
"I shoot a 170 gr Lee flat nose bullet sized to .309. 18 grs of H4198 is an light, accurate load."
is that with or without a gas check??
what kind of velocities are you getting with that?
 
A nice hunting load i use is 23 grains of H-4198 with a 150 grain lead bullet and get around 2000fps according to my chrony.
I also use 34 grains of BL-C2 with a 170 grain lead bullet gas checked and get about 2100fps on my chrony which is also around what the Lee manual lists.
I find that BL-C2 is more temp’ sensitive so i try to rework my load just before deer season.

If you are looking for 30 cal gas checks we have them in stock. You can pm me or check the website for details.
 
Most of my 30-30's love the Lyman 311041 and I size all my bullets to .311 with great accuracy.

You will have to slug your barrel and see what it is and add at least 1 thou and in most cases 2 thou over to make sure you will not lead the barrel. Try different powders and have fun.
 
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