Cast 30/30 silhouette loads?..

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1shot

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Last Sunday I watched a Silhouette match at my club, and now I'm about to begin casting for my deer gun and have a crack!
I've done some research online and the general idea is a hunting weight cast bullet around 1400fps. I already handload and cast, however this will be my first crack at "reduced" loads in a rifle, namely a Marlin 336 in 30/30.

Reloading data for cast bullets is slim pickings at best- however from what I've read for the last few days on is that a medium .44 mag load, IE: 7 to 10 grains of Unique will work for .30 cal bullets 130 to 180 grains.

Does anyone on here shoot metallic silhouette and have data/advice to share?
Cheers!
1Shot

:wave:
 
From early Lyman cast book.
150 grain bullet, 17 grs. 4198 for 1650 fps.
19 grs. 3031 for 1660 "

170 grain bullet, 17 grs. 4759 for 1610 fps.
20 grs. 4198 for 1835 fps.
19 grs. 4227 for 1855 fps.

165 grain bullet, 10 grs. unique for 1340 fps.
15 grs. unique (max load) 1780 fps.

If you want 1400 and something, experiment with unique.
 
Are you talking about full size, full distance targets: IE 500 metres?

30-30 at full juice is going to be marginal if thats the case. I know for a fact that 6mm Rem. with hot loaded 105gr jacketed doesn't pull down the rams 100% of the time.

Shooting a non-standard match with lever guns and the like sounds like fun though. What is the set up?
 
You might want to invest in a Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook. It has all the different pistol powder recipe's. I'm in the process of casting and gaschecking 2 different weights of .309 cal cast bullets for my 30/30. Still haven't found the sweet spot with any load yet, with 160 and 180 grain flatpoints.

Presently working/testing 15 different bullet molds!
 
My most accurate load for all my 30-30's is:

Lyman 311041 (31141) Hollow Pointed
sized .311 water dropped Lyman #2 Lead
Unique 12 grains
WW Brass
Fed primers

This works with 2 1894 rifles and 2 Model 94 carbines early 70's. My kids love it as they can shoot all day with hardly any recoil, about 2/3 as much as a sks shooting surplus ammo. My 1901 30-30 rifle will easily shoot 1/2 groups at 50 yards as will the other 3.
 
One of my books for 30-30 lists 4 different lead bullet weight / shapes from 115 to 180g and each one lists 6 to 8 different powders charges

the one limiting factor is max velocity is 1900 plus fps and if you read enough best accuracy is not always at max velocity

I have read that people have pushed velocity up to 2500fps and farther with no leading but i have not seen any load data/accuracy data

One thing that you have to ask is bullet shape OK for a tube magazine --or single load or 2 load = ( 1 chamber, 1 mag )

so for a tube mag flat point and crimp:D if you want to load more

and yes reduced power loads can be good to teach a new shooter or younger shooter how to shoot with out getting a sore shoulder or a flinch:wave:

but it also might mean you are shooting more as barrel also heats up less
 
Glad to hear another joining silhouette. The 200m cowboy course is great fun, and a good way to shoot highpower silhouette without the full 500m fullbore layout. I think the rules you will shoot under will probably be NRA Cowboy for your 30-30 rifle, these rules are perfect for shooting along side IMHSA handunners as the ranges and times for firing are the same. We run the cowboy rifle and IMHSA hangunners "side by each" on the relays at our range and it always makes for a great afternoon.
 
Just been on the Hodgedon website, they state:
Starting load 17.5gr H4895 160gr Cast 1351fps.
Max load 21gr H4895 160gr Cast 1562fps.

The website claims that H4895 is capable of a safe 60% reduction of volume per maximum load, look at the "Youth loads" section. Seems like a great way of keeping the pressure down.
 
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