cast loads in a 30-30 good for plinking ?

[nova_scotian_guy]

just wondering if a 30-30 would be a good plinking gun if you were to load your own shells and cast your own projectiles? or would you suggest a different cal for cast bullet reloads for plinking ( would be used in a lever gun)

 

[bearhunter]

Stick with bullets over 150 grain and that 30-30 will be just fine as a hunting rifle as well.

 

[matou2041]

i have 2 cast bullet who performe well in my 30/30 the first is 185 gr lee 303 british mold rezise at .311 with 8 grs of trail boss and the other one is the lee 314 90grs swc rezise at .311 with 10 grs of trail boss, i had try the 150 grs flat nose from lee but at 309 it's really bad for accuracy in my rifle.

 

[Evanguy]

I shoot 100gr cast plain base at 950 fps in my lee enfields using 5gr of tite group by the thousands. Should work fine in a 30-30 using cast bullet from 100-200 gr.

Ive used from 60 to 305gr cast pure lead bullets at sub sonic speeds(800-1050). Anything in my enfield over 180gr with my bullet design would keyhole at 50 yards.

Hodgdons reloading lists a tite group load for the 308 using a 168gr bullet at 8gr max for 1050fps and 24,000 psi.

 

[hometownhero]

You can hunt with cast as well. That is what I would be doing with a 30-30

 

[Dogleg]

I used to use 14 grains of SR4759 and a couple different 150ish grain gas checked bullets. Great plinker, and lots of fun on the handgun silhouette range until the club changed the rules to pistol cartridge chambered carbines being OK and light loaded "rifle" cartridges being evil. They can still knock down a 200 yard ram, or at least nudge it off the rail so it lies down in slow motion.

Gave a bunch of the loads to a friend's dad, who used them for shooting squirrels.

 

[ZREXER]

Depends on what brand your 30-30 is. I have heard some discussion that the micro groove rifling used in Marlins is not ideal with cast bullets.

 

[terry_g]

I use Berry's 150 grain plated bullets in my marlin with a micro grove barrel.
The are inexpensive and work well for plinking.

Terry

 

[grouch]

I'd suggest your choice of cast bullets from 150 to 200gr with 7 t0 9gr of Unique or 14 t0 16 gr of H110. Either gives me excellent plinking accuracy and low noise and recoil.

 

[kjohn]

Shoot whatever weight bullets you want. I've shot plenty 93 gr. with 5 gr 700X. 120, 150 and other in between weights might work just fine. I shoot a couple of 94's, and I find that with the 93 gr. bullets I have to be a bit careful levering another round in because the light bullet tends to flip up too high. No problems with 150's. Shoot and enjoy!

I just bought 600 ready cast, GC'd and lubed 120 gr. bullets from a fellow at a gunshow. I normally cast my own, but these looked so cute, I couldn't resist.

 

[07blackwater]

150 grain plated berry's with 10 grains unique is my plinking load.