You might have better luck with smaller diameter sizing, if you have the tools try .309 dia. My go to powder with the 30-30 with cast bullets is IMR 4198. Generally powders like WW 748 should be relegated to high velocity jacketed bullets, otherwise leading could result in further issues.
Longer range with 30-30
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antiqueguy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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You want .001-.003 over groove diameter so sizing would depend on the grove to grove diameter of a particular rifle.
I tried 0.309 sizing with horrible results. My 26" 30wcf definitely shoots better with 311".
Yesterday I bought a 1876 in 45/60. I'm going to keep playing with the 30/30 but I'm excited about the 45/60.
28" barrel. I slicked up the action. Reversed the hammer stirrup. Changed sear angle. About 3 pound trigger break now.Life is good
Yesterday I bought a 1876 in 45/60. I'm going to keep playing with the 30/30 but I'm excited about the 45/60.
28" barrel. I slicked up the action. Reversed the hammer stirrup. Changed sear angle. About 3 pound trigger break now.Life is good
Best accuracy with cast bullets generally comes from the largest diameter bullet you can fit into the chamber.
Yes I agree about big bullets.
Did a bit of shooting today
With w748
27 grains behind a 180 straight lead 311 bullet with gas check
5 shot groups with no bench. Just using cross sticks held in my left hand
100 yards 3" group plus 6"
200 yards 5.5" Plus 6"
250 yards 9" group because of a flyer. Elevation Seemed a touch high. I'm not sure if flyer was me or the gun. 4 shots was in 6" range
antiqueguy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- windsor ontario
What alloy are you using? Is it pure lead wheel weights?
Have you slugged your bore you want something .002 ish over groove sometimes a little bigger never hurts.
During the 80's-90's I was a member of The Cast Bullet Association. I read their journals from cover to cover. They ran many postal matches under different divisions. They also hosted matches across the US. One of the most popular being factory production. Probably one of the most winning rifles were Rem 788's in 30-30. Followed closely by 788's in 308. I looked for years for a 788 in 30-30. Finally found one in a small local gunshop. Probably overpaid for it but had to have it. I'd only ever saw one other advertised in The Gunrunner (I think it was)
Anyway about the same time I kind of lost interest in that type of shooting and my hobby changed direction. Never carried out much load development.
These rifles shot some amazing groups at 100 & 200yds.
If I remember correctly members (at least in part) felt the excellent groups were due to case shape and capacity and a long neck.
I am writing this from memory as I gave my 25 year collection of Cast Bullet Journals to my nephew a little while ago. These Journals may still be available on line for anyone interested in cast bullets in the 30-30
I do know that I still have the rifle
Anyway about the same time I kind of lost interest in that type of shooting and my hobby changed direction. Never carried out much load development.
These rifles shot some amazing groups at 100 & 200yds.
If I remember correctly members (at least in part) felt the excellent groups were due to case shape and capacity and a long neck.
I am writing this from memory as I gave my 25 year collection of Cast Bullet Journals to my nephew a little while ago. These Journals may still be available on line for anyone interested in cast bullets in the 30-30
I do know that I still have the rifle
I'm using range salvaged lead that's probably mostly used 22 bullets. Soft according to my fingernail.
I have two different h and I sizing dies. One 309 and one 311. Gun shoots terrible with 309.
I haven't tried shooting un sized bullets because of pain trying to pan lube bullets.
Next decent day I'm going to try the gun at 300 and 350 yards. I only need it accurate enough to hit a 5 gallon bucket. Some of the accuracy is probably due to me. I'm using cross sticks and a bead front sight that covers the whole target at these ranges.
I'm thinking the 1876 in 45/60 that I just bought is a better gun for what I'm doing with it.
Trouble is the open sights on the 76 only go up so high so I need to upgrade the sights on it.
I'm looking at those MVA sights. It's so annoying how expensive and how long it takes to order anything from the States right now. Thank Ottawa
antiqueguy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- windsor ontario
The rifle for all you know could really love a .312 or .313 only one way to figure it out. Bores arnt always what they’re supposed to be.
antiqueguy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- windsor ontario
Have you slugged your bore? It really is an important step.
Try Shooters Choice. They carry vernier rear sites.
I think your at the distance limit for 30-30 i a lever gun. I bought a Savage single shot thinking I’d revisit longer range shooting with a 30-30 but haven’t done much with it.
Another option you could try is setting the bullets out farther. I had better accuracy. Had to be single loaded into the chamber.
Lee Enfield
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Republic of Alberta
my buddy's been shooting his 26" with vernier tang sight and reliably hitting the 800m buffalo at CHAS - he told me where to hold, and I was able to hit with my first shot out of his riflethese guys videos always make me smile.....30-30 to 900 yds
says 150 to 200 moa for LR
its a rainbow arc
No I didn't bother to slug the barrel.
My mold casts a 313"
Years ago I remember something about shooting these 313 bullets in the gun without a gas check.
Might have been in one of my other guns. Anyway if these bullets sized 313 and gas checked chamber then I will see what happens. I have a 30 cal case reamer so I can reamer out the brass to take the bigger bullet to make it chamber if necessary. Proof will be in the pudding. I'm not worried about pressure.
I'm chambering the bullet a little deeper than normal because the nose of bullet is a long bore riding olive that if seated out farther in the chamber the nose of the bullet is engaging the rifling enough that it's hard to close the action of the gun.
I love that sagebrush Longshot guys! Haha you notice they only shoot on calm days with no wind.
Another thing is all my life all the expert gun writers warn about not resting your rifle barrel against anything because harmonics and whip,etc will change your point of impact. Well resting the barrel on the crossticks sure doesn't effect those sagebrush Longshot guys any while shooting their single shots.
I understand about the bullet hitting the rifling. I was doing some experiments with a 308 with Lovern bullets 150gr and 180gr. They are multi groove with tapered long nose. I couldn’t seat them to have the rifle stop chambering them. The nose was out in the rifling. I probably have 10or more 30 caliber moulds.
I think your factory sights are going to limit how far you can get any accuracy. Changing them would help.
I have 5 Winchester 94’s. Four of them don’t rest the barrel on anything. Two like being rested on the front of the action. Two on the forearm. And one it likes resting just behind the front band. So try a rifle and see where it likes being rested.
