Microgroove and cast bullets

powdergun

powdergun

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Can anyone recommend a comercially made cast bullet that will shoot well in a Marlin ( microgroove) 30 30. I'm looking to put together a plinking load for a new toy that is arriving soon. Seems the only copper bullets available anywhere are the expensive FTX bullets and I'd like to reduce the cost of shooting.

Thanks
 
I shoot hard cast and gas checked 30-30 rounds from my Win '94, not micro groove.

I also shoot hard cast and gas checked .444 from my micro-groove Marlin. When shopping for a .444, I researched 6 ways from Sunday, because I knew I was going to almost exclusively shoot cast rounds from it, and through my research was dead set on finding a .444 with ballard (1:20) rifling, but I just couldn't find one. Main reason what that in .444, micro-groove has a hard time with bullet stability above about 300gn. I am testing many rounds in the 240 - 300gn range, and having a lot of fun, but I know there are some projectile moulds out there that are 350gn and higher that I'd be interested in trying, but might not unless I can find a sampling somewhere instead of buying a quantity. I have no leading problems with any of the cast rounds I am using, with any of the loads I have experimented with - I'd done light loads and lobbed projectiles, and I have also approached max recommended with a few powders, all are shooting fine. I do have some jacketed rounds that I got on a good deal, and they shoot great, but before I switch from copper to lead (or vice versa) I clean the barrel.

I do not know this as fact, but based on the above, I might suggest that the only real problem you might come across is a ceiling weight for your projectiles for them to remain stable. I'm sure there are those with more knowledge and experience than I who will chip in.
 
Have a look at the current issue of "Reloader" magazine. There's a good article re: cast bullets and micro-groove rifling.

Sorry, meant "Handloader" magazine!
 
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Micro Groove barrels, from my reading, are unpredictable. I've been reading everything I can on them for 3-4 years now and find wildly different results people have.
For starters the bore can measure .001" to .002" over nominal diameter (so a .308" would actually measure .309" to .310").
Some can shoot plain base pure wheel weight cast bullets that are only .001" over nominal bore diameter (not actual measured slug) at 2000+fps. Others (like my .44 mag) can barely break 1000fps without horrible leading even if they are .005" over actual bore diameter.
Best bet is to get a bunch of different cast bullets in small batches and try them out. I would slug your bore and make sure you buy bullets at least .001" or .002" over bore diameter. Gas checks can help but aren't always needed.

For my .44 mag it slugs .4315" (ideally .429") and I got a custom push through sizer made that is .435" and opened up a Lee one to .431". I am going to be ordering a .435" 240gr mould soon that will take gas checks to see if I can get cast to run in my rifle. I've tried 4 other moulds up to .435" without success so this is my last shot before just saying screw it and only shoot jacketed through it.
 
marlinowners.com can answer all your cast/micro-groove questions....GC /hard cast and 2 thou over groove size............Harold
 
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I've had not bad, but not perfect results with the Lyman 311041 in my old Marlin SC 30-30, sized @ .309....she's a Micro-Groove
the cast boolits web site has debated this very topic, and makes for hours of reading
 
I have a 375 Win in a Marlin with Microgroove rifling and just shoot cast over sized and I get reallly good results. Listen to zuke. Go buy, borrow, steal small batches of bullets. Slug your barrel and go from there. I just tried some .314 dia cast in my Mosin and was shocked at the accuracy I got.

Good Luck
 
My Winchester Legacy 94 in 44 magnum has also Micro groove rifling, and doesn't like regular .429 and .430 sized bullets. My first reloads with commercially cast bullets tumbled badly, key holed, and produced a 2 feet pattern (group) at 50 meters. Now I am using un sized but greased bullets, straight from the mould (.433), and the rifle shoots and groups really well.
I did a lot of online research after my first disappointing results, and it seems that Micro Groove barrels tend to have oversized bores.
With this in mind, all you have to do is reload with oversized bullets. It is probably a good idea to slug your bore first, then choose bullets which are .002 larger than your bore's diameter.
 
powdergun said:
Perhaps this is a side note but has anyone used the Berry bullets ?
Click to expand...
I did. They tumbled and keyholed above ~1100fps in my .44 mag lever. If I loaded them with low end .44 special data they worked fine.
Berry's bullets have very thin copper plating so it's best to treat them as regular, soft cast bullets.
I do want to try some Cam Pro as they use a much thicker plating (.008" instead of .003" used by most other brands) but am not expecting miracles.
 
I recently tried some of the 165gn DRG cast bullets in my Marlin microgroove 30-30. I might as well have been throwing the bullets by hand. 25 yrd groups that looked like I was shooting buckshot with an open choke.I was looking for some cheap plinking loads for the kids.Went with the much talked about light charges of Unique. Started at 8gns and went up to 10gns.Complete waste in this gun though a friend has good luck with similar in his winchester. About a 6" group at 25 yrds from a rest!
 
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