Lee 309-170 FP in .30-30

[Jim]

I just ordered a Lee 309-170 FP mold to make boolits for my .30-30. Anybody had any success with this? Good, bad or neutral, I'd appreciate the feedback.

[Shyoldman]

I use that boolit in 30-30. An old Savage bolt. 17gr 2400 shoots well.

[Jim]

Thank you, Sir!

[williamwaco]

Yes. I use that exact bullet.
I have had very good luck with it.
Cast from ACWW
Size .309
Tumble in LLA
Lyman M die
No crimp
Seated to crimp groove

Passable results:
25 grains 2015 ( double tumbled )
around 1700 fps

Good Results
8 to 10 gr Unique
1000 - 1300 fps

Best results:
10 gr 4756
Smallest 100 yd group 0.84"
Largest 100 yd group 1.98
Average of 5, 5 shot groups 1.25"

Average of all groups all loads around 2" at 100 yd

Thompson Contender 23" heavy weight barrel
Nikon 4-16x

[HighHook]

Yep Jim that one is a winner in my book. Sitting on top of some wc820 or 2400 you will be surprised in the accuracy of that one.8-)

[geargnasher]

Not the best for the big-throated Marlins, but it's a decent boolit overall.

Gear

[Jim]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. That's encouraging.

[michiganflyer]

Yes, I have the same mold.
I use it my win Mod 94 with IMR-4198 at 21 grains. Works great for me.

[Rocky Raab]

Heck, that's my ONLY .30-cal mould. I use that bullet in my .30-30, .308, and even 30 Herrett. My go-to .30-30 loads are 16.0 2400 and 21.0 5744.

[Jim]

With all this positive feedback, I feel confidant now that I'll be able to work up a good load with that boolit.

Again, thanks to all that have responded.

[blademasterii]

Works great in my contender 10'' too. Don't remember the load off hand.

[badboyparamedic]

Have used it in my 308

[Cherokee]

Works for me in M94 using IMR4895.

[rexherring]

Seems to shoot well in my Marlin 336 with 20 grs of 5744. I run them throough a .311 sizer die just to seat the GC and lube them.

[Charley]

Been a good bullet for me for all .30 caliber rifles, unless the throat is worn or a bit larger than average. I use it in the .30/30, .308/7.62x51, and .30/06.

[1Shirt]

A fine blt for most all 30's. And that includes my 7x5x55 K-31 sized to .309. However, I find in most of my rifles that the 150 grain flat nose lee has an edge of accuracy over the 170. The 170 is a better looking blt however if looks mean anything.
1Shirt!

[spur0701]

Ditto here, just got this mold and want to use for a 30-30.....but would like a plinking load using Unique or 2400 where I don't have to use a GC. I get the 10 g Unique fills that bill, but does the 16g of 2400 load need a GC?

[Jim]

I got the mold in yesterday. Just to see what it would do, I deliberately avoided any prepping or cleaning. When the pot got up to 750, I sat the mold in the melt for 12 seconds, lubed it with a kiss of Amsoil Professional Saber and went to castin'. The first two and every one thereafter came out perfect. A good day in the shed.

According to my calculator, I made up just shy of 400. The as cast is 172 grains and .312.

[Junior1942]

That bullet has worked well in both of my M94 Winchesters and with NRA Alox and LLA and my own 411 pan lube. To pick a nit, the meplat is a little small and so is the crimping groove.

[Jim]

I wouldn't mind the meplat bein' a bit bigger. I'm just happy I have a mold that makes flat points for my .30-30.

[Moonie]

I wouldn't mind the meplat bein' a bit bigger. I'm just happy I have a mold that makes flat points for my .30-30.

This was my only 30 caliber boolit for a while, and yes the meplat isn't huge it does appear to be about the largest of all of Lee's 30 caliber boolits.

[JIMinPHX]

I've had very good luck with the 150-gr version of that boolit in a Marlin microgroove. Most people seem to prefer the 170 that you got.

[prs]

I use it too in my Win 94, About 9gr Unique is right on and DO use the M die, but I also use a modest crimp to prevent set-back in magazine. A full case uncompressed of TrailBoss is a favorite for the young shooters to plink about.

prs

[pdawg_shooter]

A good all-around 30cal bullet but I do mine a bit different. I lapped the nose section to .303, size the entire bullet to .303 and patch back up with 16# paper. My 06 dotes on this bullet over a case full of 4350. Will group under 1" for five at 100yds any time I do my part. Cast of 50/50 WW and LT it makes a superb hunting bullet. In my 30-30 Marlin it is good for 1.5 to 1.75 for 3 at the same range.

[tnaz]

I just ordered a Lee 309-170 FP mold to make boolits for my .30-30. Anybody had any success with this? Good, bad or neutral, I'd appreciate the feedback.
How did it turn out? Do you/y'all use GC or without?

Thanks,

Terry

[aspangler]

My 336 with Ballard rifling like that boolit over 30.5 gr. IMR 4064. Half inch at 50 about 1 inch at 100. Deer are DRT.