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View Full Version : Good PB bullet for both .30-30 and .308? .35 Rem.?



Woodtroll
09-22-2007, 03:53 PM
All right, folks,

After considerable foot-dragging, I have decided to cast for my .308 and my brother's .30-30. I am looking for a plain based, flat point bullet that will stabilize well at moderate velocities, and would work on deer and coyotes when cast out of a relatively soft alloy. I am also looking for a PB 200-gr. or so bullet for the .35 Remington for the same general purposes.

I cast everything I shoot out of handguns, and all of my .45-70 bullets; I am not a newbie to casting. Gas checks are getting expensive, so a PB bullet would be desirable.

Any pointers on bullets that have worked well for you in these applications would be greatly appreciated!

Many thanks, Regan

frugal
09-22-2007, 05:29 PM
I have had pretty good luck with 3118 in the 30-30, you can also bump the nose on 311410 to give a meplat slightly larger than a large primer. in the 30-30 I use 10.0 and 10.5 wc820 (AA #9 version) Both of these give about 2 inches at 50 yards which is good enough for varmants. I started working with plain base bullets when the price of checks hit 20./K You will have to do a bell of the case mouth since without a check these will damage all too easy while seating.

montana_charlie
09-22-2007, 07:42 PM
these give about 2 inches at 50 yards which is good enough for varmants
I don't want to interrupt Woodtroll's quest for information, but I am curious.
So, frugal, after the thread has played out, please take a moment to define 'good enough for varmints' in the context you meant it.

Thanks. I'll check back in a couple of days.
CM

trk
09-22-2007, 08:06 PM
Minute of woodchuck?

Minute of squirrel?

Minute of rabbit?

trk
09-22-2007, 08:13 PM
I really like the Saeco #308 which is a 200 gr .30 cal round nose bore riding bullet.

It casts a little large so I'll likely make a mould that casts the bore riding portion right at .300 so it will enter the rifling (or I'll ream the first 3/4" of rifling).

Works well in .30-30 and .308, with modification will load easier.

frugal
09-22-2007, 08:33 PM
The varmint hunting I do here in NE Ohio are woodchucks, usually at less than 150 foot range, so minute of woodchuck is right. I think we get a bit obsessed with trying to achieve MOA accuracy that is not required for a lot of general critter control around the farm.

Blammer
09-22-2007, 08:42 PM
RCBS 35-200 plain base for the 35 remington gets my vote.

of course I like the GC version for bigger velocity.....

beagle
09-22-2007, 10:32 PM
I'd go with the RCBS 30-150-FN CM in the 30/30 and .308 and in the .35 Rem, the Lyman 358430 (195 grain version) is hard to beat for a PB.

My M94 will shoot 1" at 100 yards with Reloader 7. The .35 Rem will go into 2" at 100 yards and I have no recent experience with the .308./beagle

singleshotbuff
09-23-2007, 12:59 AM
Frugal,

What part of NE Ohio?? I live near Canton and hunt whistlepigs too.

SSB

Paul B
09-23-2007, 07:58 PM
For the .35, Lyman #358430 in the 200 gr. mold. (It also can be found as a 150 gr. bullet.)
I only use GC bullets in my 30s so I can't help you there.
Paul B.

MT Gianni
09-23-2007, 10:09 PM
I would advise a pb bullet for plinking and a gas check for hunting. I think the added velocities need to be there for deer size game and at 2-3 cents each are still inexpensive for the number of shots fired. So RCBS 150 CM for plinking, RCBS 180fn, LY 31141 for the 30's. LY 358430 for plinkers, RCBS 200 for the 35. If you fire 100 gas checked boolits a year and gas checks are $25@1000 they cost you $2.50. Gianni

Woodtroll
09-24-2007, 10:00 AM
Thanks very much, guys, for the help. I certainly do appreciate your input.

MT Gianni, you're probably right. The high cost of GCs just sticks in my craw, but I would probably be better off sticking with them in these calibers, at least for what I want to do with them. The cost per bullet is certainly not that much more. Now if I could just find the RCBS designs in an aluminum mould.... <G>!

Thanks again, y'all take care! Regan