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02-14-2008, 01:13 PM
Looking back to the November, 1907 issue of the National Sportsman, A.B. Curtis of Martin, Mich. explains how he casts, loads and shoots lead alloy bullets in his 30-30.
National Sportsman November, 1907
HOW TO RELOAD .30-30 CARTRIDGES.
In the September issue, page 315 is an article by Fred Stevenson who seems to have trouble in reloading 30-30 cartridges. Judging from what he says about it, he does not get the mould and lead hot enough. He must have the mould and lead very hot. also evidently he uses too much powder. I use a .30-30 Marlin and with Ideal tools; No. 1 powder measure. No. 3 reloader "not to crimp;" and muzzle sizing die.
Bullet moulds are Perfection No. 3085-139 to 219 grs. weight, and No. 308241-125 grs. wt., the latter being my favorite. I use Ideal pot and dipper and an alloy composed of 90 parts lead and 10 parts tin. Use a gasoline stove to melt it, and this gives the most uniform heat. I heat the moulds to a hissing point on one burner and then, proceed to "cast."
These bullets are as near perfection as can be made: the "mould," casts them .311 1/2 and the sizing die in the No. 3 tool leaves them .309 1/2, while the rifle is .308 at the breech and .307 1/2 at the muzzle. This bullet is loaded in shell over second groove, so it is held by friction (not crimped) with 18 grs. (Ideal Measure) of DuPont Smokeless Shotgun, or New Schultze, or Dead Shot loose in shell (ho wadding) is all that could be desired of a load of this kind.
I have also used 9 grs. of Infallible, 12 grs. Velox, 12 grs. of Sharpshooter Rifle, Smokeless, and 11 grains of DuPont .30 caliber annular, the amount always being measured with the Ideal No. 1 measure. I have weighed some loads and the slight variation of the measure does not warrant weighing the powder for a hunting rifle.
The cost of this load when paying 8 cents a pound for lead, 47 cents a pound for tin and $1.75 per 1000 for primers and $1.00 a pound (7000 grs.) for powder, is about $4.83 per 1000. I generally buy junk lead at about 5 cents per pound, reducing the cost to about $4.35 per M.
When shooting at target the bullets are recovered and the cost still les¬sened. I use the Lyman No.2 rear sight and raise the sight about 5 notches to make this load "point blank;" from this point it takes about 1 1/2 notches for 100 yards and
5 notches at 200 yards.
All powders above mentioned shooting about the same loaded as stated; the 18 grs. measure of DuPont weighed about 7 grs., grs. Infallible, 5 grs. weight; 12 grs. Sharpshooter equal 7 grs. weight.
I have also used the Perfection No. 3085 bullet, 180 grs. cast 90 percent lead, 10 per cent tin with 23 grs. (measure of Dupont), and while testing this load at 200 yards, I succeeded in making several 5 shot groups that measured around 5 1/2 and 6 inches as a group, also one 4 1/2 inch and some 3 shot groups less than 4 inches. The penetration of this load is about 14 inches of pine, but the bullet does not expand; the lighter lead, 18 grs. Dupont Shotgun, 125 grs. bullet weight 121 grs. penetrates about 11 inches.
While with 17 grs. and with a pure lead bullet (No. 308241) the penetration was about 8 inches and the ball was expanded some. At 100 yards muzzle rest using the above load I have placed 5 shots in 1 53/100 inches as a group and made many 1.75 and 2 inch groups, placing 15 consecutive shots in the 4 inch bull that measured 2 1/4 inches as a group and most of them being between the center and left edge,• using 18 grs. Schultze ~new~ and 90-10 bullet No. 308241 weighing 121 grs. 10 percent tin makes the metal flow much better than pure lead.
In a run of 240 shots at 100 yards, the average group was 2.91 inches, while the score, standard American count, was 88.79 percent. or 88 3/4 per 100 points. I always save the empty shells, these do not break often. I have a few that I have had for five years. I generally keep about 200 in stock. I lose more when hunt¬ing rabbits, but of course when shooting at a running rabbit you do not take time to look where the shell goes.
I have reloaded about 3000 shells and since using the tools, etc., described, have had no trouble. I like the Marlin because the parts are few, strong and simple. I can take mine all apart with an old pocket knife, and like the 30-30 be¬cause it is a light rifle using inexpensive, accurate hand loaded ammunition and at the same time a powerful shooter and ought to bring down the largest game (when properly handled). This latter adding about 90 per cent. to the killing power of any rifle, be it an eight bore English Express or a 25-36 Marlin.
I have shot the 170 gr. soft point through 5/16 inches steel plate and it cut a hole about 1/2 inch in diameter, so when anyone tries to tell me that this load would flatten the bullet on anything’s skull, and not penetrate, they are simply wasting ink or words, as the case may be.
I would like to ask these fellows that have bean writing such stories to the National Sportsman if they think that a moose or bear skull will give more resistance to a bullet than an ox? If so, our big game rifles must penetrate about three inches of steel tearing a hole as big as your fist. All rifles that do not do this are mere toys for big game hunting. I have read many cases where bear were killed with a 25-36. If this is true, then, why a cannon?
Returning to the reloading, I wish to say that I have used alloy of 10 parts genuine babbit, and 90 parts lead, also No. 4 babbit pure, also Ideal alloy pure and half-and-half, all of which work well. Would advise Mr. Stevenson to write the Ideal Company advertised in the National Sportsman and read their catalog carefully.
Hoping this will give Mr. S. some light on the subject and wishing more a greater success to the National Sportsman, I remain,
Very Truly Yours,
A.B. Curtis Martin, Mich.
National Sportsman November, 1907
HOW TO RELOAD .30-30 CARTRIDGES.
In the September issue, page 315 is an article by Fred Stevenson who seems to have trouble in reloading 30-30 cartridges. Judging from what he says about it, he does not get the mould and lead hot enough. He must have the mould and lead very hot. also evidently he uses too much powder. I use a .30-30 Marlin and with Ideal tools; No. 1 powder measure. No. 3 reloader "not to crimp;" and muzzle sizing die.
Bullet moulds are Perfection No. 3085-139 to 219 grs. weight, and No. 308241-125 grs. wt., the latter being my favorite. I use Ideal pot and dipper and an alloy composed of 90 parts lead and 10 parts tin. Use a gasoline stove to melt it, and this gives the most uniform heat. I heat the moulds to a hissing point on one burner and then, proceed to "cast."
These bullets are as near perfection as can be made: the "mould," casts them .311 1/2 and the sizing die in the No. 3 tool leaves them .309 1/2, while the rifle is .308 at the breech and .307 1/2 at the muzzle. This bullet is loaded in shell over second groove, so it is held by friction (not crimped) with 18 grs. (Ideal Measure) of DuPont Smokeless Shotgun, or New Schultze, or Dead Shot loose in shell (ho wadding) is all that could be desired of a load of this kind.
I have also used 9 grs. of Infallible, 12 grs. Velox, 12 grs. of Sharpshooter Rifle, Smokeless, and 11 grains of DuPont .30 caliber annular, the amount always being measured with the Ideal No. 1 measure. I have weighed some loads and the slight variation of the measure does not warrant weighing the powder for a hunting rifle.
The cost of this load when paying 8 cents a pound for lead, 47 cents a pound for tin and $1.75 per 1000 for primers and $1.00 a pound (7000 grs.) for powder, is about $4.83 per 1000. I generally buy junk lead at about 5 cents per pound, reducing the cost to about $4.35 per M.
When shooting at target the bullets are recovered and the cost still les¬sened. I use the Lyman No.2 rear sight and raise the sight about 5 notches to make this load "point blank;" from this point it takes about 1 1/2 notches for 100 yards and
5 notches at 200 yards.
All powders above mentioned shooting about the same loaded as stated; the 18 grs. measure of DuPont weighed about 7 grs., grs. Infallible, 5 grs. weight; 12 grs. Sharpshooter equal 7 grs. weight.
I have also used the Perfection No. 3085 bullet, 180 grs. cast 90 percent lead, 10 per cent tin with 23 grs. (measure of Dupont), and while testing this load at 200 yards, I succeeded in making several 5 shot groups that measured around 5 1/2 and 6 inches as a group, also one 4 1/2 inch and some 3 shot groups less than 4 inches. The penetration of this load is about 14 inches of pine, but the bullet does not expand; the lighter lead, 18 grs. Dupont Shotgun, 125 grs. bullet weight 121 grs. penetrates about 11 inches.
While with 17 grs. and with a pure lead bullet (No. 308241) the penetration was about 8 inches and the ball was expanded some. At 100 yards muzzle rest using the above load I have placed 5 shots in 1 53/100 inches as a group and made many 1.75 and 2 inch groups, placing 15 consecutive shots in the 4 inch bull that measured 2 1/4 inches as a group and most of them being between the center and left edge,• using 18 grs. Schultze ~new~ and 90-10 bullet No. 308241 weighing 121 grs. 10 percent tin makes the metal flow much better than pure lead.
In a run of 240 shots at 100 yards, the average group was 2.91 inches, while the score, standard American count, was 88.79 percent. or 88 3/4 per 100 points. I always save the empty shells, these do not break often. I have a few that I have had for five years. I generally keep about 200 in stock. I lose more when hunt¬ing rabbits, but of course when shooting at a running rabbit you do not take time to look where the shell goes.
I have reloaded about 3000 shells and since using the tools, etc., described, have had no trouble. I like the Marlin because the parts are few, strong and simple. I can take mine all apart with an old pocket knife, and like the 30-30 be¬cause it is a light rifle using inexpensive, accurate hand loaded ammunition and at the same time a powerful shooter and ought to bring down the largest game (when properly handled). This latter adding about 90 per cent. to the killing power of any rifle, be it an eight bore English Express or a 25-36 Marlin.
I have shot the 170 gr. soft point through 5/16 inches steel plate and it cut a hole about 1/2 inch in diameter, so when anyone tries to tell me that this load would flatten the bullet on anything’s skull, and not penetrate, they are simply wasting ink or words, as the case may be.
I would like to ask these fellows that have bean writing such stories to the National Sportsman if they think that a moose or bear skull will give more resistance to a bullet than an ox? If so, our big game rifles must penetrate about three inches of steel tearing a hole as big as your fist. All rifles that do not do this are mere toys for big game hunting. I have read many cases where bear were killed with a 25-36. If this is true, then, why a cannon?
Returning to the reloading, I wish to say that I have used alloy of 10 parts genuine babbit, and 90 parts lead, also No. 4 babbit pure, also Ideal alloy pure and half-and-half, all of which work well. Would advise Mr. Stevenson to write the Ideal Company advertised in the National Sportsman and read their catalog carefully.
Hoping this will give Mr. S. some light on the subject and wishing more a greater success to the National Sportsman, I remain,
Very Truly Yours,
A.B. Curtis Martin, Mich.