Bullet choices ......

[Harter66]

I have this 30-30 ....
But it's a bolt gun......
Yes everything shoots well in the best designed for cast cartridge ever devised.
But I live out west where I can shoot days away .......
Of course it's mostly paper but it will be the duty deer pig etc rifle in a few yr .

So I have this narrowed down to 3 moulds unless I just give up and shoot what's in hand , and if I sound confused it's because I've never been to this part of the power range before .

I guess there are 5 moulds on my list .
Play it safe shoot straight WW with;
Lee 310- 150 FP
Lee 310 -170 FP
Or live on the edge a little with a nice 50/50 WW / 1-20 water cooled in
NOE 310 -164 (30-30) more in the case 280 BC .
NOE 310-165 XCB longer bore ride 280 BC .
NOE 310-169 ELAN longer nose .34? BC .
Beyond that these 3 are practically triplets with .07,.08,.09 flats the 169 takes up the same case volume as the 164 but has the same nose length as the 165.
If this were a 308 the choice would be easy and it's easy for the 06' . So pros and cons of each from a mechanical point of view .
Any of the 5 will be of a suitable expanding alloy none will be over 2200 fps (this is after all a 30-30) .

[Outer Rondacker]

I cant tell you what to use as for long range shooting. Here in upstate NY we are lucky if we get 100 yard shot. Mine has a thing for the lee in 120 and 150. But I am not pushing them to hard.

If you think you can size to 310 from the lee 312-155-2r or the 312-160-2r I would give that a go. I know I am thinking about it just need to get some test bullets to try.

[Yodogsandman]

Just tried the Lee 312-155-2R with W748 and got dismal results in my "new to me" bolt 30-30 Springfield 840. These were sized to .312", COWW's heat treated at 465*F for an hour, quenched and then lubed with three coats of BLL. W748 is supposed to give the best velocities with cast boolts in the 30-30 Win, I've read. While I didn't do a pound slug, all references that I've read on the bolt action 30-30's, size to .312". It fits in my throat, so I'm shooting them that size.

I have some NOE 311-165 RD HP's, sized .312" loaded and waiting to shoot them, now with Reloader #7.

[Harter66]

That's what I've read about the 312 -155 2R also . Unfortunately that and 309-160 R are all the grease groove I have suitable for this . No time like the present. The 311-230FP might be fun for a second, I have it also .....

[Scharfschuetze]

Lucky you having a bolt rifle in 30/30. Why not look into the RCBS 180 grain designs. They have a semi-pointed one for your "out yonder" shooting and one with a rather large meplat for lever guns which would also work well for hunting.

I have the pointed design (RCBS 30-180-SP) and it shoots very well in my 30/06 bolt rifles at 30/30 capable velocities.

Here's a link. Scroll down a bit to see both designs.

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/search?SearchTerm=RCBS+30-180

Lyman's 311041 design is also one that I use a lot in both lever action 30/30s as well as various 30 cal bolt rifles and it would make a fine choice. It is also available in its basic design by other mould makers.

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/search?SearchTerm=Lyman+311041

[northmn]

How much extra range you will gain with a pointed bullet in a 30-30 is open to debate. Some that use 150 gran J spitzers are not considering that these bullets are designed for cartidges that exceed the 2200 fps or so of the 30-30 and at longer range may be pushing their expansion limits. In cast I have a Lee 160grain bullet or so designed for the 7.62X39. Might be a good option to the flat points. I took a few deer with a round nose bullet weighing in a 188 grain. For the lever gun I used a flat nosed punch when sizing it to flatten the nose. I water hardened the alloy which was close to 1/2 WW 1/2 lead and annealed the nose by placing the bases in a pan of water. Took one deer at 140 yards from the tree and it dropped such that I had to roll it on its side to dress it. Lung shot and bullet expanded very well. You may lose a couple of bullets annealing them but you don't need that many for hunting. Took another deer with a 303 British with a 208 grain round nose with excellent results. About 2000 fps in both the 30-30 and 303.
The 30-30 is not a long range rifle. While some have made some pretty fantastic shots with it, its best used within its normal point blank range or where hold over is minimal.

DEP

[Harter66]

I have been able to get some shooting in . With random selected powders and charges the rifle is a winner. With no special care 60 yd groups were the same as the 60 yo factory ammo at 100 .
These were shot with Lee 312-155 SP and NOE 311-230 fp, (this for the sake of will it shoot in a 1-12 twist) which seems to be off the books . Several paper patched bullets were shot also and seem to be well suited also though in a 30-30 might be overkill.

The extended range wouldn't be so much for hunting range gains ,I have much better suited cartridges to reach out , but for antagonizing the kids with ARs that think they have it all going on. That and it makes it easier to get the energy @ range minimums , with me breaking down after 15 yr and using gas checks helps a little too. :) If I'd known it was that easy .....

[dg31872]

Okay, curiosity is getting the best of me.
You say you have a bolt gun in 30-30 and leave it hanging.
Is it a 788?

[atr]

I use a Lee 312-180gr sized down to .311 in my 30-30 savage 340.....its very accurate....1-1.5 MOA at 100 yds with good tight groups.

[Harter66]

It is Stevens 325C, made in 49' . The 340 models replaced the 325 . I have 1 each the 340E is in 222 and couldn't care less about loads, bullets , or sources it shoots ,even in my hands , 1" or less within 3" of the cross hairs with the 4 factory loads and about 3" low with the Unique Bator or NOE 225-55 fp. So far it looks like the 325C is going to give me the same problems . It has a 1-12 twist but sent the NOE 311-230 down range making nice round holes with a full case of 4831 WWII surplus repacked in 1974 into the Hogdon square paper cans. No idea what the speed was but I bet I didn't need the gas check.
160841
Just toying with dummies for fit .
00B, 312-155 SP Lee, 200gr spire point drill press wonder bullet seated to magazine length then as breach seated 301618 NOE and the NOE 311-230 fp (which appears to have been removed from everything).
The groups haven't been spectacular but I was only on the mission to see if I had a mould or 2 worth pursuing or if I should hunt down a better.....um .....more cartridge specific bullet. The old questionable 150 and 170 gr silver tips shot into 2" @ 100 with the WFC peep and factory bead ramp sight. So I guess anything under that is a success for a meat rifle .
160843
Don't ya love that factory butter knife bolt handle?
Just 3 +1 magazines and the dreaded split rear bridge and a single lug bolt and that ugly Savage bbl nut :bigsmyl2: . I wish I had a closet full of them . Maybe some day . Maybe custom bbls in 225 Win,25 -30 ,7-30 , 32 Winchester, and 38-55 though a 35-30 would be handier with the current mould inventory.

[John Boy]

How much extra range you will gain with a pointed bullet in a 30-30 is open to debate. The debate will be stopped using the Ideal 311413, 170gr bullet ...

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?168244-30-30-Maximum-Distance-With-Accuracy&p=1884028&viewfull=1#post1884028

Since that day, the 311413 has been the only bullet I use for long range matches

[waco]

My Savage 340 bolt gun in 30-30 likes the Lee 180gr. ACWW sized .3105" lubed with BAC and rolled in BLL over 28gr of IMR4064