310 round ball from 30-30

[Mule]

In my misguided youth I loaded .310 round balls for a 30-30 bolt gun to dispatch squirrels and other invading varmints . Effective range was about 25 yards. Didn't use much powder. I didn't want to attract too much attention. Might have been Red Dot or Unique. I don't remember and at the time I wasn't keeping records.

Once again I have a need for such fodder. Is anyone doing something similar and care to share information?

Thanks

[Jniedbalski]

I have tried round balls in my 308 but was a pain to load and didint shoot accurate past 25 yards. I found a .314 90-100 gr lead pistole bullet sized to .0311 with 2.7 to 3.0 of bullseye shoots past 50 yards like a good 22lr. Try it out you will like it .

[richhodg66]

I would think 4-5 grains of Bullseye would work fine.

[castalott]

I had a buddy that did that long ago. I seem to remember an unsized case primed with a few grains of some powder...thumb the ball into the m-died case mouth and wipe some alox on the top of the ball.... it was amazingly accurate at 15 yards but "your mileage may vary"... Watch for sticking one in the bore.... Good luck & let us know...

[Mule]

That was fast.
Thank you guys.
No BE on hand. I am leaning toward about 5 gr Unique. Hope to work on it tomorrow.
I will post feedback when I get some.

[Wolfer]

In my 30-30 I run the 311008 which weighs 115 gr to about 1200 fps with 5 gr of clays. I don’t know how far out it’s accurate but certainly to squirrel hunting distance

[RogerDat]

PM sent the OP. Just so happens I'm in the midst of stocking up on round ball stash using the recent Group Buy molds from MP Molds.

I already had .310 Lee 6 cavity round ball mold from Track of the Wolf. Lee has their #00 string of pearls .33 mold but the MP molds offered .33 size in 8 cavity straight round ball which seemed like a better approach in a high quality mold that with Group Buy discount was very competitive price. I also have a .32 round ball mold aka #0 buck.

Seem like I might be able to help OP with his war on tree rats and as a long time Standard Schnauzer owner I feel an obligation to do what I can to discourage rodents from being in trees where they can't be caught and shaken properly. Although our 10 year old did nail the bugger that got bold and went for the bird feeder. Squirrel has to win race to fence or tree every time, dog she only needs to win once.

[Bookworm]

I used 2.2gr Clay's with a .311 round ball in my .30-30 for ~870fps. 25 yd accuracy was very good, easily 1" 3 shot groups.
I made a note in my records to try 2.5gr Clays, but haven't gotten back to it.

[Jniedbalski]

I have tried round balls in my 308 but was a pain to load and didint shoot accurate past 20 yards. I found a .314 90-100 gr lead pistole bullet sized to .0311 with 2.7 to 3.0 of bullseye shoots past 50 yards like a good 22lr. Try it out you will like it .the round ball load I wanted to like but I had problems loading the ball in the case and having it go deaper or fall in past the neck .they did shoot decent to 15 yards or so and at 20 yards or farther they started opening up the group. The cast lead bullet used for 32 long or 32 h&rmag ,32 colt worked great. I ordered some hard cast bullets to use at first. Then I ordered a lee .314 90 gr swc and a lee .311 100 gr 2R. I tried the .314 as cast and the bolt was very hard to close on my savage axis in 308. So I tried them sized to .312 .still a little hard to close but .311 worked out great. They shoot a ragged hole at 25 yards and 50 yards they still shoot really good. I have also used the lee .312 160 2R for the sks and ak sized .311. They also shoot very good to 100 yards or more.i load them with 5 to 7
gr of bullseye and tried them with gas checks and without lubed with with lee Lla or white label lube 45/45/10 . It’s a real light load but every body that shoot this load really likes it .

[Texas by God]

I've killed several squirrels with the .310" Hornady rb lubed with LLA over 3 grs of Bullseye or Red Dot in a 94 Win 30-30. Loaded single shot and they worked fine dropping fancy rats from Pecan trees. They worked pretty good on Terrapins as well. The Lee 31490TL SWC is the go to for magazine use. I just cast some for this use the other day.

[Larry Gibson]

I really never found RBs that effective/accurate past 20 yards or so even with the best lad of 2.1 gr Bullseye.

I too favor using my own cast TL314-90-SWCs TL'd in LLA, dried and then sized down to .311 loaded over 2.7 gr Bullseye in my 30-30s. An excellent and accurate load.

However, if you've not got the RBs yet I suggest you try to find some of Hornady's 90 gr swaged .32 cal SWCs as they are essentially the same as the Lee cast bullets. I do size them down to .311 also with a Lee .311 push through sizer and load them over the same 2.7 gr Bullseye.

Or the Hornady 90 gr .32 cal swaged HBWCs or the Speer 32 cal 98 gr swaged HBWCs. Size them .311 (push base first through the Lee sizer to not crush/collapse the HB skirt) and load them over 3 - 3.5 gr Unique for 850 - 950 fps. They will give excellent accuracy to 50 yards, much better than the RBs do at 20 yards. The soft flat nose WCs are also very deadly on small vermin, all out of proportion to their velocity.

[NoZombies]

I've used 3 grains of Promo (same by weight, but not volume as red dot) under a 311 RB in the 30-30 with good results to 20-25 yards. I never tried them past that. I never got the round tuit to try anything else, or shoot many of them. If I was hunting with a 30-30 I'd want something like that in my pocket for small game I encountered.

[trapper9260]

Some time ago I size the 00 buck for the 30 cal rifles and I do not remember what I use for powder but works and tuber lube in Alox water down some. and works .Like Larry stated.I did it just to do it. Other then that I use size down 32 cal boolits and load that way .

[Thumbcocker]

Size "0" buck shot liquid alox 3 grains of red dot. Seated 1/2 of ball diameter in unsized case and light crimp was accurate at 25 yards and would feed through Marlin action.

[rdwarrior]

I am currently loading 155 and 170 gr cast boolits over 3.0 and 3.1 gr of titegroup. Crono says about 850fps. Appears to be fairly accurate at 50yds. still a work in progress.

[ChristopherO]

" I didn't want to attract too much attention."

Sounds like in the past the OP wanted to be stealthy around residential areas, and probably still wants to do the same with the present issue he is trying to resolve. Thus, the RB and a small amount of powder to keep things quiet. A larger boolit might make a louder pop, is my guess.

Years ago Rick Jamison wrote of a light, quiet load to dispatch coyotes around a subdivision on the edge of an Arizona town. The coy-dogs were killing and carrying away domestic dog pups in the area, but still, a loud boom would not bode well with the neighbors. His solution was to use a .32 pistol boolit over a small dose of pistol powder in a long gun to dispel the problem without attracting undue attention. It inspired me to cook up the same, but of course being younger and prone to want speed I hopped the Lyman #2 112 grain flat nose rounds up to 2,000fps out of the 30/06. It was the real deal on a particular coyote, but it wasn't quiet by any means. Didn't need to be where I was, though. This thread brings back those memories. Fun round to practice with. I recently gave my eldest son the remainder of those loads to take back to the prairie dog towns he works over out west. Thought he would have much enjoyment with the old Ruger I used to use that he now hunts Elk with.
Hope the OP finds success in his endeavor.

[Thumbcocker]

Ball fly much shorter distances than boolits.

[MT Gianni]

That was fast.
Thank you guys.
No BE on hand. I am leaning toward about 5 gr Unique. Hope to work on it tomorrow.
I will post feedback when I get some.

I I would use a 32 cal or .314" rb run it through a sizer to get the maximum flat area on the equator, and roll it in liquid alox. It wouldn't hurt to paint the edge of the loaded ball with liquid lube either. Try 2 gr of a fast powder, AA2, Red Dot, BE or similar.
http://www.castbullet.com/shooting/rb30.htm Junior had good luck with Unique but my best results with a 32 wadcutter have been with 2 gr Red Dot.

[SvenLindquist]

Round balls are great fun.

I shoot 1, 2 & 3 in my 45-70 & 458 No. 1

20 yd results w/3

https://i.imgur.com/WJb3NaU.jpg

my FL loading bench.

https://i.imgur.com/SPou8FR.jpg?1

[Outpost75]

In the .30-30 my experience has been that the minimum charge which always exits the barrel, with a conventional, plain-based bullet which "fits" is the most accurate "Cat Sneeze" load.

Accurate 31-155D was designed just for this purpose in the .30-30 and gives best results when cast soft, no harder than 8-10 BHN. I prefer 1:40 tin-lead from Roto Metals and LS Stuff 45-45-10. I use the bullet as-cast and unsized.

236529

The lightest charge which reliably exits a 20" barrel and is stable in the usual 1:12" twist used in the 94 Winchester is 3 grains of Bullseye, or alternately you can use with success 3.5 grains of 452AA, WST or 231, or 5 grains of WSF, Unique, Universal or Herco.

The forepart of this Accurate bullet engraves like chambering Eley Tenex in a .22 match rifle, This load is fully capable of inch groups at 50 yards if you do your part.

236530

If you want a heavier load which approximates .32-40 black powder ballistics and will shoot through whitetail deer from any angle, you can use 1/2 of the listed charge for a 150-grain jacketed bullet with most popular rifle powders suitable for the .30-30, about 14-15 grains of IMR3031, IMR4895, IMR4064, RL15, or Varget with a 1 grain Dacron filler tucked loosely into the case neck, NOT pushed down upon the powder! AND a pea-sized "grease cookie" of white lithium grease or Crisco.

236531236532

[woody1]

The OP's question as I recall was for round balls. Not can I shoot them farther or anything like that. Thumbcocker got it right, they don't go so far. From my back porch I can shoot stuff out of trees with 'em and not worry about them traveling to the nearest farmhouse. I use .311's in a 30-30 or a Krag with 3.1 gr. of Bullseye. Balls are lubed with J-wax or whatever and a dab or FWFL around the mouth of the case after loading. Obviously there's a lot of variation in velocity depending on orientation of the powder. Shooting into trees for starlings, house sparrows and such pretty much gets the powder back. Just remember to elevate the muzzle prior to shooting and it'll work OK. If the rifle was/is sighted for it, I can headshoot sparrows at 50' or so with 'em.

A little humor (and data) regarding round balls:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?41305-Bob-Krack-s-Balls

[Alferd Packer]

I like to grease the skids so to speak so i always chamber a fired case and lube a patch with some 3 in one oil or some 50-50 kerosene and ATF mix on a cleaning rod. I ram the patch a few strokes in the barrel bottom out on the empty case. I wring out the patch so its not sopping wet and the barrel is conditioned for round ball or cast wadcutter or even a cast hot glue bullet.
From a grain of Be. to 3.0 grains, they never get stuck in bore. You can even shoot the bullets loaded dry for a couple three shots before repeating this treatment. I even used crisco on a patch to keep bullet lube from adding to the taste of a squirrel or rabbit meat. I never get any leading in any barrel and empty case keeps patch from lubing the chamber and action.
I have a speedometer cable with a cleaning rod eye soldered to the end that i keep coiled in a ziplock baggy to use for this along with the empty case.
Cleaning rod sections in a sock work as well. I think the conditioned barrel makes the round ball accurate out to 100 yards with 3-4gr Beye , from all my 30 cals . Just my 2 cents.

[Alferd Packer]

While i think of it i always run a damp lube patch in all my pistols and shotguns as well.
Dad taught me to never shoot a round down a dry barrel. They are easier to clean and never lead or even rust from copper streaks trying to imbed in the rifling from jacketed bullets. Just use a damp patch and your first shot won't be high unless that's where you aimed.

[Alferd Packer]

For those round balls that want to fall thru the neck of the case, you can either clench the neck slightly with a pair of nail pulling pinchers (unsightly but it will work) or slip a wooden dowel in the case neck and make a dimple low down on the neck with a dull nail or a center punch and that will hold up the ball. The Finns used round balls and bullets sized small enough to be pushed down the bore to shoot primer powered and catsneeze loads before W W 2.
They even rolled jacketed 220grain bullets between flat steel so they could push down a rifled bore. Using these with a dimpled necked case, they used a small charge of blank powder or a salvaged pistol powder to hunt with and wreak havoc on invaders during their wars. A small sized Jacketed bullet over 200 grains shot subsonic or less is a fearsome penetrator of an army helmet or thick winter clothing out to a 100 yards.
They too wet the bores of their rifles with diesel fuel, kerosene or even a thin film of bacon fat.
For hunting ,they kept bullet from contaminating game meat.
Finns in National Guard in 1920's up thru the wars issued their recruits reloading supplies to use for hunting and target skills. They naturally were issued jacketed rounds to relaload in their issued Mosin Nagant rifles. Its all in history books if you care to dig, but you best hurry. The brave new world is recycling the old history books and busily deleting info they don't deem necessary to the people who don't agree with them.
They closed the last lead mine and the recyclers are selling the lead to Red China as fast as they can get it. They won't sell to us because its an EPA regulation i was told. Land of the leadfree and home of the Sheeple. NOT TRUE, but just hang around and wait awhile.
Ignorance is not bliss
Sorry to rant
You can bann me nowu

[Finn45Colt]

More articles connected to thread and Alfred Packer post http://www.guns.connect.fi , http://www.guns.connect.fi/gow/arcane1.html

[Alferd Packer]

Kiitos to you Finn45Colt and welcome for the info.

[Finn45Colt]

Ole hyvä, Packer.

I tried .30 cal roundball loads in X39 but prefer Lee tl 90gr swc with 2.6gr VV N310 (equals HP38) 800fps. More accurate and shooting game up to trees any small branch will make boolit unstable and it will land harmless not so far, I guess..

[Gewehr-Guy]

Very interesting links, thank you!

[3leggedturtle]

Woody1 and Alfred Packer, thats some good info. Todd/3leg

[Alferd Packer]

I was lucky enough to get a six cavity of that LEE TL 90 SWC when they were first offered.
But the swell thing about that bullet is while it is accurate way further than a round ball, you can load it upside down to really knock something down at close range in both pistol and rifle.
As a wadcutter, it will really blow a hole when shot from your rifle.
I knocked daylight thru a rabid skunk that got inside my backyard with one shot.
Really devastating load.
Used five grains 700X.
No good for hunting.
Tears small animal apart.
Just thought i'd add that in.

[hwilliam01]

I have been using a no gas check round nose bullet originally cast for the 30 cal. M1 Carbine that weighs in at about 119 grains behind 7 grains of Unique. Works great....sounds like a 22 and NO recoil. It is a hoot to shoot!

[Alferd Packer]

That's the spirit!
Load up and try em.

[woody1]

I have been using a no gas check round nose bullet originally cast for the 30 cal. M1 Carbine that weighs in at about 119 grains behind 7 grains of Unique. Works great....sounds like a 22 and NO recoil. It is a hoot to shoot!

How's that been working for you? I've always wondered when folks say they load this 'n' so boolit behind thus 'n' so load of powder. I thot mostly it worked better when the boolit was in front! :kidding:

[Smoke4320]

Welcome Fin45Colt.. Just love to see people here from other countries..

[dogrunner]

Picked up a hundred year old S&W hand ejector in .32 long.........along with a bunch of short cases and loaded stuff........bein' cheap and hating to throw perfectly sound brass away I just rolled a batch of Lee 311 rb's in liquid alox and stoked the case with 2 gr's of BE...........stuff shoots like a champ and would be just fine for small game IF it had other than the minuscle sights it carries.........used those same RB's in BP buckshot loads in .12 ga........again soaked in alox........and the pattern I get with Grandpa's old single rivals my Browning A/5.

I have no doubt that a really light charge with a fast powder will do you well.

As an aside, years back I owned a TD Savage 99 in .303 S..........gun came with some really old ammo........rounded primers in a deteriorating cardboard Savage Arms ammo box, while the gun was almost mint that ammo was showing age cracks in the necks......that plus the fact I was sure the stuff was corrosive detered me from attempting to fire it, but of note was the fact that about half of that batch had multiple round balls seated in the neck....never tried to duplicate it but I have shot dual RB loads in BP rifles with good results........

[hwilliam01]

How's that been working for you? I've always wondered when folks say they load this 'n' so boolit behind thus 'n' so load of powder. I thot mostly it worked better when the boolit was in front! :kidding:

Still works....it all comes out in the end...you just need to turn the brass cartridge around and put a Magnum primer in it....