30-30 Plinker

[rebliss]

I've seen in the Speer reloading handbook a 100 grain 'Plinker' round. Does anyone have a favorite mould for a Model 94 that's light and fun to shoot? What about powder load/velocity?

I've just discovered how fun my new Model 94 is to shoot, and want to be able to shoot it a lot more than my shoulder will allow me with my Lee 170 gr. Cast GCFPs.

[Bodydoc447]

Lee makes a C309-113F, what the board generally calls the soup can. You can shoot a lot of these over Unique or 2400 for a little $ and the recoil is quite mild. A bonus is that the bullet, when sized to your gun (.310" in my case) can also be used for small game because it is pretty accurate.

HTH,
Doc

[Throckmorton]

Try 10 grains of Unique under those 170 grain pills.Great plinker load and devestating to clay discs at 50 yards.Haven't tried it farther.
My Lyman 47th shows 6 to 10.6... i settled on 10 because it's easy to remember.:)
My sons comment was 'Hey,that thing is dialed in!!!'

[woody1]

Does anyone have a favorite mould for a Model 94 that's light and fun to shoot? What about powder load/velocity?
.
Lyman 3118 (311008 ) and the group buy 314x120 or whatever it was called. Both plain base and sized appropriately over 7.4 gr. Green Dot or 7.5-8 gr. Unique will shoot around 13-1400 and are dandy loads for plinkers or small game. The 314x120 group buy may not fit in all 30-30's but if the nose will fit, it's a dandy for microgrooves. I've used it in 2 Model 94's and it has to be seated to about half way up the front band but shoots well. Another reelly light short range plinker is most any 30-32 cal peestol boolit 70-100 grains sized appropriately over 3.1 gr. Bullseye. Lyman's 313249 and 311242 both work well as does Lee's 90 grain RN, not the pointy one but the other'n. HTH Regards, Woody

PS I don't know how to get rid of that d..n smiley face but it's supposed to be an "8"!

(fixed) Buckshot

[hpdrifter]

woody1, 8 and parenthesis makes the smiley face. find another way to "isolate" the 311008. Perhaps [311008].

[onceabull]

rebliss: The speer "halfjacket"100 gr you mention is a dandy cheap plinker with 10 gr of unique in the 30/30,300 Sav.or 308.. allows you to use your casting time and lead supply for something more serious.. Onceabull

[imashooter2]

Lyman 3118 (311008)
-snip-

PS I don't know how to get rid of that d..n smiley face but it's supposed to be an "8"!


Under the post box in "Miscellaneous options" there is a check box to disable smilies in your post.

[Buckshot]

..................A group buy for a 6 holer Lee is currently underweigh on the "Group Buys" forum.

http://www.fototime.com/9DDC9AF2291A561/standard.jpg

Above: 50 yard group, 5 rounds. 8.0grs of Red Dot

Below: Fired from this cobbled together Springfield sporter.

http://www.fototime.com/8D6431C4F7EECD5/standard.jpg

One of my shooting buddies one day jumped me as I showed up at the range, thrusting targets in my face. Using a M94 Win 30-30 wearing a Leupold VXII 3-9 scope and 23.0grs of H4198 he was producing 100 YARD 5 shot groups hovering around an inch (give or take a quarter) doing 2100 fps.

Not to shabby. For ground squirrel control around the house I used the slug in a 1903A1 Springfield and some SR4756 for about 1450 fps. Put the front sight 'ON' with the rear at 350 yds elevation, and you'd have one sick squirrel out to 75 yards or so. Whacks'em right smartly!

....................Buckshot

[9.3X62AL]

A LOT of folks do very good work with the Lee Soup Can. I have only had good results in the 30-30 and in the 30 Carbine lever gun I have (Marlin 62). No luck at all in 2 different 30-06's. I'm going to try #311316 and #311419 in the '06 to develop a rat zapper/plinker load in that caliber.

[rebliss]

I'm curious about that soup can. I see it's set up for gas checks, but is it manditory to shoot it with gas checks installed?

[Newtire]

..................A group buy for a 6 holer Lee is currently underweigh on the "Group Buys" forum.

http://www.fototime.com/9DDC9AF2291A561/standard.jpg

Above: 50 yard group, 5 rounds. 8.0grs of Red Dot

Below: Fired from this cobbled together Springfield sporter.

http://www.fototime.com/8D6431C4F7EECD5/standard.jpg

One of my shooting buddies one day jumped me as I showed up at the range, thrusting targets in my face. Using a M94 Win 30-30 wearing a Leupold VXII 3-9 scope and 23.0grs of H4198 he was producing 100 YARD 5 shot groups hovering around an inch (give or take a quarter) doing 2100 fps.

Not to shabby. For ground squirrel control around the house I used the slug in a 1903A1 Springfield and some SR4756 for about 1450 fps. Put the front sight 'ON' with the rear at 350 yds elevation, and you'd have one sick squirrel out to 75 yards or so. Whacks'em right smartly!

....................Buckshot

Hi Buckshot,
I tried that load of 21 gr 4198 with the soup can and it threw them all over the target in three 30-30's so far. Also, anything over 8.0 gr. Unique went flying wild. However, used 17.5 gr. 4759 and got great accuracy. 7.5 gr. Unique was a great shooter and 10.0 gr. Blue Dot was Ditto good shooting! Good bullet if it isn't pushed too hard in my guns.

[Wayne Smith]

I'm curious about that soup can. I see it's set up for gas checks, but is it manditory to shoot it with gas checks installed?

Hell, just seat it upside down! Can't be any worse than no gas check.

[rebliss]

Try 10 grains of Unique under those 170 grain pills.Great plinker load and devestating to clay discs at 50 yards.Haven't tried it farther.
My Lyman 47th shows 6 to 10.6... i settled on 10 because it's easy to remember.:)
My sons comment was 'Hey,that thing is dialed in!!!'

I bought the Unique and a Lyman Cast Boolit Handbook. I was having some trouble with my press, but managed to load up a 35 boolits to try, beginning at 7.0 grains up to 9.5 grains in .5 grain increments. Didn't get to the 10.0 grains or 10.5 (because of the trouble with my press). I'll get to those later.

HOWEVER--I was really happy with 8.5 grains in my rifle (see attachment). Very fun to shoot, I'll say! I've got a feeling I'll be shooting these a whole lot more often!

[Larry Gibson]

I've seen in the Speer reloading handbook a 100 grain 'Plinker' round. Does anyone have a favorite mould for a Model 94 that's light and fun to shoot? What about powder load/velocity?

I've just discovered how fun my new Model 94 is to shoot, and want to be able to shoot it a lot more than my shoulder will allow me with my Lee 170 gr. Cast GCFPs.

Hornady or Speer 100 gr HJs; 27 gr H4227 2525 fps = deadly varmint load with minimal recoil.

Hornady or Speer 100 gr HJs; 14 gr Unique 2161 fps + excellent varmint load also, a little more oomph than the M1 Carbine, little recoil.

Remington 71 gr .311 .32 ACP bullet; 7.2 gr Bullseye 1635 fps = excellent grouse load to 100 yards.

Hornady or Speer 90/98 gr HBWCs; 2.7 gr Bullseye 800 fps = excellent single feed gallery load, recoil non-existant.

Hornady 90 gr SWC swaged or Lee 314-90-SWC-TL; 3 gr Bullseye 850 fps = excellent plinking and small game load to 100 yards, recoil non-existant.

Lyman 311316 118 gr GC 32-20 bullet or the plain base equivelent; 4 gr Bullseye 1050 fps = another excellent small game load to 100 yards with no recoil.

Lyman 311316 118 gr GC 32-20 bullet or the plain base equivelent; 7.5 gr of Unique 1400+ fps.

Lyman's 311291 or your Lee equivelant; 11 gr Unique 13-1400 fps = another good low recoil load.

There are lots of combinations but the above are proven performers in my M94 Carbine. Suggest you stick with the faster powders for these type loads. The M94 30-30 is a very versitile and fun little rifle.

Larry Gibson

[felix]

Larry, et. al., looks like we need to try some Trail Boss at 8 grains equivalent of RD with the soup can. Maybe the ES will go down with radical changes of shooting angle. Sure don't want to use fillers for such a moderate plinker. Anybody want to try this? I have no chrono nor do I have any TB. ... felix

[w30wcf]

Larry,
Nice variety of loads.

I've used the .314" dia. 90 Hornady SWC resized to .311" using a Lee push through sizing die. I came to like 3 grs. of 700X for 900 f.p.s. and great 50 ft indoor target work.

Another load I really like is the 311041-125 gr. (modified 311041 mold) over 5.5 grs. of 231, or 6 grs. of 4765, Universal or Unique, and lately, 6 grs. of Trail Boss.
That is a close replication of the early .30 W.C.F. "Short Range" cartridge with velocities in the 1,150-1,200 f.p.s. range.......32-20 performance in the .30-30.
The 3118 also works well here too.

Felix,

8.0 grs. of Trail Boss under the afore mentioned 31104-125gr plain based bullet does 1,300 f.p.s. in my Marlin's 20" barrel. One thing I have come to like about Trail Boss is that no matter where the powder position is in the case, the point of impact doesn't change, as it does with the other powders mentioned above.

Accuracy for both the 6 gr and 8 gr loads of Trail Boss were in the 1" range at 50 yards. In my testing, it has proven to be a very good powder for this application.

Pistol primers work as well as Rifle primers with TB in the .30-30. Velocity is pretty much the same with both.

w30wcf

[lastborn]

tag for later reference

[sthwestvictoria]

I used the Lee TL-314-90-SWC (that is it in my avatar) sized .311 over 7.0grains Trailboss for 1400fps with accuracy.

[Salmoneye]

My plinker/pest-control is a .310" Round Ball over 3gr of Red Dot...

[rintinglen]

Larry mentioned two of my favorites, the 311-291 and the 311-316. I loaded thousands of them for use in Lever Action Silhouette. I use either of them with 17.5 grains of 2400 or 4759. Quite accurate from my guns out to 150 yards.

My favorite light load is the somewhat rare 311-245, sized .310, over 8.0 grains of Herco or Unique. It is a 95 grain round-nose with a dirt scraper groove that works very well out to 50 yards, and perhaps a tad beyond.

[pete501]

Well I like the idea of shooting the 30-30 reduced loads and the use of plain based bullets. Mostly because it is (I am) cheap and fun.

I loaded some 140 flat point plain base with some pull down with label reading "Military Surplus Gunpowder NM-04 lot 92-3". It is suposed to be a Bullseye equivalent. 5.5 grains gave a chrono reading of 850 fps. Recoil is nil and the noise is like a 22 lr. I will take it to the range on Wed for a accuracy test.

The next bullet I'll try is some that a buddy picked up. They are 89 grain .309" round nose. Shouldn't be much more weight than a round ball.

[caseyboy]

My silhouette load for chickens and pigs is the 311291, no GC and 9.5 grains WSF. Turkeys and rams is 311291 with a GC, 15.0 grains of IMR4227 and a Dacron filler. Both are accurate and I haven't lost a ram yet.

[Outpost75]

Two bullets from Accurate I've had cut for the .30 calibers are a snug fit in the .30-30 throat, but chamber easily in soft 8-10 BHN alloy, engraving the front end like Eley Tenex in your favorite .22 target rifle. Use 4-5 grains of Bullseye. with the 125-grain and 5-6 grains with the 155-grain.

Increase charges up to one grain, as needed for best accuracy in the .30-40 Krag or .308 and up to 2 grains in the .30-'06.

132285132286

[TXGunNut]

Wow, 9 yr old zombie thread! I had a box of half-jacket Speer 100 grainers once but I didn't understand the plinker concept at the time. Bullet left the muzzle of my 30-06 at some ungodly velocity and after connecting with a crow it takes awhile for all the feathers to settle. That's all we found, BTW.

[Rattlesnake Charlie]

I have one of the original Winchester .30 W.C.F SR molds. Has anyone any actual experience with it? I would like to pursue it from both a practical plinking round to following a historical perspective.

This is from The .30-30: A Historic Overview by 30 WCF on Sponsors of Leverguns.Com:

In December of 1896, the first .30 W.C.F. “Short Range” cartridge appeared. The cartridge illustration was shown as the .30-6-100 since the cartridge contained a 100 gr. lead bullet and 6 grains of powder. It was described as “for small game where the more powerful cartridge is not necessary". It effectively gave .32-20 performance.

Winchester recognized the benefit and increased versatility that a factory loading for small game would offer, since the average family would have to sacrifice at least a month’s pay to buy just one rifle, and that one rifle was just about all that most families could afford. With his or her magazine full of these .30 W.C.F. “Short Range” rounds, hunters could use their big game rifles to harvest turkeys, squirrels and other small game animals with no meat loss. Then, if bigger game was expected to be encountered, a quick change to the standard .30 W.C.F. cartridge would handle that situation.

A few months later, Marlin followed suit with their .30-30 MARLIN SMOKELESS “Short Range” cartridge made by U.M.C.

In 1904, Winchester increased the lead bullet weight from 100 to 117 grs. and the following year, they also offered a 117 gr. soft point and a 117 gr. full metal patch version.

These “Short Range” cartridges were easily identified as having a cannelure part way down the case neck. Originally, it was used to keep the soft lead bullet from being pushed into the case under spring pressure while in the magazine. It was not needed with the metal patched bullets, but was retained to distinguish them from the full power .30 W.C.F. cartridges which looked similar.

[HRTIRE]

Having fun plinking with my marlin 336 30-30 4 grains universal
Notes 1: 95 lee sized 309 then powder coated166605Notes 2:
Distance to Chrono (FT): 5.00
Ballistic Coefficient: 0.125
Bullet Weight (gr): 95.000
Temp: N/A
BP: N/A
Shots
# FPS FT-LBS PF
11 1101 255.75 104.60
10 1092 251.58 103.74
9 1040 228.19 98.80
8 1043 229.51 99.08
7 1038 227.32 98.61
6 1035 226.01 98.32
5 1089 250.20 103.46
4 1044 229.95 99.18
3 1058 236.16 100.51
2 1049 232.16 99.65
1 1033 225.13 98.14
Average: 1056.55
StdDev: 25.15
Min: 1033
Max: 1101
Spread: 68
True MV: 1061.35
Group Size (IN): 3.93

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/https%3A//mail.google.com/3d5c7165-883c-4e01-9310-0bdb1e6b2a9d166604

4 inch square This is a lee 6 cavity mold for a 32 colt pistol sized to .309 powder coated. You need to let the powder coat cure for a few days before shooting.

[castalott]

HRTIRE...That is exactly the speed I like my plinkers to be. Just under the speed of sound is easy on the ears and the pocketbook.
My favorite powder is the discontinued 452AA. ( WST is supposed to be the replacement and it's ok.) I also like WSL and WSF. I am luckier with Winchester powders I guess...

My favorite plinker boolet is the 311410. It doesn't make the best groups but with a BC of .240(?) it will hang out a long ways. You might be surprised what you can hit at 250-300 yards (with adjustable sights).

Dale

[HRTIRE]

I like casting 6 at a time. This the only reason I chose the colt 32 lee mold . It has been fun. I have the lee soup can 110 grain as well and the 150 lee, 180 rcbs, noe 153 ht, but i just love to pull the trigger, so 6 cavity and cheap. :-P

[castalott]

Is the noe 153 the one without grease grooves...ie for coating?

[HRTIRE]

Is the noe 153 the one without grease grooves...ie for coating? Yes , i do not use it on the 30-30 , I use it on a 308 win, I use dry powder coat, bake 400 for 10 min, quench, size to 309 and let cure for a few days before shooting. They shoot really good between 1800 and 1900 fps. I am trying baking twice to harden the powder coating.

[castalott]

Did you mike the slug as it came out of the mold? I am curious what the nose rider is....

So sorry for the thread drift.... Dale

[45-70 Chevroner]

This thread has been resurrected twice since March of 2006. It truly is a fun topic though. I like shooting those little .310 round balls and at about 33 grains each makes a big savings on lead. 3 grains of Bullseye pumps them out at around 800 fps from my 30-30 14" Thompson Contender. I have tried them in my 25" 30-30 Winchester but the velocity drops off some, probably because of the long barrel and that small powder charge, too much drag I guess.

Addition! I am using 33 caliber balls from my 6 cavity Lee buckshot mold. When I seat them I don't flair the case mouth and in the process it cuts a little ring of lead off the ball. I'm just assuming that the ball is .310 but they shoot great out to about 25 yards.