Another Noob

[MDC]

I've been reading and soaking in as much as I can for a few weeks and thought I'd introduce myself.
I've been casting bass and crappie jigs for about 10 years and also love to shoot. I have and addiction it seems to the 7-30 Waters. I have a Super 14 Contender and picked up a 23" bbl for the Contender a while back. I was lucky enough to get a supply of the surplus 120gr Sierra bullets leftover when Federal stopped loading the cartridge. That supply has dwindled and what's left will be saved for a Winchester 94AE in that caliber. That got me looking for a FN replacement as well as looking for a cost effective projectile for fireforming cases, which led me to the cast boolit world.
I picked up a Lee 130gr mold for the fire forming duties, but have now run across a Lee Soup Can mold and the current group buy that look like nice FN's. I also like the looks of the Saeco 145 RFN, but thought I'd try the Lee to see if this is something I would be able to do before going in too deep.
I have managed to get a few of the 130's cast, lubed and sized and gc's crimped from clip on WW's and I am in need of some help with load information. I have several different Hodgdon powders but I have no data for cast boolits for rifle cartridges.
I have limited cast data for my 32 H&R, which I'm sure will be slinging WW's before long. Looks like I may have another addiction forming.
Any help will be appreciated and sorry for the long post.
Mike

[Catshooter]

MDC,

Welcome to the forum. I can't help with load data other than to ask loads to what level? That will help others.

Also, if you want a light load, a large pistol primer under a few grains of most fast/faster pistol powders will start you out right.


Cat

[JIMinPHX]

No 7-30 Waters data listed in my Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook.
Cartridges Of The World 9 only lists data for jacketed.
Sorry about that.

[32ideal]

Hi Mike, I shoot a 7-30W in a CPA single shot using cast bullets, I have loaded the Saeco 145gr TCGC bullet which is different in shape but weight is pretty close, what Hodgon powders do you have and if I've loaded them in the 7-30W will try and help you out.
32ideal


I have managed to get a few of the 130's cast, lubed and sized and gc's crimped from clip on WW's and I am in need of some help with load information. I have several different Hodgdon powders but I have no data for cast boolits for rifle cartridges.
I have limited cast data for my 32 H&R, which I'm sure will be slinging WW's before long. Looks like I may have another addiction forming.
Any help will be appreciated and sorry for the long post.
Mike

[runfiverun]

start at 16 gr 2400 and move up watch the groups.
somewheres around 18-19 should be good.
lr -lp primers either seems to work well.

[MDC]

Thanks Guys for the welcome. I would like to get some horspower out of them. I know they won't compare to JB's but I need to do damage to some hogs here in TX. The powders I have are all Hodgdon except for some IMR4895. The others are H110, H335, H380, H414, H4350, H4831, HS6, Titegroup, and Lil' Gun.
I have been loading the 120gr JB's with the H414 and IMR4895.

[AZ-Stew]

Welcome aboard!

The Lyman #48 and #49 handbooks have data for Lyman's 287346 135gr RN GC. Interestingly, Ken Waters Pet Loads books (the pair I have) only have data for the 120 gr jacketed bullet. At the time the article was written, I think Waters was trying to extol the virtues of his "baby" and its high velocity compared to the parent .30-30 cartridge.

Regards,

Stew

[AZ-Stew]

Well, you posted while I was writing.

Waters, in his article, claimed best accuracy (J-bullets) with H-335. I'd guess you'll do well with it, H-380 and the 4895 in this case. I haven't used Titegroup and Lil' Gun, so I can't comment on them. With the above powders, you'll need hard boolits if you're going to shoot them fast. You might want to pick up some 2400 powder if you want to shoot this round at 1,500 - 2,000 fps. It works well and is economical.

Regards,

Stew

[MDC]

How hard would the alloy need to be to get around 2400fps with the 380 or 4895?

[AZ-Stew]

This procedure will make them hard enough. Cheap - effective.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=42870

Others may say you can use softer boolits, but I use the harder ones and experience no leading.

Regards,

Stew

[MDC]

Thanks Stew, Good information.

[AZ-Stew]

MDC,

You're welcome. I hope you read the entire thread and not just the first post.

Regards,

Stew

[MDC]

Yes Sir, and I already have an oven that I use to cure powder paint on jig heads. I'll get a thermometer and go to work checking the temps.

[Richard B]

Welcome

I checked Ricahrd Lee's book and he only lists "J" bullets in 7-30 Waters

[runfiverun]

the group buy is a modified rcbs 145 silhouette.
your twist rate is gonna be a limiting factor.
keeping your loads in the 1850 or so range will work well.

[32ideal]

Mike I looked up the last cast bullet load I used with a GC bullet in 7-30W, it was the Saeco 145gr TCGC as cast from wheel weights it weighed 143gr dropped into water from the mould, Hornady GC's and 50/50 lube. Used Lyman M-die to expand necks with .283" expander, bullets sized to .2855" which is what my .285 Sizer seems to size most bullets at. Seated to an overall length of 2.850" in Neck sized Federal cases, best load was 25gr of H335 @ about 1900fps from my 27" barrel, this load gave round groups of 2" or less at 100yds from my CPA w/scope. Forgot I used the Federal 215M primer to keep the load burning clean maybe overkill but it worked!

Only note on the data I kept was that I had to get all the copper/jacket fouling out of the bore before it would shoot cast bullets worth a hoot, did not matter what bullet or alloy I tried. Had picked up 7 boxes of 7-30W Federal 120gr ammo from gunshop that was closing and had fired it all up to get the brass, really put a lot of brass fouling down in the bore...


Good Luck with your 7-30 and :cbpour:!!!
32ideal






Hi Mike, I shoot a 7-30W in a CPA single shot using cast bullets, I have loaded the Saeco 145gr TCGC bullet which is different in shape but weight is pretty close, what Hodgon powders do you have and if I've loaded them in the 7-30W will try and help you out.
32ideal


Thanks Guys for the welcome. I would like to get some horspower out of them. I know they won't compare to JB's but I need to do damage to some hogs here in TX. The powders I have are all Hodgdon except for some IMR4895. The others are H110, H335, H380, H414, H4350, H4831, HS6, Titegroup, and Lil' Gun.
I have been loading the 120gr JB's with the H414 and IMR4895.

[MDC]

32ideal
Thanks a million!!!

[Phat Man Mike]

welcome to the group