30-30/Red Dot

[LeadPoisonTX]

Better late than never... I was after a Target Load for my Winchester '94 30-30. My 175.5 grains 311041 load development went from 4.1 to 7.0 grains of Red Dot, with powder coated, no GC, and unsized boolits. This load combination hit an accuracy node at 4.5 to 5.1 grains in my rifle. I used the Lee Factory Crimp to apply a firm crimp and obtain consistent ignition. No Filler. Below are pictures of my targets, 4-shot groups at each progression at 25 yards open sights (my sight is not what it used to be), and velocity data. I will do another round of test, but this time at 50 and 100 yards (if I can hit the side of a barn at 100 without a scope...)

[ohiomadman]

Better late than never... I was after a Target Load for my Winchester '94 30-30. My 175.5 grains 311041 load development went from 4.1 to 7.0 grains of Red Dot, with powder coated, no GC, and unsized boolits. This load combination hit an accuracy node at 4.5 to 5.1 grains in my rifle. I used the Lee Factory Crimp to apply a firm crimp and obtain consistent ignition. No Filler. Below are pictures of my targets, 4-shot groups at each progression at 25 yards open sights (my sight is not what it used to be), and velocity data. I will do another round of test, but this time at 50 and 100 yards (if I can hit the side of a barn at 100 without a scope...)

Great post. I use the same boolit with 5.7gr of Red dot in a H&R model 157 and usually can get 3 touching at 25yds
I was wondering what the fps was, now I got a good ideal.

[GhostHawk]

That 4.5 to 5 node is a good one, and thus far 4.6 has given me good accuracy in everything from .223, the various .30's, through the .357. The .357 with 4.6 grains of Red Dot and the Lee .358 158 gr round nose does awesome in my handi rifle.

I also recently tested some 4.6 grains of Red Dot in a .444 marlin case with a 220 gr boolit. Worked fine, very mild report and recoil. But had scope issues so need to go back another day to see how the accuracy works out.

Beats the heck out of loading 30-50 grains of powder just to punch paper when 4.6 will do.

[LeadPoisonTX]

Great post. I use the same boolit with 5.7gr of Red dot in a H&R model 157 and usually can get 3 touching at 25yds
I was wondering what the fps was, now I got a good ideal.

Thanks Ohiomadman. I'm glad this helped you get a rough idea of the velocity you might be getting out of your load/rifle combination. My Winchester '94 has a 20 inch barrel, if that helps you guesstimate the velocity out of your barrel.

[TCLouis]

Texas by God

Are you loading from the magazine, or single shot?
If you are loading from the magazine did you have to modify anything to get it to feed?

[LeadPoisonTX]

Are you loading from the magazine, or single shot?
If you are loading from the magazine did you have to modify anything to get it to feed?

I'm not sure if your question is for me, but just in case, yes these feed from the magazine without any special treatment. Cases trimmed to 2.030", boolit seated to crimp groove for COL= 2.540", and crimped with Lee FC.

[lreed]

Interesting posts.I personally would like to hear about the rifle and how you did the rimed case in a rimless feed Mauser.I have a .30-30 Mauser I put together,always interested in other peoples approach to the problems of doing so. Thanks lreed

[Texas by God]

Interesting posts.I personally would like to hear about the rifle and how you did the rimed case in a rimless feed Mauser.I have a .30-30 Mauser I put together,always interested in other peoples approach to the problems of doing so. Thanks lreed

It is still in The Barrel Works section of Gunsmithing under Barrel Nut for SR Mauser.
Basically I added a stop screw to the mag follower, faced the bolt out and modified the extractor for the 30-30 rim. The feed ramp needed polishing to get flat points to feed. It actually works well if you load three rounds only and stack the rims correctly.
Best, Thomas.

[bluelund79]

Great info on this post. Someday I'll get around to developing a load for my Savage 340 with cast. Red Dot seems like a good powder to use, thanks for sharing

[Texas by God]

Thanks to LeadPoison I have some of his pretty red&blue boolits. I'm ging to try his load in my Mauser and my Win 94.
I'll be back.

[fatelvis]

I've only loaded 2400 and 4759 in my 30-30s. I've got to try Red Dot. I'm impressed by the recorded group sizes and extreme spreads.

[Texas by God]

I've only loaded 2400 and 4759 in my 30-30s. I've got to try Red Dot. I'm impressed by the recorded group sizes and extreme spreads.

I think you'll like it just fine & a pound lasts Forever,

[fatelvis]

Rarely does "cheaper" and "better" go together in a sentence, but when they do, you've got to love it! LOL


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[res45]

I've been using Red Dot in the 30-30 for a number of years as a general purpose plinking load. My old Sav. 170 pump gun like 7.0 grs. with the Lee 170 gr. RNFP with two light coats of Alox/JPW lube once before and once after sizing with the gas check left off. I need to try some PC,ed an see how they do.

50 yds. with the iron sights

[Texas by God]

I had flyers with the 5 gr Red Dot load and the PC boolit;
27 grs IMR 3031 grouped an inch for two 3 shot groups.
This was in the 93 Spanish 30-30. When I'm done with these I'm going to scrub the barrel & try the Lee 150 fpgc with the RD load- not giving up on a fun accurate cheap load just yet.
Best, Thomas.

[jmort]

According to the data I linked, 5.5 grains of Red Dot and a 170 grain bullet is the sweet spot but 7 grains looked good as well

[Texas by God]

I'm trying something different today. I've loaded the Accurate 31-090B (95 grs sized to .309") over 5 grs of Red Dot with Rem 9-1/2M primers. Lee factory crimp. Shot two test loads last night and liked the sound and POI/POA impact. Maybe at dusk I'll try them in the 94win.

[Texas by God]

My old lever action put 5 shots in exactly 1" @ 25 yds. The report is mild. They feed just fine through the action. I seated them in the lower lube groove so they won't win any concentricity awards- but they'll head shoot a squirrel! They do impact quite low so the elevation slide on the 5D sight will need to come up. Happ Fathers Day continues!

[toallmy]

This looks like fun .

[Texas by God]

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