Best Rifle Powder for 30-30 and cast ?

[hylander]

looking for a good rifle powder for 30-30 cast loads.
Lyman 173 and Lee 150 boolits.
Looking for Velocity in the 1800 or faster range.
Accuracy is a must

[Rcmaveric]

Accuraccy is in the eyes of the beholder. I have a load tuned with Reloader 7 in 30-30. Gives about 2.5 inches at 100 yards. This is for a Brush gun for deer inside 100 yards. Preliminary test with red dot are promising. I need to tune loads for Red Dot and 2400 in all my riffles. I think a faster powder is needed for larger bores. I want to play with 4227 aswell. I think with a faster powder I can tighten it up. R7 gives me sub MOA groups in bores smaller than 30 cal. I use the Lee 150 grain flat point.

[fcvan]

There are numerous online resources available such as older reloading manuals online and of course here. I have the Lyman 49th edition which says . . .

(since you didn't actually give the mold number, I will guess based upon boolit weight. Also, you did not name the firearm to be used which is helpful in determining rate of twist, barrel length, etc.)

The Lyman 311041 is listed as 173 grains as a Round Flat Gas Check design. Lyman lists the most accurate load for this boolit using IMR4198, 16 grains, for 1602 feet per second, at 23,200 copper units of pressure. This is their starting load, the max load is 23.5gr, 1999fps, 31,400cup. High end for this cartridge with jacketed runs as high as 35-38,000cup.

Mind you, Lyman uses a 24" barrel in a universal receiver, shorter barrels produce less velocity. As with any cartridge, you always start low and work your way up by grains until about halfway up the range, then half grain until three-quarter max, and tenths of a grain as you approach max. I have used both IMR4198 and IMR4227 for this cartridge with 4227 producing slightly higher pressure than similar load ranges (17 to 22 grains)

If you are seeking 1800 fps, it will likely be in the 18 to 19 grain range. Your rifle's barrel harmonics might show good grouping at different loads for a similar rifle. If you are using a lever gun the tightness of the barrel band.magazine tube can be a factor, as well as your hold on the fore end.

I hope you have some experience with reloading, or have a mentor available. Things such as your individual chamber dimensions, the brass you are reloading, the length of the brass, and even the consistency of the primer flash hole can be a factor. In my personal experience, 30-30 is a forgiving cartridge to load, your mileage may vary. Good luck!

[sghart3578]

I have a 1955 Marlin 336RC. I load the Lee C309-150-GC and the NOE version of the 311041 gas checked.

I have found that either bullet loaded over 25 gr of IMR 3031 shoots better than I can hold out to about 120 yards.

That is the furthest I have tested it. I have the stock iron sights on it.

I once mounted a scope and shot some really stunning groups with the 150 gr bullet at 50 yards. The 100 yard range was closed that day.

I have since gone back to iron sights.

If I remember right 25 gr of 3031 is one scoop of powder with an empty 45 ACP case. I made a dipper and put it in my portable kit.

[retiredPO]

If it wasnt for Accruate 5744, I would of given up on Cast for my Micro groove 30-30......

[smkummer]

I plink with my 30-30 so 10 grains unique with either 311291 ( feeds smoother) or 311041 at 1500 FPS (old 32-40 specs or like shooting a .357 from a rifle) does everything I want it to do all the way out to 200 yards on steel. The elevator is a notch above the 1/2 setting to hit at 200 yards. Thats about .08 per round with a gas check. Cheap and it will drop a deer if it had to. Although if specifically going for deer, I would up it to 1700-1800 with a slower powder.

[AZ Pete]

3031 works well in my Winchester with cast, gas checked 173g.


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[hylander]

Thanks, I may give 3031 a try.
Yes I have been reloading for about 30 years, just looking for any pet loads to
give me a starting point.
Anyone try Leverevoution ?

[starnbar]

The marlin I own will shoot real tight groups with 3031 with velocity between 1650-1800 depending on my primer and case.

[Outpost75]

.30-30 is not fussy on powders which work well with both jacketed full charge loads and cast. Any powder which works well with jacketed bullets in the .30-30 will do well with 150-175 grain GC cast bullets with a 20-25% reduction in powder charge listed for a jacketed bullet of the same weight. 4198, RL7, 3031, 4895, 4064, RL15, Varget all work.

DO NOT REDUCE BALL POWDERS!!!!!!

[FergusonTO35]

I've been using 27-30 grains IMR 4895 with Lee 150 grain slugs with excellent results for years. Boolits are sized to .310 with Randy Rat's Tac X. Rifles are two Marlins with micro groove, a Mossberg 464, and Winchester 94. I'm planning to try 4064 also, outstanding powder for j-words and always available here.

[Harter66]

Several books I have on hand show IMR 4350 with 150 and 170 gr jacketed . It has worked for me with cast , start loads often out run max loads for jacketed .

[kaiser]

I've had good results with IMR4198 and SR4759 when using 170 Lee cast bullets.

[robg]

Ramshot tac works well for bullets and boolits even lists lead in their manual.

[starmac]

Just for the heck of it, check out Larry Gibsons work with leverevolution.

[Bird]

Here is what I have from testing last year, and there should be more info coming if I can get to the range this week.
The rifle,
94 winchester, 24'' octagonal aftermarket (numrich arms) barrel. 10'' twist. Tang sight. Lyman globe front sight.
Bullet is 30-150fn rcbs. WD clip on weights. Checks fitted and lubed with Ben's Red. Weight 159 grains. 8 shots per group.

748 powder,29 and 32 grains. 2.5'' @ 100yds. Both same size groups, no fliers. No leading. Vel estimates 1900 and 2050fps.

IMR 4895 powder, 27 and 28 grains. 2'' @100yds. Same sized groups.
no fliers. No leading. Vel estimates 1900 and 1950fps.

IMR 4198 powder, 18 and 19 grains. 2.7'' @100yds. Same sized groups. No fliers. No leading. Vel estimates 1600 to 1700???
20 grains of powder took groups to 3''.

Tried larger charges of powder with IMR 4895, groups opened up too much. My vision is poor, and anyone with half decent eyesight should do better.
This week I will repeat some of the above loads and also test IMR4064, but think that will shoot similar to the IMR4895.
Load density may improve accuracy further using IMR3031 or Leverevolution powders, neither of which do I have.

[oscarflytyer]

so far for me, and need to tweak a couple. RL 7 and IMR 4064 best accuracy. RL 7 and BLC2 best velocity (w/ accuracy). Need to tweak the the H335 load.

[rintinglen]

I have had pretty good results with WW-748, RL-7 and IMR 4895. From a 26 inch Canadian Commemorative, I got 2.5 inch groups with the 311-041 over 34 grains of 748. The RL-7 loads were slightly more accurate but did not match the velocity the 748 loads produced.

[Texas by God]

I like 25 grains of 3031 as well.

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[largom]

You have received a long list of good powders/loads But, only your gun can tell you which one is best.