.30 Carbine

[nighthunter]

Anyone have any suggestions for a 120 gr. FNGC in 30 Carbine in a Ruger Blackhawk? Can't wait to try it out.
Nighthunter

[beagle]

I've had really good luck with Lyman's PB 311008 sized .311. Almost any powder will do depending on what you want in the way of velocities. I usally stick with 1200-1400 FPS and have no problems with PB bullets.

Of course, you have the usual suspects. 311359, 311576 (if you can find one) and my favorite the 311465. The Saeco #254 and #302 work well. All of these are RN designs in one form or another.

That kind of leaves the #311008 and #311316 (GC)(if you can find one of those) for FN designs in that range.

It's worth the effort and the Blackhawk is a shooter with cast./beagle

[versifier]

Here's my load for that bullet (Lee #90362) in my 10" .30 carb Contender. (I cast it out of lino at about 107gr). UNQ 7.3gr, OAL 1.603". it averages about 2" for 10shots at 25yds. Going up to 7.5gr opens up the group about 10%. I'm going to test it seated a little farther out and also cast of ww when things warm up a bit as the range is snowed in now.
The #90301 casts at 93gr from lino and with the same charge averages about 2.5". This one will be tested in ww come spring, too. 8)
I'm going to have Buckshot make me a .310 sizer, too, and see how that works. If it doesn't do much for the carbine, it will surely help the .308 and .30-06.

[Newtire]

Anyone have any suggestions for a 120 gr. FNGC in 30 Carbine in a Ruger Blackhawk? Can't wait to try it out.
Nighthunter

NightHunter,
Use 120gr RNGC out of a Lee mould with 12.5 gr. H-4227 in an M-1 carbine. I size at .309" for the carbine's tight bore. Real nice load.

[nighthunter]

Thanks guys. I'm gonna try 12.0 gr of the surplus WC820. Will start there and work up. WC820 is supposed to be 30 Carbine surplus and I have a couple of jugs. I love it in my 44.

[versifier]

Nighthunter, just curious, have you tried any mil rifle loads in your Ruger? If so, were they at all accurate? They'd stay on the paper at 25yds from the Contender, barely, but I wouldn't call it grouping. Handloads I'd worked up for the rifle with 2400 all stayed in about 6", but I thought it should do a lot better. I ask because I almost bought a Blackhawk some years back and have often wished I hadn't passed it up, but I am quite satisfied with this Contender barrel.

[Buckshot]

............The Lee C309-113F cast of WW drops a slug of about 118grs and is a FNGC. Hard to get a whole lot closer to 120grs. Lee also makes a RN listed at 120grs and you can for sure put a FN on it. Use a flat nosepunch. Run the slug a bit deeper into the die and bear down of the press handle a bit.

I have a Ruger BH in 30 M1. There are 2 things I have in mind for it. One I really HAVE to do is to get a new basepin. The cylinder has lateral play. Accuracy is not consistant. It may produce a couple groups from several shot that are surely match quality. Or it will stack 3 or 4 on top of each other and then throw 1 or 2.

The other thing I'd like to do is to use a piece of a Springfield barrel to place on the Ruger so as to check it out with a 10" twist vs the factory GI 20 inch twist.

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

[beagle]

311008HP 105.0 gr WC820 12.0 gr 1762 FPS

This is what I got out of my Carbine with WC820./beagle

Thanks guys. I'm gonna try 12.0 gr of the surplus WC820. Will start there and work up. WC820 is supposed to be 30 Carbine surplus and I have a couple of jugs. I love it in my 44.

[versifier]

What's the Ruger's twist? I think the TC's is 1in10 like the M1 carbine, but I never checked it. It loves 110gr jacketed bullets, so I assumed they were the same.
Beagle, are you getting 1700+fps out of a handgun?

[Buckshot]

.................The M1 Carbine has a 20" twist, and Ruger copied it for the Blackhawk. The TC has a 10" twist.

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

[versifier]

Thank you. Live and learn! Then the TC should like heavier bullets. If they could be launched fast enough to expand...

[Kragman71]

nighthunter,
I have a book by R.A.Steindler,thatlists these loads,amoung others:
130 grain bullet--10.5 gr H240-1800 FPS
13.5gr 2400-2068 FPS
12.0gr 4227-1800 FPS
I have not tried them.
Frank

[versifier]

Nighthunter,
Did you try those WC820 loads yet? Please let us curious in on your results.

[nighthunter]

I loaded 50 rounds with 11.5 gr WC 820(n).It took me a couple of cylinders full to get centered on target at 25 yards. The remaining rounds shot very consistently and stayed in about a 2 inch group. I did shoot a few rounds at soda cans at 100 yards and was satisfied with 3 hits out of 6 shots. These were the first ammo fired from this handgun. I have had the Ruger for about 4 months and I swear this has been the longest time I have ever owned a firearm without shooting it.
I'm going to adjust the powder charge and I expect some better results in time.
Nighthunter

[Buckshot]

.............Pop cans at 100 ain't shabby. Of course you have to consider it's me saying that! One other thing about those Ruger 30M1 Blackhawks. I think they were made with built in bark (noise). I was hunting around for a real mild target load, like the 2.7/148WC 38 special kind.

Doesn't seem to matter much at all. It is still shrill and 'barky'. I don't know what it is, but if you're shooting one next to a guy blasting away with a 500 S&W, you'll make him move down the line away form you before too long.

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

[Bret4207]

THE MAIN THING IS TO WEAR HEARING PROTECTION! What? I SAID, HEARING PROTECTION!!! Why? HERE, SHOOT THIS THING OR MY 32-20 AND YOU"LL SEE WHY!!!

Gotta love the 30 Carbine and 32-20, or the 32 Mag for that matter. But, boy do they CRACK! I'm a big fan of the 311316 GC in the 32-20 which is the kissin' cousin (easy Carpetman) to the 30 Carbine. Hope one day to get a Blackhawk in 30 Carbine and have 32-20 and 32 Mag cylinders made up for it. It's currently number 234,563,987 on my list of things to do. But it's climbing!

[trooperdan]

I remember a review of the .30 Blackhawk when it came out; I think it was Skeeter that described first firing it with rifle ammo:

"I felt like someone had smacked me in the face with a wet towel and set off a dynamite cap in each ear at the same time!"

That made me want one of course but I never did succumb to temptation; at least not THAT one!

[StarMetal]

You fellowed described the noise created by the 7.62x25 Tokarev exactly....even the 30 Luger to some degree.

Joe

[nighthunter]

That 7.62 X25 will humble even a deaf person. It is the loudest cartridge I have ever been around. The 30 Carbine in a handgun is so light recoiling that it seems if you didn't hear it you might think you had a misfire. I bought my Son an old 3 screw in 30 Carbine awhile back and I liked it so much that I got this one for myself. I think it is going to be one of my favorite Rugers. The accuracy potential is there and I will find the right load for my MM 120 gr FNGC (80% meplat) bullet. I figure it aught to be a nice groung hog pistol.
Nighthunter

[versifier]

I think it will be adequate for anything up to dog size within 50yds, once I hit on a boolit/load that will expand. Saving milk jugs for the testing, be awhile till spring....