30-30 Cast bullet loads

[D-gunner]

I am looking for a very good load recommendation for shooting 30-30 155 or 150 GR RNFP smokeless out of my 94 Winchester. I do not want to use gas checks and accuracy wise we are just listening for a ding on a 12"x24" metal plate at 200 yards

Thank you in advance for any assistance!!!

[charlie b]

I had two loads I used in my Model 94. One was the 'normal' book load from Hogdon using 4895. 165gn Meister bullets (no gas check).

If you want a plinking load
http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

I used the Blue Dot loads and they were a lot of fun too.

[RU shooter]

If you have enough elevation on your rear sight for 200 yds try 5-6 grs of Bullseye . It's what I shot most in my elderly 32 win spl but it has a ladder type rear sight on it so elevation isn't an issue . That load should be in the 1000-1200 fps range . Lots of fun and fairly quiet .

[toallmy]

I can't say what happens after my rounds pass a hundred yards simply because I have so much fun shooting my trusty Searschester up close . I removed the side mounted scope and replaced it with a redfield aperture sight sighted in at 50 yards shooting reduced plan base boolits cast from a NOE SC 311-165-RF mold .
My previous shooting with a NOE 311-180-FN gc design in the 30-30 showed very promising groups at approaching jacket velocity but got sidetracked by the pleasure of reduced plinking loads .
I think you're goal is quite reasonable if you find a boolit that your firearm seams to like , but 200 yards - at dropping like a rock will need to be addressed .
Definitely give it a try .....

[ABJ]

My plain base load is a 155 fn Magma design. 700x, 5/6 grains is one hole at 50 and a little over an inch at 100, far as I have shot. Also 7.0 green dot is about 1150/1200 according to the book , very accurate but may be on the threshold of leading a plain base. Most any pistol/shotgun powder can be made to work, do a search for (cat sneeze, gallery, subsonic etc loads) you will be reading for days.

Tony

[BigAlofPa.]

I had issues with red dot loads tumbling. I gave 2400 a try then. They are doing well. Going to load some with Green dot too.

[John Boy]

Pick one, they all are accurate out out to 500m, boxes in inventory:
30-30 200 I311291/30gr 3031
30-30 50 I311467/28.8gr 3031
30-30 150 I311413/29gr 3031

[dtknowles]

My target velocity for plain base loads was 1400 fps. Got there with around 8 grains of Red Dot, 9 grains of Green Dot and 10 grains of Unique. Back off a grain with any of these and it will drop the velocity about 100 fps.

Tim

[Bird]

My target velocity for plain base loads was 1400 fps. Got there with around 8 grains of Red Dot, 9 grains of Green Dot and 10 grains of Unique. Back off a grain with any of these and it will drop the velocity about 100 fps.

Tim

Those are the two loads I also use. Green dot seems a tad more accurate than the unique load. These are about as fast as I can push my plain based bullets withou leading.

[barrabruce]

4-5 gns bulleye will get you @ speed of sound and is good for 300 metres after that I find it gets a bit hairy.
For me anyway..
50 yard zero 200 yards you would be looking at ballpark @ 27 moa or roughly 56inches of drop.

Good fun all day long.

[smkummer]

Yep, 10 grains unique and Lyman 311291(170 plus grains). About 1500 FPS and it’s my 200 yard plinking steel load. Should work with a 150 grain as well. I thought about changing the factory front bead into a post ( the front bead completely covers the 24X24” orange metal plate at 200 yards) but instead elevate my rear sight just a notch or 2 from max. elevation and put the front bead at a 6 o’clock hold. Works well.

[PAndy]

H-4895 powder works well in my Winchester. I start 165 gr cast with about 21 grains of powder. Can work up a couple more grains if needed for accuracy. I have also heard of folks using 15-16 grains of 4198. These are a little powder position sensitive, so handle the rifle (within reason) the same each shot...most guys tip the barrel up a little when they chamber a round.

[mattw]

My goto load for the 31141 pc'ed is 25.2 H4895 for an average of 1703 fps. Very accurate load for me out of a mid 70' model 94. I am afraid I do not load any that low and slow and if it has a gas check shank, it gets used.

[dale2242]

What smkummer said.
10 gr Unique with 311291 is very accurate out of my 14" contender barrel.
We have shot it to 300 yds.
It takes a lot of hold over but could hit a 24" saw blade with some regularity.

[NapalmCheese]

I use 5.6 grains of Red Dot for 1050 fps with plain based 165 grain RNFPs from Missouri Bullet Company (Magma molds).

I've not tried 200 yards, but I've shot plenty at 100 yards with good results.

[Terminatorret]

Ditto, Napalm...I shoot the same bullet over 5.5 grains of Red Dot and I chrono'd 1090 fps out of my 22" barrel Savage 340E. To push a 193gr bullet at the same velocity, I use 6.1 grains. These are my go-to loads.
I won't ever have a 200 yard shot in these parts.