Who has taken big game with the Lee 309-170?

[pls1911]

In Marlins or Winnies any of the popular cast designs from 150 through 180 grains will perform fine at 1800fps +/-.
I am referring to the designs from RCBS, Lyman, Lee, Ranch Dog/NOE, or Seaco.
I have mostly Marlin 1893s, 36s, as well as Ballard and Micro Grooved 336s.
I shoot GAS CHECKED soft bullets (as cast around 10 bhn) then heat treated to around 18 bhn,
Bullets placement at or near the neck/spine/shoulder junction have yet to have any deer or pig fail to fall in their shadow.

[sloughfoot]

It is thors hammer on deer and hogs!

[nidrab]

Congratulations!

[Abert Rim]

Well done, Sloughfoot!

[Thumbcocker]

It is thors hammer on deer and hogs!

Nice longhead!

[30calflash]

I have not taken a deer with that bullet it sure does the damage on Quill pigs and feral cats ! Testing shows that my load pretty much works the same as a jacketed factory load in the 30-30.
I cast the bullet dead soft ,spray paint it with enamel paint then bake at 400 degrees with gas check the bullet weighs 184 grains .
I use IMR-3031 to propel it to 2040 f/s and get groups under two inches at 100 yards from a 1953 Marlin 336 (scoped) .

firefly1957, can you add more about the spray painting and baking for your cast? Paint brand/color, time and temp in the oven, what type of oven, finished diameter, etc. It could be a less involved way to try in lieu of jumping in on PC, or easier for a small volume sample to try out.

[sloughfoot]

Another victim of the Lee 170 RNFP

[petroid]

Just got to thinking that I can't recall reading any stories of hunters killing their deer, bear, etc, with this fine gas-checked boolit. They come out at 178 grains checked from my range scrap alloy.

I've killed close to a dozen deer with that exact bullet. Not out of a 30-30 but a 300BLK at around 1700fps It does just fine if you put it in the right spot. I keep my shots under 100 yards, your max range is up to you. Good Hunting

[hawkeye1]

That 170 grain Lee bullet was my go to in my older Winchester 30-30 with H4895. Shot plenty of deer with it til I moved to a Remington 243. Still use it occasionally. And contrary to popular belief these days, still kills deer dead. Great bullet!

[pls1911]

I’m a bit late to this thread.
I must respectfully and profoundly disagree with mnewcomb59 regarding velocity hardness, and tracking.
The Lee mentioned, along with comparable gas check designs from Ranch Dog/NOE, RCBS, Lyman, Saeco and others will drop deer and hogs in their own shadow EVERY time with proper bullet placement… shoulder spine cross roads from any practical angle inside 100 yards.
Hardness doesn’t make much difference as long as it performs well in your gun.
My random alloy casts around 12 bhn, is then heat treated to around 20-25 bhn, checkers doubled with whatever is in the machine.
Else where I posted a good record of performance with a Marlin 36… six pigs in about 90 seconds.
Five DRT, one nicely rolled on a dead run. If the shooter does his part, the 30/30 is indeed a cooperative and productive old friend.
If you can’t place your shot, don’t pull the trigger.