Real Life Uber Lite 30/30 Load Results

[jimwill48]

Last night was the 2nd time I've had to use my lite 30/30 loads on a live target. These were loaded for pest control. The load was a Berry .312 HBWC loaded over 3.0gr Bullseye, bullet seated even with the case mouth. Rifle used was a SS H&R M158 in 30/30 with open sights. My yard has a several fruit trees, one being a persimmon tree and it has become a possum magnet. They get in the tree to enjoy a free lunch and my black lab goes nuts until said possum is gone. Because of noise ( I do live in the country, but have neighbors within hearing range. I try to be good and keep noise to min) I developed this load. At distance of appox 20 yards this load will penetrate all the way thru the chest cavity or head. Possum's are tough critters and not at all that easy to kill but this load seems to do the job well.....

[Jack Stanley]

That load is plenty enough to get the job done on small critters and I'll bet it is eyeball accurate too . Fortunately for me the deer around here are happy to cleanup persimmons on the ground and don't get into the trees . Good thing too because a heavy fruiting season like this past year breaks branches .... just imagine deer in the trees he he he he

Jack

[Larry Gibson]

That is indeed an excellent load and it kills better than most would expect. I use a lot of Lee and Speer .32 swaged HBWCs over 2.7 - 3.2 gr Bullseye in my .30/.31 cal rifles for hunting rabbits and squirrels and for pest elimination. In the 30-30 I use 2.7 gr and the 90 gr HBWCs run 825 fps from my 24" barreled M94 and about 810 fps from the 20/21" barrels of my M94 Carbine and Contender. accuracy runs 1 - 2" (depends on sights) at 50 yards all day long. Little noise, no recoil and lots of fun....and deadly on small game. Thanks for the post, glad to see someone else is enjoying that level of load.

Larry Gibson

[bhn22]

Good thing too because a heavy fruiting season like this past year breaks branches .... just imagine deer in the trees he he he he
Jack

I just read a book about life in Maine that addressed a similar situation:
"Antlers in the Tree Tops", by "Who Goosed the Moose?"

Sorry.... cabin fever....

[atr]

very interesting,,,thanks for his post....I might try this
and I wonder how the .312 Berry (83gr?) would work in a .303?

[dbosman]

If your bore isn't way over sized, it should work fine.
This is one of those times when a trial pack of ten each of ten bullets styles and sizes would be a great value.

[Larry Gibson]

very interesting,,,thanks for his post....I might try this
and I wonder how the .312 Berry (83gr?) would work in a .303?

Try 3.2 gr Bullseye. That's what I use under a Lee TL314-90-SWC or the Hornady 90 gr SWC .32 swaged lead bullet in my .303.

Larry Gibson

[ditchtiger]

very interesting,,,thanks for his post....I might try this
and I wonder how the .312 Berry (83gr?) would work in a .303?

I've had good luck with 32 caliber pistol JHP in my Mosin's.
A lite load of powder and they make great pumpkin sploders.

[gwpercle]

Post us your favorite " possum" recipe. Persimmon fed ones should make delectible eating.
Gary

[sthwestvictoria]

I have used the Lee TL-314-90-SWC in my 1894, WW with 2%tin air cooled, sized .311 TL with Lee alox over 7.0grains trailboss. Emphatic humane kill on rabbits at 25 metres.

Thats the little load in my avatar.

[barrabruce]

My latest endeavour is to fire a 300136 150 gn bullet pp'ed to 309 (think bore rider with bullet with the driving bit bore size) over 1 grain bulleye.
Sound like a air rifle and is good to 25-30 yrds. I have to figure out how to glue the nose to the bullet but it sure is slow!!!!!!
I'd like a good 100 yrd rabbit load but 4gns bulleye under a normal150 will do it but they tend to travel to far for my liking. I know they work on "big rabbits" thou.


Hey sthwst vic how long is the driving diameter on that lee 90 grner???
I like to seat my bullets out so they can engrave for the best accuracy.
Barra

[TXGunNut]

Hey sthwst vic how long is the driving diameter on that lee 90 grner???
I like to seat my bullets out so they can engrave for the best accuracy.
Barra

Mine measures .350" boolit base to edge of driving band.

[barrabruce]

Thanks TXGun Nut I know now could just squeeze the end into the case without it falling out again.

[Forrest r]

Good info, been planning on picking up a 30-30 bbl for my contender. Already got the bullet made/swaged.

Cast a lee 311-93-1r & made a set of swaging dies for it to make hbwc's.

Attachment 90670

The 311-93-1r is a good plinking bullet that can easily be turned into a wc or hbwc

[EMC45]

I like the look of that HBWC! I have that mold too. It is a nice little bullet.

[scattershot]

Does anyone find it necessary to use a dacron filler with these tiny loads?

[rockrat]

Wonder how it would work if you reversed the boolit and used it hollow base toward the possum?

[C. Latch]

This is relevant to my interests. I want to start plinking with my 30-30. I was just tonight looking at the Lee 311-100-2r and thinking that a bullet like that would make a cheap practice load from a cheap mold.

[sthwestvictoria]

Does anyone find it necessary to use a dacron filler with these tiny loads?

No. Saying that I don't use filler for anything however certainly with fast pistol powder like bulls eye, universal or trail boss I believe the consensus is that no filler is used. I believe fillers get more use with moderate velocity powders - H4198, H4896 and slower.

[barrabruce]

I do use filler with small bulleye loads. it's helped for me with better grouping like in half.

One can only try and see which your gun prefers you to use.