30-30 Plinker

[pete501]

Well I like the idea of shooting the 30-30 reduced loads and the use of plain based bullets. Mostly because it is (I am) cheap and fun.

I loaded some 140 flat point plain base with some pull down with label reading "Military Surplus Gunpowder NM-04 lot 92-3". It is suposed to be a Bullseye equivalent. 5.5 grains gave a chrono reading of 850 fps. Recoil is nil and the noise is like a 22 lr. I will take it to the range on Wed for a accuracy test.

The next bullet I'll try is some that a buddy picked up. They are 89 grain .309" round nose. Shouldn't be much more weight than a round ball.

[caseyboy]

My silhouette load for chickens and pigs is the 311291, no GC and 9.5 grains WSF. Turkeys and rams is 311291 with a GC, 15.0 grains of IMR4227 and a Dacron filler. Both are accurate and I haven't lost a ram yet.

[Outpost75]

Two bullets from Accurate I've had cut for the .30 calibers are a snug fit in the .30-30 throat, but chamber easily in soft 8-10 BHN alloy, engraving the front end like Eley Tenex in your favorite .22 target rifle. Use 4-5 grains of Bullseye. with the 125-grain and 5-6 grains with the 155-grain.

Increase charges up to one grain, as needed for best accuracy in the .30-40 Krag or .308 and up to 2 grains in the .30-'06.

Attachment 132285Attachment 132286

[TXGunNut]

Wow, 9 yr old zombie thread! I had a box of half-jacket Speer 100 grainers once but I didn't understand the plinker concept at the time. Bullet left the muzzle of my 30-06 at some ungodly velocity and after connecting with a crow it takes awhile for all the feathers to settle. That's all we found, BTW.

[Rattlesnake Charlie]

I have one of the original Winchester .30 W.C.F SR molds. Has anyone any actual experience with it? I would like to pursue it from both a practical plinking round to following a historical perspective.

This is from The .30-30: A Historic Overview by 30 WCF on Sponsors of Leverguns.Com:

In December of 1896, the first .30 W.C.F. “Short Range” cartridge appeared. The cartridge illustration was shown as the .30-6-100 since the cartridge contained a 100 gr. lead bullet and 6 grains of powder. It was described as “for small game where the more powerful cartridge is not necessary". It effectively gave .32-20 performance.

Winchester recognized the benefit and increased versatility that a factory loading for small game would offer, since the average family would have to sacrifice at least a month’s pay to buy just one rifle, and that one rifle was just about all that most families could afford. With his or her magazine full of these .30 W.C.F. “Short Range” rounds, hunters could use their big game rifles to harvest turkeys, squirrels and other small game animals with no meat loss. Then, if bigger game was expected to be encountered, a quick change to the standard .30 W.C.F. cartridge would handle that situation.

A few months later, Marlin followed suit with their .30-30 MARLIN SMOKELESS “Short Range” cartridge made by U.M.C.

In 1904, Winchester increased the lead bullet weight from 100 to 117 grs. and the following year, they also offered a 117 gr. soft point and a 117 gr. full metal patch version.

These “Short Range” cartridges were easily identified as having a cannelure part way down the case neck. Originally, it was used to keep the soft lead bullet from being pushed into the case under spring pressure while in the magazine. It was not needed with the metal patched bullets, but was retained to distinguish them from the full power .30 W.C.F. cartridges which looked similar.

[HRTIRE]

Having fun plinking with my marlin 336 30-30 4 grains universal
Notes 1: 95 lee sized 309 then powder coatedNotes 2:
Distance to Chrono (FT): 5.00
Ballistic Coefficient: 0.125
Bullet Weight (gr): 95.000
Temp: N/A
BP: N/A
Shots
# FPS FT-LBS PF
11 1101 255.75 104.60
10 1092 251.58 103.74
9 1040 228.19 98.80
8 1043 229.51 99.08
7 1038 227.32 98.61
6 1035 226.01 98.32
5 1089 250.20 103.46
4 1044 229.95 99.18
3 1058 236.16 100.51
2 1049 232.16 99.65
1 1033 225.13 98.14
Average: 1056.55
StdDev: 25.15
Min: 1033
Max: 1101
Spread: 68
True MV: 1061.35
Group Size (IN): 3.93



4 inch square This is a lee 6 cavity mold for a 32 colt pistol sized to .309 powder coated. You need to let the powder coat cure for a few days before shooting.

[castalott]

HRTIRE...That is exactly the speed I like my plinkers to be. Just under the speed of sound is easy on the ears and the pocketbook.
My favorite powder is the discontinued 452AA. ( WST is supposed to be the replacement and it's ok.) I also like WSL and WSF. I am luckier with Winchester powders I guess...

My favorite plinker boolet is the 311410. It doesn't make the best groups but with a BC of .240(?) it will hang out a long ways. You might be surprised what you can hit at 250-300 yards (with adjustable sights).

Dale

[HRTIRE]

I like casting 6 at a time. This the only reason I chose the colt 32 lee mold . It has been fun. I have the lee soup can 110 grain as well and the 150 lee, 180 rcbs, noe 153 ht, but i just love to pull the trigger, so 6 cavity and cheap.

[castalott]

Is the noe 153 the one without grease grooves...ie for coating?

[HRTIRE]

Is the noe 153 the one without grease grooves...ie for coating?

Yes , i do not use it on the 30-30 , I use it on a 308 win, I use dry powder coat, bake 400 for 10 min, quench, size to 309 and let cure for a few days before shooting. They shoot really good between 1800 and 1900 fps. I am trying baking twice to harden the powder coating.

[castalott]

Did you mike the slug as it came out of the mold? I am curious what the nose rider is....

So sorry for the thread drift.... Dale

[45-70 Chevroner]

This thread has been resurrected twice since March of 2006. It truly is a fun topic though. I like shooting those little .310 round balls and at about 33 grains each makes a big savings on lead. 3 grains of Bullseye pumps them out at around 800 fps from my 30-30 14" Thompson Contender. I have tried them in my 25" 30-30 Winchester but the velocity drops off some, probably because of the long barrel and that small powder charge, too much drag I guess.

Addition! I am using 33 caliber balls from my 6 cavity Lee buckshot mold. When I seat them I don't flair the case mouth and in the process it cuts a little ring of lead off the ball. I'm just assuming that the ball is .310 but they shoot great out to about 25 yards.