Contender 30-30 Boolits ( PLEASE read disclaimer )

[shooterchris]

http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z336/chriskmelzer/3030.jpg

Disclaimer: Do Not attempt to use this type of bullet design in any firearm with a tubular magazine. Doing so can can cause personal injury and dammage to the firearm. This is why I posted this in the single shot forum. I am not trying to insult anyone's intelligence, just being responsible. Also, the listed loads are test loads and they are my starting loads. Please do thorough research before developing a load.

I have a T/C contender in a 30-30 rifle. I went through a few recievers and found a good fit to the barrel with proper headspace. Barrel twist is 1/10. The throating in the factory barrel allows for me to seat the bullets out so that I have proper bullet fit.

The bullet on the left is a LBT 115gr in Lino. My trial loads are Re 15 30gr, 3031 28.5gr, and H4198 24gr.

The bullet on the right is a LBT 180gr in Lino. My trial loads are H4198 17gr, 3031 20.5gr, and H335 21gr.

Both of the bullets are gas checked. I gathered my load data by looking in Lymans 49th at similar weight bullets and reduced the loads to start. If any of you guys have ever had any experience with this type of loas/bullet combinations, I would appreciate any input. Thanks!

[45r]

I've tried my 23 inch 30-30 contender barrel with BRP's 173GC boolits seated out to engrave and they're going around 3/4 inch at 60 yards with 25 grains RE-7 and fed primers and no leading at all.This load gives good velocity with low pressure and clean burning.

[leadman]

I use 311041 with 28grs of H4895 in my 21" Contender. Also 314299, 200+ grs, with 11 grs of Unique.

[shooterchris]

Thanks for the info on the heavier bullet. Does anyone have any experience with a bullet in the 115gr range?

[pls1911]

I shot hundreds of rounds in IMHSA Silhouette matches using 25 to 26 grains Reloader 7 and either the Lymn 31141 173 grain gas checked bullet or the RCBS 165 SIL gas checked bullet.
My alloy was 50-50 pure lead and WW, and was heat treated to 22+Brynnell.
I never had a trace of leading, and velocity from the 16" pistol barrel ran 1800 to 1900 FPS.
I use similar loads with flat point bullets from Seaco, Lyman, RCBS, and Ranch Dog for hunting, and pick up roughly 150fps in a 24" rifle barrel

Regarding light bullets, I have a PILE of 115 grain gas checked bullets I use in 30-30 and .308 pushed by 10-15 grains of unique. It's accurate, plenty powerful enough for small game, and burns cleanly, though the elevation point of impact is significantly different.