Cast Bullets in T/C Contender .30-30

[barefooter175]

I am looking for information on good cast bullets for the .30-30 Win. out of a 14" Contender barrel. I have been shooting some cowboy action CB loads and they are on the mild side. Beside being a flat nose bullet, I think I can do better with cast spitzers in the 150-170 gr. range.

What can you share with me? I am willing to purchase a mould and sizing die to get the .30-30 shooting to its cast bullet potential.

Thanks,
James

[TCLouis]

RCBS 150 FN GC or the 3 crimp groove GB mold may serve your purposes. if you are banging steel you may want to go up 20-30 grains in boolit weight.

The 30 Cal 200 grain boolit may carry momentum better for the heavy steel critters way out there.

30-30 and cast boolits is a spring project for me along with the Herrett's (30 and 357)

[Jon K]

311291........

Jon

[stubshaft]

My standard load for a 10" Contender 30/30 is 24.0 RE7 behind a hardcast LBT 180gr spitzer loobed with LBT blue. I used this for years as my standing load and it brought me a fair numbers of championships.

[DragoonDrake]

Just one observation. In MY 30-30 barrel, I have to have the COL shooter than book stated min. This has led to some flatten primers at starting or just one grain under starting loads. I have used the LEE 120,150,170, and 200 grain pills. I have also, though not thoroughly, used the RCBS 150 and 180 SP's. The 200's have not done me well, but the 150-180 grain range shoots well and does take down steel.

Adam

[dale2242]

My 14" Contender likes 311291 with 10gr Unique as the best mild load. 32 gr BL-C2 for the best heavy load. I get no leading with 50/50 WW/Lino alloy and both loads are very accurate...dale

[Wayne S]

When I shot a 10" 30-30, I used 10.0 gn. of Unique & a pistol primer, [had SD & ES in single digit #] with the 31141, shot a lot on Intl.Std. scores with it, for more power same 31141 and 18.0 4198.
Today I'ld look at the NOE GB on the 165 RD FN or something like that
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=75612

[bobthenailer]

I dont have a 30/30 but i do have a 32/20 aka 30/20 ive had great results with the rcbs 165grgc sillewet bullet 1 1/4 - 25 shot composit group at 100 yards

[leadman]

I use the Lyman 311041, 175gr with my alloy with 28grs of H4895 in my contender. Usually moa at 100 yards.
Also the older RCBS 30-150-SP bullet does well and has a semi spitzer shape and lighter weight at150 grs.
Unique, Blue Dot, Surplus BW36, IMR 4198, H4895 all do a good well for me depending on the velocity I want.

[jhalcott]

You didn't say what TWIST your barrel has. MY 30-30 14" has a slow twist and my buddy has a fast twist in HIS 30-30 14" barrel. Both factory! This can and will make a difference in the weight of bullet the barrel will shoot accurately. I shot a 180 grain years ago. It wouldn't stay on a 2' target at 50 yards. 135's were very accurate though. I like a 150+ for hunting deer. Check your twist, THEN decide on bullet weight.

[pls1911]

As you have seen, the Lyman 301141 is popular and great, as is the RD 165. Both are great for hunting as well, though I like the larger ranch dog meplat better on hogs
I am VERY surprised no one has mentioned the RCBS 165 SIL for your purpose.
It's not appropriate for rifles, but for silhouette it performs a bit better on marginal Ram hits.

I've punched hogs with it too, but it's best on steel.
I recommend 24-25 grains of Reloader 7.
My alloy is 50-50 WW and Pb. Then heat treated to 21 +.
Very accurate and no leading.

[45r]

I just got a 23 inch barrel and it is shooting BRP's 173GC real good already with 25 grains RE-7.His molds are as good or better than any mold I've used.My 4 cav works great.

[barefooter175]

Thanks for all the information so far. I am taking notes. Please continue to share. I may have some specific questions that i may post to your responses.

James

[NHlever]

Spitzer cast boolits don't have the reputation for accuracy that their jacketed second cousin bullets do. Perhaps because the material used doesn't have the strength to support that shape under acceleration very well. I'm not sure, and I'm repeating wives tales here because I have never bought a spitzer mold, but that is what I hear.

[barefooter175]

In checking the Lyman chart, I see that most .30 cal. bullets are RN or FP. Maybe there's something to that wife's tale.

James





Spitzer cast boolits don't have the reputation for accuracy that their jacketed second cousin bullets do. Perhaps because the material used doesn't have the strength to support that shape under acceleration very well. I'm not sure, and I'm repeating wives tales here because I have never bought a spitzer mold, but that is what I hear.

[leadman]

Must be an old wife's tale. The 30-150-SP is not a true spitzer, more like a semi- spitzer. I can push it hard in my 14" contender 30-30AI with accuracy around 1" to 2" at 100 yards most days.

[NHlever]

Must be an old wife's tale. The 30-150-SP is not a true spitzer, more like a semi- spitzer. I can push it hard in my 14" contender 30-30AI with accuracy around 1" to 2" at 100 yards most days.

I was referring to the older cast spitzer boolit shapes. I have the RCBS 165 on order, and expect good results with that out of both my .308's, and 30-06's. The picture looks like it might be a bit too pointy for my tube feed guns.

[Larry Gibson]

Not an "old wife's tale". Cast spitzers (especially those with long ogives that are "pointy" and minimal bearing surface made to replicate milsurp FMJs) don't do well at HV. "Spitzers" (cast with pointy noses that have long bearing surfaces) can be made to shoot well in the 1500 - 1800 fps range and sometimes at higher velocity depending on the design and all other variables. A decent sesign out of a 14" 30-30 should get dcent accuracy without to much trouble.

Larry Gibson

[JSH]

14" TC 30-30
RCBS 165 Sil
FWFL lube
18-18.5 grains of SR4759
bullets are sized to fit the chamber, then seated to have a 0 bullet jump.

Shoots 1" or less at 100m for me

TC's are a whole different critter than a bolt or lever gun. IMHO anything that applies to a bolt or lever gun can be thrown out when talking break actions, as far as seating and brass sizing.

30-30 Marlin ballard rifled
Lee mold forget which one?? drops at around 170 out of my alloy and is a RN design
25 grains of AA2520
Sized .310
FWFL
it is also seated against the lands
jeff

[fryboy]

larry 's got it right , ( + 1 )

i have a spitzer boolit mold ...an olde ideal # 311-413 it does exceptionally well below 1400 fps or a shade lower yet goes to hades in a handbasket in a heckuva hurry any faster than that , it is indeed a true "pointy boolit " it also shoots well in a 308 or 30-06 IF shot at a lower velocity , i shot alot of 115-120ish grain old old lee 30 caliber plain based round noses with low charges for plinking , groups were always around 2" @ 100 yards (not to snabby for a plinking round IMHO ) the #311-041 i have does real well with 9.8 grains of unique , almost as good with 18. grains of aa5744 and am currently working up some loads with 2400 ( also using it for some lube test )