Any pre-64 '94 specific cast load worries?....

[mtngunr]

I just bought a nice '61 vintage 94, and was wondering if there were any specific concerns with gun design or twist for cast loads? Seriously considering making it a dedicated cast shooter to prolong its life...which is silly, since it will outlast me by a wide margin already, but there you have it....mainly looking for Winchester specific success stories in cast bullet loading adventures, if you have any you'd care to share........and I'll be gone Weds/20th until after the New Year, so if you reply, check back after then and you'll see I haven't been ignoring you all this time....and thank you, with wishes for a Christmas filled with deep peace to all of you....

[NickSS]

I have used Lyman 31108 115 gr. PB, Lee 309-179 FP GC, and Lyman 311041 FP GC bullets in my 94 winchester. I have had good luck with all of them. I use Red Dot, Unique, IMR 4198 and AA 5744 primarily for my cast loads. I have had good results with the light 32=20 bullet loaded with either red dot or unique around 5 to 7 gr. Also I use either of the heavier bullets with all the powders. For plinking I use the Shotgun powders in the 8 to 10 gr range. The other powders are used for higher velocity loads in the 1800-2000 fps. You can find suitable loads in either lyman or Accurate loading manuals. My rifle can shoot under two MOA with several loads but this does not mean the same ones with work in yours so start low and work up to see what you can do with your rifle. I have even used a full power load of H335 with the Lee boolit with good results at nearly 2200 fps.

[JDL]

My '58 model has had Lyman's 311316, 31141, 311466, RCBS 30-180 FNGC, NEI 308 150 GC, and LBT 310165 fired in it. Powders have vaired from as little as 6 grains of Unique to a high of 35 grains of H-414 for different applications and all have performed satisfactory for their intended purpose. -JDL

[Newtire]

I have had similar experiences as everyone already posted and to add one thing, the little Lyman 311352 (.32 pistol) boolit didn't feed reliably is all I ever found on the down side. A receiver sight helped my groups.

[w30wcf]

mtngnr,

Your gun will be right at home with factory duplication handloads. My dad's .30-30 '94 is a pre WWII carbine and I have shot a few thousand rounds of factory equivalent cartridges topped with cast bullets with no problems whatsoever.

Favorite factory duplications loads are:
150 RCBS G.C. Lyman No. 2 or Lino - 35 grs./ 748 / WLR
160 LBT G.C. Lyman No. 2 or Lino - 34 grs. / 748 / WLR
311291 & 311041 - W.W. + 2% tin Heat Treated 36 grs. / H414 / WLR
180 RCBS G.C. - W.W. + 2% tin Heat Treated 36 grs. / H414 / WLR

Enjoy your new rifle! :Fire:

w30wcf

[felix]

Stay with factory pressure as indicated (or even 5 percent less) by posts so far to keep your gun as delivered to you. ... felix

[corvette8n]

1951 Win 30-30
.309/150 Lee mold
gc/tumble lubed
8.0gr Unique
nice plinking load

[cropcirclewalker]

I had some recomendations and data, but my '94 is only a '68.

:(

There are plenty of other threads, I guess, that I can contribute to.

:roll:

[C1PNR]

I had some recomendations and data, but my '94 is only a '68. :( :roll:
Well, mine's only a '70! So what are you shooting that I should try?:drinks:

[cropcirclewalker]

7.4 gr Trail Boss under a 31141.

Less than 1100 fps.

I am doing something wrong, maybe in the casting, maybe in the seating.

I shoot 3 round groups.......50 yds. Off sandbags.

Without exception........2 rounds touch and the third is a flier like 1 1/2" away.

Doesn't matter what is the sequence, sometimes 1 and 2 touch and 3 flies or

sometimes 1 and 3 touch with the 2nd flying.

sometimes 1 flies and 2 and 3 touch.

Maybe I have voids in my boolits.

Sorry if this is thread drift. Youse guys with the pre '64s can talk among yourselves. :roll:

[biggome]

My well worn '57 M94 has had less than a box of factory ammo through it in the 15+ years I have had it. The 311041 and 311291 with various powders work well as does the Lee 113gr flat point.

I am in on the 150 grain plain based group buy if it ever gets here, I hope to be able to get 1500 fps out of it using bluedot without leading in my less than perfect bore.

I was most impressed with the little Lee bullet over 14.5 grains of Herco which is fairly quiet and gave me a 5" 10 round group @ 200 yards with extreemly close velocity readings, shotgun powder and tumble lube bullets are not supposed to be that consistant, you never know till you try.

Paul

[mtngunr]

Sorry if this is thread drift. Youse guys with the pre '64s can talk among yourselves. :roll:

No problem on the drift....was mainly wondering if some of the post '64 changes made for any problems with cast bullets, what with lifter changes etc.......and I much appreciate all the replies everyone took pains to make.....there's a buncho .30-30 queries here and most info could probably be gleaned from those replies, but nice to know nothing new about an older gun......

[fiberoptik]

Mine is marked '43 on the bottom of the barrel. But I haven't reloaded (or even shot) mine yet, so I can't chime in on loads. I'm interested in the same, also squib loads. (I live in the city!)[smilie=1: :Fire: [smilie=1: :Fire: :drinks:

[mtngunr]

Mine is marked '43 on the bottom of the barrel. But I haven't reloaded (or even shot) mine yet, so I can't chime in on loads. I'm interested in the same, also squib loads. (I live in the city!)[smilie=1: :Fire: [smilie=1: :Fire: :drinks:

I have yet to put a cast load through it, but have put about 5 boxes of Super-X Silvertips and Powerpoints through it....those Limbsaver slip-on pads are great stuff when benching a light and lively little rifle off a bedroll....this one seems to shoot quite well, and I am getting 1" and less at 50yds with both style bullets in both 150gr and 170gr...and that's about the limits of my eyes getting along with open sights...managed to squeeze of a few 5rd groups that were 3/4"@ 50yds, but that's a red-letter day for my middle aged myopia and bedroll blasting...