30-30 CB loads needed

[Loki610]

I have a 1971 Winchester 94 and I just ordered mold C309-150-F from lee! Cant wait to try it but I cant find much reloading info!
I'm looking for a recipe maybe 1500fps max, this is my moms tractor gun while feeding cows and is used for less than 100yard coyote shots. Recoil is a big issue for her due to her arthritis.
Also I haven't slugged the bore yet but what size is common? I'm assuming .309

[jimkim]

Alliant Unique
7.5gr@1333fps
11.0gr@1691fps

Alliant red Dot
6.8gr@1257fps
9.0gr@1481fps

[EDK]

Do a search on this site for gmdr...reducd loads in many calibers...lots of data.

Most people seem to favor sizing to .311. I have both micro-groove and ballard rifled MARLINS in 30/30. You could also seat the gas check, dip or tumble lube and shoot as cast.

:Fire::cbpour::redneck:

PS it doesn't take many shots to smarten up the coyotes. They'll find something safer to bother than the calves. They can get smart about how far your rifle will reach too. I surprised a few when I went from a 44 magnum to a .308.

[pmer]

http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

Here is a site that has some reduced load data. This is where I got some data using Bullseye for the 32 Winchester. I suppose you know you need special care loading pistol powder in rifle cases because it's very easy to double charge a case.

I keep my cases upside down when they are the load block and when I charge a case, I seat a boolit immediately before I put it down.

[izzyjoe]

them coyotes can be pretty sneeky, but i'd try 10gr of unique. i ain't had one critter complain bout that load yet!!

[lbaize3]

I am using that boolit with 25 grains of BL-C2 and a mag primer. Accurate, low recoil and in the velocity range you suggested....

[Loki610]

thanks for the ideas, now I need to track down a pound or two of unique!

[Boondocker]

A pound of Unique goes a long way with lots of fun.

[popper]

Also could look into the 110 gr FN jacketed or plated bullets with Unique. Recoil is like a 22LR and 2K fps.

[7of7]

I swage a jacketed flat tipped hollow point for my 30-30... I use 35 grains of BLC2, and the recoil isn't bad at all.. higher velocity than the heavier bullet, with less recoil..
The point is the same diameter as a primer, and the lead angles back into the hollow so, any contact will be on the edges of the primer..
I do like a 130 gr rn over 8-10 grains of Unique too.. can shoot that one all day long.. Recoil?? not much.. I'd have to say about like a .357 magnum.. (I have a 94 .357)
Favorite primers... CCI

[GREENCOUNTYPETE]

my target load is 18.5gr of H4895 with a lee c309-170rf

i don't use a gas check , boolits are cast in WW+tin just enough that they fill out decent
air cooled , and tumble lubed and shot unsized , they drop from the mold at .310

recoil is almost nothing

very easy on brass , you hardly have to size them back down at all.

i fire them from a beat up old marlin of the same vintage as your moms Winchester

look in the Lee 2nd edition reloading manual there is a hole section on reduced loads for the 30-30


I have tried from 14.7 to 21.1gr at 14.7 they shot great 25 yard groups , but were dirty it took 16 gr to clean it up and accuracy fell off above 20 gr

[gnoahhh]

I would also suggest trying some SR-4759. It'll give you the energy level you're looking for and is bulky enough to allow easy confirmation of powder level in charged cases. Probably somewhere around 12-15 grains will do the trick for you, but double check the load data with a reliable resource. It is my go-to powder for most cast bullet work in a .30/30.

[rintinglen]

Unique is fine, but I also like 2400. 15.5 grains of 2400 with a 155 grain boolit (I use the 311-466) will be right in the ballistic ball park and may be a hair more accurate. 17.5 grains of 2400 gets me right at 1800 fps, and is my chicken, pig, and turkey silhouette load.

[Larry Gibson]

Unique will be the powder of choice for the 150 gr bullet at 1500 fps or so. Using 9.5 - 10 gr will give very good results, will be fairly position insensitive and shouldn't need a filler or wad for most shooting. 2400, 4227, 5749, 4198 and 5744 will not burn efficiently until a much higher velocity is reached with that light of a cast bullet, even when a filler is used. Been there, done that with all those powders with the RCBS kissing cousing of the Lee bullet....the 30-150-FN.

Larry Gibson

[Loki610]

All right I got the unique powder, even though the sales guy at Wholesale Sports swore he didn't have any (right behind him on the shelf) No one in town has gas checks so I'll have to order some of those in! I've never worked with gas checks, do they need to be crimped on with the sizing die, or just firmly pressed in place?

[Larry Gibson]

They need to be seated (that's the "pressed firmly in place" part) if they don't slip on and bottom out before running them and the bullet through the silzer (that's the part that will size and crimp the GCs on).

Larry Gibson

[jlchucker]

Also could look into the 110 gr FN jacketed or plated bullets with Unique. Recoil is like a 22LR and 2K fps.

Why screw around with J-word projectiles? Ever hear of the Lyman 311008 or the Lee soupcan? Get a mold, make some of these up, and you'll be a much happier shooter. Plus, those little cast 120 grain boolits can, in a pinch, pop off a close-up whitetail just as easy as they are able to perforate a beer can at plinking ranges. :lovebooli

[Boerrancher]

I know it is a bit hotter than what you are looking for, but the recoil is still pretty mild. My Mod 94 really likes both the 150 and 180 gr gas checked bullets with 30 grains of IMR4064. I have had no problems wacking deer and coyotes out to 150 yards, and even with the iron sights both loads shoot sub MOA groups at 100 yards. The 150gr load has about as much recoil as a 223 Rem round.

Best wishes,

Joe

[dmdracer]

Years ago when I started to load "cast" I purchased some 150 gr boolits from a company that sales them and asked what reduced load do they recommend.

He said 11 gr of 4756 was there accuracy load and that it won some type of competion in there state.

I started with 10 gr @ approx 1400 fps, it shot under 3" @ 100 and was very mild recoil and my wife enjoyed shooting the 30 30.

I have used this load since.

Hope this helps

Dave

[stronics]

Another one for the Unique powder. I use it at 7.5 gr. with the RCBS 150 and it will cut clover leafs at 50yd.
David

[jimkim]

I forgot all about this one. This is from the 2004 Alliant powder handbook.
This is a silhouette load. 30-30 152gr Cast Lead, Blue Dot 13.0gr, 1525fps, 29,000CUP. In my 1970 336 I use bullets sized to .312".

[Loki610]

I'm still waiting on my package from the US with my molds and dies for the 30-30, I cant wait till it gets here! I'll be plugging in the 4-20 as soon as I see the mailman coming down the block!
Managed to find some once fired Remington brass locally as well as a 100rnds of 110grain HP and RCBS dies for 303 british, all for $60
Now I guess I better slug the old martini, who knows what diameter a 1890's barrel will be!

[Old Coot]

Loki 610: you asked about gas checks, and how to use them. Just snap them (or press them) on the base of the bullet before sizing and run the checked bullet through the sizing die. That should seat and crimp the check without problem. If the checks come off send the mold back to the manufacturer it is out of tolerance.
Brodie

[popper]

You can also put the GC on by going into the sizer GC first, crimps it but doesn't resize the nose so you can use 'as cast'. You will want to size your sizer for your slugged barrel. 400 emery on a dowel run slow.

[Loki610]

Got my newest order of molds yesterday! and the gas checks arrived this morning. Got some .30's cast but I still need to measure the cast diameter before attempting to seat or size anything!
And of course I totally forgot to pick up a cast neck expanded and case length guage!:mad:

[popper]

Case gauge isn't a requirement. You could turn down the 303 plug for your 30-30 cast. It should be .310, you probably need .308.

[Loki610]

Ok the as dropped cast .30's came out at .312, my gas checks from Dragonlube fit perfectly and I sized/crimped down to .311
My 000 buck mold dropped at an almost perfect .358, perfect for my .38 special!

I think I'm having more fun playing with the dies and molds than I am actually shooting them!

[pmeisel]

Loki, a lot of us run into that. I need to plan to shoot some more so I can load again....

[pls1911]

The above mentioned loads will work well.....I've tried most of 'em noted with Unique and 2400..
I'll add one more to the mix... 25 grains of Reloader 7... easy and accurate for any cast weight between 150 and 190 grains.
My slugs are cast soft, heat treated hard, and hold together very well.
Hell on pigs...