Powder info

[Ronnie13]

I am about to reload some rounds for my 30-30 Marlin. I will be using 165 gr. cast lead bullets and W-748 powder. I can only find the powder info using jacketed bullets but I can't find anything regarding the powder with cast bullets. I know for jacketed bullets it calls for 32 gr. of podwer but where should I start for the cast bullets? Any help would greatly be appreciated! Thanks, Ronnie

[wiljen]

The reason you haven't found data for win748 with cast bullets is that ball powders typically don't reduce well and as such it is not one of the better choices for use with cast bullets in the 30-30. You might be able to get it to work by using fillers to take up the airspace between a lower charge and the bullet base, but other powders are much easier to work with in this role.

May I suggest getting either a pound of 2400 or unique as both have a lot of utility in cast rifle loads and will serve you well.

[frnkeore]

You don't say if they have GC's or how hard they are. If they are at least 12 BNH with GC's and your looking for higher velocity hunting loads, drop at least 4 gr and work up in .5 gr increments.

Frank

[Ronnie13]

How can I tell if they are gas checked bullets?

[frnkeore]

If they have a GC, it will show as a copper colored base on the bullet. if they don't have that, you'll be limited to about 1500 fps and 2400, 4759, 4227 or Unique will work best.

Frank

[RayinNH]

Ronnie apparently you purchased the boolits. They'll have little copper butt covers on them...Ray

[Ford SD]

I am about to reload some rounds for my 30-30 Marlin. I will be using 165 gr. cast lead bullets and W-748 powder. I can only find the powder info using jacketed bullets but I can't find anything regarding the powder with cast bullets. I know for jacketed bullets it calls for 32 gr. of podwer but where should I start for the cast bullets? Any help would greatly be appreciated! Thanks, Ronnie

The RCBS Book # 1 has some Loads for 30-30

150g 30-150-fn 748 powder
using CCI 250 mag primer
Start 30.0g 1902 fps Max 32.0 2054 fps

the next in the book is the
30-180sp & 30-180-fn --180g
using CCI 250 mag primer
Start 28.0g 1762/1818 fps Max 30.0 18561963 fps

but depending on your twist 748 might be too fast FPS wise to get good accuracy

[stubshaft]

15.0 grs of 2400.

[JohnnyFlake]

For 30-30 Winchester

My Lyman 49th Edition shows a load for a 170gn #2 Alloy bullet. 2.521 OAL

The starting load for #748 powder is 23.8gn at 1604fps and the max load is 37.3gn at 2355 fps

I hope this info helps

[TXGunNut]

For 30-30 Winchester

My Lyman 49th Edition shows a load for a 170gn #2 Alloy bullet. 2.521 OAL

The starting load for #748 powder is 23.8gn at 1604fps and the max load is 37.3gn at 2355 fps

I hope this info helps

Not sure he has a GC, pretty sure he'll need one for those loads.

[Ronnie13]

Thanks for all the advice guy's. I think that I will save the W-748 for loading jacketed rounds and switch to Unique for the cast bullets (no GC). I'm thinking that 10 grains would be a good load? they are 158 gr. non gas check bullets with a burrnell rating of of 18. What do you guy's think? 10 grains?

[wiljen]

I'd start at 8 for plinkers - 10 for hunting.

[Wolfer]

With the micro grove barrel and plain base boolits you will have to use a fast powder, I've used unique and clays. If you start low and work up you will know when you pass max cause your groups will go from 2" to 20" or bigger. You may be amazed how well and pleasent these loads are to shoot.

[Ronnie13]

So would 8 grs. of Unique be good? These will not be hunting loads but target loads. Thanks, Ronnie

[Wolfer]

I can't remember what my unique but I think around 7 or 8 grs. If its too much groups will be all over the place. 10 grs is very accurate in my 8 mm Mauser with an unchecked 175 gr but I think 10 was too much in my 30-30. Can't remember, it's been awhile since I've played with plinking loads.

Right now I'm shooting 17 grs of 2400 behind the Lyman 311041 which weighs in at 177 gr for about 1700 fps. I still have a few of Meister's 165 plain base a friend gave me, I should play with em a little I guess.

By the way you will need to flare your case mouth to load cast. I only throw this in because when I first started I didn't know it.

[Lucas]

I am in the middle of load development for a 30-30 model 788 bolt action. I am using a Lyman mould, 173gr FP with gas check, sized to 0.308, Alox lube. Best so far was 29 grains of W748 with full length sized cases. Next round will be testing 28.5, 29, and 29.5 grains, neck sized cases. I thought W748 was suited for 30-30. No chrony at this stage, as I am still trying to hone in on the most accurate load.

[Ronnie13]

Wolfer, how do you flare your case mouth? My pistol dies do this automaticly but my 30-30 die does not, at least that I know of. Please explain... Thanks P.S. My dies are Lee brand.

[excess650]

You'll need a Lyman M-die or something similar to flare the neck enough to allow the boolit to start without shaving. Too, I hope that your boolits are .310" or larger.

Try Unique at 8gr and work up 1/2gr at a time looking for accuracy or lack of....pistol primers with pistol powder. I'm using WLP in my 30-30 Red Dot loads.

[Wolfer]

I use the lee universal case expanding die, or I think that's what it's called. Lyman makes one called the M die but their caliber specific and a lot more expensive. My lee works fine.

When you flare the case it needs to be just big enough but no more

[crappie-hunter]

If everything else is right, bullet fit ,bullet hardness, good lube I use LBT ,Then you can run a 30/30 full throttle jacketed data with 748 and get excellent results. I use Ranch Dog 30 cal. mold sized .311 in a remington 788 excellent accuracy and no leading. havent run it over the crono yet .

[Ronnie13]

My cast bullets are .309 Will this work in my 30-30?

[Lucas]

Ronnie,
As mentioned in a previous post, the 30-30 Lyman M die works well. Chamfer the inside of the neck and you shouldn't get lead shaving. Just barely flare the neck with the M die so that the base sits in.

Crappie Hunter,
What load of W748 do you use? I use 29gr so far.

[Lucas]

slug your barrel to check proper fit of bullet. I size mine to .308 as it drops from my mould at 0.309

[popper]

My marlin 336 MG likes 311. Yours probably will also. Stay with the Unique (7-8) loads on that plain base CB. You can use needle-nosed pliers to bell the mouth, but an M die works better, I have the Lee universal but don't use it much anymore. Your regular size /decapper die will probably work fine with the 309 bullets. Get some copper chore-boy and don't expect great accuracy from the 309 CB!

[Ronnie13]

I have not made up a load yet but was advised that W748 was not a good choice because you would need a filler. Do you use a filler? I would like to hear some thoughts on this but I do have some Unique just in case. What do you mean by slug your barrel? I hope that the .309 bullets will work okay as I just ordered a 1000 of them! I'm kinda worried...

[Wolfer]

I haven't shot a lot of the 309-165 gr plain base but accuracy was great and I had no leading problems. My barrel slugs 308
This forum is a veritable storehouse of knowledge but some of the advice your getting here is for gas checked boolits.

[Ronnie13]

Thanks Wolfer. Ronnie

[Lucas]

The best thing to do is to pick up the latest Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 4th edition. $20 dollar investment in this book will save your life. In it, will be loads for the 30-30. DO NOT load W748 under minimum ever. It also lists Unique and other powders for cast bullets. The other positive of this book is it has given me many hours of enjoyment reading which resulted in cash being injected into our economy as we buy more and more moulds and some other tools of the trade. Enjoy. Most of all be safe and have the latest reloading manuals on your shelf.