Best boolit for .30-30 on Deer?

[FergusonTO35]

Hey guys. I am planning to use boolits in my Marlin Glenfield 30 for deer this year. This rifle has a 20" barrel with what looks like micro groove rifling, it doesn't say so on the barrel. I'm thinking a gas check 150 grain at 2,000 fps is what I need since this is pretty close to the 150 grain j-word slug at 2150 fps I've always used. Would the Lee 150 grain GC flat point be a good choice? What about powders? I use Varget in my j-word loads but it seems boolits would prefer something else. How about Accurate 5744 or Hodgdon 4895? These two seem to be quite favored for boolits in leverguns.

[Carolina Cast Bullets]

Give a look at Ranch Dog Outdoors 165 grain RNFLgc. Designed for the thutty thutty and according to him, it works.

www.ranchdogoutdoors.com

Jerry
Carolina Cast Bullets

[x101airborne]

my ballard marlin just loves the 160 ish Ranch dog air cooled 50 pure / 50 wheelweights. And it kills hogs well, but I have yet to drop a deer with it. I dont remember my charge, but I am using 4895 surplus with a .7 grain dacron filler and the ranch dog on top. The dacron is probably not needed, but that is what I was using during my last range session. I still have more testing to go.

[runfiverun]

i use the rcbs 150 fngc.
as long as the nose gently engraves the rifling,the body fills your groove diameter, the round dechambers,and the boolit has a flat nose you have a good boolit for the 30-30.
there is no reason that the varget you have now won't work at about the same load you use now.
michaels 165 is designed for the marlin rifles,so it would do the job too.
i am just not a fan of tumble lube designed boolits.

[btroj]

I have the RD 165 and the NOE version of same. I like how well they shoot. I prefer the traditional grooves of the NOE version.

It is just so easy to get it to shoot well.

Run have sound advice on how to get a rifle to like a bullet.

[Larry Gibson]

Fergusonto35

I use 2 different 150-155 gr cast bullets (RCBS 150 and a 150 gr GB WFN similar to the RD bullet) in my 30-30s but they are 12" twist. I push both to 2200 fps for hunting. Given the 10" twist of your Marlin MicroGroove barrel I'd suggest a heavier 170 - 190 gr bullet and keep the velocity down under 2000 fps for best accuracy. The 311041 at 177 - 180 gr and the RCBS 180 FN at 190 gr have always worked well in Marlins with MicroGroove and 10" twists best for me. All will kill deer just fine, it's a matter of which shoots the best at the highest velocity. Since 1950 - 2000 fps is about max velocity for best accuracy with 10" twists the heavier bullets get the nod from me. 26 - 28 gr H4895 will be a very good loa with the 311041 or the 180 FN.

Larry Gibson

[Hamish]

This is looking like one of the usual suspects:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=129155

Ferguson, I can't help but wince a little every time I see you post. A couple of years back I made the mistake of selling my '53 Massey Harris Ferguson TO35. Wut-uh-dunce.

[303Guy]

I'm a heavy boolit fan for better or worse (probably better in the Brit) but anyway, I found a load for 200gr j-word using W748 - 34grs and producing over 2200 fps. That seems a little hot. I'd personally be looking at a 200gr FN at 2000 fps or less - probably less and I'm not sure on the powder. It is 'similar' to Varget. I'd think Varget or H4350 would be good. H414 (W760) maybe? I don't have a 30-30 so I'm only speculating based on what I've read. No doubt a heavy boolit isn't the only way to go and perhaps a lighter and hense shorter boolit would reduce chamber pressure and allow for a dacron filler (whichs acts as a was and seems to protect plain boolit bases).

[leadman]

22,000 fps!!!!! 303guy tell us how you are getting that. Must be them propiratory downunder powders. LOL.

I shoot the 311041 at about 13grs on top of 28grs of H4895 and it shoots real well. Have carried it elk hunting in the junipers but so far have only dispatched jack rabbits and crows with it. Makes a mess of them.

[Gee_Wizz01]

Another vote for the RD 165. I also have both the real Ranch Dog and the NOE traditional groove version. Both work equally well and that large meplat works great on critters. When you hit a deer or hog they make a loud thwaaaak sound, that is unmistakeable. They both are extremely accurate in my rifles. Another boolit I get good results with in the .30-30 is the Lyman 311291 170gr RN. Yes the round is perfectly safe in a tubular magazine. The 311291 also shoots extremely well in my 30-06 giving 1 1/4" 10 shot groups at 100yds.

G

[chuck4570]

I have a glenfield model 30. I don't have a ranch dog (Noe) mold yet, but it shoots LBT 170GR. LCFN very accurate with 19GR. of 4759 for about 1850 fps. Expansion is excellent with A/C WW.

[Lonegun1894]

I have both the Lee 150grFNGC and the Lee 170grFNGC, and both work well pushed by smokeless level loads of 3031. The 170 is very slightly more accurate than the 150 in my Marlin, but only by about .5" at 100yds, so the only two reasons I use the 170gr over the 150gr are that I have more confidence in the 170gr and that I prefer heavier bullets for most uses. But I have no doubt that the 150 would work just as well on any deer as the 170, especially considering that most of our deer are on the small side.

[303Guy]

22,000 fps!!!!! 303guy tell us how you are getting that.No, not me. It's just a load I came across on the net. Probably a bolt gun? I wouldn't expect that from the Brit (although I have come close but with zero accuracy).

[nanuk]

303guy, what powder do you use suggest for that 22,000 fps? dynamite?

[Lonegun1894]

dynamite? We dont need no stinkin dynamite! Pass the C4 please? JK. Sorry, I'm sure it was a typo, but we gotta have some fun somehow...

As an aside, it the boolit velocity is 22,000fps, may I ask what the bolt velocity is? :kidding:

[runfiverun]

im gunna go with 6 sumthin.
might be 600 yds dunno.

[303Guy]

OK, OK. I've corrected the typo. :mrgreen: I was a bit slow yesterday!:???:
Not enough coffee in the morning. :coffeecom
I hope I didn't send someone out to try replicate that velocity!? [smilie=1:

[largom]

The Ranch Dog 165 and the Lyman 311041 both shoot great in my Marlins with Micro Groove. To be honest about it, my Marlins [have several} have been the easiest guns to work up good hunting loads for.

Larry

[white eagle]

I use the ranch dog with conventional lube grooves
and leverevolution powder and excellent combo :holysheep

[Lonegun1894]

303Guy,
I'm pretty sure we all knew it was a typo, but hope you understand that we just had to have our fun with it.

[41mag]

And here I was considering what to look for, to run out of my 14" 30-30 AI'ed
Tender barrel.

Heck even if I don't hit the top velocities the NOE looks like a winner, for both it and my Brit.

Thanks for the post and the link.

[303Guy]

... we just had to have our fun with it. Oh yes. One can't pass up a good opportunity like that. :mrgreen: :drinks:

[nanuk]

Never!

[MANGYCOYOTE]

Just yesterday I took 25, 26, & 27 grn of H4895 to the range with my first cast 30-30 boolits. At 100 yards my model 1894 Winchester is capable of minute of pie plate using Winchester 150 grn power point j-words. With the Lee C309-170-F and the 26 grn load (no dacron) I was really pleased to get a 2 3/4" 5 shot group! I plan on fine tuning that load and trying some dacron as well to see if there is any improvement. I'm guessing its about 1900 fps, anybody know for sure?

[Marvin S]

I have shot one medium size white tail with the RD and was completely satisfied with the performance. I don't tumble lube but use a lubrisizer instead.

[GooseGestapo]

I too have a Glenfield Mod30. Mine has the 3/4magazine.
Indeed they do have the Marlin Microgroove barrels.

I've been using the Lee 150gr FNGC since I was in college in the '70's.

I gave the original 1-cavity mould to my older brother. I now have a more recent 2-cavity version (the more the merrier!).

I also have the Lee 170gr FNGC mould, but prefer the 150 from the .30/30.

For a real hoot, tumble lube them and load them unsized w/o a gascheck over 7-8gr of Unique, RedDot, GreenDot, Universal, ect. It is a wonderful plinking load.

For full power loads, I've come to prefer Reloader15. I've loaded it as high as 32.0gr for over 2,200fps, but find that 30.0 is as good as it gets. Runs just about 2,100fps and is guilt-edged accurate with w/w with 3oz of 95/5 Tin-antimony solder added to 20lb pot. However, before switching to RL15, I used IMR3031 at 28.0-30.0gr. One deer I killed with a load of 31.0gr of IMR3031, the bullet fragmented and left a 5" gaping hole opposite the spine/shoulder. I was accused of shooting the deer with a .300winmag.... and lying about using a .30/30..... load chrono'd at 2,300fps and bullets were heat-treated w/w. Not really as accurate as the ligher loads... just all I had loaded when I gathered the rifle and ammo to go hunting that morning...

Do size them to 0.311". I've used SPG and 50/50 Alox with equal success.

Be sure to trim the cases to all the same length, use either a Lyman M-die or Lee Universal expander die to expand the cases. Crimp lightly with your usual seater/crimp die, or a Lee factory crimp die (I do), but crimp as a seperate operation from seating.

I've taken several deer and a ~200lb pig with my .30/30 and this bullet. I could do well without ever shooting another jacketed bullet though my .30/30..... In fact I seldom ever do anymore...

[DanWalker]

I shot the second warthog with a RD boolit in my 35 remmy. I'm sold on his designs!
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=135266&page=5

[Huntsman]

I'm shooting/loading the Lee 170gr fngc which is showing great promise so far. Sized to .309 they are quite accurate out to 100 yds @ 2100fps.

That Ranch Dog looks quite intriguing!!

[atr]

this is what I will be using on whitetail this year

[10x]

The Lee 150 grain flat point works just fine on Deer out to 150 yards. I cast mine a bit soft and only push them at about 1700 fps. Any faster and accuracy starts to fall off. Any harder and the bullet doesn't expand.
To me a bit soft is 5 lbs WW with 5 lbs pure lead and about 1/4 oz of tin.
Deer shot in the heart lung area, or in the spine or shoulder bones under 150 yards can not tell the difference between various bullet weights and fall down quickly.

[GabbyM]

RCBS 30-180-FN kills out of proportion to any expectation.

Especially when cast soft enough to expand a little. Which would be BHN *100 = velocity. Or another way of putting that is a BHN of 12 traveling over 1200 fps will expand a bit.

Issue with the RCBS30-180-FN bullet which is about 198 grains from WW alloy. 180 grains from Linotype. Is the long bore ride nose in lever guns. You need to check every bullet for function before going on a hunt. As the long nose can cause issue with chambering if it‘s the least bit oversized.

I’m on the list for the NOE copy of Ranch Dogs 30-30 bullet with conventional lube groves. Have noted RD now sells his bullet molds with conventional lube groves.
Plan to pack some Hodgdon Leverevolution powder under those in my 12 twist Win 94 to see how they scream and smack. Hodgdon list the 160 grain Hdy FTX at 2389 fps.

In the mean time I’m pretty happy with a Saeco 150 grain bullet at 1,900 fps cast of BHN #9 alloy. With only 2 ½ acres under grass surrounded by corn and beans here at the home place it reaches plenty far. As one garden raider coon discovered tonight as I retuned from my machine shop shift at midnight. Let’s just say you’d not use this load to collect fur hides for market.

I also have a Mountain Mold Custom bullet which is a copy of Lyman’s #311041 with dimensions of .312” body and a tapered bore ride of .301” in front to .302” above the .100” front band. Don’t have the rifle that fits anymore. However it is a great bullet in 7.62 x 54 Russian and the JAP guns. Been shot in both with great results.

I need to make a bullet nose cutter to turn the RCBS 30-180-FN bullet and my custom oversized bullet to .2995” bore ride diameter. My 94 is a tight fit for now. But I plan to open it up some with a few K rounds.

Best bullet is one that fits your gun to shoot accurate and is cast from the correct alloy. In 30-30 that’s between 150 and 200 gains depending upon your quarry. Not much reason to place a 200 gain bullet into an opossum when a 150 grain shoots faster and will expand better.

For a critter with a tough hide like Black Bear I’d use the RCBS 30-180-FN cast of BHN 15 alloy over HVR. With my 94 I can polish the nose until it slides into the muzzle end to make it fit the breach end.

[10x]

RCBS 30-180-FN kills out of proportion to any expectation.

Especially when cast soft enough to expand a little. Which would be BHN *100 = velocity. Or another way of putting that is a BHN of 12 traveling over 1200 fps will expand a bit.
Snip
For a critter with a tough hide like Black Bear I’d use the RCBS 30-180-FN cast of BHN 15 alloy over HVR. With my 94 I can polish the nose until it slides into the muzzle end to make it fit the breach end.

Our bears in Northern Alberta are not nearly as tough as yours. A 150 grain lee cast from a softer alloy will drop a black bear here with with one shot. That was way back in the early 1970s and was working for a bee keeper. There were some days we would shoot 2 or 3 bears that we found in demolished bee yards. At 20 to 40 yards the 150 grain lee worked just fine. At the time the company we worked for would give us $10.00 for every bear we killed in a bee yard with bear damage. Wages were $12.00 for a ten hour day then too. We would check every bee yard on the way to and from the extraction plant in order to get that extra $10.00.
I found out later that the owner of the company was paying the manager 20.00 per bear and he was taking a $10.00 cut...

[FergusonTO35]

Sounds like the Lee and the RD are the top choices here. Now I have a Mossberg 464 added to the mix...

[10x]

Sounds like the Lee and the RD are the top choices here. Now I have a Mossberg 464 added to the mix...

Bottom line, it is not really the bullet that counts as much as matching the bullet to the bore, getting the alloy a bit on the soft side, and making sure your gun shoots that bullet accurately at a reasonable velocity. For a 30-30 that would be a 150 grain (minimum weight although others may argue for a lighter bullet) to which ever weight your gun will safely shoot accurately.
I would suggest a Flat Point design over a round nose, and a round nose over a spire point when using cast bullets.

Your Mossberg will shoot take game with cast bullets if you do your part and learn to shoot the cast bullet you choose.

[softpoint]

I have the 180 grain RCBS mold. I use 760 powder in my Marlin XLR .30/30. It's what I WANT to to try on deer.( Must a good deer load, both times I've carried it afield the deer were afraid to show up) :mrgreen: