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Sendaro
10-18-2012, 07:49 AM
Hi Guys,
Working with a strange rifle and cartridge this time. However it does have potentcal. The rifle is a Winchester 1885 high wall in a one piece stock. Yes, a one piece stock. Looks kind a strange when you first see it. It has a single set trigger and appeared to be chambered in 30-30 Ackley Imp when I first case formed a cartridge case to check the chamber dimensions. Went to Ken Howell's book to check dimensions, and found that the formed case from this rifle's chamber was short by .100 of an inch in the shoulder lgt. Also that the shoulder has a radius nearly like that of a Weatherby cartridge. Gave the barrel a good cleaning and test fired with some jacketed bullets, as I have no mold or cast bulles for a 30 cal at this point. Using an 8X Unertl scope and shooting from the benchrest at a range of 100 yards I fired eleven 5 shot test groups. The worst one was just under 1 1/4". Each test load went up in powder charge 1 full graing at a time from 27 grains to a max of 36.5 grains. At 33.5 grains it was grouping around 3/8" with Hornady 168 grain A-Max bullets. It has a 1 in 12" twist rate and the barrel appears to have been hand lapped. The Hawlkeye bore scope shows a bright and shinny barrel in great condition.
I believe it should make a fine cast bullet rifle and at this point in time I'm starting to look for a bullet mold that would be suitable for the cartride and twist rate in this rifle. Would like to hear your suggestions for both a plain base and a GC bullet. Accuracy is the goal at distances from 50 yards to in excess of 200 yards.
I almost forgot to make mention that I found some information about this one piece stocked high wall in a book by C.S. Landis tittled WOODCHUCKS AND WOODCHUCK RIFLES. If you look to the picture pages in this book that come right after page 162 you will see a photo of a Winchester High Wall that was stocked by Eric Farr that's a dead ringer for my rifle. Also there is a chapter in that book by Eric Farr telling why he stocked high wall rifles with one piece stocks.
I would guess that a cast bullet of 165 to 180 grains maybe what I'll need but want to hear what those in the know suggest.

Sendaro

grouch
10-18-2012, 08:54 AM
My 1:12 twist 30-30 will shoot any bullet I've tried, incuding 311284(220gr in 20:1 lead &tin) and 311365(202gr) which is longer. Your bullet choice is very wide.
Grouch

runfiverun
10-18-2012, 10:27 AM
look closely and see if the bbl has ben relined.
i have a relined 257 roberts on an arisaka action that has the weatherby type radius.
it's quite accurate for it's ugly.

Sendaro
10-18-2012, 08:17 PM
RUNFIVERUN,
I'm sure that the barrel has not been re-ligned. Have gone over it with a fine toothed comb. I believe it was bored out and re-rifled. Here's why-----> On the bottom of the barrel it is stamped By A L Hartung, of Pomeroy, O. 1946 22 Hawker Test Rifle for small arms reasearch.
From what I have been able to find out about AL HArtung he made varmint rifles back in the 1930s through the early 1950s and maybe later. Mstly single shots adn 22 rimfire target rifles. One cartridge that he wild catted was a blown out 219 Zipper case that he called the 22 HAWKER. I'm not sure who it was that bored out this barrel and re-rifled it.

Grouch, Give the information I have what would choose for a cast bullet to try?

Sendaro

I'll Make Mine
10-18-2012, 08:38 PM
From what I've read, there have been a good number of .30-30 Improved cartridges besides the Ackley flavor. Generally they feature a sharpened and advanced shoulder compared to the original profile, but exact shoulder angle, position, and radius varied. It's even possible yours wasn't originally based on a .30-30 case.

Sendaro
10-19-2012, 03:44 PM
Guys, I'd really like to try a good cast bullet in this rifle. I know that the action is strong and that there is s good barrel on the rifle. I'm just at a loss to what cast bullet to try. Anyone selling samples of different 30 cal cast bullets in the 165 to 200 grains range?

Sendaro

.30/30 Guy
10-19-2012, 04:17 PM
My primary rifle is a Hi-Wall in .30/30. My favorite boolits are an Eagan MX3-30AR (good luck in finding one) and a Hoch 309-180 with 28 grains of 4895. The RCBS 308-165-SIL is very similar to the Eagan.

4060MAY
10-19-2012, 04:18 PM
My friend has one similar to yours..special 30-30 whatever

Do you want to Breech Seat or fixed ammo?

We were using the 311284 with out a gas check BS..using No.9 powder..also 311299 without GC..9 1/2 Rem primers

bullets were sized to .310 IIRC

reasonable groups at 200yds...IIRC 1.5-2"

Unertl scope 20X..Win Hiwall SST...custom Stock..Fluted Barrel

I have been using a Pope style mold made by Saeco..about 185grs

fixed in a 30-40 Krag No.3 Ruger..Win 571 powder only because I

Had some..wish I had more...

HTH

grouch
10-20-2012, 12:20 PM
I'd look for some version of 311467 - Night Owl maybe? My best 100yd bullet is CBE 314190 cast 18:1, but the maker, Jim Allison has retired. Too bad, my mold is two cavity, one gas check, one plain base no extra charge. My 100yd load is for the gas check bullet 15gr of H110 powder, F210M primer, hand lubed with Canadian Tire Moly grease. Best group was just over 1/4" for 5 shots. Best, not average, unfortunately. Have had good results with Lee's 160gr spire point 312160, Lyman 311299 and 311365 among others.
Grouch

madsenshooter
10-20-2012, 12:53 PM
Sounds like someone wanted to gain a little neck length for long cast bullets by moving the shoulder back. I had some good results with 311365 out of my Krag using slow powder (RL19). NOE is out of stock at present though.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_1236507dfa79d243d.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=7067)