Questions about 30-30 plinking bullet

[jbremount]

Hello, I want to make some ammo for my Marlin 30/30 rifle. Anyone use this Lee bullet (C309-113F) or a similar bullet for a 30-30 plinking bullet? What is a good powder/load to use?

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g153/jbremount/c309113f.gif

[Buckshot]

............Well jbremount, a very hearty welcome to the board. Re: that Lee C309-113F. I really don't think anyone around here likes it very much :-) Of course those 70-80 people who bought the Lee custom 6 holers for that boolit, in 2 seperate (or was it 3?) group buys might have me lying :bigsmyl2:

...............Buckshot

[JDL]

jbremount, First of all welcome to the board.
I use 6 grains of Unique in my .30-30s for a plinking/target/small game load with the plain base 311241 boolit which produces 1149 fps. -JDL

[Junior1942]

I don't like that bullet at all in my 30-30s. That's why I'm anxiously waiting on delivery of the latest 6-hole group buy copy of it. [smilie=1:

[Char-Gar]

That bullets is nicknamed "Lee Soupcan" by this bunch of folks and is held in high favor for most 30 caliber rifles, which would include the 30-30.

[Will]

I use it with 16gr 2400 in my Mod94 with good results.

[Larry Gibson]

8 gr of Unique will give 1400 fps +/- in a 20" M94 with very good accuracy.

Larry Gibson

[corvette8n]

I'm using the 309-150gr Lee with 8gr of Unique.
I can use this same bullet in my Savage 110 .308
Savage 99 in .300 Savage
and a multitude of Win 94's and Marlin 336's
that I feed. (not all of them mine):(
BWT I have a two cavity mold and cast 379 bullets the other night.

[jbremount]

I don't like that bullet at all in my 30-30s. That's why I'm anxiously waiting on delivery of the latest 6-hole group buy copy of it. [smilie=1:


After reading the previous posts about this bullet, I am begining to see that I am not the only one who thinks this is a good shooting bullet. I had the Lee 2 cavity mold for this bullet sitting around for years and never used it. I finally cast and loaded up a handfull of the 113 gr Lee soup can bullets with 8.5gr of unique powder. They are not much recoil and shot darn good. I chrongraped them at about 1550 - 1600 fps. I need to cast some more of these little buggers.

Is it too late to get a six cavity mold from the group buy? Buying more and better molds is the only cure for the casting/bullet making/mold fever!

[Buckshot]

http://www.fototime.com/9DDC9AF2291A561/standard.jpg

8.0grs of Red Dot, Lee C309-113F. 1903 Sporter Springfield. Iron sights, 50 yards.

I won't insult you and say every group I've shot with it has been like this. However it WAS my favorite ground squirrel medicine, used in a 1903A1 Springfield around the house when I lived out in the tules. Minute of ground squirrel to 50 yards easily.

It's main claim to fame is that it is very simple to cast and there isn't much there to go wrong. No bore rider nose to try and fit, for example. But it does have the ballistics of a brick, so it isn't a real long range proposition.

Best shooting of it I EVER saw was a shooting buddy who fired four 5 round groups at 100 yards from a M94 Winchester 30-30. It had a Leupold VX-2, 3-9 scope on it and the group aggregate would have been maybe 1-1/4". If that wasn't enough, they were going a tad over 2100 fps via 21.0grs of H4198.

I was rather impressed by his M94! Never mind WHAT it was shooting :-)

..................Buckshot

[dubber123]

A question for the guys who already have one: If I were to buy a new 2 holer, what diameter am I likely to get? I would consider these for my Marlin 32-20, but I really need .312" I have a Savage in 30-30, but it also seems to like .312".

[Maineboy]

Mine drops boolits about .313. I've had the mold 4-5 years.


A question for the guys who already have one: If I were to buy a new 2 holer, what didameter am I likely to get? I would consider these for my Marlin 32-20, but I really need .312" I have a Savage in 30-30, but it also seems to like .312".

[scrat]

i have a C309-120. Wow thats a good mold
\

[9.3X62AL]

My Lee Soup Can barely exceeds .311" when cast of WW, and Taracorp won't get to .312". I haven't used the boolit a whole lot in 30-30 or 30-06, but it is LIGHTS OUT ACCURATE in a Marlin M-62 in 30 Carbine sized to .311". That Micro-Groove shoots these better than any j-word, and at full velocity (1900 FPS+).

[dubber123]

Well, as usual with molds, buy one and see what you get! .311" won't do me much good, but .313" would be great. I really don't need it for the 32-20 as the RCBS 32 swc is most likely unbeatable. I just got back from the range and think I proved that to myself once again. It would be neat to try in the 30-30. Thanks for the replies.

[jbremount]

A question for the guys who already have one: If I were to buy a new 2 holer, what diameter am I likely to get? I would consider these for my Marlin 32-20, but I really need .312" I have a Savage in 30-30, but it also seems to like .312".



Mine are dropping out of my Lee mold (C309-113F) approx .3115 diameter.

[35remington]

"I really don't need it for the 32-20 as the RCBS 32 swc is most likely unbeatable."

Don't count on it. The Soup Can should outshoot the RCBS design you've got, especially at the higher velocities. Provided you can get it to cast large enough, that is.

If you solicit Lee directly and ask for a Soup Can mould that will run to the oversized end (specify .312 or .313", for example) Lee can provide it. I've had it done for some of my moulds in .45-70 for my Microgroove Marlin. Last I checked they were asking 25 bucks. They provided a casting along with the mould that verified the size I requested.

Considering its almost universal applicability in the .30 calibers, I'd say you'd be crazy not to get a mould for this bullet.

[dubber123]

I will most likely get one, as the 2 cavity models are so cheap that if it doesn't work I won't be out of much. The RCBS .32 mold shoots so good out of my Marlin 32-20 I would be amazed at one shooting better. Each of the last 4 outings with this bullet has produced at least one 1/2" or slightly smaller group at 50 yds.. I am not sure I can do better.

[35remington]

The Soup Can itself can do better-the limitation will be your rifle. My '06 regularly averages under 1/2" at fifty with this bullet. That's an average, not a single group or two. For full power (1600-1900 fps) .32-20 loads the Soup Can should easily outdo your RCBS bullet, which is suitable only for the lower velocities.

Check the throating of your rifle to be sure it's compatible-leverguns chambers are usually cut with very little or nonexistent throats. You'd be seating so the first band is out of the case, and if you crimp it would be in the top of the first lube groove. That is, if your throat will allow it. The Soup Can's weight is pretty much the standard for a .32-20.

[Buckshot]

...............My old 2 cav copy drops it's slugs a tad over .314". As a consequence it sees some use in a couple M91 Argentines. My 6 cav Group Buy mould drops them at about .313". Still good for a couple other Fat 30's, and sized own for the .308 type 30's.

.................Buckshot

[jbremount]

ok, I crimped mine (Marlin 30-30) just above the last lube joint. I did not want any lube exposed as this ammo would probably get dirt or something stuck on the lube. I shot some for function. The small amount of ammo I tested shot fine.

Are there any problems with seating this bullet too deep that I should be aware of?




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