BCall
01-15-2013, 05:18 PM
I have a friend who has loaned me his Winchester 94AE in 7-30 Waters. In truth, he is trying to get me to buy it, and although I have loaded the 7-30 for a Contender for some time now, I have no real interest in one in a levergun. The rifle is not in great shape, but it has been shot little and functions fine.
First thing I did was remove the see through scope mounts he had on it. I have been shooting a few cast loads through it using the 7mm soup can mold from Midsouth. And it shoots OK. I now have a set of Millet mounts and some rings and have mounted a 2.5x scope to it. Groups under 2" at 50 are easily attainable. I'm confident more load workup could do that at 100.
However, I told my friend that if I wasn't going to buy it, I would work up a load for it for him and load a couple of boxes of ammo for it so he has some on hand. He will not shoot cast boolits. This is a guy who thinks he needs a 300 Weatherby when he goes hunting for deer. Moderate velocity cast boolit loads are not an option for him. Doubtful he would use it at all, but I would at least like to give him something he might use, he is a pretty good friend after all.
In looking for jacketed bullets though, it appears that Hornady and Nosler have discontinued their FN bullets for the 7-30. Sierra doesn't list them either. Speer lists a 130gr one, but I cannot locate any. Does anyone know of a viable option that will work in the tube magazine without making it a 2 shot gun? If it was mine, I'd load spitzers, one in the chamber and 1 in the mag, but my friend won't be happy with that either. Should I just bump a FN on some spitzers maybe?
If I were to buy it, it would just be for a rebarrel. As a 22 lover, I noticed that 4D reamer rentals has a reamer for a .224 version of the 22 Savage hi Power. How would this work as a rebarrel would you think? Any easier or better than a 219 Zipper? Thanks for any advice, Billy
First thing I did was remove the see through scope mounts he had on it. I have been shooting a few cast loads through it using the 7mm soup can mold from Midsouth. And it shoots OK. I now have a set of Millet mounts and some rings and have mounted a 2.5x scope to it. Groups under 2" at 50 are easily attainable. I'm confident more load workup could do that at 100.
However, I told my friend that if I wasn't going to buy it, I would work up a load for it for him and load a couple of boxes of ammo for it so he has some on hand. He will not shoot cast boolits. This is a guy who thinks he needs a 300 Weatherby when he goes hunting for deer. Moderate velocity cast boolit loads are not an option for him. Doubtful he would use it at all, but I would at least like to give him something he might use, he is a pretty good friend after all.
In looking for jacketed bullets though, it appears that Hornady and Nosler have discontinued their FN bullets for the 7-30. Sierra doesn't list them either. Speer lists a 130gr one, but I cannot locate any. Does anyone know of a viable option that will work in the tube magazine without making it a 2 shot gun? If it was mine, I'd load spitzers, one in the chamber and 1 in the mag, but my friend won't be happy with that either. Should I just bump a FN on some spitzers maybe?
If I were to buy it, it would just be for a rebarrel. As a 22 lover, I noticed that 4D reamer rentals has a reamer for a .224 version of the 22 Savage hi Power. How would this work as a rebarrel would you think? Any easier or better than a 219 Zipper? Thanks for any advice, Billy