Recommendations for a new 30-30 cast shooter

[fecmech]

Gentlemen-A friend who I shoot Sporting Clays with expressed interest in shooting some cast bullets in his 30-30's. He has two, a Savage 99 and a bolt gun that I don't know the brand. The problem is while I'm fairly experienced with pistol cartridges and their lever guns I'm a novice in the rifle dept. What I would like is for some generally accurate loadings for the 30-30 if those exist so that I can hook him quickly into this sickness we all share. I have on hand 3 molds I bought at an estate sale,311291,311041 and 311466. If you gentlemen would kindly make some recommendations as to what bullets and loads might be best I will pass them on to my friend. I plan to size and check the bullets to .310 and lube with Run's "Simple Lube" and lend him my "M" die to load with. I thank any and all who care to respond.

[guicksylver]

20 grs RX7
10 unique
10 Universal
Behind any of those will work just fine.
Mine I size .309 unless you are using a Marlin Micro Grove

Excellent accuracy and mild.

Check other data for near factory velocities.

There are old Lyman 47 and 49 manuals for cast boolits on line.

I would give you a far price for the 311466 mold if you are interested.

The 041 is best suited for tube mag rifles.

The others have round or pointed noses.

[Kraschenbirn]

My 50's-vintage Savage 340 (bolt action) absolutely loves that old 311466 Loverin design sized .310 and loaded over 20.5 gr of AA5744. Velocity runs in the lower 1900s with consistent 2 MOA accuracy @ 100M.

Bill

[runfiverun]

the 041 is your best bet in the levergun.
i'd be comfortable with sizing 310.
youll also want the nose to have some light engraving marks when chambered.
right at 300 should be close.
try it crimped in the groove just enough you have reliable extraction of the loaded round.

i'm betting the bolt gun is a savage also, and it should like the 466 just fine.
I use an nei copy of the 466 and have pushed it to some impressive velocity's in my 340.
start out long and just seat a click deeper until you can chamber the round freely.
about 3 bands showing airc.
no crimp.
just about any powder will shoot well with the above.
I have used everything from a-2400 up through about 4064 speed [and even use 4831] and from 1500 fps through 2400 fps.

[MikeS]

If neither gun has a tubular magazine (as I think is the case), then the choice of boolit is much greater than when using a gun with a tubular magazine. I've loaded the 311041 over 16gr of 2400 for a nice shooting load. I would think you could load the same with the 311291 as well. I've also loaded 16gr of SR4759 which in my gun shot nicely too.

[fecmech]

When using the Loverin design (466) do you just lube 2-3 grooves or more??

[williamwaco]

Size them .311 if you have a die that size.

[Kraschenbirn]

When using the Loverin design (466) do you just lube 2-3 grooves or more??

I lube 'em all 'cause I only shoot that boolit in my Savage 340...bolt action with a box mag...so it doesn't really matter if some lube-filled grooves are exposed.

Bill