Gearing up for loading cast in 30-30

[ShooterAZ]

I recently acquired a new to me Winchester Model 94 saddle ring carbine in 30-30. It's a sweet little rifle with the color case hardened receiver, and I can't wait to start loading cast for it. My dies will be here Friday (I hope) and I have managed to get some brass together. I have everything else I need (I think), which includes some cast Lee 30 C170F. I also have on hand some 30 C120RN that I have been using for my 30 Carbine.

I plan on starting out with 8-10 gr Unique, and 13-15 grains of 2400 with the 170 gr boolits. I have plenty of other powders, but have had good good results in other rifle calibers with these two powders (at least to start out with).

Does anyone load with the lighter boolits? I have the grand kids coming to visit in July and would like to put together some plinking loads for them. Any suggestions? I'm not sure if my Lee 120 RN boolits will feed well.

[popper]

I started doing that with the hornady 100 plinkers. They were good and fun @ 50. Others have used the carbine bullets and gotten good results in 336. The RD 170 is good with unique, pop & no recoil, 2400 has more kick.

[plainsman456]

I have been using the 2400 in my 30-30s with cast.

It seems that this an easier project to get going that others.

[Pb2au]

I have had pretty good success with the 170 grain on top of 8.5 grains of Trail boss as a plinking load. In fact, that load cost me the rifle.... My wife took it for a test drive one day at the range and I now I only get to cast boolits, reload the empties and clean the rifle......

[ShooterAZ]

Thanks Guys....I sort of forgot about Trail Boss. I do have some of that powder.

[otter5555]

i have cast/loaded for several 30-30's for more years than i want to admit. every one of them loved the lee 180 fn in front of 16.5 gr 4895. shot lots of iron at 400 yds. super accurate, no recoil and have also killed many white tail with it.

recently started loading the same boolit in front of 5 gr WSF. great plinker to 100 or so. dead on accurate.
also developed load using same boolit in front of 6.2 gr 700x. a good deal faster and also dead on accurate.

i never use gas checks. i have never had any leading whatsoever with any of these loads

otter

ps: regardless of rifle i size to .308
all have been tack drivers

[Sensai]

93 grain boolits (Lee 311-93-1R) in front of Trailboss is my new 22LR for squack hunting until prices get reasonably stabilized. It's accurate enough for squirrel head shots and feels about like a 22 in the recoil, or lack thereof, department. The grandkids all love to shoot Granpa's "big" lever action. Most of them haven't seen the 45/70 yet!

[Catshooter]

I have loaded the Lyman 3118 over five grains of Red Dot. I haven't chronoed the load but it can't be much over 900 feet. Accurate enough to knock over two steel pigs at 100 yards with two rounds.

My grandson shot about 75 of these for his very first outing with a rifle. Could not wipe the grin off his face.

The 30-30 is a great round.


Cat

[kir_kenix]

My little brothers and sisters (ages 4-12) love shooting my wife's 336y (16", youth length stock). Really any of the 93-115gr boolits that will cycle through your action will be great plinkers for your grandkids. Most of the boolits in the 150-180gr class will be fine as long as you keep the velocity down. Unique, Trailboss, and many other powders will make these a blast to shoot as well...and will likely reduce some of the feeding problems youngsters have working the lever. I've found you have to work most levers pretty smartly to get some of the short, fn boolits to feed.

[johntkd]

I have a question to you 30/30 reloaders for cast, crimp? are you using just the taper crimp or adding the factory crimps, this has been my one concern with my 30/30 as the spring pressure on the tube mag is pretty stout even have a factory round that the bullet needs to be pulled back as its jammed a bit into the case, just wondering what I may have to do the weapon is a marlin 336 cs i bought in 1983

[Catshooter]

john,

I use a Lee Factory Crimp die. Roll crimp either in the crimp groove (if there is one) or in the top lube groove. Most of mine get fired in a single shot but I do own a 94 too.


Cat

[Green Lizzard]

you will need gas checks with that much unique

[johntkd]

john,

I use a Lee Factory Crimp die. Roll crimp either in the crimp groove (if there is one) or in the top lube groove. Most of mine get fired in a single shot but I do own a 94 too.


Cat

Thanks I wasnt sure I heard a lot of guys talking about the factory crimp ruining the cast bullets so wanted to check.

[Shedhunter]

I use the lee factory crimp die on my 30-30 cast.

[mroliver77]

They are talking PISTOL factory crimp dies, They differ from rifle crimp dies.
I have loaded the 30-30 with about every bullet and boolit that will fit in it. Love the 100gr or so rn boolits! I use the fastest powders for wimp loads. Bulls Eye works great. Red Dot too. Unique I use like 8-10 gr with any boolit for a plinker. A friend gave me a bunch of 7.62 X 25 chinese ammo that were duds. The primers were bad. I pulled them down and loaded the powder and bullets in my 30-30. Quiet and very accurate! Pure lead round balls over 3gr Bulls Eye with a smear of lube on the were bird masher supreme! I even did two round balls! They hit very close together out to 40 - 50 yards. I hope this encourages you. So much fun to be had!!!
J

[JIMinPHX]

I have had excellent results with 150 grain flat points in the .30-30. Unique did well for 1200 fps plinkers. RE7 did best for full house hunting loads.

[johntkd]

the mold i was able to get my hands on is a lee 170 gr fn which is fine i love the 170 for hunting plus i wanted one to use in my 30/06, 308. and possibly if needed my sks's I know the bullet for the sks is cast larger but in a pinch with ammo needed i am sure it will fire. and I have been unable to find a .312 mold in less than 150 gr and if i am gonna get the sks its own mold i want 123 or less. but i do love my 30/30, love the way a deer gets slammed down and never gets back up at any range i have shot them, love the weight feel etc about the only thing i hate on it is the magazine spring tension, the savage pump 30/30 i have has just a little stronger mag spring tension than a 12 guage pump shotgun, tjhats why the crimp was a concern for me with the marlin.....