30/30 Loads Using RCBS-30-180FNgc

[BlueMoon]

Marlin 336 with mg rifling with bullets sized to .310" and weighing about 194grns with lube and gc. OAL of 2.570" with RP and WW cases and WLR primers. Sheet lead and linotype alloy.

34.0grns H414 average (3)-1892 fps-should have used a little more
30.0grns W748 " " -1924-one of the most accurate
28.0grns IMR3031 " " -1950 -3" higher than the rest
25.0grns H322 " " -1910 -max case pressure
18.0grns #2400 " " -1766 -one of the most accurate-max case pressure

The H414 and W748 loads showed the least case pressure and the H322 and #2400 loads showed the most case pressure. All loads were plus or minus 1 1/2" at 50yds. For my gun and components, I would back off the 3031, H322, and maybe the #2400 load.

Bill

[Buckshot]

.............BlueMoon, good report. Thanks for taking the time to report it here. So the WW748 one was one of the most accurate and was 2nd fastest? I will assume it was one of the sub 1-1/2" groupers?

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

[BlueMoon]

Buckshot,

The W748 and #2400 gave 1" groups but all showed promise if adjusted a little. I need to see what happens at 100yds though. I was testing the same bullet in a 30-06 and found good groups at 50yds with 37.0grns W748-2119fps and 37.0grns IMR4064-2025fps average of 3 shots. I had to seat my 30-06 bullets against the rifling at OAL of 3.015", shorter than I wanted. I've got a 8lb jug of the AA4064 though and should have been testing that. IMR4064 always seems to do right with the cast bullets.

Bill

PS: I had one extra case for my 30/30 testing and loaded the RCBS180 with 30.0grns of IMR4064 for 1910fps and right on target.

[Griff]

I don't shoot that heavy a bullet in my .30-30s, generally keeping in the 150 range, but have found RE7 to provide the most consistent measuring and velocity, with great accuracy in most of my Winchs & my solo Marlin. I used to use 4320 exclusively till someone turned me onto RE7. Have tested a little RE15, but haven't found that it's any improvement.
Good report tho.

[MT Gianni]

That bullet has grouped best in my 94 from wc-820 @1500fps. gianni.

[Dr. A]

2230 has worked well for me with this bullet as well. Believe I used 25gr. for about 1950fps. Could have used up to 26, and did. Unfortunately, the nose is a bit big for my gun.

[BlueMoon]

The first three powders I tried with this bullet and my 30/30-20" were

26.0grns RL-7-(3)-2012fps- max loading but only 5.7 extreme spread
27.5grns XMR2495-(3)-1847fps-might try a little more powder
27.0grns AA2230-C-(3)-1888fps-might try a little more also

My Marlin has never been a super accurate rifle but these big cast bullets seem about as good as most jkt bullets at 50yds. 100yds may be another story. And with my micro-groove barrel, I've always done better with cast bullets around 2000fps, but I used to size them .309" and these were .310".

Bill

edit: I use Ken Waters pressure ring method for each gun and seems to give pretty good idea of case pressure for each load.

[jh45gun]

Blue Moon have you tried 16 grains of 2400 in the 30/30 case? just wondering how that shot and if it would be a good starting point to work up on to the 18. Gun will be a 64 vintage 94 Win Jim

[BlueMoon]

jh45gun,

I think 16.0grns #2400 is a favorite load from what I've read on several posts. The old RCBS data I kinda went by lists #2400 for 16.0-18.0grns but they did that with every powder listed, two grain difference, so I'm not sure how low you could go. I was trying to find a close to max accurate load that would carry out to 100yds or so. And I've got a friend with a older Win. in 30/30 that has quite a bit tighter chamber than my Marlin. I can take his once-fired brass and all I need to do is neck size for my gun, but for his you need to F/L size again.

Bill

[Char-Gar]

I have recently come buy one of these molds but have not yet cast with it. Come casting season in a month or two I am going to give it a good workout.

Jim Taylor uses this bullet under 26/H335 as his all purpose 30-30 load. He has killed several deer with it and done some fantastic long range shooting with it as well. Glen Fryxell also tell me this powder and charge is his go to load for the 30-30.

This week I bought a can of H335 and plan on "giving it a go" as the Brits say. Hay veeremos (We will see) as the Mexicans say. Boy am I feeling international this morning!

[Char-Gar]

Oh yes..Jim and Glen report the velocity to be 1.8 -1.9K fps with this bullet and powder charge.

[drinks]

I am shooting the Lee C309-200R in my .303S '99, 35gr BLC-2, is giving me 2000fps with no over pressure signs, 34gr IMR 4064 gives 2170fps with the CTL312-160 2R bullet, again, no signs of over pressure.

[MOA Shooter]

If you ever get the chance Bill try some 4320 in that 30/30. Often some good loads. Even Aliant 19 at capacity can be interasting.


Nicely reported, I second that.


MOA.

[BlueMoon]

I had another testing with the 194grn RCBS-30-180FN in my 20" 30/30 using some of the same powders adjusted up or down and a few different powders using WLR primers. I compressed 34.5grns XMR4350 for average (3) of 1868fps and good accuracy and 34.0grns H380 for (3) 2003fps but more spread on accuracy. One of the highest velocities I've gotten with ok pressure was using 28.5grns AA2520 (3) 2031fps and 2" at 50yds.

Most accurate this time was 19.0grns IMR4227 (3) 1741fps for 1" at 50yds. I tried 21.5grns XMP5744 (3) 1855fps but was a little too much spread and needed little less powder like I think SR4759 would be but I haven't tried it. Also tried 30.0grns IMR4320 for (3) 1947fps at max pressure and about 2" at 50yds.

I've got to try the H335, BLC-2 when I have time but my lot of the H335 seems a little fast and the BLC-2 seems close to W748.

Bill

[bdoyle]

Bill,
What is your 'from the mould' dia? Mine is barely .309. Only had luck with this bullet with 34 gr 4831. I like the design but the dia leaves a bit to be desired. I am using a marlin MG and it likes em a bit fatter.


Brian

[JDL]

Brian,
Mine goes .3095".

[BlueMoon]

Brian,

That's the trouble I'm having. I've got ingots of ww, range scrap, lino from BHN19-22. I've been trying to mix in some ingots of sheet lead that's almost pure and got my BHN down to 8 or 9 but the bullets were casting barely .309". I've been trying to add some harder ingots and casting hot (frosted) but when I get finning I have to cut the heat down some. Seems when I cast bullets around .310", I'm having to make them too hard.

I guess one thing that helps with the faster powders is maybe bumping the bullet up a little. I've never measured the bore on my 30/30 but with mg rifling and what I've read, I would like to be able to have a honest .310" boolit. I've got a Lee push through sizer in .311" but that don't do much more than clamp on a gc.

Bill

[bdoyle]

I'll have to try the .310 sizer to just seat the GC. I just picked up a 1950 336A in 30-30 with the older rifling. It might get along with the small dia. Might just try lube @.312 and then push thru @ .311. Ya just never know...

Thanks

Brian

[w30wcf]

BlueMoon,

Thank you for the reports. Based on my experience, don't believe everything your read about micro-grooved rifling. After 1968, the specs for the bore diameter was tightened up......from .304 +- .001 to .300 + - .001.

I have a 336A made in 1978 and the bore diameter is .301" and the groove diameter is .307". It shoots .308" daimeter cast bullets as well as it does .309's and .310's.

It would be best to slug your bore to determine your bore diameter. Lacking any round balls of the appropriate size (00 Buck), load 1/2 gr of bullseye into a .30-30 case and seat one of your bullets without the gas check.

Raise the muzzle to position the powder to the back. Shoot the round. Chances are the bullet will get into the barrel but stop before exiting. If not, reduce the charge. The harder the bullet the more the resistance.

Remove the bullet with a cleaning rod and measure.

Sincerely,
w30wcf