martinibelgian
01-17-2015, 01:23 PM
I've had this little rifle for quite some time - a 30-20 built on a BSA 12/15 rimfire action - so firing pin conversion, and installation of a new (old, actually - a take-off palma match barrel in .308) barrel. As the barrel is standard .30, I now have a .30-20.
Up to now, I shot the rifle with smokeless loads, and it has proven to be quite accurate indeed - but something was missing: after all, 32-20 is a BP cartridge...
So I started out by looking for the right bullet - without much luck: most are made for lever-action rifles, and pretty light (115-120gr), and don't really have the lube capacity for BP. So I designed and had made a 151gr RN bullet.
With the 1st bullets cast, time to get some cartridges loaded. unfortunately, my die set (.30-20 redding) isn't ideal for cast bullets, so as best as I could I put in some powder 16.4 grs of Swiss 1 1/2Fg) and a panlubed bullet, went to the club and shot them at 75m (82 yds).
To state that I was surprised by the results is an understatement - the group - except a single shot - was the size of the 10-ring of the ISSF 25m pistol target, this shooting prone, with sling, no support. a No scope either, just PH7A aperture rear and BSA aperture front.
I'll try and shoot a few more tomorrow, and see if I can confirm the potential of this load: I took a bit more care in loading (borrowed a .30 M1 expander from a friend, used a card wad between bullet and powder), so ...
Bottom line? The 30 (32)-20 seems to potentially be a very accurate short-range target round, lots of potential there. Never underestimate this little cartridge...
Up to now, I shot the rifle with smokeless loads, and it has proven to be quite accurate indeed - but something was missing: after all, 32-20 is a BP cartridge...
So I started out by looking for the right bullet - without much luck: most are made for lever-action rifles, and pretty light (115-120gr), and don't really have the lube capacity for BP. So I designed and had made a 151gr RN bullet.
With the 1st bullets cast, time to get some cartridges loaded. unfortunately, my die set (.30-20 redding) isn't ideal for cast bullets, so as best as I could I put in some powder 16.4 grs of Swiss 1 1/2Fg) and a panlubed bullet, went to the club and shot them at 75m (82 yds).
To state that I was surprised by the results is an understatement - the group - except a single shot - was the size of the 10-ring of the ISSF 25m pistol target, this shooting prone, with sling, no support. a No scope either, just PH7A aperture rear and BSA aperture front.
I'll try and shoot a few more tomorrow, and see if I can confirm the potential of this load: I took a bit more care in loading (borrowed a .30 M1 expander from a friend, used a card wad between bullet and powder), so ...
Bottom line? The 30 (32)-20 seems to potentially be a very accurate short-range target round, lots of potential there. Never underestimate this little cartridge...