Absolute best bullet for a '94 .30-30?

[spurrit]

So, what do you guys think is the best cast bullet there is for the Winchester '94 in .30-30?

What are some of your favorites? I need ideas for molds to buy.

Both of my '94's were made in '79. One trapper and one Ranger.

[Buckshot]

...............That would be:

Lyman 311041
Lee C309-150F
Lee C309-160R (gotta bump a flat on the nose)
Lyman 311291 (gotta bump a flat on the nose)
RCBS 30-180 FN

Not in any particular order. I had a M93 Marlin in 30-30 (made in the '20s) that shot the 160gr Lee like a laser gun. Now that their moulds are 2 cavities it isn't so bad casting them.

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

[spurrit]

HAD? Why the hell did you trade it?

[jdhenry]

As far a cast boolit go Lyman 311041 is my choice:)

[spurrit]

This is not the first time I'd heard this suggestion. Anyone have one they wanna trade off?

[Bret4207]

RCBS 180-fn.

[square butte]

Anyone ever try the 140 gr FN that Beartooh Bullets offers? I don't recognise the mold. Does anyone else recognise who's mold it is? Looks like it might be an interesting one to try, especially if the mold was available. Lyman 311041is yhe best of what I have to go with in my1981 vintage 94 trapper.

[BABore]

Marshall cuts alot of his own molds now. Both cherry and lathe bored. I would imagine he makes up his own designs now too.

[madcaster]

i'm with bret4207 on this,the RCBS 30-180-FN,second place is the Lyman #311041...

[JDL]

I have most of the molds listed plus others and I agree with the RCBS 180 FN as first choice. -JDL

[1hole]

There we have it, the BEST bullet for a 94/30-30. Hummmm, sounds strange tho - just which one is it? Guess answering this one will require a bit of personal expermentation, right?

[The Nyack Kid]

hey boys dont leave out 311407 heck of a design , but having said that, the RCBS 180 FN and lyman 311041 are a very close #1 and # 2 in my book for any 30 cal rifle .

[Junior1942]

RCBS 180-fn.Yep. That's the best. The 311041 is next.

PS: anybody who prefers blondes to redheads is weird.

[PatMarlin]

Really, if you want a good performing mold for any caliber RCBS has it.

[Kirk Miller]

the last year. These are the bullets I have tried 311041 two different molds, 311291 two different molds (the first was a new mold and first mold ever and it is a piece of crap), Lee I'm the odd man out here (way out) I have a winchester 94 circa. 1971 that I've been casting for 170 gr. fp. and 170 gr. lazer cast commerical.

The powders I've tried are H4895, H335, win748, unique, Imr 4198, SR4759 and AA 5744. After aleast 3000 boolits and every combination of boolit and powder the only boolit that shoots decent in MY rifle is the 311291

I realize that this was not a very exhaustive test of the available molds but it did exhaust me.
(At least mentally)...read FRUSTRATION


THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO VENT.
Kirk

P.S. Not to hijack this thread but if anybody has a four cavity 311291 mold that drops boolits at an honest .310-.311 with ww that they are willing to part with would you please let me know.

[Larry Gibson]

I always fall back on 311041 for a M94 30-30 and many other .30 cals. My mold drops bullets at .311 and weights 177 gr with a 1 caliber deep HP. I haven't found a better bullet for all around 30-30 use. However, the 311291 ain't to shabby either. If you've a RCBS 180 FN you won't go wrong either as mentioned.

Larry Gibson.

[Kirk Miller]

Sorry
Somehow my first two paragraphs got scrambled and make no sense

[Jon K]

square butt,

That 140 looks like the Saeco #316 150 gr 30-30 boolit.

Jon

[Bass Ackward]

The best cast bullet design for a M94 or any other gun is a bullet design that fits your throat. This is because the best bullet design will provide adequate alignment to enter correctly under the conditions you establish to shoot it.

All designs are sold cause they work for someone as these threads always point out. Will that be yours? So you really should slug everything you want to shoot cast in. This will help you with the correct sizing diameter as well.

Of coarse there is nothing wrong with buying every mold and taking the time and expense to find this out through experimentation. Just depends how you want to approach it.

[spurrit]

I know. I'm just trying to find a good starting point.

[Newtire]

I have the 311041 & the 311407 group buy. These are both 170-175 grainers. I have an old Lee 190 grain so haven't felt the need for anything but I'd bet that RCBS 180 should really shoot.

For plinking, I am now a converted plainbase boolit shooter with the 120-RF Group buy or the #322 Saeco sized to .310 and loaded with 8 grains Unique. Gaschecks I will save for the heavy loads and my 30-06 loads.

[Brownie]

I have found that 150gr bullets usually shoot better than most others in 30-30,s. in my winchesters any way.

[ra_balke]

i recently had mountain moulds cut for me a 200 grain job, with a gas check. It looks just like 311041, but with a wider flat on the nose, and a longer body to get the weight.

Too bad I loaned a bumb friend my mould handles, and never got them back... still have not cast any bullets from it..

As for powder I will go with the advice of long dead Evan marshal who said 36 grains of ww760/h-414 for a solid 2000 fps.

Cast from air cooled wheel weights of course.

[Chuck 100 yd]

311041
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c356/chuckleininger/IMG_1138.jpg

[PatMarlin]

I guess a picture says it all ..:mrgreen:

[jh45gun]

311407

[DaveD]

311041
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c356/chuckleininger/IMG_1138.jpg

Hey Chuck, how you doing? Glad to see you here. What is your load for that boolit?

Dave "azoil" :)

[Chuck 100 yd]

Hi dave!! Those were using 18gr. IMR 4198 at 1595 fps. That target was shot at 50yd.using the Lyman receiver sight and my 61 yr.old eyes.

[DaveD]

Hi dave!! Those were using 18gr. IMR 4198 at 1595 fps. That target was shot at 50yd.using the Lyman receiver sight and my 61 yr.old eyes.

Chuck,
I just checked my stock, no IMR 4198. I may have to pick up a lb and give that load a try.

Have you tried IMR Trail Boss with anything?

[spurrit]

Trail boss is good for small game and target load only, IMHO. (And I've burnded a few pound of it.)

[Chuck 100 yd]

Dave, I havn`t shot any Trail Boss in the .30-30 yet but read that keeping them under 1000fps is best in the old thutty thutty ( 6.5 gr. seems to be a good load). I have shot a bunch in the .444 and .45-70 and it is a hoot and very accurate with cast at 11-1150 fps.
I use 14gr. with 325-350 gr.bullets in .45-70 , 13gr. with RanchDog 265-300 bullets in the444.
I shot Trail Boss in my Marlin .308MXwith 150 gr cast (RCBS) bullets and with 9gr. it shot good. 10 gr was more accurate but starting to give sticky extraction. TB builds pressure fast when the limit is approached. I suggest staying low with it and just have fun. Enjoy.

[WyrTwister]

Dave, I havn`t shot any Trail Boss in the .30-30 yet but read that keeping them under 1000fps is best in the old thutty thutty ( 6.5 gr. seems to be a good load). I have shot a bunch in the .444 and .45-70 and it is a hoot and very accurate with cast at 11-1150 fps.
I use 14gr. with 325-350 gr.bullets in .45-70 , 13gr. with RanchDog 265-300 bullets in the444.
I shot Trail Boss in my Marlin .308MXwith 150 gr cast (RCBS) bullets and with 9gr. it shot good. 10 gr was more accurate but starting to give sticky extraction. TB builds pressure fast when the limit is approached. I suggest staying low with it and just have fun. Enjoy.



.45-70 1150 fps 405 grain cast lead 13.5 - 13.6 grains of Unique .

God bless
Wyr

[Griff]

Ain't seen anyone else mention it... but, ALL my Win 94s get fed boolits from a Saeco #316 4 gang mold. Sized @ .309, lubed with Alox and powered w/27 grains of RE-7, they match Wichester SilverTips for POI.

[miestro_jerry]

I have a 150 gr FN mold that I like, but I have also ordered the Ranch Dog 165 mold. I like this bullet weight range for my 30-30. If I need heavier, then I jump to a 200 gr RN.

Jerry

[stillhunter]

We'v been shooting 30-30 in the three family '94s for years. Lyman 311291 works awfully well with 2400, 3031, and the above mentioned 4198. It's the best! This bullet is one of the early Lyman designs, and shoots well in my Krag, 03, and '94. Inch groups at 50 yds are common. If I had to settle for one cast bullet, 311291 would be it. Any 160 gr round nose of similar design should do well. Personally I've deserted the Winchester fold for a Marlin 336 as I need the low mounted glass. Have yet to find a good cast load for that one. But, thats what makes it interesting. Gonna try Chuck 100's combination. Looks promising!!

[srayc]

140 gr PBFN design from NEI performs VERY consistent. Economic to cast and shoot.

[Newtire]

Ain't seen anyone else mention it... but, ALL my Win 94s get fed boolits from a Saeco #316 4 gang mold. Sized @ .309, lubed with Alox and powered w/27 grains of RE-7, they match Wichester SilverTips for POI.

Yup Griff,

I got that mould myself back in the "pre-crazy" days of E-bay. It makes a pile of boolits in a hurry. I didn't think it looked like it had alot of bearing surface but I shot some with just a plinker load in my '06. They hold up well out to 100 yds. so far. I will give them a try in the .30-30 next.

[Jon K]

Saeco #316, one of my favorites. It shoots accurate out to 200m and pleasant to shoot. Unless you need the knock down of the heavier boolit, this is great at any speed.

Jon