30-30 Cast Bullet Help

[Chili]

A few weeks ago I got a deal on a very nice Ted Williams M100 (same as a Winchester 94) and figure it's time for some cast bullet action. Haven't decided on a mold yet, but I do have a box of these: http://missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=102&category=6&secondary=35&keywords=

I have these powders on hand:
Unique
2400
BL-C(2)
H-335
IMR-4064
IMR-4895
IMR-4227

Using the above powders and bullets, any suggestions on where to begin?

My goal is a nice plinking load out to about 75 to 100 yards. This is a new caliber and gun to me and I am at a loss on a starting point.

I'm not looking for your family secret recipe or anything like that.

Cheers!

[paraord]

Although I cant comment on what works for me yet (hoping to get some loading and shooting in this weekend) I am using IMR-4227 at 18 grains with a 311041, well under the max of 22 grains if memory serves me. When I get home I will look at my Lyman cast book to see if it lists data for 309165.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

Without a gas check, you will need to keep velocity 'low' - 1200 fps minus probably for accuracy if not to avoid leading, 15 gr 4227 or 2400, 8 gr Unique or maybe lighter. With a gas check or jacketed all powders will work. Tumble lubing in addition to the lube already on the bullet MAY help if you have problems with leading or accuracy. With a gas checked bullet 165 - 190 grain boolit and 15-18 gr 4227 has given me under 2 MOA or better in most 30-30's and .303 Savage. The wind will push the flat noses around though. For a mold to start, the LEE 170 works well, NOA clones of 311041 or the NOA clone of the RCBS 180 are about as good as you can get for the .30-30.

[FergusonTO35]

As long as these boolits are fat enough and the lube is up to the task I bet he can go faster than that. BHN 18 is pretty hard, alot more so than the soft cowboy type boolits most places sell. IMR 4895 is my favorite powder for cast in .30 WCF. My 336 really likes 27 grains under a Lee C309-150-RF. I would start at around 22 grains and work your way up, Hodgdon specifically recommends this powder for reduced loads and lead boolits.

[OnHoPr]

Couple of things to consider when you mention a nice plinking load. First is boolit weight, if you don't think you will be hunting or actual target shooting like in the CBA with it then stick to the lighter weights. If you think possibly that you might want to small game hunt with it then look for a boolit in the 100 to 150 gr range. Lee makes some 6 banger molds that are light enough for plinking and small game, less lead consumption too. Some don't even need GCs. The 150 gr is about as light as I would go for deer hunting all the way up to 200 gr with the 170 and 180 gr boolits being the norm.

With the powders it depends on what else you do with them. If 2400 or 4227 is one of your favorite powders for another application and something like 2400 might be hard to come by then think of another powder like 4895 or the milsurp equivalent if you are going to stick with the heavier boolits. You might want to find a medium or slow shotgun powder for your application especially if you go to a lighter boolit. Other than that with the 2400 or 4227 the mid teens would be decent and with the 4895 go with the low 20s weights. Keep the other powders for hunting loads or other applications that you might need.

[OverMax]

Looking for a starting point on target loading.
As stated prior by the Brothern. Any of those pistol powders you have will work. Unique as I understand is a great powder for such plinking loading's. Only one problem you may encounter that has some effect on accuracy. Your Missouri bullets diameter. .309 may not be the most appropriate cast to use in your quest for target grade accuracy. Consider slugging your bore for its actual size before your reordering more of the same.
My winchester 94 likes .310 or .311 dia. a whole lot better than .309. If someone here were to send you a 32 special soft lead cast. That would be the ideal slug for the purpose of measuring.
Good Luck with your shooting experiments. :smile:

[popper]

75-100 yds is the problem for plinking. Unique will give you a 9" or so drop at any load that the PB can take. I'd suggest H-4895 down about 20gr. IIRC 335 doesn't like downloading, IMR4895 may work. 14gr 2400 may get you close. Problem is getting fps up & keeping the PB intact.

[runfiverun]

something faster would be better as far as powder selection.
look and see if you don't have some herco or red-dot or something like that even 231 would work.
target about 1200 fps.

[Hick]

I have good success with the sort of thing runfiverun suggests. I use Herco, W231, HP-38, and even 700x. For plinking, I've also been trying a 311410 (130 gr plain based) and also bullets designed for 32 cal pistols (Bear Creek Supply in CA sells a nice moly-coated 100 grain bullet that's 0.314 and sizes down nicely to .309-- great plinker with no leading).

[LAH]

14 to 16 grains of 2400. 5 to 7 grains Unique.

[popper]

MBC makes good boolits but I'd save them for full power loads, depends on your barrel size. 309 might be small - if so, melt them - or PC. NOE 311-155 FN PB probably would suit you better ($79 for a 2x mould). Yours should be 10-12 twist so running long boolits at low fps may give you tipping that will show @ 100 yds., worse if the MBC are undersized. I'm running a 170 gr PB @ 1400 fps, unless I PC them I notice slight tipping @ 50. You can run the lighter boolit faster & get decent plinking results @ 100. I've used MBC, Lasercast, Carolina & RD Lee frm my 30/30 - worked well at full power GCd but poor below that. Not to say slow heavy boolits won't work past 50, it just takes a lot of practice & frustrating for a beginner.

[Bill*B]

Plain based bullets are a post graduate thing - if you are just getting started, I'd recommend a box of gas checked 170 grain. Put them in front of 16.5 grains of 4227 and you're likely to taste success. Have fun!

[Chili]

I have good success with the sort of thing runfiverun suggests. I use Herco, W231, HP-38, and even 700x. For plinking, I've also been trying a 311410 (130 gr plain based) and also bullets designed for 32 cal pistols (Bear Creek Supply in CA sells a nice moly-coated 100 grain bullet that's 0.314 and sizes down nicely to .309-- great plinker with no leading).

I completely forgot about the 8lb jug of HP-38! That will definately get added to my list.

Thank you for all of the suggestions.

Looks like sample loads will be made using IMR 4895, IMR 4227, HP-38 and 2400. Obviously, powder charges will start at the bottom.

My mold choice was the 311041, but if Lyman is having QC issues what is a comparareable mold? My preference is a flat point.

[CPL Lou]

I would suggest you try this mold out:

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=30_348&osCsid=3of8n6a9c7qno6u886rfm1ad97

Seems to fit the 30-30 like biscuits & gravy!

CPL Lou

[crappie-hunter]

I would suggest you try this mold out:

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=30_348&osCsid=3of8n6a9c7qno6u886rfm1ad97

Seems to fit the 30-30 like biscuits & gravy!

CPL Lou
10-4 on the biscuits and gravy,give it a 2000 fps charge of ww748 and it kills like a sledgehammer with a properly placed lung shot.

Water dropped wheel weight for alloy. 3 big hops and drt,been my experience.

[Chili]

I would suggest you try this mold out:

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=30_348&osCsid=3of8n6a9c7qno6u886rfm1ad97

Seems to fit the 30-30 like biscuits & gravy!

CPL Lou

That link came back with a long list of boolits. Are you referring to the top design?

[Butler Ford]

That link came back with a long list of boolits. Are you referring to the top design?

They are all the same bullet design with different options for mold material, aluminum or brass and gas check options, with, without or a mix of both in the same mold.

BF

edit to add: it is an excellent bullet and a beautifully made, easy casting mold.

[popper]

That NOE mound doesn't have much rear band if for shooting without GC.

[Tar Heel]

The Lee C309-170-F works great for me in both the Marlin and Winchester Rifles. I use enough of IMR-3031 to give me 2000 fps. The load is extremely accurate and penetration on game with a Lyman #2 alloy bullet is stunning. The Lee mold is about 20 bucks, gas checks are readily available for about 40 bucks per 1000 and there are a lot of viable propellants. Have fun with your casting and loads.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=179948&d=1478135419&thumb=1 (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=179948&d=1478135419) http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=179949&d=1443547984&thumb=1 (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=179949&d=1478135501)

[flint45]

What charge of herco for a 150 grain boolit in .30-30 ? do you need dacron filler?

[FergusonTO35]

A Lee mold, Lee .311 sizer kit, and 1000 aluminum checks from James Sage Outdoors are everything you need all you need to get good results with cast in .30 WCF. This is exactly what I use with great results.

[redgum]

I use the LEE 150g fn & 170g fn with 9.5g & 8.5g UNIQUE respectively with great results in scope-less Lever Comps (iron & aperture sights only) from 25-100 yards.
Most times I can manage to get 3" or better @ 100yds

.....Just my own exxperience FWIW

[Bob Busetti]

I use 32 grs. of BLC2 with the 170 gr Lee bullet. Gives about 2000 fps. Use the load in both of my 94's.