30-30 Cast loads with light bullets

[Mgvande]

Hi
Im new to the forum and I have a question regarding a 3030 I have. I want to shoot some cast fb bullets that are 96gr. I have the following for powders; RL7, IMR4227, N140 and IMR4895. The others I have are way slower. Would any of these powders be suitable? Would I have to employ the use of fillers suck as Dacron? I was looking to create a load for plinking. This 3030 is a bolt action. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks

[Dimner]

Hi
Im new to the forum and I have a question regarding a 3030 I have. I want to shoot some cast fb bullets that are 96gr. I have the following for powders; RL7, IMR4227, N140 and IMR4895. The others I have are way slower. Would any of these powders be suitable? Would I have to employ the use of fillers suck as Dacron? I was looking to create a load for plinking. This 3030 is a bolt action. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks
I have played around with a Lyman cast bullet near that weight. The 313249 nets out to 97gr after casting.

I personally would not try any of the powders you have listed. Far too slow.

Using unique and Trailboss in the 30-30 with the 97gr bullet I have had really good luck with plinking loads.

4.5 grains of unique will get you 1125 to 1175 fps depending on your barrel length.

5.0 grains of trailboss will give you 1150-1175 fps.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[Geezer in NH]

I would find some bullseye or red dot I use 4.5 of RD with Lees 113 soup can over the screens at 1150 in my 94. It shoots 3/4" at 30 yards and is quiet A bitore than a 22lr

[Mgvande]

Thanks allot I kinda figured that the 4227 would be slow. Perhaps that would be good for the 303brit with my 200gr cast.

[1Hawkeye]

My .30-30 plinking load is a Lyman 311359 over 7.5 grs of unique. Very accurate and zero recoil.

[Hick]

I get my best results for 90 and 100 grain lead bullets at about 4.7 grains of 700X or similar amounts using HP-38 or W231.

[runfiverun]

4227 will work well in the 303 with a gas checked boolit in the 18-1900 fps area.
for what you want here a powder faster than unique will be best.
bulls-eye, titegroup, red-dot, 700-x, all in the 5-8 gr area will work.

[Dan Cash]

10 grains Alliant 2400 under a 105 grain cast bullet works well for me out to something over 200 yards for lever action matches. I have never tried Reloader 7 with this bullet for my purpose. If it is all I had, I would have a go at it starting about 15 grains.

[Mgvande]

Thanks for all the info. Looks like I have to go to town and get some more powder.

[longbow]

Yeah, what they said on 4227. It is my go to powder for .308, .303 and .44 mag. for moderate to heavy loads. Faster powders are more suitable for lighter weight boolits and light loads.

I do like 4227 though and use it under the NOE 316299 (202 grs.) in my .303's with good results and have also gotten pretty good results using it under the Mihec 316410 (130 gr.) as well but I think faster powders would be more suitable for the light weight boolits.

Longbow

[Mgvande]

Yeah, what they said on 4227. It is my go to powder for .308, .303 and .44 mag. for moderate to heavy loads. Faster powders are more suitable for lighter weight boolits and light loads.

I do like 4227 though and use it under the NOE 316299 (202 grs.) in my .303's with good results and have also gotten pretty good results using it under the Mihec 316410 (130 gr.) as well but I think faster powders would be more suitable for the light weight boolits.

Longbow
Do you use a Dacron filled with 4227 in the 303?

[quilbilly]

You should have some good results with RE (RL)-7 but with lighter boolits you might find other powders that are faster burning to be more efficient such as Trail Boss, Unique, or even Bullseye. I have taken a liking to TB with the 130 gr plain base Lyman boolit. At a load density of 85%, I get 1300+ FPS for negligible recoil and it keeps the gong ringing out to 200 yards while also being very effective on coyotes at iron sight ranges.

[gunauthor]

I find that 8.2 grains of 700X with a 105 grain boolit makes for a fairly accurate, cheap to shoot plinking ammo.

[HABCAN]

18.0 grs. IMR4227 is a goto load for the .303 Brit that might work well in the .30-30 @ ~12 grs. RL7 would work too, but as other posters have said, a faster powder would be ideal IF you can find some.

[Mgvande]

Excellent feedback from all. Thanks a bunch. I bought the 3030 for my 8yr old daughter so once I get some faster powder she will be well versed in using it when she is old enough to hunt.

[hubcap52]

Many years ago I loaded some Speer 100 gr. plinkers for a friend to squirrel hunt. Used Unique or 700X.

[Mgvande]

Thanks allot. On a side note, last night I bagged a whitetail buck with my 43 Beaumont rifle. It dates to 1876 so that is 140yr old. I used a 420gr seco Mold that is supposed to be good for the martini Henry. Works good in the Beaumont though with 72 gr Ffg goex. I used 50-90 brass shortened and formed. Thanks for the info regarding the 3030 much appreciated.

[Jniedbalski]

For my 308 win I used a 100 grain rnfp pistole boolet sized to .310 . I tried Larry gibsons advice using 2.8 to 3.2 grains of bullseye use a search for his light loads in 30 cal on this site. I have tried noe 130 grain and lee 160 tl for the sks with good results sized to .310
using 5 to 6 grains up to 7 grains with great groops and also the noe .314 200 grain sized down using tha 7 grain load at 100 yards

[Mgvande]

Ok I'm heading to town. For the 96gr cast bullets I'm shooting in my 30-30 I have the following to choose from; 700x,reddot and titegroup. Which do you figure I should from. Any suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks

[Mgvande]

Thanks for the feedback. I just loaded up a dummy sized to .311 and they chamber so this weekend going to see how they work.

[TMenezes]

Any of those fast burning powders should work fine. My one ultra light load for 30/30 was 5 gr 700X and it worked fine. But in the end I found it way easier to load 357 mag light loads for a Marlin than to try to make my 30/30 shoot ultra light loads. The 357 will have very little if any recoil and for me was much easier to load with. Just my 2 cents...

[longbow]

Actually I generally use COW + graphite filler. Depends on the load but I like PB boolits because I am lazy and cheap so gas checks are work to put on and cost money. I find the filler works well at moderate velocities in the .303 where I would be getting gas cutting without a GC or the filler.

The whole filler issue is quite controversial to say the least but I have had good results using COW + graphite and plan to continue its use. Having said that you can't just add filler to any old load. You have to work up with the powder charge and filler.

Longbow

[Mgvande]

I did a ladder with the 303 with 4227 and only got to 24gr. Lyman says 26 or 26.5gr with a 200gr GC bullet. I put .5 grain of Dacron in each load. I found after 4 shots with the 24 gr load accuracy went way up to the point it was equal with my .312 jacketed. I think the velocity was at 1860fps. I plan on pushing it up to the Lyman max load but I'm inclined to reduce the Dacron weight a bit as the dove will be less.
with the 3030 and the 96 gr bullets I am concerned about case fill. I have reddot and titegroup.

[Olgun]

I've been using 5.0 grains of Unique under a 95 grain Hornady semi-wadcutter in my Remington bolt action 30-30 for an indoor target load. At 50 feet, groups inside a 3/8" circle are possible when I do my part. I don't use any filler.

[w30wcf]

"with the 3030 and the 96 gr bullets I am concerned about case fill. I have reddot and titegroup."
4.0 grs of either powder will work well with your 96 gr cast bullet. Don't be concerned about the airspace in the case.

Have fun!
w30wcf

[barrabruce]

Try a case full of 4895 over the lee 98 grain paper patched.
They bark real loud and go warp speed.

Personally I had no luck yet with the light bullets and low powder charges.
I get better groups with 150's and @ 2.5 grains of bulleye or simular than the lighter projectiles.
It seems I can't get the powder to build up pressure and burn properly for some reason.

Maybe my alloy is too soft or hard.

[Larry Gibson]

Try 2.7 - 3 gr Bullseye under a 90 - 100 gr cast bullet sized .311 and lightly lubed with LLA. I cast them out of range lead or other odds and ends of unknown alloy I end up with. As long as the alloy casts a good filled out bullet (I mostly use the Lee TL314-90-SWC) it's good to go. I lube them and size .314 in Lee sizer (those are then good for my .31 cal rifles) then lightly lube again and run through a .311 Lee sizer for .30 cal rifles. Lubing before sizing keeps the groves from being wiped/swaged away. No need for a wad or filler and no concern over powder position sensitivity unless shooting at extreme angles. Will give 800 - 900 fps out of a 30-30, excellent accuracy and more fun than a guy oughta be allowed to have.......WARNING.....don't let your wife, girlfriend, kids or "good buddies" shoot them or all you be doing is casting and loading........

Larry Gibson

[gpidaho]

I stumbled across a load very similar to Larry's when looking for a 22rf alternate. (I use TiteGroup) with the Lee 90gr SWC. He's right. Everybody who shoots these with me wants a box or two to-go. Gp

[Bookworm]

I also built a similar load, using Promo with the Lee SWC. I don't have my notes with me, but it's just under 1000fps, and very accurate at 25-40 yds.

And, an absolute blast to shoot. No recoil, very quiet, and cheap.

[GhostHawk]

I've done exactly what Larry said, and watched as my shooting buddy chewed through 45 out of the 50 I had made. At 25 yards they were right on the dot out of my Win 94 AE.

I suspect they would make a fine rabbit/grouse load when your walking in the woods.
And with that bullets distinct shape they are easy to tell apart from factory or heavier cast loads.

Very low noise round also.

Dang its good to have you back Larry. Missed you.

[ShooterAZ]

I tried the "Larry Gibson" load, found in a search on an older thread. That little Lee TL 314-90 with 2.7 BE will go into one hole all day long at 50 yds, shot from a rest. It is crazy accurate in my Win 94 Saddle Ring Carbine. I haven't had a chance to take any critters with it yet, but we're supposed to get a pretty decent snowstorm this weekend. I may don the snowshoes and go after some bunny wabbits.

[OlDeuce]

the 4.7 grains of 700X should a good choice for the 96gr cast ! Ol Deuce

[NorthMoccasin]

9.0 Unique and a 115g 311316 sized .310 shoots into less than 1" all day long from my Savage M24 30/30, even with its awful trigger pull.

[sandman228]

I found my light bullet 30 30 load, I just tried it out this morning . I loaded a lee .311 2 r powder coated and sized to .309 loaded over 5.0 gr of unique . it shot decent from my marlin 336 . the only bad part is they drop at .312/.313 so they need sized before and after pc .

[Mgvande]

I loaded up a bunch and got 1290fps with 5gr Red dot. I moved to 5.5gr Reddot and the speed went way up to 1360 fps. Accuracy seemed fine but I stopped there as I wanted to be a little slower. Nothing for leading though.
96gr 32 cal sized to .311 with Alox.
this has been on the back burner as I am playing with a snider.

[fatelvis]

Try 2.7 - 3 gr Bullseye under a 90 - 100 gr cast bullet sized .311 and lightly lubed with LLA.
I have used that powder charge successfully many times too. Lately, I have been having luck with Titegroup in cavernous cases and light charges in handguns. Have you ever tried Titegroup in this instance Larry?

[Mgvande]

I have a jug of titegroup as well. I think I may try that as well as the lower charge of red dot that I will be doing round 2 on.

[res45]

Try 2.7 - 3 gr Bullseye under a 90 - 100 gr cast bullet sized .311 and lightly lubed with LLA. I cast them out of range lead or other odds and ends of unknown alloy I end up with. As long as the alloy casts a good filled out bullet (I mostly use the Lee TL314-90-SWC) it's good to go. I lube them and size .314 in Lee sizer (those are then good for my .31 cal rifles) then lightly lube again and run through a .311 Lee sizer for .30 cal rifles. Lubing before sizing keeps the groves from being wiped/swaged away. No need for a wad or filler and no concern over powder position sensitivity unless shooting at extreme angles. Will give 800 - 900 fps out of a 30-30, excellent accuracy and more fun than a guy oughta be allowed to have.......WARNING.....don't let your wife, girlfriend, kids or "good buddies" shoot them or all you be doing is casting and loading........

Larry Gibson

I like this load as well and use it in multiple rifles like the Mosins,SKS's an Sav. 99 but my old Sav. 170 pump gun gets a steady diet of this load all the time. I like a 3.5 gr. charge of Bullseye for my purposes with the Little Lee bullet sized to .311" velocity is just over 1K fps. and it shoot good groups with the old iron sights out to about 50 yds.

http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b428/reloader7sixtworeloader762/30-3020Plinker209020gr.20SWC_zpszbykdhre.jpg