30-30 Cast Bullet Loads 165gr Bullets

[ADL]

I am sure this topic has been discussed before. I am having trouble finding the Berry copper plated bullets that I used to use with my 30-30!

So, I am taking the plunge in using 30-30 cast bullets.

I do not want to gas-check (I don't want to take the extra step to add those in, especially for plinking), and I don't mind keeping the loads under 1500 fps. I have tried searching for loads with some of the more common powders I use for my other loads: IMR3031, IMR4198, BL(C)-2.

I am not looking to poach off your loads. Are there any load manuals you could suggest?

Thank you for your help!

[Electrod47]

Red Dot can be your friend. Type in the search area 30/30 Red Dot. I've kept a couple 8lb caddy's on hand. I can load ALL my hand guns and rifles if need be. Plus all the fun loads for 30/30. I use it for Winchester 94. Marlin 336 and a handi-rifle with 6 grains which gives me 950-1000 fps. No filler

[gwpercle]

The number one load manual : Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 4th edition

You might not find much data for a 165 gr. boolit ... 150 gr. and 170 gr. are the standard weights :
Just start with the data for 170 grain boolits and you will be fine .
Remember , start low and work loads up slowly .

In my Winchester model 94 I use the Lee C309-170-F boolit , with a gas check , over 10.0 grs. Unique for an honest 1500 fps . My daughter loves shooting this one .

Little advice ... if your accuracy isn't that good ... install the gas check.
I've always had better accuracy with the gas check in place .
Start at 7.0 grs. Unique for 1200 fps without the gas check and see how that works .
I believe in gas checks myself !
Gary

[Bazoo]

Well, you can load full power 30-30 using gas checks. 26-28 grains 3031 just like for a jacketed. And in general gas checks are an easy way to avoid or control leading at those pressures.

Here's the Lyman cast bullet handbook 3rd.
http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manuals/Bullet%20Casting/Lyman%20Cast%20Bullet%20Handbook%20-%203rd%20Edition%20-%201980%20-%20Reduce.pdf

I like the loadbooksusa one book one calibers manuals for data.

[1006]

Some 4198 info:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?26543-help-30-30-loads-imr-4198

[waco]

From Lymans cast bullet handbook third edition. 279472

[quilbilly]

Gas check style bolts shot without the gas check as a general rule don't shoot well. The gas check makes the boolit so much more versatile because you can shoot lighter loads as well as hotter loads. I only have two plain base 30 cal molds and one is the 130 gr Lyman which my 30/30 just loves (and coyotes hate) at an MV of about 1300 fps. That boolit shot well with Red Dot, Unique, Trail Boss, and 5744 in my 30/30 at that velocity.

[waco]

GC Bullets without the GC can do just fine. 279478

[ADL]

Thanks everyone for your help. I found some green dot I will be playing around with and I will try other loads.

[Goofy]

GC Bullets without the GC can do just fine. 279478

Would be inclined to agree.

Lyman 311041, ~1,000 fps Same style without gas checks is available from Lyman as the 31141. Alloy is about 9 BHN. Single hole is a fouler, remaining 9 shots on the target were culls. Group of 5 on the left were ready to go apparently.

https://i.imgur.com/0LR49yA.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/pMT8cdH.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/B2WO5jX.jpg

Another day, another powder, same bullet in the top target.

https://i.imgur.com/RFdTs4U.jpg

[quilbilly]

I may have to try lighter loads with that boolit w/o the gas check in my 30/30 to get the MV down a couple hundred fps lower. I would be a delight to find that the 30/30 shoots as well as my 270 with a plain base boolit. My slowest have been about 1300 in the 30/30 but one of my 308 shoots 200's very well at about 1050 fps. I stand corrected.

[scattershot]

165 grain lead boolit 5.5 Red Dot, 3 rounds, two holes279505

[gwpercle]

GC Bullets without the GC can do just fine. 279478

Low velocity (6.2 grs Red Dot ) and the PC - Powder Coat... seems to do the trick .
If shooting conventional lubricated boolits , the gas check might be useful .
Gary

[charlie b]

I did a comparison a while back of the Lee 309-180 bullet with and without gas checks, lubed and powder coated.

First, the PC bullets without the GC did horrible. My theory was the PC was uneven on the GC shank area. Can't confirm that, but, the groups were in the 4"-6" range.

The lubed bullets, if the velocity was kept in the 1000fps range, were similar with and without. The ones with GC did a little better, 1.8" vs 1.5". If the velocity went up the non-GC bullets started to deviate more. The GC bullets were still shooting 1.5" or better at 2000fps, same as the PC bullets with GC.

PS when I had a .30-30 several years ago I shot a lot of the Meister hard cast bullets at reduced velocity (mostly with H4895 60% loads). They were as accurate as the jacketed loads I used.

[Alferd Packer]

I am sure this topic has been discussed before. I am having trouble finding the Berry copper plated bullets that I used to use with my 30-30!

So, I am taking the plunge in using 30-30 cast bullets.

I do not want to gas-check (I don't want to take the extra step to add those in, especially for plinking), and I don't mind keeping the loads under 1500 fps. I have tried searching for loads with some of the more common powders I use for my other loads: IMR3031, IMR4198, BL(C)-2.

I am not looking to poach off your loads. Are there any load manuals you could suggest?

Thank you for your help!

The Lyman 3rd cast bullet manual is a pdf Free online if you do a Google search

Also check out www.cornellpubs.com
for getting excellent reprints at reasonable prices of 2nd Lyman and 3rd Lyman cast bullet manual and a thousand other old Ideal and Lyman manuals from the 1920s and on up.

[paul edward]

I can report good results in a 30/30 with an old single cavity Lee 309-160R with gas checks. The round nose does not matter in a 340 Savage. Moderate charge of Unique make an accurate, low recoiling load.

[10x]

The number one load manual : Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 4th edition

You might not find much data for a 165 gr. boolit ... 150 gr. and 170 gr. are the standard weights :
Just start with the data for 170 grain boolits and you will be fine .
Remember , start low and work loads up slowly .

In my Winchester model 94 I use the Lee C309-170-F boolit , with a gas check , over 10.0 grs. Unique for an honest 1500 fps . My daughter loves shooting this one .

Little advice ... if your accuracy isn't that good ... install the gas check.
I've always had better accuracy with the gas check in place .
Start at 7.0 grs. Unique for 1200 fps without the gas check and see how that works .
I believe in gas checks myself !
Gary

Download the 3rd edition as well to get a wider variety of loads

http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manuals/Bullet%20Casting/Lyman%20Cast%20Bullet%20Handbook%20-%203rd%20Edition%20-%201980%20-%20Reduce.pdf