Lee C309-170-F in Henry single shot .30-30

[BrianB]

I plan to work up a load this summer for deer and don't feel like reinventing the wheel. What are you guys sizing to in this rifle? I have a .309 sizer, but I'm concerned that may be a tad small. Also, what mix are you using for deer and how fast are you pushing the bullet? I have pure lead and wheel weights.

[reloader28]

The only way to know what your rifle wants is for you to slug the barrel. It could be .307 or .311 you never know.

For hunting I like 50/50 pure and COWW. I usually size .310 but also use .311

[quilbilly]

Whether in my 308's, 30/30's, or even in my 32/20 (It's is a T/C with a 308 bore), I size all my gas checked 30's to nominal with excellent success. My plain base 30's get sized to 309. Every barrel has its own personality and yours will quickly tell you what it wants. Since real lead wheel weights are no longer available in my area, I alloy 60% pure lead with 40% hard chilled birdshot to get a little harder boolit. This alloy gives good accuracy and superb expansion without being too brittle at velocities from 1350 to 2000 fps. My own terminal velocity tests showed that the alloy will do anything I ask of it on deer inside 125 yards (iron sight range) at an MV of 1600 but if bear are in season, I bump that up to 1800 fps plus keep my shooting distance under 80 yards.