Which caliber for target shooting, paper & steel?

[iMigraine]

Just curious which rifle caliber for cast lead boolits would you recommend for ringing steel and paper targets? My limited experience/knowledge would guess something in at least .30 caliber. After casting .224 boolits, they are a pain in the **** compared to 30-30 which I have done.

TIA

[ulav8r]

Hard to go wrong with a 30 caliber.

[Winger Ed.]

Any of the .30 cals. will work. Loading data, molds & bullets for them is well plowed ground, and they just want to be accurate.

[gypsyman]

Depends on the distance. I cast a 55gr for the Hornet, which if punching paper, or NRA hunter pistol silhouette, works just fine. Further out you go, bigger is better. The .22 55gr are a pain to gas check, trying to align up bullet/gas check when sizing. (I use a Saeco lube sizer) For longer distance, 7mm or .30cal works much better.

[samari46]

30-30, 308.30-06, 7.62x54r,7.5x55 Swiss. Frank

[stubshaft]

30/30!

[charlie b]

What range will you want to shoot at?

.30 is a good choice for a number of reasons, first being the huge selection of molds. You can also find combinations for longer ranges. And they usually are 'easy' to cast.

But, other calibers will work just as well if you can find the bullet you want. And yes, the smaller calibers are a bit more difficult.

Cartridge is a harder choice. If for shorter range, 100-300yd, then a smaller case will be more efficient. The benchrest folks like the .30BR for that. For longer range, 500-600yd, you'd want something like a .30-06 and a long barrel.

Or....move to something like the BPCR and a .40-90, .45-70, etc.

Then there are the other calibers, like .35's, that work as well.

One thing I didn't figure into my choices was recoil. At longer ranges you need a longer bullet and higher vel. That means a heavier recoil. That is what steered me away from the bigger bores to start with.

Yep, haven't helped much have I? :)

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[Jack Stanley]

Hard to go wrong with thirty caliber and bullets above a hundred eighty grains weight . Recoil does get noticeable with bullets more than two hundred grains and twenty-three hundred feet per second . But then , how big is the steel and how big a reaction do ya want ?

Jack

[Iron369]

Nobody has suggested 300 blackout so I will since you said 30cal

[Thumbcocker]

For an easy button it would be hard to beat a .308 with a 1:12 twist. Fwiw Tikka uses a 1:11 twist in hammer forged barrels and we have had good results with ours.

[Hondolane]

32-40, 38-55, 40-65 are great bullets.

[Soundguy]

35 rem..38/357.

[dverna]

IMO it is silly to waste primers selling for $100/k and powder at $50/lb to punch paper and ring steel. Even sillier when you have to waste time to clean brass, reload, cast bullets and lube them. And in most cases, need to make a range trip.

But if you have money and time and enjoy casting, lubing and reloading, use whatever caliber turns your crank. I would use a pistol caliber carbine but I tend to shoot a lot and want something that uses cheap brass and can be reloaded on a progressive.

If you do not have a lot of money and time, invest in a good air rifle or shoot .22's. Almost all my plinking for the last 2+ years is done with PCP air guns. I shoot for less than $15/1000 and average under 1" groups at 50 yards. You will be hard pressed to get that accuracy with a cast bullet. There are downsides. There is no brass to police, no hearing protection needed, no casting and no reloading. Oh crap...those are not downsides!!

[Larry Gibson]

For an easy button it would be hard to beat a .308 with a 1:12 twist. .........

Older Winchester M70s chambered in .308W have 12" twists as do some Remington M700s target and PSS models.

Only way to beat that choice is to build your own 308W rifle. If you go that route, then a bolt action with a single stack mag (avoids feeding problems) with a 26" barrel with a 14" twist chambered in 308W is an excellent choice.

Bullet of choice for either way would be the NOE 310-165-FN [30 XCB].

[georgerkahn]

Just curious which rifle caliber for cast lead boolits would you recommend for ringing steel and paper targets? My limited experience/knowledge would guess something in at least .30 caliber. After casting .224 boolits, they are a pain in the **** compared to 30-30 which I have done.

TIA

For me, I exclusively use .30WCF -- the good ole thirty-thirty! Not today's most popular calibre, brass is relatively easy to find, inexpensive, and -- when loaded for this -- seems to "last forever". (I seem to cull more due to corrosion than, say, neck splits or loose primer pockets!) You wrote, re 30-30, "which I have done".? Curious why you have not continued this calibre. While I never do a Lucas (the Rifleman") fantasy ;) -- it is almost a "rush" to work that lever as quickly as one might (for me) five times -- watching that gong get "splats" and hearing the wonderful sound... Just me...;)
(As a btw, I "discovered" a product called Puff-lon -- a filler -- which I use in these loadings to complement my IMR3031 powder; plain-based lead cast bullets -- ZERO leading, and not too-shabby accuracy potential. Inexpensive loading as a "plus", too.)
geo

[fastdadio]

I vote for the 30-30. The long neck makes it pure joy for loading cast boolits. All you need and nothing you don't. My second vote would be a nice .50 cal Hawken rifle.

[iMigraine]

Curious why you have not continued this calibre. While I never do a Lucas (the Rifleman") fantasy ;) -- it is almost a "rush" to work that lever as quickly as one might (for me) five times -- watching that gong get "splats" and hearing the wonderful sound... Just me...;)
(As a btw, I "discovered" a product called Puff-lon -- a filler -- which I use in these loadings to complement my IMR3031 powder; plain-based lead cast bullets -- ZERO leading, and not too-shabby accuracy potential. Inexpensive loading as a "plus", too.)
geo

Ha, yeah the 30-30 I cast for is my sister's Marlin 336 and she's NOT willing to part with it. So, I might get a Marlin/Ruger 336 or.....

[fastdadio]

Ha, yeah the 30-30 I cast for is my sister's Marlin 336 and she's NOT willing to part with it. So, I might get a Marlin/Ruger 336 or.....

Bolt guns make for a more enjoyable experience when doing a lot of shooting from the bench by not having to lift the rifle to work the action..... Lever guns for woods walking and stalking, bolt guns for bench shooting and sitting.

[charlie b]

And a bolt if you are looking for tight groups.

Lever actions are fun, but, near MOA at 300yd they are not.

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[hc18flyer]

My brothers and I really enjoy our Yugo Mausers in 8 x 57. The were excellant $350 rifles and easy to cast and load for. I also have a Henry single shot reamed to .357 Maximum, accurate and fun to shoot with pb pistol bullets. A thutty, thutty would be awesome too! hc18flyer

[GhostHawk]

I have to agree with Don Verna.

For the price of a thousand primers, powder, lead, and brass you could buy an air rifle that will let you shoot for about 1.25 cents per round.

With a little work you might even be able to shoot indoors. Not a lot of noise, very little smoke, and when your done you turn off the lights and walk away.

When I'm done with a trip to the range there is brass to be cleaned, boolits to cast, cases to size, prime, charge, and load the cast in. Pack it all back into the ammo boxes before your done. Depending on how much you shot it can be a day or several days before your done.

Ohh and 12$ per hundred primers make .22mag ammo look pretty reasonable. And again, no work.

Now granted for the most part it is work I enjoy doing. But I could be doing something else, like fishing too!

[marshall623]

For lever action Silhouette it's the 30-30 , to hear your own bullet hit that ram at 200yds brings a smile .

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[GhostHawk]

I will say my 4 most accurate rifles are .444marlin, .357mag, .44mag, and 45 colt. All H&R Handi Rifle single shots.

I shoot them all downloaded from full house loads with cast boolits and Red Dot. From 4.6 grains in the .357 as high as 13 grains in the .444. But I backed those down to 6.5 grains for comfortable shooting. Both the .44 mag and the .45 colt were stacking them up nicely at 100 yards.

With moderate loads you can save money on powder and lead. 200 and 220 grain work as well as 240 gr cast.

[rintinglen]

To each, his own. But I'll be darned if I drive an hour to the range just to shoot a BB gun. If you live out in the boondocks, more power to you. But discharging a projectile in city limits can get you a hefty fine, and I've got neighbors who might not be so understanding.

I reload because I like to, (and for some of my guns by necessity--not many boxes of 9 mm browning long on the LGS shelves.) I cast because I enjoy the sense of communion with days gone by, because it gives me a sense of independence.

[BLAHUT]

Just curious which rifle caliber for cast lead boolits would you recommend for ringing steel and paper targets? My limited experience/knowledge would guess something in at least .30 caliber. After casting .224 boolits, they are a pain in the **** compared to 30-30 which I have done.

TIA

30 cal or a 45/70, I use both.

[Texas by God]

The Easy Button would be a .308 or 30-06 bolt action.
The 30-30 in a bolt action is wonderful- if you find one.


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[budman5]

I am wrapped up in the nostalgia of by gone days. I hope she shoots good groups.

[Gobeyond]

I’ve done OK with 30-30. Ringing steel out to 200 yds with 16.5 grains imr 4227. sAFE. Kinda far to group on paper. Have good visible adjustable sights. Gets it in the ballpark. Target about 12x18”. Easy to compensate for drop. I thinks it goes about 1600 FPS. Maybe somebody can confirm.

[GregLaROCHE]

For paper I would choose 6.5 x 55 Swede. However, for metal targets, I’d like something in .45 cal.

[Shopdog]

260 Rem would be my first pick..... but would recommend a 7-08.

Love loading jacked up 22-250's and slightly less 223's.... and these two do have more choices in twists,along with VERY light lead usage. But they aren't without challenges towards handling and the other "fun" stuff(nose sizing,bumping,etc).

The 6.5 and 7's have a very nice balance for moulds and ease of handling. Wide range of powders and rifles available. Good luck with your project.

[Rich/WIS]

You didn't say how far you plan to shoot but if your current 30/30 is accurate enough for the range you plan to shoot I say go with that. There are any number of molds available from the basic Lee to name brands in a wide weight range and even custom molds, depending on how thick your wallet is. In 30/06 and 30/40 have used the Lee 170FP and 200 RN, RCBS 165 SIL, the NOE copy of the Lyman 311284 and 311291 and the NOE 311-115. All worked well for ringing steel at 100 yards and the 311291 at 200 yards at velocities in the 1600 fps range.

[Rapier]

A good modern single shot rifle in 7mm to 358 cal.

[wcp4570]

I shoot a number of different calibers and enjoy them all but my all time favorite has to be my Browning 1885 Traditional Hunter 38-55. With a 250gr bullet it shoot tight groups and make you smile when shooting steel targets.

wcp

[dtknowles]

I have an H&R Topper in 30-30 that shoots cast nicely. It is very handy I guess that is why later editions were rename as HandiRifles. I have not put a scope on it. It is my iron sight (peep sight) offhand steel bashing gun. It shoots around 2" groups at 100 yards off the bench. In sitting position I almost never miss the steel at 100 yards. Offhand well, that is just harder. Almost none of the shooter at the local range are man enough to stand up and shoot the steel. I don't think many of them could hit once in 10 tries. It is not a bad bench gun. You only sort of have to pick it up to reload but it does disturb your position on the bags. If would cost a bit more if you can find one but I would prefer a rolling block. I have a Swedish rolling block in 12.4 x 44 my loads are not as accurate as the 30-30 and it burns a lot more powder and lead. It is kind of overkill for the task. I picked a 30-30 because I had the reloading stuff already. Doing it again I might go for a rolling block in 32-40 or 38-55 that would be a bit more friendly with black powder if that tweaks your interests. You could even make your own powder and the rolling block can be reloaded without moving it on the bags. Makes shooting off the bench a tiny bit nicer. Bolt action guns are just not as handy. A 308 bolt gun is not a bad choice.
Tim

[brstevns]

My 2 favorites or the 30-40 Krag and the 7x57

[jonp]

30 Cal or 8mm

[Krag 1901]

I'd pick the rifle you have. I have a 30-40, a 308 and a 30-06. But My local range has a monthly Silhouette shoot and I find my Krag is my go to. A long neck, a slick action. plus a weird gun makes it fun.

[dtknowles]

I'd pick the rifle you have. I have a 30-40, a 308 and a 30-06. But My local range has a monthly Silhouette shoot and I find my Krag is my go to. A long neck, a slick action. plus a weird gun makes it fun.

Krag, weird ??????