30-30 and confused

[scvpiper]

Well I thought I would check out loading cast boolits in my m94 30-30. After reading way too much over the last couple days my brain is over loaded. Im looking for a 170 gn gc boolit. Which one to get? Im not casting yet but im sure that will be sooner than later.

[MT Gianni]

31141/311041 FN and the 3131291 RN are the two classics for the 30-30. I like the RCBS 180fn also.

[bradh]

I was given a bunch of 149gr GC bullets from www.proshootpro.com and I load them with
18gr of 4759 for a youngers to shoot....they just love it.

[BoolitBill]

Lyman's 311041 is supposed to be the boolit made for 30-30s way back when. However, I have recently purchased molds from BRP products and I have been impressed with their quality. They have a 311041 improved mold that would be just what you need. You can choose the number of cavities you want and for a little extra you can have one hollowpointed. Lyman sometimes produces a good mold and sometimes the boolits are undersized. I would rather pay more money and get a great mold than less money and have an OK mold. BPR's website is http://www.brp.castpics.net/
Whatever you choose you will enjoy casting! Good luck!

[Lead Fred]

If you dont mind waiting ahile

http://www.ranchdogmolds.com/

See the left side of the website, the "new" link

Ranch Dog has what is quoted as the best 30-30 mold out there on group buy.

If you cant wait that long, order one, and get a Lyman or RCBS to hold you over.

Im using a Lee, and will be so happy when I can toss it out.

[scvpiper]

Thanks guys Im going to call Montana Bullet. Do I want Lino or heat treated? Do you know another sight with a better price for the 311041 FN?

[jlchucker]

Thanks guys Im going to call Montana Bullet. Do I want Lino or heat treated? Do you know another sight with a better price for the 311041 FN?

In the end, you'll find that if you buy a mold for the boolit you want, get some wheelweights and some pure lead, and a box of gaschecks, you'll arrive at a better price. You need to dive right into casting, and after you do, eventually you won't be happy with storebought lead boolits. Good luck--and if you can, see if they'll sell you some cast with Lyman #2 alloy. You won't really need lino boolits in a 30-30 if you're loading for accuracy first. Those won't bounce off deer or bear either.

[BCB]

I have had good-luck with the 311041 in the Model 94 also. But not so good in a Super 14" Contender--needs some work and it might be O.K. too...

I am shooting it from my 94's at velocites 1700 fps and 1800 fps using IMR-7383 and WC-852...

I did not have very good accuracy trying to increase the velocity much over 1800 fps. Maybe more work might have proven that to be wrong...

I don't think you would go wrong with the 311041...

Good-luck...BCB

[MT Gianni]

Thanks guys Im going to call Montana Bullet. Do I want Lino or heat treated? Do you know another sight with a better price for the 311041 FN?

I'd say no to lino or heat treated. Go for a BHN from 12-16.
Shipping is the factor for most bollits. Figure that in as much or more than initial cost.

[Doc Highwall]

Don't forget that the Bullshop that sponsors here at the bottom of the page can make you some bullets also, check out his web site.

[izzyjoe]

:) you might try the lee 309-170. works good fer my 336's and my boss's 94 size'em to .310+ wd ww. should get you started cheaply and accuratly.

[Larry Gibson]

Thanks guys Im going to call Montana Bullet. Do I want Lino or heat treated? Do you know another sight with a better price for the 311041 FN?

Don't know about the prices but LazerCast out of Baker City, Oregon makes a good 311041 copy that is GC'd and lubed. They shoot well in most 30-30s.

I also suggest the 311041 or one of it's copies.

Larry Gibson

[Newtire]

I agree that the 311041 is a great one. A nice plinker is the Lee 150 grain and several folks here use the 170 grainer of Lee's. The price is reasonable so when you wear it out (if you do) it doesn't cost much to begin with. Once you've siliconed on the handles and put in a sprue plate screw and peened the pin holes that hold on the handles, they make real decent boolits. I have the 150 and an old 190 grainer from long ago and the 150 grainer still makes a great bullet.

[Throckmorton]

Laser Casts gc boolits were pretty spendy last time I checked.
Give our vendors here a look see to help support the site,it's appreciated.
When you get some,for grins and giggles,try them with 10 grains Unique for some fun cheap plinking...clean your barrel realllll good 1st of all jacket material if any have been shot in it.

[Suo Gan]

As a wise soul once told me, "Let the gun tell you what it wants." Take a careful chamber cast that details the step, throat, leade, groove and bore. Once Betsy and you are acquainted she might decide that you are the man for her. Betsy may not want the 170 grainer you bought her...she may want a different one...measure carefully.

The Ranch Dog boolit is a neat little bugger, it shoots well in my Marlins and Winchester 94. That boolit was designed using math and levels of bullet engineering I will never attain, and not guessanometry (which sometimes trumps math, lol). It has killed several coyotes this winter, and a ground squirrel in the yard... a lot deader than need be! It is a keeper for my guns. The RCBS 180 is just great too, 31141 good, so is Saeco 316.

Have fun, buy some molds and let the load development take hold. Also try Bullshop for some of those boolits you do not want to commit to yet.

Hope this helps.

[NickSS]

I have and shoot a number of 30-30 rifles and they all like the 311041 bullet and the lee 170 gr flat point. I use them both and they work really well. Some loads I have used are 8 gr of Red Dot, 10 gr Unique, 18 gr of IMR 4198 and 18 gr of AA 5744. All of these loads produce groups of 10 shots into around 1.5 inches at 100 yards from a bench rest with two different 94 Winchesters, a Marlin 336 and a Pedersoli Rolling block.