30 Herrett Contender loads

[JohnFM]

All my manuals are from before the cartridge or too new and don't list it any more.
Kind of hard to find too much on the internet too except for some jacketed loads.
Looking for some start up loads for cast in 100 to around 115 grn. to work with.

[Shooter]

Lyman #311359 115 Gr.
Powder
IMR 4227 start 16.8 vel.1620 max 21.0 vel. 1951
IMR 4198 start 16.8 vel. 1362 max 21.0 vel. 1691
2400 start 15.2 vel. 1602 max 19.0 vel. 1964
RX7 start 20.8 vel. 1311 max. 26.0 vel. 1816
10" BBl.

[JohnFM]

Great, thanks.
That gives me good figures to work with.
I had been loading 115 grn over 14 grns 2400.
Nice to see some comparable data for 4198 and 4227.
I was forming cases with 8 grns Unique, which seemed to work, but never found any other data on it except to fire form.

[Mk42gunner]

The second edition Lee manual has the .30 Herrett in it. How good the data is, or who it is from; I do not know.

Robert

[JohnFM]

I know that Lee manual has quite a bit of cast bullet loads in it.
Some day I'll remember to get a copy.

[Shooter]

Somewhere I heard that 7.62X39 has the same case capasity as .30 Herrett, and data can be interchanged.
YMMV

[JohnFM]

Thanks Shooter. That switched on a light. I remember reading something to that effect too someplace.

[TCLouis]

Lee Book says 1.97 cc for the Herrett and 2.03 for the Russki short so they are close.
Expansion ratio is essentially the same so one could likely use a modicum of caution and develop loads.

I like the fact that Lee uses cc's of Usable capacity when discussing case capacity.

[JohnFM]

Since I started digging for loads for that 30 Herrett I've found quite a few, so I doubt I'll even mess with working off that Russian round.
Found loads using from Unique down to I think it was Reloader7 that was the slowest.
Shot a bunch of Lee 311-100-2R sized to .309 and cast with Lyman #2 over 15 grns of IMR4227 the other day. That was a nice accurate load.

My barrel is one with really short free bore, so I've been choosing molds to cast a pointed bullet so I can seat them without getting too deep.
Since the molds are fairly expensive I think I'll try a 311410 next month.

Glad I have a good supply of 30-30 cases to work with. I'm finishing up reforming a 100 cases.

[canyon-ghost]

Check into Loadbooks USA like you see at the gun shows. I have both volumes for TC Contender.

Powder choices with Lyman bullets are H-110, 2400,SR 4759, IMR 4227, IMR 4198, RX7, and H-335

Loadbooks USA: 661-269-8991

PO Box 129,
Acton, CA 93510

http://www.loadbooks.com/index.html

On page four of the Store: Both Volumes For TC Contender!!

*Shaking my head, another lost Contender shooter, tsk, tsk.*

[JohnFM]

Yeah, there was a guy had a pile of them at a gun show I went to a couple weeks ago. Then got to BSing and forgot to go back.

[725]

Not to bring up those nasty J-things, here's a published "Suggested MAXIMUM LOAD DATA for the .30 cal Herrett", by Bob Milek. Reduce by 10% to start.

COAL:2.010
Speer .308, 110 Gr Varminter
CCI 200
24.0 Gr H4227
2,458 fps

COAL: 2.017
Speer .308, 110 Gr Round Nose
CCI 200
22.5 Gr 2400
2,509 fps

COAL:2.160
Speer .308, 110 Gr Spire Point
CCI 200
23.5 H4427
2,547 fps

COAL: 2.160
Sierra .308, 125 Gr Spitzer
CCI 200
28.5 Norma 200
2,299 fps

Note, thats H4227 and not IMR4227. They are close but not the same. It's all from the printed load sheet that came with the original dies when they first came out. FYI & good luck.

[JohnFM]

Which dies was that? The Pacific set T/C used to sell?
I have a set of them, but never got the papers that came with them originally.

[JohnFM]

Don't think I'll have much interest in bullets over about 130 grain.
It'll probably never do anything anymore but punch paper and plug an odd tin can.
I have a Lee 100grn PBRN that does nice, plus still have quite a few 115grn that fit right from MBC.
I've found a couple Lymans and an RCBS that look good.

[Lonegun1894]

I know you said that you probably wont have much interest in anything over 130grs, but I use the Lee 150FPGC, Lee 170FPGC, and the Lee 155gr GC as has been suggested, and all three shoot great. Definitely starting to have a preference for the FPGC designs though, but that is me, not the gun.
Mine is a 10" with a 4x Simmons scope, and with a good rest, no wind, and me crossing my eyes just right, the gun will do 3-4" regularly with any of the above boolits. My best group so far was 1 1/4", with 4 out of 5 rds going into 3/4", but I haven't been able to repeat that, yet.

[JohnFM]

I never had much interest in the Contenders, or the later models.
They've been popular around here for a long time, I know a guy who must have 15 or 20 of them.
I bought this one mostly on a whim because I thought that cartridge I got was interesting.
It's been fun to shoot and surprisingly accurate. Shoots way better than I can now, my eyes are about gone.
The scope on this one sure helps.
I have the advantage of a pistol range beside the house and the bench for a 500 yard range a couple hundred foot walk out the front door. So, I can put together some loads and just walk out and try them.
I'm sure now I'll be keeping an eye peeled for barrels

[wallenba]

Which dies was that? The Pacific set T/C used to sell?
I have a set of them, but never got the papers that came with them originally.

That's the set I started with. IIRC, the forming die could push the shoulder too far down. Getting that set right cost me a lot of brass as a beginner, you can't undo that.
I think I still have them somewhere. The RCBS is the best set.

[JohnFM]

I have the Pacific set. I had never done any forming to the extent these needed before.
I did luck out and run into a guy I knew from years ago who knew the 30 Herrett well and he gave me some pointers.
Then I've run across this:
http://www.bellmtcs.com/store/index.php?cid=172&

I built a jig for cutting off the necks, but of the first 50 cases I made, I still managed to ruin about 4 or 5.
Getting the die set up WAS a chore, but finally got that right.
Then I lucked out and had a couple bullets I could seat normally and still keep out of the lands with this short free bore I have.

Main problem I'm having now is getting the neck resized correctly without bumping the shoulder.
It works, but not really well.
I think I might break down and order that RCBS neck die.

[Leadmelter]

JohnFM
If you watch Gunbroker or Ebay, I have had some good luck there with TC barrels.
I scored a 375 Winchester barrel this spring in Super 14 with a muzzle brake for under $300.
I shoot 247gr Lyman cast. Lots of fun.
Gerry
MI

[Shooter]

Since the molds are fairly expensive I think I'll try a 311410 next month.

I have that mold. I haven't been able to make it "Sing" to me in the Herrett or .32-20.
I must not have found the right combo of powder and alloy.