Nother 30-30 cast question [hunting]

[Jeffery8mm]

Gonna be lots of questions before I am done!!! I see alot of loads listing 9 to 11 grains or so of Unique in the 30-30. Usually listed as a VERY accurate "plinking" load that runs around 1200 fps, give or take. Now for my question? If this does turn out to be an acurrate load for my Winny in the 1200ish range, and shots are in the 75ish yard range, can this load be expected to humanely kill a whitetail deer in the 100 to 150 lbs range??
Boolits are air cooled WW from a Lee 150gr gas check mold. Hornady checks. Lars 2500+ lube.


Thanks for all the help thusfar

Jeff

[jlchucker]

With good shot placement at a reasonable range, why not? Whitetails aren't armored monsters---most go about the same in weight as a large dog. Nobody needs a shortmag for whitetails. Think about it. For black bear, though, it's a different story. In any case, it would most likely be more responsible to use the 170 grain bullet loaded behind 3031 or AA5744 instead of your plinker powered by Unique.

[GabbyM]

You are at 357 mag power level so yes if you get the bullet to expand.
My Lyman book shows 11.0 grains of Unique as max at 1691 fps and 37,300 C.U.P.
That's the old Unique as I think it's changed and charge weights have dropped. Bullet listed is #311440. I'd use an alloy of BHN 10 to 12 for some good expansion.

[jimkim]

If you have Blue Dot try 13.0gr with a 100-170gr cast bullets. 13.0gr of BD gets me 1550fps with a 311041 in my Marlin. It is an old Alliant silly wet load.

[35remington]

Wheelweights are around BHN 12, and really don't open up much at impact velocities below 1300 fps.

Unless of nearly pure lead, or hollowpointed, the bullet at that velocity won't open much, if at all. It's already below the expansion threshold with most alloys that you'll use.

If expansion is what you want, you're best off gassing it up to the 16-1800 fps range, even for moderate range woods hunting.

Not making any judgements about how a nonexpanding bullet would fare - just pointing out that expansion isn't in the cards with that load.

[Jeffery8mm]

Thanks guys!! I did load up 5 rounds today with 25gr of 4064. Got an AV vel of 1605. Gonna go 26,27 and 28gr tis weekend and see where I end up. Not a bad group at 50 yds either.

Jeff

[jjamna]

Shot one deader than a hammer last year with a Lee 160 gr GC Boolit. I think I used Trail Boss though.

[Wayne Smith]

If you are comfortable with a boolit not expanding, fine. I'd be more comfortable with a caliber starting with 4, though. Don't need expansion!

[Hipshot]

I'd keep my shots to 50 yds. or less and be prepared to do a little tracking after waiting 30-60 minutes! But yes, just be prepared to take careful shots and do a little tracking !

Hipshot

[Larry Gibson]

Jeffrey8mm

11 gr of Unique under either 311041 or 311291 gives right at 1400 fps out of my M94 with 20" barrel. As mentioned by GabbyM that is .357 magnum power range. I would cast really soft (probably recovered .22 lead) and lube with Javelina using a GC bullet of 170-180 gr with a FN Or preferably HP'd. I would as you suggest keep the shooting range within 75 yards. However, it is not that hard to get the same accuracy with the same bullet using a little harder alloy though at 1900-2000+ fps out of the 30-30. It is then the same deer killer it always has been. That's the nice thing about the 30-30 and cast bullets. The right ones can equal factory velocity and performance. No sense handicapping yourself when you don't have to.

Larry Gibson

[Bret4207]

The 1400 fps type loadings are about what the early 32-40 loads were. They will kill a deer at closer ranges, but you have to think a bit differently. You well may find you get through and through penetration, but then again you may not. Your best bet is to get close and learn the anatomy of the deer really well. A neck or head shot will do the job, a shot to break the shoulders also, a heart or lung shot means tracking.

Personally I'd up the speed a bit, use a FN design and still concentrate on shot placement.

[Jeffery8mm]

Thanks guys. I have gotten up tp 1900fps so far and really like the load I am using. Acuracy is good with no leading at all. As someone stated, I am not going to limit myself with the lesser loads. I have fallen back in love with the Model 94 thanks to cast boolits!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jeff

[spurrit]

Shot one deader than a hammer last year with a Lee 160 gr GC Boolit. I think I used Trail Boss though.

Would you mind sharing the load? I used the data from RCBS #13, if I recall correctly, and my shots were all a FOOT below POA at 25 yards!