How do I get to 550 yards with a 30-30

[barrabruce]

O.k. What you be the best way to get 550 yards with a 30-30 with more moderate loads?
I have 150’s and 170 grn bullets b.c. about 0.240 I suppose.

Do I aim for the bullet going transonic on top of it’s flight at say 2-400 yards.

I don’t think I can make all the way super sonic.

I would even be up for using gas checks if I really have to but have had no luck with them.
Pp works if I clean the barrel often.

I have done it once years ago but forgot what I did.

[onelight]

Stalk

[farmerjim]

To get 550 yds with a 30-30 just get the proper elevation.
Here is 1,000 yds with a 9mm handgun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ3XwizTqDw

[badguybuster]

I would think dropping down to a 110 or 115 graim bullet would better your chances. I shoot my 300blkout to 500 on ocassion using 110 grain fmjs over some Lil Gun.

[Larry Gibson]

What rifle?

What sight(s)?

[trebleplink]

A heavy boat-tailled bullet launched fast and elevated.

[10x]

I have had the best accuracy at long range with the Lee 150 Grain GC with powder coat and sized to 0.310"
The other bullet i use is the Lyman 311466 with powder coat and a gas check.
I have found that these bullets seem to give good accuracy up to 1750 fps in the 30-30 and the 30/06.
And that is enough velocity to give you the ability to shoot at 550 yards with the correct hold over.
Each gun is different, so you will have to work up an accurate load with the bullet you choose.
I have found that sizing to 0.310" or 0.311" after powder coating reduced group sizes.

[Win94ae]

Well, I only had iron sights that would get me from 100 to 500 yards when I was using cast bullets, but I didn't do anything special. The round is going 2250fps.



I used a gas check, I've never tried powder coat on that bullet yet, but I intend to this year. Try it with your present load.

I only ever had a problem with transonic flight, when shooting my Marlin 1894S 44mag [1 in 38 twist] using 265gr bullets, the twist rate is not fast enough to keep that bullet stable. The 1 in 12 twist of my 30-30 keeps even the 180gr bullets stable.

Good luck!

[PAndy]

I don't think you can really do much to manage the transonic change issue...just do the best you can. If you try to go subsonic the whole way you will need a huge amount of elevation on the rear sight! I say heavier bullets will work better, but my only experience with that is a 45/70 .

[10x]

Well, I only had iron sights that would get me from 100 to 500 yards when I was using cast bullets, but I didn't do anything special. The round is going 2250fps.



I used a gas check, I've never tried powder coat on that bullet yet, but I intend to this year. Try it with your present load.

I only ever had a problem with transonic flight, when shooting my Marlin 1894S 44mag [1 in 38 twist] using 265gr bullets, the twist rate is not fast enough to keep that bullet stable. The 1 in 12 twist of my 30-30 keeps even the 180gr bullets stable.

Good luck!

Nice shooting!!
Using that gun you load on Sunday and shoot all week? - description stolen from Confederate soldiers who encountered Henry lever action repeaters.

[country gent]

I have shot the 38-55 to 500 yds in silhouette matches I shot a 365 grn bullet over BP at 1200 fops. It gets there ( not real quick though) and gives a nice wiggle on the swinger and good ding. Time of flight is a little over 1 sec. In 30-30 ( depending on twist) I would try a 170-190 grn bullet. It starts a little slower than the lighter bullets but after 300-400 yds its ahead of them. Start out with a big target dont try to make it a seeing contest, use a good program to get you come ups and a spotter coach to watch for hits and misses. A dry sandy berm is a plus to see hits and misses. Elevation can be figured very close but wind is a different story here. The reason for the spotter.

there are 2 ways to deal with the transition start out enough above it stays above the whole trip or start out below and add more elevation.

Once you get the elevation setting it gets better every time you try it.

It can be done and its nit as hard as you might think. Some work with the chronograph velocities at 2 points muzzle and 200 yds works well, from this you can find a program on line to figure the true BC of your bullet load. Then use a ballistic program to get the adjustment from 200-500. The big thing will be if your scoe sights have enough adjustment in them for this.

Dont remember the come up with the 38-55 but my service rifle with 168 match load was 1 click up at 200 yds and 24 clicks up at 600 so 23 clicks or minutes of elevation at 600 yds thats around 140" of drop. You will want several wind flags to see what its doing and where.

I shot 243 out to 1000 yds with heavy vld bullets 1-7 twist 105-115 grn. starting out at around 2800 fos time of flight was 1 1/2- 1 3/4 secs a long time for wind to work on the bullet.

One thing to help understand this is to spot for a shooter at these ranges. watch the bullets trace in flight in the spotting scope. it will start out looking like its going to hit 10 targets down and be yards above the target. Then the wind catches it and gravity and drop take over and it comes back into the target. looks like a banked corner on a race track.

[flyingmonkey35]

Walk 450 yards closer to your traget??



Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[mr surveyor]

"hold up more front sight"

Heard that somewhere


jd

[onelight]

"hold up more front sight"

Heard that somewhere



jd

That quote is a classic .

[charlie b]

Nonte's pistol smith book includes front sight work for longer range. Put a horizontal groove in the rear face of the front sight to fit a brass wire. Instant long range sight.

[polebilly]

We shoot a cast bullet match at Ridgway every year. I,ve spotted for 3030's before and as long as the sights will get there, no worries. Probably best with a 170 or more grain bullet. Go for a max load though. John Cort, rest in peace, shot one in regular silhouette matches with cast bullets.

[barrabruce]

Stalk...... well that’s probably the best solution except I’m not sure I would trust the other shooters at the range to keep their bullets straying over towards be.

It is for my h&r single shot 30-30 monstrosity of a thing.
I have a 1-5x with approx 100moa come ups to play with.
A just subsonic pope style 308403 at about 1050-1070 and I could just get that far.
I will have to work up a load thou.

I will have no idea where the impact will be if one could see it ..
I need a big target.
Maybe one lying flat on the ground would be more appropriate.
I will have a go and progress up from that.
From a 50 yard zero velocity 1050 308403 breachseated with a b.c. Of 0.284 = 95 moa with a 50yrd zero.
Time of flight 1.85 sec
It will still be going 780 fps and is stable at that velocity.

Bang..one thousand..two thousand.. three thousand....and a ......?
I can see myself shouting it out to myself....hahaha
Thanks for the ideas and insight.
Will have cast some lead up soon ..

Thanks
Bruce.

[John Boy]

Ideal 311413 mold oh eBay
Charge ... http://stevespages.com/308_9_170.html

[charlie b]

Use a heavy bullet. 2000fps and a 200+ gn bullet might still be supersonic at 500. I use a 210gn bullet at 1900fps in my .308 but I usually only shoot to 400yd. Group size depends on wind and load consistency.

Forgot, .30-30 may not be able to push it that fast. But, heavier bullet will retain velocity better, regardless of muzzle velocity.

[smithnframe]

Aim high!