First reload supplies-which rifle?

[Mootpoint]

Hi, I’ve read plenty of posts here over the years, in addition to reading manuals, YouTube, etc. I’m going to begin reloading for one of my rifles. I have four to choose from: Ruger No.1 in 45-70 (very early gun, 1970 I believe, supposed to be a Douglas barrel), a Ruger No. 3 Krag (1974) a Marlin 336 in 30-30 micro groove (1970 pre-safety), and a Winchester 94 in 32-40 with a 23” barrel and half mag, from 1982, an Oklahoma jubilee commemorative, coil spring, top eject.

They are all in very good condition. My only hardware concerns are the Winchester has a heavy trigger…must be something to address that, it’s otherwise a good break. And, the No. 3 Krag firing pin hits primers off center, always low, 6:00. I’ll try attaching a picture. Especially regarding the off center primer hits, would you be worried?

My criteria for choosing is, primarily, likelihood of success reloading and casting. Then what cartridge is a good long term plinker and hunting rifle/usefulness. I’m not a go to the range sub moa kind of guy. I have teenage kids and we live in the country. We like to go out back and shoot, and do a lot of deer and small game hunting.

For a new reloader, what gun would you start with? What would your second choice be? I appreciate your input before I invest in supplies (I do have plenty of Krag brass, I’ll mention, so that’s not an issue in choosing). Thanks

[Jack Russel]

I'd start with the 30-30 and then move to the 45-70 . Get some experience

[Barry54]

Welcome to the forum!

I’d recommend starting out with 30-30. If you ruin some brass while learning, it’s easy to replace.

And for picking a first mold, short and wide is easier to master, than long and skinny, as a generalization.

[sukivel]

I would say 45-70 from that list, but 30-30 is almost as easy.


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[Texas by God]

The #1 and # 3 Rugers will be easier to load for since no crimp is needed.
But all four cartridges you list are easily reloaded.
And I’m envious of all four rifles!


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[K43]

They're all good cartridges and rifles for cast shooting. I'd start with the 30-30 or 30-40 as the easiest to get good accuracy without a lot of fuss. Microgroove rifling in the 30-30 doesn't have to be a problem at all. Read this article on the Microgroove barrels and cast bullets: http://www.lasc.us/FryxellMarlin-MicroGroove.htm
I wouldn't be worried about the Ruger #3 firing pin if the rounds always go bang. A photo would help us know if it is way off center or just within production tolerances and not the perfection we'd desire.

[JimB..]

I’d start with 45-70, in fact it was the first rifle round I loaded.

Do you have any reloading experience?

[Shawlerbrook]

Agree with the 30 30 as brass and components are very easy to find. I find that when loading for my tube magazine leverguns where a good crimp is needed the Lee factory crimp die makes that operation very easy .

[dverna]

Another vote for the .30/30. I had the same gun but could not get it to shoot cast to my expectations. But I am an accuracy snob, and in the end decided the journey was not worth it for me. In fact, I do not shoot cast in any bottleneck cases. Lots of folks get decent results with cast in the .30/30.

With the current cost of scarcity of Large Rifle Primers it is something to consider. My cast bullet rifles for plinking are a pair of .38/.357 Marlin 1894's and they shoot 1" groups at 30 yards with cast. Bear in mind many of us here are old farts who started in the good old days when components were cheap and plentiful and the smart guys have put up (hoarded...LOL) a good stash of stuff.

I am too cheap to shoot CF rifle for plinking and did so little hunting that jacketed bullets were the sensible choice for serious work. Most of my plinking now is with airguns and .22's. With LRPs over $.10 each spending my time to prep cases, cast, lube, size and reload was not cost effective.

[MrWolf]

Like others have said 30-30 then 45/70. Good luck.

[Soundguy]

None of the cartridges are particularly hard to load for..easiest will always be straight cartridges..then next are usually rimmed. 45-70 and 30-30 would be my start..with 45-70 first.. Very forgiving..especially thru a no.1

[sukivel]

None of the cartridges are particularly hard to load for..easiest will always be straight cartridges..then next are usually rimmed. 45-70 and 30-30 would be my start..with 45-70 first.. Very forgiving..especially thru a no.1

This is what I was getting at in an earlier post. Straight wall cartridges…


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[Mootpoint]

Thanks guys, appreciate the feedback. I’ll mull it over. I can’t get pic to upload off my iPhone…when I figure that out I’ll post pic of those off center primer indents. I hear what you’re saying about costs, Dverna. My biggest cost concern, honestly, is more behavioral than anything. As I’ve been looking around at availability of components and calculating future ideal usage etc, I feel tempted to buy way more than I probably should, and I’m not even reloading yet! The Alliant powders that half the loads mention aren’t being made anymore, leftist political threats to all things 2nd amendment…I feel compelled to stock up in a way that would feel irrational if it were food or firewood, etc. I have to suss that out. I’m just thinking out loud here.
So, an actual question, large pistol primers in these rifle cartridges, ok to use in low pressure cast loads (say 1800 fps or less with faster powders)? A buddy’s uncle is moving into assisted living, or something like that, he has a ton of LPP’s that I could get cheap. Maybe other stuff, I’m going over this weekend. Thanks, Moot

[Barry54]

I will also tell people considering taking up reloading to pick the cartridge that’s the most difficult to get ammunition for or uses the most expensive ammunition.

One of the biggest attractions of reloading for me is assembling what can’t be bought off the shelf. The 125 grain Sierra hollow point for the 30-30 comes to mind. It’s a hammer on whitetail!

A friend said his daughter wanted to try shooting clay targets because her friend was on the school team. I loaded some 1/2 ounce 12 gauge loads for them. Switched her to 3/4 ounce 12 gauge loads and she didn’t notice. She got good at straight away targets and started sending them right or left. Success!

Don’t let the sun set on a good deal. Buy the old guy stuff and put it to use. Or trade it.

I read on here of people having a ten year supply or a lifetime supply frequently. Or at least enough to get all the way through the next presidential term. Another quote I liked was “buying a pound of powder is like putting a gallon of gas in your truck.”

[country gent]

Components other than bullets are basically the same the 45-70 and 30-30 32-40 dies may be a little more expensive and bullets harder to find. This is also true for the krag.
What I will ask is do you have brass for any of these on hand in quantity?I would consider 45-70 then 30-30 unless you have fired brass for one or the other. Look at the cartridges you list in a loading manual and you will see several powders that will do them all. All are large rifle primers. So once you start it will be a new die set and different bullet.

Handloading can make the 45-70 very versatile.

[Delkal]

I know it is sacrilege here but I would start with jacketed bullets to load any of your bottleneck rifle cartridges. Learn to reload first before you move on to cast. Since the 30-30 and 30-40 both use the same components either (or both) of them would be a good place to start. For many loads the same powder can be used so all you would need to load both are the two dies.

Eventually you will get the best bang for the buck loading the 30-40 or the 45-70 with cast bullets. Last I checked both of these are over $2 a shot now assuming you can find them in stock.

[Tracy]

.45/70, then the .32/40. That Winchester is a great cast bullet rifle; way better than a .30-30, especially a Micro-Groove one.

[scattershot]

I’d start with the 45/70. Dead simple to load for, from mild to wild, lead or jacketed, and a single shot rifle, to boot.

As to the LPP question, anything you can get cheap is a good buy these days, you’ll use them eventually, or trade them for something down the road.

BTW, Unique is ablout the closest thing to an all around powder there is.

Good luck, and happy reloading, whatever you decide to start with.

[Shawlerbrook]

Ditto of grabbing a deal on LPP. And I have reduced load recipes for tge 30 30 with lightweight cast bullets using large pistol magnum primers. Guys over on the Marlinowners sight had a great old post with a spreadsheet of many reduced and light bullet 30 30 loads.

[beshears]

In a pinch 30-40 and 30-30 could use same bullets, powder and primers.