Tula steel cased .30 carbine in the Ruger Black Hawk?

[CoyoteSix]

Hey all, just a quick weird question. I've been delving into revolvers today and came across the Ruger Black hawk. I like the .30 carbine round and SA revolvers are becoming an interest to me.

So to get to the point: Can I use Tula steel case ammo in the Black Hawk? It be cheaper to keep a healthy supply on hand than any other traditional SA revolver caliber. It'd also be cheaper to practice with (use good ammo for serious use of course ).

I just figured since its a revolver there's no extractors to break, and no gas system that short strokes etc.

Thanks for helping a Newbie!

 

[zxcvbob]

Yes, it works just fine.

 

[BCRider]

Check the bullets themselves with a magnet before you buy any. On some steel cased ammo the bullet jacket itself is steel as well with a copper wash over it.

I know it's a very mild steel but I still wonder if it would wear away at the rifling that much sooner. When shooting some steel jacketed MFS ammo from a Tokarev there are sparks out well away from the muzzle that look suspiciously like the "stars" you get when grinding steel. When I saw that I decided that other than my Mosin surplus ammo that nothing with steel jackets is going to pass down through any of my guns.

And then there is the issue of milsurp ammo simply not being as consistent for velocity which leads to open groupings. I don't know how you like to shoot your guns but for me a SA handgun is mostly about the accuracy of me and the gun. If this Tula ammo is loaded to this same open spec for consistency then I would not want to use it anyway.

Besides, it's not that big a deal to gather up some good brass cases and bullets and load your own. Then you have full control over the power and behavior of your ammo. And like you say, it's not dumping it onto the ground so you won't lose any.

 

[firesky101]

It will work just fine. If you can, shoot one before you buy, the .30 carbine blackhawk is louder than some people like to shoot.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I seem to recall wolf having very sticky extraction from my old 30 carbine blackhawk.

So much so the cylinder had to be removed to get the empties out.

But its been years since id owned the gun

All in all the 30 carbine blackhawk is a huge pain in the --- and an exercise in pointless. If I could hunt with it like I can my 30-30 revolver it'd be different. But to put up with that much blast and ammo cost to shoot a 110 g bullet at 1600 fps. It just doesn't add up.

If you want a revolver with cheap ammo to stock up on you need to look at a 9mm/357 45acp/LC blackhawk. Either of wich will cost half what it does to feed a 30

 

[unspellable]

30-30

What sort of revolver do you have that's chambered for 30-30? What kind of velocity do you get with it.

I viewed the 30 carbine in a revolver as more of a small game round with a decently flat trajectory for a bit of range.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Its a magnum research BFR

With factory loads 170g bullets @ 1750

150grs 1870 fps+-

125g handloads 2000

All approximately depending on the exact load

 

[Drail]

Make sure to keep your chambers clean. .30 Carb. uses a tapered case. They can stick like a wedge if your chambers are roughly finished or dirty. I used carbide dies to load them and found I still HAD to use case lube on about every 3rd one or they would stick in the die. If I had a .30 Carb. Ruger I would most definitely use a Flexhone in the chambers to remove all of the tool chatter they leave in there. Every Ruger I have seen had very rough chamber finish. For a long day at the range I would also take a rod/brush with me and punch the chambers every 50 rounds or so.

 

[Steve C]

I would think a .30 carbine Ruger screams for handloads using soft point or JHP bullets from Speer or Hornady rather than the FMJ military ammo.

They are right about the muzzle blast. I shot at a range one time when a guy with a Ruger .30 carbine Black Hawk lit her up about 4 stations away. Louder than any .44 mag I've ever been around.