30-30 Cast Bullet Loads

[cisco]

I have just started shooting my 30-30 Model 94 in a local Silhoutte shoot. They shoot from 50 meters out to 200 meters. I have been using Winchester 748 Powder with a 165 grain cast, gas checked bullet. I started with 33 grains and my groups, especially out to 200 meters, were not good. I moved back to 30 grains and my groups, off a bench, improved greatly. Am I using too much powder? What do you guys that shoot in matches like this use in the way of powder for 30-30. I am more or less stuck with the 165 grain gas check bullet. A fellow makes them for sale locally so he is my only source for bullets. One fellow at the match told me I was distorting my bullets with 33 grains of 748 and to move back to 30 grains or less. Like I say, when I did move back to 30 things improved, but I just tested this out to 50 yards so far. No telling what will happen out to 200 meters. Any info will be greatly appreciated. Thanks-

 

[Matt G]

There was a fellow over on TFL named Paul B that was a veritable font of info on loading cast bullets for the .30-30. I'd try to look him up, if I were you.

-M.

 

[Quantrill]

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/lists/cbl.html

Try this E-list from the Cast Bullet Assn. They have a lot of cast bullet rifle shooters. Quantrill

 

[labgrade]

Not .30-30, but I'm using a Lyman ~170 gr GS RFN bullet, #31141 with excellent results in .308/.30-06

I seat the bullet out hard engrave the lands & then work the load up to whatever shoots best - some amazing accuracy.

Check out Lyman's cast bullet manual & read An Oldie, But Goody (I believe). Talks about accurate shooting casts out of rifles.

 

[SASS#23149]

you can get 170gr gc bullets from lasercast.try em,some guns like diff. bullets.My marling shoots em real well.I"ve only seen em sold by the hundred but I'll bet if ya bought em in quantity the'yd look at a price break for ya.
www.laser-cast.com I think that's the link anyway.
working up an accurat load in YOUR gun is part of the game.more powder is not allways the answer.
how fast are you pushing your bullets.??most cast bullets lose accuracy as you approach 2k fps.

 

[Poohgyrr]

I know there is a lot of really good info and great people on the forums today. But back in the '80's I bought a good book by Sam Fadala on the Win mdl 94 30-30 that goes into handloads, accuracy, hunting (including antelope), and other stuff. It has a lot of good info on this rifle & caliber, and some additional info on other calibers as well. A great book, email me if you want the title & other info on it.

John
[email protected]

 

[GooseGestapo]

Cisco;
I've had best luck with cast bullets in .30/30 using IMR-3031. With the cast bullet your'e going to be limited to 2,200fps for best accuracy with a gas checked bullet (not a problem with most bullets in a .30/30)
However, the info I have on the LaserCast is that it does not have a gas check, so, you won't get the accuracy with any loads above 1,700fps that you need for the silhouette shooting. If your game, try one of the Lee moulds. Use a .311 sizing diameter as I've found that this gives better accuracy.

 

[Cherokee]

My fave 30-30 load for cast bullets is with IMR-4895 GI surplus. These loads do well for me in my 94 26" Classic:
176 gr Gas Check, 21.5 gr
154 gr Gas Check, 22.0 gr.

The 154 gr is Lee 309-150 sized .310 with Thompson Red lube. This is my best load out to 100 yd. Have never tried past 100.

Good luck, the 30-30 is fun with cast bullets. GBA

 

[Poohgyrr]

Winchester's 30-30 Model 94

Sam Fadala

COPYRIGHT 1986
Stackpole Books
PO Box 1831
Harrisburg, PA 17105


TS536.4.F33 1986 683.4'22 85-14806
ISBN 0-8117-1905-7

 

[mothernatureson]

30-30win cast bullet

i need a plinking load for the 30-30 using a cast 113gr with out gas check. i can't find anything on this load. thanks.

 

[Cherokee]

Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook has a whole bunch of loads for the 113-115 gr bullet. The Lyman is GC but not needed for plinking loads. 7 gr of Red Dot, 700X, Green Dot, PB, Unique, Herco will give you around 1300-1400 fps at around 22-25,000 CUP pressure. More important is to size the bullet to match the throat, usually .310, maybe .311

 

[mothernatureson]

30-30 cast bullet

thanks for the info, i have some 700x that i use for my trap loads.

 

[SASS#23149]

GooseGestapo...

Laser cast does have gc bullets,as well as those without.AT least they did,I hven't looked lately.I have several 100-paks of their bullets w/gc applied by them.They shoot great.
Also,you are right about 3031 being a good shooting powder.!

 

[Clark]

I don't know much about cast bullets compared to those who have done it more, but I get the best quality bullets from Western Bullets and Beartooth. Western has much better delievery times.

I understand that Castperformance is good too.

For the 357 magnum and 9x23, I have great sucess with garden variety hard cast 158 gr LSWC that are cheap.

I also get copperized cast bullets from National, because I can shoot them at indoor ranges.

I have a bunch of ammo loaded up for the 30-30 per Cherokee's suggestion, just waiting for the wind to die down so I can go to the range.

Bullet manufacturor
http://missoula.bigsky.net/western/
http://www.johnsonprecision.net/
http://www.proshootpro.com/
http://www.bonusbullets.com/
http://www.castperformance.com/Default.htm
http://www.castperformance.com/
http://www.castperformance.com/
http://www.carrollbullets.com/
http://www.laser-cast.com/
http://www.beartoothbullets.com/index.htm
http://www.montanagoldbullet.com/
http://www.scharch.com/r-bullets.htm
http://www.midrivers.com/~bullshop/Untitled/Page_1x.html
http://www.nationalbullet.com/
http://www.shooterstore.com/acb/webpage.cfm?WebPage_ID=345&DID=108
http://www.LibertyShootingSupplies.com/
http://www.phoenixbullet.com/products.htm
http://www.mkcb.com/
http://www.precisionbullets.com/products.html
http://www.sixgunner.com/creeker/Default.htm
http://www.pennbullets.com/
http://www.rhinobullets.co.za/evolution.htm
http://gunlinks.zibycom.com/members/002245268/Site2/02hv.html
http://www.magnusbullets.com/index.html
http://www.westcoastbullet.com/#products
http://www.bergerbullets.com/faq.htm
http://www.hornady.com/
http://www.nosler.com/
http://www.speer-bullets.com/
http://www.sierrabullets.com/
http://www.barnesbullets.com/
http://www.jdcomponents.com/prices/prices.html
http://www.maadigriffin.com/
http://www.theshop.net/chas/sureshot/products.htm
http://www.neihandtools.com/
http://www.beast-enterprises.com/slugs.html
http://www.rozedist.com/
http://benchrest.com/bib/proven.html
surplus powder
http://www.zcr.com/hitech
http://web.mountain.net/~kneiper/surpow.htm
http://powdervalleyinc.com/
http://www.gibrass.com/gunpowder.html
http://www.chestnutridge.com/products/brass.asp
http://www.alabamaammo.com/
used brass
http://www.turngray.com/
http://www.rvow.com/Cases.htm
http://www.southernbellebrass.com/rifle.htm
http://www.cheyennebrass.com/
http://www.scharch.com/

 

[Poohgyrr]

All right Clark. Thanks.....

 

[Cherokee]

Clark: Let us know how those reload work out in your 30/30.