30-30 loaders - good load data?

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Marlin 45 carbine

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if you load for this classic round I would appreciate info data on loading both cast and jacketed slugs - hopefully the new LeveRevolution polymer tips included.
is a gas check required for cast slugs in this chambering - also it's for a Marlin lever with Micro-Groove rifleing.
 
Try working uo some loads with Sierra 150 FP slugs in front of H335. Work up to the max load (33.0 grains, IIRC, but check the books). I haven't fired it in dads marlin yet, but that load have proven itself capable of one hole groups of about 40 caliber at 25 yards with iron sights at 25 yards in a half dozen win 94s in the family. Can't imagine it'd do much worse in the marlin.
 
Micro-groove rifling and cast bullets often don't get along too well together. You can make it work, but it ain't easy.

Marlin has pretty much done away with it except for the 30-30 & .22RF.

rc
 
Gas Checks will help the bullet grip the Micro-Grooves, as well as using hard bullet alloys and keeping velocities reasonable.

My Browning M92 in 44mag has Micro-Groove rifling and it mainly gets feed cast 250gr gas checked hollowpoints running around 1600-1700fps. Works fine, excellent accuracy and no leading problems.

Some cast bullet styles will have better success than others, like ones with long bearing surfaces that allow it to grip on the smaller/thinner rifling lands.

A drop of adhesive/super glue on the bullet base, when seating gas checks can also help to ensure good bonding of bullet and gas check.
 
The "trick" for getting microgroove (mg) barrels to shoot well with cast bullets is to size to a larger diameter.

After finding that sizing to .311" brought about wonders in accuracy improvement, I size ALL of my .30cal rifle's cast bullets to .311".

Depending on what velocity level you want, detemines whether or not to gascheck..
With the .30/30, if going over 1,600fps, use a gascheck.

You can get wonderful accuracy with 7.5gr of Unique under most any bullet thats been sized to .311" and lubed with Lee Tumble lube. I you later decide to load the bullets faster, you can gascheck them and lube with 50/50alox and load them essentially as you would a jacketed bullet.
Just remember that given an equal charge weight, the velocity of the lead bullet is going to be about 100fps faster.

These are some of my favorite loads:
125gr Sierra JFNHP, crimped to groove, 36.0gr RL15; 2,550fps (v. accurate
130gr Speer JFN, " " 37.5gr RL15, 2,625fps (accurate)
150gr Rem. Corlokt, " " 36.0gr RL15, 2,425fps (20"bbl) devasatating deer load
170gr Rem.Corlokt " " 34.0gr RL15, 2,310fps (20"bbl)
superb all around load (try this with Hornady FTX bullet !)
Lee .309 150gr FNGC (w/w metal- aircooled, SPG or 50/50alox lube) Hornady gc, crimped to crimp groove. casts 158gr; 30.0gr RL15 (accurate!) 2,150fps works as well on deer as jacketed bullet.....(size to .311, casts .313")
above w/o gascheck, tumble lubed, and unsized..... 7.5gr Unique; accurate and 1,300fps; wonderful "coffee-can" load....

Other powders to consider Win748/BLC2 -same powder, different can label
H4895,H335, IMR3031, H322, IMR4064, Varget, H414 w/170gr bullet.
 
Micro Groove and cast bullets in 30/30... No problem here, and none ever expected? I too use a Lee 150 grain FNGC with and w/o gas checks depending on what I wanted to do with them. I also used 7.5 grains of Unique, and 5 grains of Red Dot with no gas checks/filler, 50/50 NRA formula lube with very good accuracy.

Bullet shown is this Lee 150 with a cast weight of 154 grains of moderate hardness, and note the deep, accuracy gleaning rifling marks. Bullet works real well in my 06 as well. I shoot them as cast, and as with all cast bullets I use, if it will chamber easilly I go for the largest diameter I can get. Improper sizing (usually going too small) is the #1 problem in my experience and opinion concerning cast bullets. I have had this mold for almost 30 years, and have no intention of parting with it any time soon.

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With jacketed bullets, WW748 and IMR 4064 have worked well for me, but be advised; IMR 4064 charges are very heavily compressed if that is of any concern, and requires a firm crimp.
 
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i love my load shoots great outa my marlin 36 gr of win 748 and a 150 gr speer flat soft point im shootin just over moa (1.4 average at 100 when i had the scope on)
 
Yup, I'm waiting on the LeveRevolution bullets to reload myself. A few more days hopefully.
Up to this point I had used only one bullet and one powder in the 30-30. 150gr Speer FN with IMR3031 powder. Never seen a need to change until now.
I'm betting Varget or H4895 might be the powders to try with the new LeveRevolution bullets.

NCsmitty
 
thanks to all for the info - now can anyone tel me of a fair-priced supplier of gas-checked slugs? I checked Beartooth and they cost as much as jacketed!
BTW I started loading pistol rounds w/advice from this Forum (and The Fireing Line) and haven't been disappointed with results.
 
Cast your own!!

I too still have my original Lee .309 150-FNGC I bought in 1975 for $11.00. They now sell for ~18.00 from Midway USA. Still have the pot, ladle, and lube/sizer (the hand version,not the loading press version now sold). Actually, I gave them to my brother, bought me another mold, however....... and "new style" sizer............

If you have a Coleman stove, or a $10 HotPlate from Walmart, ect. you can get a pot, ladel, sizeing die, moulds, lube, and gas-checks for $50-60. You'll recoup the investment in 300-400 bullets, or about 2-3 casting sessions. A new hobby, and become a much better shooter.............

Whats reloading, if you can't make your own bullets?
I asked my brother today, "why do I even bother to by jacketed bullets?".....
Cast bullets will do everything I "need" to do.........
 
I do make (cast) my own slugs/balls for my BP rifles and revolvers - that's what got me into handloading for my cartridge firearms. I even sell the slugs to other C&B revolver shooters.
just don't have the time for anything else right now, I'm behind on orders for BP slugs. I'll see if I can squeeze it in. I don't have time to go to the range as it is!

I have 4895 and 414 and 335 powders.
 
I checked Midway today, and now they've put the expected release date for the LeveRevolution bullets off until 1/31/09.

NCsmitty
 
I have 4895 and 414 and 335 powders.
Click to expand...

The 4895 (IMR or Hodgdon) and H335 can make up some good loads, and both are a very traditional burning rate for the cartridge. Looks like H414 can be used too, but you will have to use more of it, and IMO the burning rate is a little too far on the slow side.

If H414 is used, especially in frigid weather I would strongly suggest a "strong" magnum primer such as Fed 215M. Even the ball H335 load I would use a mag primer in any weather condition.
 
Lee reloading data has IMR4895 at 30.2 grains using 160-170 grain bullet. I loaded up a hundred last weekend using that recommendation. Don't know when I'll get out to try them out now. :confused:
 
ScottsGT

Nosler load book is close to the same loading for flatnose 160-170gr., wasn't sure if the more aero efficiant FTX would use a different load. I will try your suggestion once I get my new reloading bench finished.

Issac
 
I received my FTX Hornady's last week but haven't loaded any yet. I will probably use Varget to start and use a 32gr charge and see how they shoot when the weather gets better.
A couple more powders look promising but the 20" barrel will limit the slower powders effectiveness I'm guessing.
Rel-15 showed the highest velocity with 170gr, and Win 748 a close second at a favorite data site. That's with a 22" barrel.

NCsmitty
 
essayons21, I'm thinking that you may be a little tentative with your load of IMR4064. How does the load that you mentioned seem to shoot? Hornady doesn't list a load with IMR4064 using the FTX bullet.
Hodgdon shows 29.8gr of IMR4064 as a start load with 170gr Sierra FP and 31.7 as a max load.
I see no reason not to work up to at least the 29.8-30.0gr of IMR4064 under the FTX 160gr bullet, as long as you watch for pressure.
I have exceeded the load listed by Hornady using H4895 with no signs of pressure in my Win 94 w/20" barrel. I did not shoot for groups, just over the chronograph. I intentionally did not list my load here.
If you're cautious, you can create your own pet load.



NCsmitty
 
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