Roundball fun with the 30-30

[entropy]

I used 7 gr. Unique polyfill on top of it to keep the powder down on the primer, and a .315 Hornady round ball for .31 revolver. Handy to pot rabbits, grouse and squirrels that wander by the deer stand.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I have used Gulf wax to make .30-06 gallery loads before with just a primer. It works enough to knock over plastic "soldier" figurines at 30 paces. Kind of gunks up a barrel, tho.

 

[Bazoo]

I'm told crayons work for wax bullets. I never tried them though. But I probably will try that too at some point.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Cool, looks like good grouse and rabbit loads while you're out on the deer hunt. Your gun is on my "had one once, regret getting rid of it, and will get another one if I every have a chance" list.

i always wanted to eat a Canadian Goose! they are so fat!

 

[Mark_Mark]

Round ball .22 LR!!!! someone do it

 

[troy fairweather]

Round ball .22 LR!!!! someone do it

I did some years ago when I had a smoothbore Remington 33, was pretty dang accurate 15 yards.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I did some years ago when I had a smoothbore Remington 33, was pretty dang accurate 15 yards.

and after 15 yards?

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Been done. It’s called a .22BB cap or Flobert 6mm. It’s one of the oldest cartridges made. Comes in round ball, conical, pellet and round nose.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Been done. It’s called a .22BB cap or Flobert 6mm. It’s one of the oldest cartridges made. Comes in round ball, conical, pellet and round nose.

OK…. I just learned something new

 

[troy fairweather]

and after 15 yards?

Don't know exactly, never shot it past 15 on paper but shot a few squirrels at 20 maybe 25.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

OK…. I just learned something new

That’s the idea. I learn something new every day, when I’m lucky.

 

[Mark_Mark]

That’s the idea. I learn something new every day, when I’m lucky.

I learned about .32 Super Carry today

 

[Bfh_auto]

Ah someone else doing things with the old 30-30 besides 150 and 170 grain bullets. My plinking load is a 135 grain coated cast flat point over 11.7 grains of Alliant 2400 powder. This was my first cast rifle load and took some help from the folks here to get sorted out.

I’ve heard of these round ball loads too but haven’t tried them. My next attempt will be either 30-30 Miniature or Short Range loads with either 115 grain cast or 110 grain FMJ bullets. I want to get away from 2400 as my limited supply is dedicated to my 357 magnum. The Miniature and Short Range can use W231. This information is solely based on posts from the Marlin Owners Forum so take it with a grain of salt and the link provided by some kind soul here.

Oddly I’m downloading 30-30 and stuffing the 357 to the rafters with powder. Full power loads in a 6 lb. rifle are too much, but full power in a handgun? Bring it on.

Not to derail. But a 110 fmj seated long and Blue Dot are crazy accurate.
Your 2400 should do the same with a little more velocity.

 

[Mark_Mark]

OK… a True Round ball through a a rifle barrel. Would it still be accurate? thinking out loud here

 

[DMW1116]

I have seen an older guy at the local range shooting round buckshot from a rifles muzzle loader with black powder. He gets groups about the size of a soda bottle cap at 25 yards regularly. They’re smaller than the x-ring of a 25 yard timed fire pistol target for certain. It’s not a rifle at rifle distance but the potential is there.

 

[DMW1116]

Not to derail. But a 110 fmj seated long and Blue Dot are crazy accurate.
Your 2400 should do the same with a little more velocity.

I’d like to be able to find some more 110 grain FMJ bullets. That H335 load didn’t shoot great but I have extra H335 and not enough 2400. Maybe I’ll dig around today and see what I can get.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

I spent some time with a 30-30 and some round ball loads, some years ago.
Using Clays powder - 2.2gr Clays 868fps
It was fun, I wanted to go to 2.5gr but never did.

I had better luck with the Lee TL314-90-SWC and Promo (RedDot) powder.
3.7gr Promo got me 1047 fps from a Mossberg 464. ES of 38 fps, SD 16.4.
I put 3 rounds in 3/4" at 25 yds.

Keep it at about 1000 fps, should be no problems.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I have seen an older guy at the local range shooting round buckshot from a rifles muzzle loader with black powder. He gets groups about the size of a soda bottle cap at 25 yards regularly. They’re smaller than the x-ring of a 25 yard timed fire pistol target for certain. It’s not a rifle at rifle distance but the potential is there.

I was thinking, a rifle spin is a a spin, it should gyroscope and spin and stabilize

 

[DMW1116]

I didn’t mention above it’s a competition pistol for black powder competition built on a S&W 41 frame. I doubt the balls are round when he shoots. They are driven in place by a little ram rod and dead blow hammer he carries in a kit. From what I can tell they spin fine though.

 

[Barbaroja]

warning! Squirrel guts!
Alright gentlemen! Some real results! I got out this morning and was able to connect with a very large grey squirrel using my round ball load. She was quartering towards me on the side of a big tree at about 22 yds. It hit her farther back than preferred but the load worked perfectly. Pretty shocking the size hole created by that single buckshot pellet. Giving the wound on the squirrel I’d have full confidence in this load up to raccoon sized animals and I would even take a shot on a coyote (within range) and be pretty confident it would be it’s last day.
I’m pretty sure I need a buckshot mold now.

 

[Mark_Mark]

warning! Squirrel guts!
Alright gentlemen! Some real results! I got out this morning and was able to connect with a very large grey squirrel using my round ball load. She was quarrying towards me on the side of a big tree at about 22 yds. It hit her farther back than preferred but the load worked perfectly. Pretty shocking the size hole created by that single buckshot pellet. Giving the wound on the squirrel I’d have full confidence in this load up to raccoon sized animals and I would even take a shot on a coyote ;within range) and be pretty confident it would be it’s last day.
I’m pretty sure I need a buckshot mold now.
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you going to fry it up?

 

[Barbaroja]

Just won a b square scope mount off of eBay. This is going to get better

 

[Barbaroja]

you going to fry it up?

This old gal is quite big ( read that as tough) so I’ll going to braise her in some chicken stock, tomatoes, onion, capers and olives and then eat her over some rice.

Not sure I’ve ever been as proud of a squirrel as I am this one

 

[Barbaroja]

This squirrel had a huge amount of fat on her. Like I have never witnessed before, ever curious I opened her stomach and I’m almost positive she’s been getting fat on wild hazelnuts, her stomach contents smelled like Nutella.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

This old gal is quite big ( read that as tough) so I’ll going to braise her in some chicken stock, tomatoes, onion, capers and olives and then eat her over some rice.

Not sure I’ve ever been as proud of a squirrel as I am this one

Of course, as you type this delicious sounding recipe I'm sitting here after wall-to-wall meetings eating my late lunch of plain spring mix and radish sticks.

Thanks.

NB: pour about a half glass of white wine in with the braise. Squirrel and white wine go together like rice and Louisiana hot sauce.