Cast bullets in .30-30

[Mike Irwin]

Did I say anywhere that I wouldn't employ practices necessary to arrive at at least passably accurate loads?

No, I didn't.

But if I find that I'm having to put a lot of effort into getting it to shoot even marginally well, it's very likely that it's going to be bored out and rechambered to .38-55.

[dahermit]

But if I find that I'm having to put a lot of effort into getting it to shoot even marginally well, it's very likely that it's going to be bored out and rechambered to .38-55.

I think your best bet then, would be to concentrate on bullet nose fit. If the bullet nose falls in under its own weight, it is too loose. If you have difficutly or it will not enter the muzzel at all, it is too tight. If it will go in with resistance to thumb pressure, it is just right. My favorite and best shooting bullet in my 30-06 was a Saeco 301. But that bullet nose was way too loose in my 30-30...had to find one with a larger diameter nose.
If you can get some samples of the bullet you are considering before buying and see how the noses fit the muzzle (slight press fit), of your rifle, and you find a bullet that has that press fit, it most likely would result in acceptable accuracy.
Being that you wish to buy your bullets instead of casting them yourself, indexing them is out of the question anyway.
A single-shot, bolt action 30-30 re bored to .38-55 would be disconcerting to Cast Lead Bullet Rifle Shooters, inasmuch as they seek them out for target competitions and guns could not be re-bored and still shoot in the Factory Sporter class. A re-bore would represent a yet smaller pool of 30-30's from which to seek a good Cast Lead rifle shooter.

[Fatelvis]

I cast the Lyman 311041 (was designed originally for the 30-30), from straight wheelweights, add GC, size it to .310", use Speedgreen lube, and 16 grns 2400 for a light load, or a heavy charge of IMR8208 for long distance work (silhouettes). Great shooting caliber with cast boolits!

[Sure Shot Mc Gee]

Since I was young and all throughout my working years. I've had the ability to buy decent models of 1894-94s here and there in my travels. All are pre 64 built. Most came in either 30 WCF or 32 caliber. Since I started casting for my 32s recently. I have yet been able to purchase a Lyman or MOE 311041 mold for my 30-30. (So that's where I'm stuck for the time being until things loosen up in the market place.) Both the 30-30 and 32 Special are pretty much the same in ballistics. Equally fun rifles to shoot. But when shooting jacketed verses cast. It would be unfair of me to form an opinion just quite yet on which would be my preference in my 30-30.
When one has 100lbs or better of wheel weight material ready for the casting pot out in their garage. "You know you just hate to think you may have to buy some store bought cast bullets some day." __Winter ending now. As said by many throughout history: I may just have too bite the bullet on this one._

S/S

[Mike Irwin]

My Savage is a 219, a beak action, hammerless single shot.

[dahermit]

My Savage is a 219, a beak action, hammerless single shot.

Whoops. I had assumed that when you said "...Savage...single shot...", that it was a bolt-action.

[jaguarxk120]

The nice thing about the Savage 219 is the barrel-- it's 26 inches long , not like the short ones put on the 94's and H & R rifles.

And since it is a break open rifle you can use any style bullet in it.

[reloader28]

One thing I aint seen mentioned is that you do have to flare the case mouth when loading the cast bullets.
Lee sells a universal flaring tool for $15 but I just made one. But for best results, you do need to flare the mouth.

[Mike Irwin]

Not a problem. I realized I hadn't identified it, so my bad.

Yep, I know about flaring the case mouths, just as I have to do when I'm loading lead in my handguns, and just as I did when I loaded lead in my .300 Savage years ago.

[jaguarxk120]

The best is the Lyman "M" die, it expands the case mouth just enough for cast bullet seating.

[kostner]

So far my best performing 30-30 bullet is the LEE C-309-150-F

Mine too and that is my favorite fun round can shoot it all day long.

[dahermit]

The best is the Lyman "M" die, it expands the case mouth just enough for cast bullet seating.

Have a Lyman "M" die, a RCBS .309 cast bullet expanding die, and a Lee cast bullet expanding die. The advantage of the Lee is that it can be used to expand many different cases with only one die.

[Unclenick]

It can, and I have one, but it's tapered so doesn't cause bullets to start in straight, the way the little step made by the Lyman M die does. Unfortunately you need a different diameter step for each caliber. But once you have it, in pistol ammo you can see the slight bullet base location bulge on the surface of the case becomes more even all around. With rifle bullets, assuming you started with a straight neck, measured runout is reduced. A number of people are using the M die for loading jacketed rifle bullets now, because of that.

[57K]

They'll cost you a bit more but the TrueCast 170 gr. gas check from LaserCast is very good and probably the hardest cast bullet on the market. No leading problems at around 2000 FPS. I loaded them with Ramshot X-Terminator and got very good accuracy. Now I buy my cast bullets from Missouri Bullet Co. and wouldn't hesitate to try their gas checked bullet.