|
March 4, 2014, 04:23 PM
|
#1 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: October 3, 2005
Location: East Ky
Posts: 196
|
cast bullets in 30-30
I have some Missouri bullet co's 165 gr cast bullets sized at 309. My question is I only have three powders available to use and want plinking loads that won't lead my barrel. I have unique,2400 and IMR 3031. Anyone shoot plinkers with cast. They will be shot in Winchester 94 in 30-30. any ideas?
|
|
|
March 4, 2014, 05:14 PM
|
#2 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: December 31, 2011
Location: Vermont
Posts: 2,076
|
9-10 grains Unique...
http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm I use Red Dot with basically the same bullet you have, and also with .310" round balls... |
|
|
|
March 4, 2014, 11:33 PM
|
#3 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: March 12, 2012
Location: Land of Enchantment
Posts: 436
|
I've had good luck with 3031 in my 94 using the Lyman 173-grain 311041. Excellent accuracy.
I size them to 0.311" |
|
|
|
March 5, 2014, 10:20 PM
|
#4 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: January 7, 2008
Posts: 3,224
|
Well, I use LazerCast 170's and hand-cast Lee 170's lubed with Lee tumble lube. Both bullets gas checked and sized to .309. Loaded at or near full power as I want them to track right with the jacketed ones without changing the sights. Rifle is a circa 1942 vintage model 94 Winchester. I haven't used 3031, but of the two you mentioned, that's what I'd use. I've had good results with IMR 4895, 4320, W-748, and BLC-2.
|
|
|
|
March 5, 2014, 11:13 PM
|
#5 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: July 31, 2012
Location: Land between the Lakes
Posts: 267
|
6-9gr unique.... according to the link above... at 10gr the group opens up.
|
|
|
|
March 5, 2014, 11:33 PM
|
#6 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: January 7, 2008
Posts: 3,224
|
P.S. Leading
Leading? What leading? Not a problem for me. My velocity goal is to get 170 grain bullets to at least 2,050, and up to 2,200 fps with decent accuracy, whether cast or jacketed, from my 20" barrel. Somewhere in that range is what a 30-30 should be expected to do. Reduced loads are fine for their purposes, but I'm thinking of it primarily as a Deer and Black Bear rig.
|
|
|
|
March 6, 2014, 06:19 AM
|
#7 | |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: December 31, 2011
Location: Vermont
Posts: 2,076
|
Quote:
A 165gr .309" unchecked at 2000+fps will more than likely lead at least to some extent... |
|
|
|
|
March 6, 2014, 04:59 PM
|
#8 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: January 7, 2008
Posts: 3,224
|
Plinkers
Good point, Salmoneye. I tried some unchecked reduced loads and found they shoot quite a bit lower, beyond the limits of the original sights on me rifle to accommodate. So, until I upgrade to an aperature sight, I will continue to plink with full power, gas checked cast bullets. Again, leading has not been a problem. Perhaps Micro-groove rifling would give different results. I think the Lee tumble lube probably deserves a lot of credit for my good results with full power loads.
|
|
|
|
March 6, 2014, 09:47 PM
|
#9 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: April 8, 2009
Location: Batchelor, La.
Posts: 579
|
As has been said many times, hardness and the powder used are not the prime causes of leading. Fit is King! You have to slug your bore to know what you have, then buy or size your cast boolits to .001-.002" over groove size to prevent gas blow-by which is what causes leading. GW
|
|
|
|
March 7, 2014, 08:49 AM
|
#10 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: November 18, 2010
Location: Boise, ID
Posts: 131
|
Of your choices of powder I would start with the Alliant 2400. In fact I think I have used 2400 in the past in 30-30 with cast bullets. My present 30-30 plinking load uses the Lee 113 grain cast bullet pushed by Accurate 5744. Plenty accurate and fun to shoot.
Cary
__________________
Shooters. We are a community. United we stand divided we fall. |
|
|
|
March 7, 2014, 09:46 AM
|
#11 | |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: October 11, 2012
Location: Braham, Minnesota
Posts: 1,314
|
Quote:
 2400 is by a wide margin the best performing powder I have used to shoot cast out of my 30-30's and my 32 win special. I have not had allot of success shooting hard cast bullets from mine. Unfortunate since When I purchased my cast bullets I went nuts when Cabelas had a free shipping deal. I have more than a few 170 gr 23bn bullets. The ONLY powder I have used that gives me accurate loads with those bullets is Trail Boss. Trail Boss is a Magic elixir. If a bullet can be made to shoot accurately. Trail Boss will do it. Just not going to get great velocity. In my guns the bullets that I have found to be excellent performers have been the LEE 150 gr rnfp and a 165gr HM-312-165-5. Ahead of 2400, 2400 has an advantage compared to powders like Unique. It is not sensitive to its location in the case. Try it you will like it.   
Last edited by A pause for the COZ; March 7, 2014 at 01:00 PM. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
