30-30 Cast

[towndocks]

Just wondering if anyone is casting 30-30 boolits. If so what weight/load. Also how is your accuracy at 100 yds. I've been trying out different loads but with very inconsistent results. I've been shooting mainly RCBS 180 Gr. FN, and Lyman 173 Gr. FN sized at .311, BHN of 16, over 28.5 grs of IMR 3031. PC or Lubed didn't seem to make any difference. Scope swapped out, rings and base checked and tight. Some days it will be spot on 2" group at 100 yds and then others I'll be all over the place. Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

[ditto1958]

I haven't cast any, but I do have a big box of them from SNS casting. They're 158 grains, and I've loaded them with 17 grains of H4198. They make fun plinking loads.

[CT_Shooter]

I can't help with your question, though there are certainly others who can and who will be happy to talk about it with you. In the meantime, welcome to the forum from CT. There are lots of friendly and knowledgeable members here.

[BigAl52]

I tried it one time for a while. But I never had any luck in 30-30 with cast bullets that were not gas checked. I did some research on it including taking a look at Mike Venturinos book shooting leverguns of the old west. He also mentioned that shooting cast in 30-30 gas check was the way to go. Al

[Sgt Recoil]

I've been casting boolets for my Win 94 30-30's for a few years now. As mentioned, using a gas check is the key. I started off with Lee 170gr mould and COWW for lead. IMR 3031 and groups under 2" at 100yds.
I've since switched to the NOE (Ranch Dog) 165gr mould and getting smaller groups and better expansion (wet phone book test).
As well, I switched from Lee liquid Alox pan lube to Lyman 4500 sizer .309 die and RCBS rifle lube sticks. I look forward to plowing one of these from my brass Henry 30-30 through a nice whitetail deer this fall.
Here's my post from Cast boolit forum;
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthr ... 30-amp-308

[JEBar]

Some days it will be spot on 2" group at 100 yds and then others I'll be all over the place. Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

I well remember about 50 years ago when I was a the youngest member of the Big Tom Wilson Bear Hunting Club that hunted the north slope of Mt Mitchell (tallest peak east of the Rocky Mountains) in western NC .... Big Tom was an interesting fellow who was the Daniel Boone of western NC ===> http://www.ncpedia.org/biography/wilson ... -d-big-tom <=== we hunted with Big Tom's grandson (Ewart Wilson) who owned the land .... back then bear hunters in that part of the country used 12 ga shotguns, 35 Marlins or 30-30 Winchesters .... I well remember in 1969 when I went from an Ithaca Deerslayer (kick'nest long gun I've ever owned) to a 308 Browning BLR.... I was the only hunter with a 308 and being the youngest, the older fellows tolerated it but figured that sooner or later I'd come to my senses .... I also well remember evening "discussions" in front of the fireplace between the fellows who favored the 35's and 30-30's .... the generally accepted belief was that at 100 yards a person with a Winchester was doing good to consistently hit a basketball .... I've never tested that with my grandfather's 30-30 but now that I'm thinking about it, I might do so

[ditto1958]

JEBar, I load 30-30 ammo using IMR 3031 and Sierra 150 grain RNSP bullets. Shooting from sandbags, and using a 3-9 scope, I can sometimes get a 1 inch group. Even on bad days I can shoot a 2-3 inch group. That's with a Marlin 336.

A Winchester should be just as accurate. A friend at the range has one with a Williams peep sight. He's an excellent shot, but I was still very impressed when I saw him pick off several clay pigeons at 100 yards using the peeps.

30-30 lever guns can be very accurate if you do your part.

[JEBar]

that's good to hear .... after posting the above I looked and finally found a couple of boxes of jacketed 150 gr flat nose 30-30 bullets that I loaded back in the late '60's .... as noted, I don't shoot it very often .... the next time I go to a range I plant to take our Model 94 and see how she does

[Sgt Recoil]

that's good to hear .... after posting the above I looked and finally found a couple of boxes of jacketed 150 gr flat nose 30-30 bullets that I loaded back in the late '60's .... as noted, I don't shoot it very often .... the next time I go to a range I plant to take our Model 94 and see how she does

Let us know how they do

[JEBar]

I'll try but it will be a while .... I just had my left knee replaced and don't anticipate getting back out on a range for several weeks