30-30 plinker rounds

[roscoe]

So, I have been figure out a light-shooting round that will hit my normal point-of-aim at, say, 30-40 yards, with cast 120-grain slugs. The rifle is zeroed for 160-grain factory LeverEvolution ammo at 150 yards. I do not have a chrono (it is on the list)

I tried with TrailBoss, but they still hit almost 5" low, even at 90% of case capacity. Powder is getting hard to come by, so I am trying to find something that will work with the powders I do have. I have: Bullseye, Unique (my first choice, but I am almost out), TiteGroup, 700x, 2400, LeverEvolution, and the aforementioned TrailBoss.

I have never used filler, but am not opposed to it.

Any ideas?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I would give 3031 a try. From what I read that is the original 30-30 powder. Good luck.

 

[troy fairweather]

Unique always works

 

[Charlie98]

Of those powders you listed... besides Unique, which you mention you are almost out of... you are most likely to find success with 2400. Do your own research, I'll bet you can come up with something. You didn't mention rifle powders... as Arch mentioned, IMR3031 is an excellent .30-30 powder, but my favorite is IMR4198... if you happen to have any of that.

 

[Bfh_auto]

Search Levergun Performance Studies. It will give you some information on cast bullets and pistol powder.
I have loads that are the same at 30 as my normal loads at 100.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

I was going to suggest RedDot or Bullseye, but @Bfh_auto has a better suggestion. That site has beaucoup info on low power loads.

 

[Obturation]

So, I have been figure out a light-shooting round that will hit my normal point-of-aim at, say, 30-40 yards, with cast 120-grain slugs. The rifle is zeroed for 160-grain factory LeverEvolution ammo at 150 yards. I do not have a chrono (it is on the list)

I tried with TrailBoss, but they still hit almost 5" low, even at 90% of case capacity. Powder is getting hard to come by, so I am trying to find something that will work with the powders I do have. I have: Bullseye, Unique (my first choice, but I am almost out), TiteGroup, 700x, 2400, LeverEvolution, and the aforementioned TrailBoss.

I have never used filler, but am not opposed to it.

Any ideas?

I'm tinkering with this too, ive made some really light loads in 30-30 that are accurate but don't hit POA, it's my only rifle with a scope and I don't want to tinker with it to switch between loads. I'll be watching to see what you figure out.
I like trailboss in my 45-70, under 50 yards it hits where I aim and a 405 grain bullet doing 900 fps is still big medicine , I can shoot that all day without any discomfort . that's why I kind of stopped with the testing with the light 30-30 loadings.
Good luck

 

[brewer12345]

In 30-06 with cast, I shoot a 118 grain cast bullet over 12 grains of unique and a 152 grain bullet over 25 grains of 2400. 2400 will work great, but might be more than a plinking load. I would try unique for a light load, then bullseye, then 2400.

 

[Bfh_auto]

I was going to suggest RedDot or Bullseye, but @Bfh_auto has a better suggestion. That site has beaucoup info on low power loads.

That site exploded my brain... It's unbelievable how much info there is.

 

[DocRock]

2400 is a good call. But I note that in his article "Cast Loads for Military Rifles", Ed Harris' 'Gallery Load" of 125 grs at 900 - 1000 fps included 5 grs of Bullseye. While the 30-30 case is smaller than the military cartridges he was writing about, his Bullseye loads go up to 7 grs with 150s, so working up from 4.5 grs to 6 grs should be safe and sane and should get you what you need.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?13425-Cast-Bullet-Loads-for-Military-Rifles-Article

 

[roscoe]

That Levergun site is pretty amazing.

It has a light loads as low as 4.5 grains. Is there any question of ignition with that amount in a 30-30 case?

 

[Bfh_auto]

That Levergun site is pretty amazing.

It has a light loads as low as 4.5 grains. Is there any question of ignition with that amount in a 30-30 case?

No. The article covers that in better detail than I could.

 

[kerreckt]

I have loaded 30-30 plinker rounds using 5-13 grains of any fast powder and a 100-130 grain cast bullet. By fast I mean in the burn rate of Red Dot. https://www.hensleygibbs.com/edharris/articles/The Load.htm

 

[Toprudder]

I played with plated 308 bullets and H4895, which can be loaded to 60% of max published charges. I was able to get 1500 fps which was good enough for plinking at 25 yards. That is the max distance at our local indoor range.

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

Are these 120 gr bullets going to be plain base or gas checked? You can push GC cast bullets pretty darned fast.

 

[Charlie98]

Are these 120 gr bullets going to be plain base or gas checked? You can push GC cast bullets pretty darned fast.

Gas checks are nice, but not always necessary. What's more important is bullet to bore fit, followed by hardness... that's the key to not only an accurate cast bullet, but one that doesn't lead, even with velocities in the high teens.

 

[troy fairweather]

Powder coating makes it so you don't a gc.

 

[blue32]

Powder coating makes it so you don't a gc.

Definitely not my experience with PC bullets and a bare shank though I wish it was. OP, I think Bullseye and 2400 will be your best bet sans Unique. I don't use fillers in any of my cast rifle loads.

 

[frankmako]

unique, titegroup, bullseye, and 2400 are your best bet with what powders you have on hand.