Reduced .30-30 cast loads for Marlin

[GunAdmirer]

I have finally decided to start reloading for rifle calibers. I would like to start out with some fun plinking loads for the Marlin 30AS .30-30 I picked up last year.

I am looking for reduced loads with easy to find cast lead bullets and pistol powders. Yes, it has microgroove rifling. Any favorites? Good sources of information?

 

[Tory]

Other than .30 Luger,

I can't think of any .30 caliber pistol cartridges offhand, unless you count .30 Carbine, for which a few pistols were SUBSEQUENTLY chambered.

When I wanted light loads for my .30-30, I used the 100 grain "Plinker" bullet from Speer or the surplus 110 grain bullets for .30 Carbine cartridges.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[Quantrill]

I used 7.0gr of 700X and a Lee 170gr (170FN) years ago for squirrels. Lyman's Cast Bullet Reloading manuals (new and old) should have plenty of cast bullet loads. Quantrill

 

[cropcirclewalker]

I use a 120 gr plain base lead round nose mould from lee. Can't remember exactly what it is but it's something like a .311-120-2r and it's for a .32-20. I size it to .311, but I suspect that it may be a little more accurate sized to .309.

7.9 grains of bluedot pushes that little puppy along at about 1310 fps and although it wish it would cloverleaf at 50 yds, it won't. More like 1 1/4".

I am still tweaking, with my Win 94.

Keep the velocity below 1400 fps and no gas checks are required so bullets for 32-20 should work fine.

 

[redloki]

This thread reminds me of an article I read not too long ago. For your reading pleasure I found it. I hope it helps you.
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/3030varmint.htm

 

[GunAdmirer]

Thanks for article. It was a good read.

I found some loads in my Lyman 48th reloading handbook.

I don't cast and don't plan to. Any good sources for lead bullets (preferably major brand that is widely available)?

 

[Clark]

30-30 1977 Win 94 CCI200, .2.58" [ammo too long jams feeding] Lyman mold 311291 170 gr .309" bullet round nose 3 lube bands, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 gr IMR4895.

25 gr = 2.4" at 100meters



http://missoula.bigsky.net/western/cbip/cbip.html

Western Bullet Co.
PO Box 998
904 Kensington Ave.
Missoula MT 59806-0998
406-728-4801

 

[Gewehr98]

Clark's website for Western Bullet Co. is dated...

Here's their new location (they switched to a different ISP):

http://www.westernbullet.com/cbip/cbip.html

I've started playing with cast bullet loads in my own Winchester Model 94, using a 175gr cast truncated flatnose w/ gas check, on top of Accurate XMP5744. A starting load was 21.0gr of XMP5744, which was light, comfortable, accurate, but shot way low for the buckhorn sights on my rifle. So I'll bump the load up a smidgen to get the trajectory right. The bullets I used are the Saeco #315, seen below loaded and ready to fire in the Model 94:

 

[wrangler5]

I think I remember reading that the microgroove barrels aren't at their best with lead bullets. (My Marlin 22s with microgroove barrels are tack drivers, but my only Marlin centerfire is an 1894 in 44 Mag, and it has standard rifling which supposedly works better with Cowboy loads.) That said, at plinking velocities lead may be OK. And of course I may just misremember what I read.

By reloading, you should be able to get accuracy that's at least equal to what you get with factory (presumably jacketed) bullets, and actually should expect to find a load that will do better in your particular gun. If you can't get there with lead bullets, at least try working up a load with jacketed bullets before giving up entirely on the idea of reloading for this gun.

 

[Clark]

Gewehr98,
THANKS FOR THE LINK!!!

Your benchrest looks like mine before I lowered the profile.