Got my Handi back..OH NO !

[Marcos]

 Gents.  Well I finally got my Handi back from the factory fitted with a new 357 barrel.  Looks great, perfect bore, came with open sights.  Delighted   HOWEVER..... My rifle originally came with a 30-30 barrel (standard rifling) that had some factory flaws in the bore (posted this a few weeks back) and needed to be replaced.  The company had no problem doing so, so back it went.  I requested that the new 357 barrel be fitted while they were at it.  To the point: I am a lead bullet shooter and hoped to be able to develop some good loads for the 30-30 but the new replacement barrell has that blasted MICROgroove  rifling !!!!!!    Kiss off  my lead bullet dreams!!!  I know there are those who say you can shoot lead through microgrooved barrels but I have never been successful and I am heartbroken about this new 30-30 barrel.    How long has NEF been using  Microgroove barrels??  What to do? What to do?
Also, would some kind soul please make me feel better by telling me that I'm going to love my new 357 and that it is a wonderful lead bullet shooter and who cares about that stupid 30-30 anyway.  Can anybody do that ??   Yours in despair...  Marcos       (I think I need a hug...sniff)

[trotterlg]

You can shoot lead bullets out of the .357 barrel and real bullets out of the 30-30 barrel.  Larry

[McLernon]

Hi Marcos:

Ahh!! It'll be O.K. Seriously, I've read posts where they say that the micro-groove rifling shot lead bullets just fine. I am sure others will chime in to re-assure you

Mc

[quickdtoo]

Yup, cast bullets will work fine, you just need to slug the bore and shoot the right size bullets, lots of folks here shoot cast bullets in their Handis, all current production for many years now have been shallow grooved, not micro groove as it has 12 grooves, but shallow rifling all the same. I shoot gas checked cast bullets in my .45-120 BC and .35 Remington Handi, they're very accurate.

Tim

[Marcos]

Thanks guys.  I'm feeling better already.  Wonder how I got a NEW rifle from a retailer that still had the standard rifiling??  Tiz a mystey.  Just in case some of you were thinking that I am a lightweight, I was certainly going to try lead in my 30-30 before giving up on it.   Proof is in the shootin'.  I'll let you know how this all turns out.  You guys are great !!   Thanks.  Marcos

[myarmor]

A fellow member here from France..if I remember correctly..pascalp,  has a 30-30 he seems to almost exclusively shoot cast out off, and is getting excellent results. Hopefully he will chime in, or you could send him a PM and ask some questions.


-Aaron

[sturf]

Just joined and saw your post on the 30-30 microgrove. Try this:  Lyman 311291 cast out of Linotype.  Sized to .309 or .310.  Oal to touch rifleing.  16.0 gr. SR4759.  Shoots slightly over MOA in my older 336 Marlin  right at 1800 fps.

[Grizz_]

Marcos,

I can't imagine where the persistant rumor that microgoove can't shoot cast came from, but here are 3 articles by an expert that should rectify the misconception. I'm not pointing fingers at you, but folks need to get educated about this IMO.

http://beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/17

http://beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/19

http://beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/28

I hope y'all enjoy reading these. There's accuracy here that a lot of bolt guns never achieve.

Regards,  Grizz