7 30 Waters and cast bullets

[Toolpush]

I use cast bullets a lot in my revolvers to reduce the cost of shooting them and to reduce the recoil to where others might enjoy shooting some of them. Has anybody ever worked up a load for a 7 30 Waters pushing a 175 gr or so cast bullet about 1000 fps. Or would it be better to go the paper patched route?

Thanks in advance for any input.

[Graycg]

You can and will likely need to go faster than 1000fps...that's a long bullet and may need more speed to stabilize in the 1-9 or so twists of the waters.  You should be able to easily get into the near 2000 fps range with good accuracy.  I hate the thought of trying to paperpatch lots of 7mm bullets...

regards,
 Graycg

[jhalcott]

tool, you can push a 135 cast gas checked bullet to 2100 fps using 748 ,rx7 and 3031 according to Lyman's 47 th handbook. I've used these and 150 grain bullets in the 7t/cu and 7br on deer with great results. The heavier bullets are saved for sillywet shooting at the ram target set at 200 yards. :wink: jh

[Robert]

I have a factory 10" 7TCU that absulutely loves 168 gr cast bullets, it is a mind blower even out about 300 yds.  I got a 7x30 Waters in 16" to make a carbine, and the neck isn't long enough to correctly load these bullets.  That was a little bit of a let-down.

[joeb33050]

I've worked with this 14" Contender and various powders for over a year with lousy results. The bullet fits the throat, the bullet fits the groove diameter, it shoots 6" groups at 100 yards. I've used Unique, IMR4227, SR4759 and IMR4895 and AA#9. It shoots jacketed bullets under 2" at 100 yards for 5 shots.  Any suggestions?

[BCB]

joeb33050,

I also had similar problems with a Super 14 in 7-30 Waters caliber.  It would shoot jacketed bullets at M.O.A. most of the day long at ranges to 150 yards.  Groups opened slightly over M.O.A. at 200 yards but were certainly VERY acceptable.  The best jacketed bullet was the Hornady 120 SSPSP bullet.

Now to the cast bullets.  I ALMOST quit my cast project for this caliber and the Contender!  I had tried a dozen or so different cast designs (sent to me by another 7mm bullet caster) and literally a dozen or so powders…NO LUCK.  Good groups at 50 yards but accuracy went much terrible at 100 yards—not quite the 6” groups you mention, but 3” groups were common.  Of the bullets that were sent to me, the best accuracy was with the Lyman 287346.  So I purchased that mold for further work.  Finally, I found the combination!  I cast the bullets from an alloy of 2-1 (ww-#2), size only the gascheck to 0.284, and heat treat the bullet to a BHN of approximately 30.  I am using WC-844 (H-335 burn rate) powder and a CCI-200 primer for a muzzle velocity of 1932 fps.  Not amazing velocity, but accuracy is sub-M.O.A. (much of the time) out to 200 yards!!!  Twelve-ounce beer cans are dead at 100 yards!!! I am also using a 3x-12x Burris 'scope which helps greatly with the long range shooting at 200 yards. Contenders are the most difficult weapons to load cast for that I have ever loaded.  I don’t know why…it is just my experience with loading for those single shot handguns.  Good-luck with your venture…BCB

[Steve P]

What size are your cast bullets?  .285?  try .286 sizing die, or try them as cast, just seat a gas check.  My 14" waters shoots cast just fine.  I am at work and don't have my data.  Probably a healthy dose of 748 or H335.  

Steve