cast bullets in micro groove barrels

[floydrturbo]

I have a Marlin 336 in 30/30 caliber and really enjoy shooting it ,but the cost of reloading jacketed bullets is high. I would like to explore the use of cast bullets in this marlin , but have heard that micro groove barrels do not shoot cast bullets well. I see in Marlin catalogs that the cowboy action guns that shoot pistol and old black powder calibers have ballard style rifling. will cast bullets work well in a micro grooved 336?

[jgalar]

Yes, they shoot fine. Use copper solvent to remove copper fouling before shooting lead. Some recommend bullets a few thousands over, but mine does just fine using a .309 cast bullet.

I shoot mostly a 170 grain gas checked bullet using Unique. I am only shooting 22LR velocities but it is very accurate and costs about $1 a box to shoot. I have never tried to work up a full powered cast bullet load, but have tried a few loads and got about 1.5" at 50 yds. My low velocity loads will probably shoot under .5" at 50 with iron sights.

Straight wheel weights are what I use. If I were to try to load some full powered loads I would probably add some tin or heat treat the bullets.

[Mikey]

floyd:  as jgalar said, they shoot just fine.  You may wish to firelap your barrel if you are not getting great accuracy from that rifle after you try the gas checked cast slugs, but they should work just fine in your rifle.

One thing I really like about the 30-30 is that you can shoot the cast loads to the same velocities as the jacketed loads, and probably with better accuracy once things are 'tuned in' so to speak.  HTH.  Mikey.

[dpastor]

I have found that cast bullets shoot well in my .35 Remington with microgroove.  It took a lot of experimenting.  The epiphany came when I purchased Lee's reloading manual and learned a lot about lead bullets.  The most common mistake is to go too low in power to avoid "leading".  Apparently, too weak in the power, based upon the alloy, and gas cutting results (lots of lead left behind).  Second, check out 30-30 Contender loads in some of the manuals.  They show more lead and less jacketed.  I am still experimenting, but factory 200gr shoots about 2" @ 100yds with a peep, and 158 gr lead "hard cast" commercial pistol bullets shoot under 2 1/2" with NO leading.  It can be done :lol:

Dave