Heavy hard cast .30-.30 bullet question

[Win94]

Fellas, i have available to me some 200 grain gas checked round nose .309" hard cast bullets.  They are 25 BHN.  Has anyone successfully pushed such a veavy animal in the .30-.30???  Any thoughts on where a startin point would be as far as load data???

[jh45gun]

Well I Plan on using 180 grain gas checked bullets in mine (Lyman Ideal mould ( 311407 I have seen these listed anywhere from 173 to 180) ) so I would think you could shoot 200 grain. I have read of folks shooting 190 grain silver tips in the 30/30. THE Lyman cast load book shows this mould as the heaviest so I would guess you could start with them loads and work them up slowly. Jim

[ron haralson]

I've done quite a bit of work with hard and heavy cast bullets in 30 - 30, and you should have no trouble at all with a 200 gr round nose.

Depending what you want to do, for light and pleasant loads to shoot, try starting loads of 13 gr of 2400 or 14 gr of 4227 or H110. To work up a heavier load, try starting at 20 gr of 3031 or 4895. I've used these loads with lyman 311284 (220 gr) with no sign of pressure and good accuracy.

All the usual disclaimers  of course - my rifle was strong an in good condition, but I had no trouble signs at all.

 Good luck with your 30 - 30.

[Leftoverdj]

Fellas, i have available to me some 200 grain gas checked round nose .309" hard cast bullets.  They are 25 BHN.  Has anyone successfully pushed such a veavy animal in the .30-.30???  Any thoughts on where a startin point would be as far as load data???

Lee #2 has some loads for 190 cast in the .30-30. I'd reduce those starting loads a grain or two from starting and work up. That would make 18 grains of 5744 a starting point with a top of 21 or 22.

[Win94]

What do you think velocity would be around???

[jh45gun]

I should add if you plan on useing these round nose for hunting do not as they slip right through with little damage I found that out useing 150 grain roundnose. I got the deer but I found out that a flat point works much better. you can take these round nose and file a flat point that only has to be a metplat of .175 that is the measurment of the flat on my 311407 bullet that vastly improves the bullet for hunting and you can make a guide or use a caliper to keep them the same size by measuring end to end. jim

[Leftoverdj]

My guesstimator says that 18 grains of 5744 should give a 200 grain bullet about  1600 fps in a .30-30 and that you could work up to about 1900 fps with that powder.  Going to a slower powder might get you a little more velocity, but 5744 is the only powder Lee has listed that that I have enough experience with to make predictions.

I have some odd surplus stuff intended as .50 BMG spotter powder that I would certainly try in your application, but I ain't gonna tell nobody else to do it.

[Win94]

thanks for all your help this afternoon Leftover!!!

[Nobade]

Yeah, that IMR7383 does work OK, but in the 30-30 leaves a bunch of junk in the bore. Currently I've been using VV N133 in the 30-30 with great results, even with the 220gr. Lyman bullet designed for the 30-40. Most 30-30 rifles have a 1:10 twist so they do great with bullets this heavy.

[w30wcf]

Win94,

I have fired 100's of heavy cast bullets in my lever action .30-30's over the years...... 200 Gr.Lee,  205 gr. Old West,  208 gr. Lyman 311299, 220 gr. Lyman 311284.

My use of these heavier bullets has been for long range shooting at steel targets.

My powder of choice is slow burning H414 with H4350E a close second using WLR primers.  Faster burning  powders like RL7, 3031, 4895, etc. are ok for lower velocity...1,600 f.p.s. or less but for higher velocity at safe pressures (less than 38,000 cup) in the .30-30, I have found that the slower powders are the way to go.  

In a 20" barrel, 1,900+ f.p.s. is possible.  In my 1894-1994 Centennial rifle w/ 26" barrel,  .30-30 loads w/ H414 pushed the 205-208gr. bullets to 2,080 f.p.s. and the 220 gr. to 2,030 f.p.s. with H414.   A ballistics lab pressure tested these loads at just over 35,000 c.u.p.  

With your 200 gr. bullets I would suggest starting at 32 grs. of either H414 or 4350 and work up from there.

About 20 years ago the late Frank Marshall spoke about using the 220 gr. 311284 with a .20" flat filed on the nose for those going away "bye, bye buck shots".  He reported complete penetration from one end to the other.  His powders of choice .....W760 (Same as H414) or 4350.

Have fun!

w30wcf