Author Topic: Casting bullets for 30-30 @ 2200 fps +  (Read 1726 times)

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Offline bluez

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Casting bullets for 30-30 @ 2200 fps +
« on: April 24, 2011, 12:55:02 PM »
I have bought a Lee 2-Cavity Bullet Mold (  C309-150-F ).  My question is, if i would like to get speeds above 2200 fps. Can i do this with cast bullets using hard lead (hardness above 20) and gas checks? Or should i stay under 2000 fps if i don't want lead deposit in the barrel?

Offline blhof

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Re: Casting bullets for 30-30 @ 2200 fps +
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2011, 03:09:35 PM »
I've been casting and shooting the Lee 155gr GC bullets using quenched ww's in my Winchester 92 and Contenders with no noticeable leading.  I haven't chrono'd them, but they're loaded according to the T/C manual spec's and are very accurate in all 3 of my guns.

Offline res45

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Re: Casting bullets for 30-30 @ 2200 fps +
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2011, 06:37:53 PM »
bluez a lot of cast bullet shooter are under the impression that just using a hard alloy will eliminate leading or that shooting cast bullets at high velocity will also cause leading.  Leading is caused by a combination of things,improper bullet fit,using the wrong lube for the task at hand and a combination of pressure and velocity that is to high for the particular bullet alloy used. 

Lead bullets can handle pressure and velocity up to a certain point but beyond that point is where  the gas check comes into play,not only does it allow you to shoot a somewhat softer alloy than you normally could with the same load but it allows you to shoot both high pressure and high velocity loads by sealing the bore much better.

As to your question yes you can shoot the Lee 150 gr. bullet at 2200 fps. in fact there is load data that takes that bullet up to 2300+ fps.  The question is what is the intended purpose for the load you want to work up and do you need that much velocity.  Two of my favorite loads I shoot in my 30-30 pump gun are with the Lee 150 & 170 gr. gas check bullets.   For plinking loads I cast both bullets from straight WW alloy with a BHN of around 12,give them two coats of Lee Alox tumble lube and leave the gas check off,MV runs around 1200+ fps and they work just fine for target shooting and small game and are as accurate you can hold them.   

For Southern white tail deer I cast the same 170 gr. bullet form 30:1 Lead/Tin alloy with a BHN of around 9 bullets are gas check and pan lubed and shoot at about 2000+ fps.  I apply my gas checks with the Lee .311 push through sizer,neither load combination has ever leaded the bore on my Sav 30-30.

Here is a good online reference that will give you lots of  good info one cast bullets.  http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Contents.htm  another excellent reference would be http://www.lbtmoulds.com/books.shtml
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Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: Casting bullets for 30-30 @ 2200 fps +
« Reply #3 on: April 25, 2011, 02:02:55 AM »
ive pushed 120s to over 2400 in the 3030 with decent accuracy and as high as 2600 without leading but also without much accuracy. Thing is you have to do everything right. bullets have to be hard. At least 18bhn and preferable around 22. They have to be sized exactly to fit your gun and for powders i use a stick powder that is as slow as possible to get the bullet to that speed. I also double lube them. I lube them first in a conventional lubesizer and then put a coat of tumble lube on them. Also a big factor in this is going to be how good your gun is. Some guns just wont do it and some will do it without leading but accuracy will be the pits. Its a fine line to get everything right but it can be done. thing is a guy has to ask why. I did it just to see if it can be done. Realisticaly there going to be no differnce in performance on game  between your 150 lee doing 2200 fps and the same  bullet doing say 1900.
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Offline Dee

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Re: Casting bullets for 30-30 @ 2200 fps +
« Reply #4 on: April 25, 2011, 03:52:03 AM »
bluez, I have been shooting the 3030 in the same rifle for 53 years and have shot a bunch of bullets cast from wheel weights in many calibers. You can shoot a 170 grain cast, gas check round nose in the 3030 at "2400"fps and not lead the barrel, and I have.
In the Lyman 48th Edition reloading manual, it says that 37.3 grains of 748 Powder behind a 170 grain round or flat point gas checked bullet will get you 2355 fps. I have shot this load many times with no leading. A 150 grain would be no different. The key here is, the gas check not only prevents the lead from being melted by the hot gases, but it also grips the lands and grooves and spins the bullet with out stripping out.
Good Luck. ;)
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Offline 454Puma

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Re: Casting bullets for 30-30 @ 2200 fps +
« Reply #5 on: April 27, 2011, 09:00:41 AM »
I run those same bullets out of my 30-30 and 30-06!  I don't run them super fast out of my 30-30
1995-2000 fps ! I recently got a Rem 7400 in '06 and have pushed the same bullets out of it at 2100+ fps! No leading and good accuracy!  My main goal was to get a load that would cycle action consistantly and have the 170gr load doing so!  ;D
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Offline Dee

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Re: Casting bullets for 30-30 @ 2200 fps +
« Reply #6 on: April 27, 2011, 06:27:18 PM »
Isn't that 7400 gas operated?
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Offline res45

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Re: Casting bullets for 30-30 @ 2200 fps +
« Reply #7 on: April 28, 2011, 03:15:57 PM »
Isn't that 7400 gas operated?

Yes it is,and it's a bit more complicated to disassemble if you get any lead deposits in the gas port,plus the port tube is easy to bend and if you do you can have some problem with the gun functioning properly.

The SKS,AK,M1 Garand are much easier to disassemble and cleaned when needed,if you cast your bullets hard and use a gas check and good lube you can shoot several hundred rds. through the Mil Surplus semi-autos before any lead buildup becomes a problem.  My SKS rifle eat cast bullets like candy.
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