Cast bullet & load for the 30-30

[pastorp]

I need a cast bullet load that I can use to keep the varmints in check. I want to use it in my marlin and would prefer a light load just for around the house. I have a couple buckets of wheel weights for casting but got rid of my molds years ago. 

Any suggestions ?

[iiranger]

"Pastor" as in preacher??? The old ladies will not be happy with you. I would keep things Q.T.
Marlin as in micro groove rifling? Cast bullets strip at lower velocities. Really old guns from before 1950 were o.k.
"Around the house?" There are loads with bullseye and a buckshot. [00" buck is about .32 and "000" is about .36.] Ether will size down into a .30 neck with light pressure. You lube with something, Krisco if nothing better over the seated ball. Fine for rats and mice in basement or barn. Yes, they lead and you have to clean the gun but no need for molds. luck.

[MulberryRiverBoy]

I have had very good luck shooting cast bullets in microgroove in a Marlin 336.   I use wheel weights and drop them out of the mold into cool water to quench them.   This makes them considerably harder.   You can push these up to close to 2000 fps without "stripping" the bullet.    Light loads will be very accurate.   For what it is worth, I use Lee 150s and Lee 130,s.   I think the 130 mold is no longer listed but may be available.  The 130 is a very good varmint bullet.   Will take deer as well.

If you try to push these bullets at jacketed bullet velocities, the old "microgrooves wont shoot cast bullets" wives tales will prove to be absolutely true.   If you back off a bit you will have no problems and will have bullets that kill as well as as jacketed, and will not strip and fly off erratically, nor will they "lead" your barrel.

The simplest lube that actually works, that I know of is the Liquid Alox sold by Lee.   Just put the unlubed bullets in a bowl, ad a SMALL amount of Liquid Alox and hand tumble them for a few minutes.    Soon, all will be covered with lube.   Set out to dry for a couple of days and load 'em up!

Stand them on their bases on a sheet of waxed paper to dry.

[45-70.gov]

just get a cheap lee mold  and get back into casting


lee makes a flat nose in 113, 150 znd 170....for about  $20

[geezerbiker]

I've used 4 to 6 to grains of red dot with 120 grain flat based bullets with good luck.  I also cast .32 round balls and push them through a Lee .309 sizer and load them with 2 to 4 grains of red dot to simulate .22 short loads.   All shoot great and don't make much noise. 

Back when I could hike in a long way for hunting, I would carry a box of these for small game loads in case I got lost.  You should be able to find the point where they're on the way up rather than the way down in the arch to find where they shoot to point the same point of aim as full power loads.

While I originally considered these squirrel hunting/survival rounds, I mainly shoot them for fun and to teach my grandkids to shoot a full sized rifle. 

Tony

[MulberryRiverBoy]

PastorP --

About a week ago I loaded up about 50 rounds of 30-30.   This is using a 150gr cast bullet (Lee) over H4895.   My starting load was 20.5 gr.   I continued reloading in 0.5 gr increments up to 26 gr.   These should range from mild to close to max for a lead cast bullet.   I believe that I can get about 1600 f/p/s out of the 20.5s and about 1800 f/p/s out of the hottest load (26.0 gr)

I loaded 5 rounds for each 0.5 increment, so as to be able to fire a reasonable group.    As yet, I have not had the time to go to the range and fire these so I can't make any comments yet.

Please note: I have not shot these and am not recommending them to anyone.    Just telling what I'm going to try in MY gun.   These will be shot out of an New England Firearms single shot.   I will report back on my results as soon as I get them fired.   In the meantime always use caution and start with what you know to be a LIGHT load and work up -- always keeping an eye out for signs of pressure.  (gun hard to open; excessive recoil/muzzle blast; primers backing out; difficult ejection; etc, etc.)