Author Topic: 200 grain lee mould cast bullet in 3030? (Read 1934 times)

adam · « **on:** October 07, 2004, 11:50:29 AM »

Hi
I need som reloading data for using 200 grain casts in my 3030 rifles i tried many reloading manualls , but couldn't find such a data. i usually use lee 160 gr rn casts in front of 25 gr norma 202 and it is a real moa shooter and it outpenetrat all the factory loads even federal nosler 170 gr. the bullets are made 50% wheel weight 50% lino quenched in water.
best regards
adam

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #1 on:** October 07, 2004, 12:24:26 PM »

Adam, closest I can find is some 190 grain cast data in Lee #2. You're on your own, but I would be willing to cut those starting loads a grain or two and work up. 5744 is shown with a starting load of 20 grains under the 190 and a top of 22 grains. Starting at 18 grains with your 200 would be safe enough.

jhalcott · « **Reply #2 on:** October 07, 2004, 12:29:34 PM »

Those 30-30 rifles may not stabilize a 200 grain bullet. Years ago I shot a 185 grain bullet cast of ww and gas checked. They were awesome on chickens.Rolling them up the bank.but they were useless beyond ~ 50 yards. They would cut a profile on a paper target at 100 yards,giving groups of MANY inches, sometimes not hitting a 24x24" target. 200 grain bullets don't start showing up till you get to the 308.The twist of the 30-30 is about 1 in 12" while the larger 30's are 1 in 9 or 1 in 10 inches.

adam · « **Reply #3 on:** October 15, 2004, 05:05:20 AM »

Hi
jhalcot
according to the barrel makers it wouldn't be a problem to use 200 gr in 1/12 twists. did you load yours at reduced velocity or fully loaded? even heard that prior to WW 2 a german company called DWM loaded their 7,62x51R( the same as 3030) with 200 grain RN bullet ! isn't the keyholling problem depends to the velocity of your loads?
best regards
danny

jhalcott · « **Reply #4 on:** October 15, 2004, 07:40:17 AM »

I loaded them up and down with no real change in performance. Tried them in a couple rifles,303,308.Krag and 30-06 with MUCH better results. A friend tried them in his 30-30 lever gun and had to stuff them deeper into the case than he liked. Accuracy was still not good.

joeb33050 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 15, 2004, 08:10:28 AM »

I shoot 208 grain 311299's sized .312, NRA alox lubed, with or without gas checks, with 12.5/AA#9, 14.5/SR4759 and 14.5/IMR4227 in a Martini bench gun and a M54 Winchester.
The Martini has won or placed in many matches, the M54 is new to me, currently averaging just over an inch for 5 shots at 100 yards.
Don't shoot pointed bullets in tube magazine guns, we are often advised.
joe b.

adam · « **Reply #6 on:** October 15, 2004, 09:32:49 AM »

I only own 2 guns in 3030 one is a savage 340 and the other a savage 24 30 30/12 gauge .none of them has tubular magasin and i currently load a lot of loads with spitser bullets mostly 125 gr sierra in front of 33 gr norma 202 and get a decent 2400 fps even my son use them in his 94 NRA commemorative centennial but one by one or one in magasin and one in chamber accuracy is excellent in all of our guns and we are aware of spitzer bullets danger in tubular magasin . thanks för remaining, because there are a lot of guys which do not read the labels on ammos.
best regards
adam

w30wcf · « **Reply #7 on:** October 15, 2004, 12:52:38 PM »

adam,

I see no reason that the Lee 200 gr. bullet would not work well in your .30-30, PROVIDING that the bore riding diameter of the bullet at or slightly over the bore diameter of your rifle. If it is undersized, accuracy will suffer.

I have used heavy cast bullets ... 190 gr (180 RCBS), 205 gr. Old West, and a 220 gr Lyman (311284) in both my .30-30 Winchesters (1-12 twist) and .30-30 Marlins (1-10 twist) with very good results. My favorite load for the 220gr. bullet is 34 grs.of H414 or 4350. With the 190 gr., its 37 grs.of H414 and with the 205, 35.5 grs. of H414 or 4350.

In my rifles, using slow burning powder, these bullets shoot very well. If I do my part, groups run 1 1/2 to 2" @ 100 and that accuracy stays all the way to the 1,000 yard Buffalo with the 220 gr. bullet. Velocity in a 26" barrel with the 220 is almost 2,000 f.p.s., but I have also loaded them down to 1600 f.p.s. with very good results as well.

I have the 314299 bullet which is the same as joeb33050's 311299 only slightly larger. I shoot this bullet in my .30-30 788's and it is a shooter. The nose diameter at .303" is too large to fit in any of my lever guns, but if it would, I have no doubt that it would work well there too.

Good luck,
w30wcf

adam · « **Reply #8 on:** October 15, 2004, 09:53:31 PM »

Hi W30wcf
Thanks for your reply . Well living far from the USA the choice of powder is very limited here(Sweden) i have only domstical powders like Norma and Vihtvouri , but recently found a dealer on the internet which supplied me with a can of BLC2 and reloader 15 . i may ask him for a can of 414 to try your loads, unfortunately access to the good reloading manual is limited too. so i ought to try the loads by myself.back in early 70's i was living in france and i know a guy who loaded 3030 and 32-40 old rifles with cast and in front of black powder. these loads had an excellent accuracy many times 200 meter 10 shot groups were about 3 inch diameter and 500 meter steel gong answered loud every time the trigger was pulled. 3030 is a great round and cast bullet shooting a great fun.
cheers
adam

w30wcf · « **Reply #9 on:** October 16, 2004, 01:40:37 PM »

adam,
According to Vihtavuori, their N150 has a similar burning rate to H414 and 4350. If you try it I would back off 10% from my loads to start.

My lot of RL15 gives about the same velocity that my lot of IMR 4064 does with 170 gr. bullets. In checking my records, I see that at one time I tried 30 grs. of 4064 with a 195 gr. NEI cast bullet. In a 26" barrel it did 2,050 f.p.s. with no signs of excess pressure. Again I would back off 10% to start.

Good luck.
w30wcf