30-30 ackley sqirrel rifle

[plumberroy]

I have been down in the back for a while and had not been wood walking for to long. So A went to a woods that is easy walking and meandered  around for the afternoon. took my 157 and a pocket full of cast bullet loads. while sitting on a log enjoying the day  a fox squirrel appeared on a limb about 30 yards away  I had to try the rifle out so he is now in the crock pot. the load is a 113 gr. at 1200 fps  isn't any louder than a .22 I'm liking this cast bullet thing
Roy

[Rustyinfla]

 I'm not being critical because I don't know. Down here we don't shoot fox squirrels because they're so rare. Are they common up there?

      Tell us about the load you're using in the AI.

                       Rusty <><

[plumberroy]

we have no gray squirrels in my area, wish we did they are better eating than the fox squirrels. lee c309-113-f mold, gas check, unique powder win.lrp  about starting 357 mag load [don't know how  they feel about unpublished loads here]
Roy

[Rustyinfla]

 Thanks,
       It should be understood by everyone that load data is safe as used in the firearm it was loaded in. Anything near a maximum load should be approached with caution.
  While this s not a standard disclaimer it also should be understood that  you load at your own risk.
                             Rusty <><

[handirifle]

OK I gotta ask, what's this thread have to do with a 30-30 ackley?  did I miss something??

[greg916]

He is using the Lee "soupcan" 113 gr cast in the 30-30 imp as a small game round. I have long thought the 30-30 was a better all around rifle for the "average" hunter than the 30-06, especially for those of us east of the Mississippi. Plumberroy might help me make my point. (Bet that opens a can of worms )

[LaOtto222]

Fox squirrels are not rare around here. One day last summer my wife and I pulled into the yard at the lake cottage we have and there were at least 12 of them with in eye sight on the ground. I would think that the 30-30 AI with cast bullets is not much different than the old 32 caliber black power "squirrel" rifles of old in the performance arena.

As far as East of the Mississippi...There are no wild elk to hunt. We are talking deer and black bear as the biggest game animals. The 30-30 will handle them just fine and most shots are not at a far distance (well under 100 yards). The 30-30 is probably the most used caliber in the eastern woods for these reasons. The 30-30 and all "rifle" cartridges are illegal to deer hunt with here (Indiana) and we have no black bears (lots of big white tails tho)

[plumberroy]

same here on the rifle for deer  I can squirrel hunt with a 460 weatherby but can't use  a rifle to deer hunt . one of the reasons I worked this load up is so I could actually use this rifle for hunting something . I live in Ohio  and work in Indiana so I can vouch for those big whitetail [I can throw a rock to In.] and yes the rifle is a 30-30 ackley improved . my next goal for this rifle is a 30. cal single shot pistol bullet 125-135 gr. to reach out and ruin a coyotes day
Roy

[knight0334]

Fox squirrels are not rare around here. One day last summer my wife and I pulled into the yard at the lake cottage we have and there were at least 12 of them with in eye sight on the ground. I would think that the 30-30 AI with cast bullets is not much different than the old 32 caliber black power "squirrel" rifles of old in the performance arena.

As far as East of the Mississippi...There are no wild elk to hunt. We are talking deer and black bear as the biggest game animals. The 30-30 will handle them just fine and most shots are not at a far distance (well under 100 yards). The 30-30 is probably the most used caliber in the eastern woods for these reasons. The 30-30 and all "rifle" cartridges are illegal to deer hunt with here (Indiana) and we have no black bears (lots of big white tails tho)

We have elk in PA.  Licenses are issued via lottery type draw.  I do agree with you, the 30-30 is probably the most used cartridge east of the Mississippi.

http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=471&q=150286

[LaOtto222]

I did not know there were enough Elk in Pa to hunt. How many permits are allowed/year? I have heard rumors that there are Elk around here too, but definitely not enough to hunt. I think they were escapes from hunting farms. In the 50's sighting a deer was a BIG deal. I can remember dad loading up the family to go see a deer that was sighted north of town, sighting deer was that rare. Indiana opened their first deer season in 1964, I believe. Now we have them every where. You see them getting hit on the road all of the time, there are so many. I have hit a couple myself with the car. Maybe the Elk will make a come back here too Maybe if they do have a hunting season on Elk, we can throw rocks at 'em, because center fire rifles are not allowed

[quickdtoo]

Beside PA, MI and KY have huntable elk populations, in fact one member's son here got a MI elk with his Handi, IIRC!!!

Tim

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10363_10856_10893---,00.html

http://fw.ky.gov/elkinfo.asp?lid=1141&NavPath=C244

[LaOtto222]

Thanks for the Info Tim. I saw on Kentucky's site that they were a restoration project. I have a feeling that that is what happened in PA and MI too, but I have been wrong before plenty of times and surely will be wrong again. I learn all kinds of things here. Kentucky said that they were gone for 150 years before the restoration project. I better get my throwin' arm ready. Indiana might restore some Elk, some might swim across the Ohio river, or even migrate South from Michigan. I guess I could use a 12 gauge slug; and Black Powder is OK to use too. Anyway you are going to have to get up close. Who knows, they may import some grzz and we could use a 357 Max on 'em.

[plumberroy]

Just came back from the range Fired 5 rounds 135 sierra 135 gr. spire points with a imr4895 load shot with my elbows resting on table  no other rest  just looking for pressure signs and shot 3" group
that is "minute of coyote"so I loaded a couple to carry squirrel hunting till I work out a better load

Squirrel chili :It's whats for dinner


Roy