Contender wildcat loading help, PLEASE.

[Tapper]

Folks, I have been working with my first wildcat in a contender, and I need some help from some experienced folks.

It is a 30 GNR, (14" T/C  30-30 barrel, superbly rechambered by Gary Reeder), 1 in 10" twist with 8 grooves. It is more or less a 30-30 AI with the neck moved even farther forward.

I am using the Barnes 150 grain XLC bullet. I started with max 30-30 loads, watched velocities, and came up slowly until I saw primers that were 'pressed' a little more than when I fired the Remington factory 150's to fireform the brass.

At first, I loaded at 2.77" COL, then moved COL out to 2.960". This bullet makes contact w/ the bore at 3.050". Barnes recommends a minimum of .05 back from contact, which would make the load 3.00" COL. HOWEVER, to get the bullet seated such that the top of the boat tail is at the bottom of the very short case neck, I had to use 2.96" as a max COL.

Powders include, IMR 3031, IMR4895, IMR4064, Varget, and H335. Primers have been CCI BR2, CCI 250, and some Fed 215. The BR really drops velocities, while the case tends to run out of room. The CCI and Fed Mag primers appear to have little difference in velocities or consistancy from each other.

All groups are reasonably good. I started at 100 yards, 3 shots, but went to 50 since, with the 2x scope, most of the groups were smaller than the area covered by the  intersection of the cross hairs. Accuracy doesn't seem to be much of a problem, although consistant velocities from shot to shot are much better with some powders than others, and hence, I'm sure the less consistant ones are in fact, less accurate.

I am at the point where I should settle on a narrow range of powder amounts, in the best 2 or 3 powders, and shoot 5 shot groups. BUT -- here's the rub: Just what should I be expecting from this barrel, bullet combination? Should I load at this COL? What are the primers going to tell me after the shot. I just don't have a baseline to go on to be sure I'm staying out of trouble. I am new to the Contender, new to wildcats, and new to the Barnes XLC bullets.

Any help is greatly appreciated. ( A 30 GNR owner with a great 150 XLC load in a rechambered 1-10" twist barrel would be nice, but I'll take any comments anyone has to offer.)  I'd like to get this right w/o tearing up any equipment.

Thanks,

Tapper[/b]

[kciH]

Tapper,
I can offer only a few general tips on this matter.  First off, ditch the Federal 215's, excellent primers, but for a whole different situation than you are loading for.  If Gary offered some data for this round, which I'm sure he does since it's his baby, I would use it and not exceed it for any reason.  The Barnes X-bullet could cause you some accuracy problems as a result of the fact that the all-copper bullets are long for their weight, but I would not dwell on this unless you encounter stabilization problems which are easy to pick out on the target.  Being that you are using a single shot, you can use any OAL that can be handled without fear of causing problems with the bullets in your typical field situations.  You don't need to use a boat tail bullet for this, or any other, round for hunting.  The real world ballistic advantage is less than you will ever be able to hold if you are the best shot in the world with a 2x scope at less than 200yds.  I would refer to Reeder's data for the round.  If he didn't give you any, ask for some.  If he won't give you a set of data that is for a cartridge that he chambers with his name on it, to at least use as a guideline, I would do no further business with him.  As a general guidline, which will be hard to realize with a 2x scope, 1 moa groups should be able to be attained with most all centerfire TC barrels that use rifle-type bullets, and most revolver rounds as well with good bullet selection.  Hope this helps.

[Tapper]

Thanks for the input,

Ref loading data: 30-30 AI experience, w/ a 14", 1 in 10" twist barrel would be splendid. I'm sure there are many folks out there with this information to share. The 30 GNR is a 30-30 AI w/ a little more capacity, hence the recognition that info on the 30-30 AI would be most helpful. From what I have gathered, the AI is about an 8% increase in capacity over the plain 30-30. The GNR looks to be a 10% increase, and it has a very generous throat, much like Weatherby cartridges.

 Yes I know, there is always P. O.'s original work with his cartridge - but - 1) it's in a rifle, so the velocities don't directly apply, - 2) the loading length is much shorter, so pressures will be different, hence results hard to judge, - 3) It's old work, and does not include some of our newer powders, - 4) the all copper but coated Barnes bullet is different than what P. O. used --- SO - anyone w/ a 14" AI version could be most helpful.

For now, it appears to me that 2300 and some change fps is about the upper safe limit. H335 gives the best velocity, but with the current COL - the load is not velocity consistent. I have a theory on why, and what to do about it, but will wait to see if anyone has some other ideas before I 'color the water' with that idea.

SO - is a 150 SPT at 2300-2350 realistic w/a 30-30 AI (30 GNR)

If so, how did you get it?

Thanks for your input -- Tapper

[KYODE]

wish i could be more help, but i havn't got her wringed out yet(30-30AI super 14). yes, from info i've seen i think the velocity you list is possible with 150's in 30-30ai. so far i have only chronoed a few fireform loads with no accuracy testing. imr4198 gives most velocity with 130's, h335 gives way too much fireball, i also tried h4895 and h322 which turned out decent velocity. i just loaded max 30-30 loads to form with. i got a 2355fps(form load) average with 130gr hornady sp and max charge of imr 4198. you may get 2500-2600fps with 125-130gr bullets in formed cases. a couple other friends have got great loads with imr 4198 and 125-130gr bullets. also imr 3031 is supposed to be good with 150's. shortgun and sdhandgunner are further along than i am with the 30-30 improved and could give great advice on loading for it.
there was some discussion at www.handgunhunt.com on the 30-30AI. it may be a couple pages down by now. but check out the velocities my buddies get with their loads.