10" T-C 30-30 cast velocities

[Junior1942]

I bought a 10" bull 30-30 T-C Contender barrel from member tipiguy (Good seller!), and I've been running cast rounds over my Chrony.  All these rounds were loaded for a 20" Win M94.  Ballpark velocity loss 20" rifle vs 10" pistol = 300 fps.  WW neck sized cases unless noted.  Bullets = acww and .309" size w/LLA twice and push-through sized. One shot. The 311041 RTL weight = 178 grs.
 
311041 w/2.0cc Surplus 4895 = 1486 fps
311041 w/1.9cc Surplus 4895 w/RP FLsized case = 1488 fps
311041 w/25.5 grs Varget = 1396 fps
180 RCBS FP w/29.6 grs Varget = 1655 fps.  The RTL bullet weighs 195 grs., so this was a kicker and will be my deer load.
 

[streak]

I bought a 10" bull 30-30 T-C Contender barrel from member tipiguy (Good seller!), and I've been running cast rounds over my Chrony.  All these rounds were loaded for a 20" Win M94.  Ballpark velocity loss 20" rifle vs 10" pistol = 300 fps.  WW neck sized cases unless noted.  Bullets = acww and .309" size w/LLA twice and push-through sized. One shot. The 311041 RTL weight = 178 grs.
 
311041 w/2.0cc Surplus 4895 = 1486 fps
311041 w/1.9cc Surplus 4895 w/RP FLsized case = 1488 fps
311041 w/25.5 grs Varget = 1396 fps
180 RCBS FP w/29.6 grs Varget = 1655 fps.  The RTL bullet weighs 195 grs., so this was a kicker and will be my deer load.

Junior,
You using a scope, peep sight, or regular TC sights on that 30-30?
Have you shot it for groups yet?

[Junior1942]

>Have you shot it for groups yet
Nope, just got it yesterday.  I still has the factory iron sights.  A 2x Burris is on the way.  Those velocity readings were one shot only and for ball park data only.

[streak]

>Have you shot it for groups yet
Nope, just got it yesterday.  I still has the factory iron sights.  A 2x Burris is on the way.  Those velocity readings were one shot only and for ball park data only.

Keep us posted after you get it scoped and sighted in!
 Be sure to note difference between recoil w/o and with scope.

[Junior1942]

My 2x20 Burris pistol scope arrived.  They no longer come with lens covers :-(  The Burris tech guy I called to lodge a complaint said Butler Creek mini covers would fit.  The scope is also made in the Philippines :-( :-( I almost sent it back to MidwayUSA.  Leupold now has my scope business 100%.

[Junior1942]

More velocity data.  Barrel = 10" 30-30 Bull.  All bullets here and in the post above were acww alloy, twice lubed with LLA and sized .309" through a Lee sizer.  311041 av weight = ~179 grs.  CTL Ranch Dog 311-165 av weight = ~ 176 grs.
--------------------------------------
1.9cc 2015:
RD = 1517 fps
311041 = 1325 fps
-------------------------------------
2.35cc Varget:
RD = 1729 fps
311041 = 1686 fps
------------------------------------------------
Looks like the Ranch Dog wins hands down for deer.  The higher velocity for the RD vs the 311041 can't be due to being only 3 grs lighter. I think it's the extra lube carried via all those tumble-lube grooves.  Maybe this afternoon I can group some.  I'll report the results.
 
 

[streak]

Thanks for the update!
 It is interesting that you would have that much difference in velocity !
 Looking forward to what accuracy the loads will reveal!
 
How is the level of recoil with those loads?

[Junior1942]

How is the level of recoil with those loads?

Easily tolerable recoil levels except for the 195 RCBS load, and it wasn't what I would call bad--just heavy. Plus, the original velocity shot was scope-less, i.e., lots more recoil than now.  I wouldn't want to shoot it all day but a few test or zeroing rounds are a piece of cake.
 
Using a total pistol weight of 3.8 lbs (now) and powder weight of 25 grs, the recoil energy of the 195 @ 1655 = ~16 ft/lbs.  The RD 176 @ 1729 = ~15 ft/lbs.
 
For comparison, the Lee Soup Can @ 117 and 1500 = 7 ft/lbs.  My T-C 357 Mini-Max http://www.castbullet.com/makeit/minimax.htm comes in at a brutal ~19 ft/lbs, which is too much recoil for my 69.5 year old wrist.  I can handle ~16 with no problem.   

[Junior1942]

I have about 300 of 500 Meister .312" BB 32-20 cast bullets I gave a coat of LLA and ran through a Lee .309" sizer a few years back.  They wouldn't shoot well at all @ 1500 or so fps in my 30-30 M94 rifles or my new 30-30 T-C 10".  With .7cc Unique for 1100 est fps today, they shot 3 in 3/4", 2 in 7/16" @ 25 yards.  That's a good yard varmint load IMHO.   I seated them in the crimp groove with no crimp. At 116 gr @ 1100 fps that's like hitting a varmint with ~3, 22LR rounds.  Even better is the fact that the 25 yd varmint load POI is EXACTLY the same as my deer load at 50 yds!
 
Well, the deer load hits ~1" high at 50 yards on a 1 1/2" square, or at the top of the square, and the varmint load hits dead center on the same size square at 25 yards.  Is that good or what?
 
These same Meister bullets are ~10¢ each ITD on the Meister web site, so I can see another 500 coming my way in the near future.  Like the first box, I'll give 'em a coat of LLA and Lee size 'em to .309".

[streak]

Good shooting and good report Junior!
 
 How is that scope holding up?
Do you think you will get much expansion from your deer load RD 176 within 50 yards on deer size game?

[Junior1942]

Good shooting and good report Junior!
 
 How is that scope holding up?
Do you think you will get much expansion from your deer load RD 176 within 50 yards on deer size game?

The scope is still tight.  Lots of expansion isn't needed with a wide meplat like on a 311041 or the RD bullet.  Read this for an eye-opener: http://www.castbullet.com/shooting/7tcu2.htm