Cast loads in 30-30

I have been loading some jacketed sub sonic rounds for 30-30 for a while and recently got some cast loads from Rob (shooternz). Its my first time loading lead bullets and noticed that upon chambering they bedded into the lands a wee bit. COAL is 2.500-2.510. This is a bit shorter than some of my other jacketed loads and is crimped into the cannelure (as short as I can get it). The lands are clearly cutting into the bullet a fair way and I don't think I can load these short enough to avoid this. I Haven't shot these yet but wonder if this is normal and safe to shoot as they are. I have various loads of these (Trail boss) to try in a Dark Marlin 30-30 with DPT suppressor. I chambered 4 rounds with same result and one had to be gently pushed out with a cleaning rod (not stuck very hard). I have kept up with some of the subsonic 30 cal threads lately but not seen anyone comment about this so apologies if I have missed something.

I've loaded the same as you (Robert's 151g pills & 8 graina of trailboss), after running jacketed subs in my marlin. Heading to the range on Saturday to choot em. Crimped in the canalure quite a bit shorter oal than yours 2.435 maybe. Also running a dpt suppressor . I will let you know how I go.

Hmm, maybe i should try a few shorter ones as well. Im thinking if i crimp shorter i will miss the cannalure but I guess that's not a big deal? Ive got 7.5 gr and 8gr loads to try as well so should be interesting to see how you go. I might get a chance to shoot a few tomorrow and get some speeds as well. Ive had reasonably good results with 150 gr berry bullets and 7.5 gr TB as far as accuracy goes- 2 groups shot so far- one 15mm 3 shot group @ 50m and one 8mm group@ 50 m with 1.5-4 leopoldo scope. Ive tried to catch a few bullets in milk bottle line ups but they are too punchy and keep exiting out the back( I think 6 or seven). Tried 200 mm clear macrocarpa post and hole out the back same size as hole in the front. These are all at about 1050fps

Ive taken a photo but not sure I can post it till Ive made over 5 posts! Nearly there! The Olgive is quite a bit shorter than the Jacketed berry bullet so this must play a part. I have 2 Marlin 30-30 s and both produced same result. Will post photo soon.

Cant seem to sort out the photo thing so will try again tomorrow

Attachment 142910

cartridge on left is as loaded(COAL 2.510), centre is after extraction from chamber showing rifling, right is a loaded berry bullet which chambers without touching lands (Coal2.490)

I have used those bullets before with no issue, currently I use 180 grain ones cast from a lee flat nosed mold oal 2.5 and they don't touch. From memory robs bullets are bore rider style ie straight sided from ogive to tail, the Lee is stepped from ogive to crimp groove the bullet is under bore diameter.
Bore riders are supposed to be more accurate but he'll it's a 3030 not a target rifle.
A change in bullet style will fix it, alternately once loaded the only way out is forward should work fine.
I'll dig one of mine out later and put up a picture

Attachment 142931

Ok so I see that I have just crimped to the grove assuming length would be set ok. Because I’m loading TB at 7.5- 8 gr I can crimp into the lead maybe even down to COAL 2.4 (min length)before bottom on bullet reaches shell shoulder and still lots of space in case so as not to compress the powder. The bullet looks like it will touch lands a bit but not anywhere near as much.

Looks like you are sorted. Seating depth is not important with this cartridge and it's perfect for cast bullets. Those have a gas check fitted meaning you could whack them up to 1600 to 1800 fps no trouble, that's only 600 or so fps behind jacketed bullets.

Thanks for everyones help! Ill post some results here when I test a few groups and still keen to hear anyone else opinions.

You can crimp them anywhere,don’t need to go into crimp groove.had same issue with my .308 and those bullets,seated them real deep and crimped,problem solved.

its a marlin thing....factory projectiles come with crimp groove in shorter position FOR MARLINS.... we struck same thing as you have but as others have said,with the big long neck of the 30/30 case you can seat deeper without issue.

I would be poking them out at say 1500fps as MH has suggested...they will be deadly on game.

Got out today and dialed my scope in for mr FTX 2209h load. Mint. Unfortunately I took a mate who's not a shooter with me so all I can say is the sub cast loads which were 7. 5gr trailboss worked well through the suppressor at 30m at were easily ringing the 3 inch gong standing. sorry I had 3 rifles and a pistol carbine to zero and i was trying to keep it fun

I hear ya. I ended u sighting in some .22 s with my son that had been recently adjusted to 10 round mags so had put scopes back on etc. ran out of time to get to my cast lead 30-30 rounds but think I’ll have a chance tomorrow. I loaded up some shorter ones so will have a variety to try out. I did get a chance to chamber a few and found In The dark marlin I can just clear touching the lands at 2.440- 2.450 so your length is prob spot on.

Attachment 143104
I managed to get out to shoot some of my subsonic cast reloads today with some interesting results. The photo is of one captured in a milk bottle line up, from inside the 5th (2L) milk bottle. Speed 1120fps(just supersonic), 7.5 gr Trailboss, expanded to .453 dia., shed weight from 151gr to 97.3 gr

Todays Results: (all Trail boss @50M, COAL 2.450, Ave speed of 3 shot groups, 1.5-4x Leupold scope set@ 4x, dark marlin 30-30 DPT suppressor)

6.5gr 1042 fps, 50mm group
6.8gr 1070 fps, 35mm group
7.0gr 1098 fps ( one round supersonic) 50 mm group
7.5gr 1143 fps (all supersonic) 25mm group
Also shop a group of the longer rounds mentioned earlier that jammed into the lands somewhat COAL 2.500, 7.0 gr TB ave speed 1084, group size 50 mm. Effectively slightly slower, which was a bit unexpected as I would have thought there might have been a pressure increase.
Grouping was a bit average really but might be requiring some more work on my part and I wasn't set up on my normal(better) spot. I might play a bit more with those loaded at 6.5-6.8gr to see if I can improve accuracy. Interesting to compare with jacketed loads shot last week ( berry bullets 150 gr) which when loaded at 7.5gr TB were consistantly subsonic(ave 1060fps).

Great data man. Thanks that's going to be useful going forward. My barrel is an inch shorter than yours so I'm interested to see what my speeds are. Cheers

I am thinking about getting a mould designed specifically for the 30/30 one on the short list is 170-180 grains not sure if there is a HP option
The 151HP is designed for the .308 which the chamber is cut for the 168 gr Sierra MK in most cases in mine the 155 gr PALMA bullet, that is why it is a bit chubby
up front any one interested in a 30/30 mould let me know

yes is be keen for sure!

Good results there, personally I'm not a fan of trailboss, it has its uses but you seem to get some wide variations in speed with it. Admittedly I've never chased subsonic loads but the 14 to 1600fps region is where I "aim" for. You might like to consider a light charge of a shotgun or pistol powder if you are after better. Most cast bullet shooters will probably say if asked for a starting load in any calibre 10 grains of unique or equivalent ap70n

You are right Trail Boss may not be the best powder for sub sonic loads But it is the easiest to get good results with, powders like Red dot AS30 N310 and other fast pistol / shot gun powders
can give better accuracy but are a lot harder to work with needing fillers to keep the small amount of powder against the flash hole, Trail Boss does not need that much fussing about wth,
Another good load besides 10 grs Unique is 13 grs Red Dot if you Google The Load it will pop up,
.30 cal cast bullets generally have their best accuracy between 1800 and 1900 fps using the soft lead that I use or wheel weights any harder won't expand or will shatter.

Truth be told I used to use fillers but stopped years ago, never have had a problem with ignition or consistent velocity. Only thing I still fill for is light loads in black powder numbers and I've discovered rolled oats to be about the best,