Thread: Questions for you 30-30 Cast Bullet aficionados

I started loading Cast 152gn .309 dia gas checked HP ( Walkers) in my Marlin 30-30 a few years ago and ran into a problem with misfires that saw me park the rifle and then I got sidetracked with other calibres. Anyway, long story short, I sorted the misfires and dug my box of test loads out and took the dirty thurty to the range today.

I had saved 3 rounds from a successful load that was grouping well at an average 2351 fps from 30.5gn IMR 3031 and a CCI primer.


While producing a reasonable group at 50m, this is a heavy feelin load at max but no pressure signs. It is based on Hogdon data for 150gn projectile, max charge 30.5/2192
fps. From a 24in barrel. My Marlin 336C is a factory 18.5in made in 1984. The recommended C.O.L is 2.550. My max over 30 rds made was 2.533, min 2.520. The variance attributes to the variation in the mouth of the HP bullet.

Hornady 2000 Ed. Manual, p316 gives a max charge of 31.4gn IMR3031 for 2200 fps with 150gn bullets.

My bullet is slightly heavier, but my barrel is a lot shorter. I calibrated my chrono with factory. 22LR ammo and it was very close.

An average of 2351 fps is therefore getting up there.

I saw from my logbook notes that the last time I shot these, a round that had been chambered and then ejected unfired, showed considerable engraving of the bullet by the lands. See attached photo. I suspect this is the culprit.

Given the groups I'm getting I'm not unhappy with the load. The rifle is strong and tight in the action and probably has rather less than 300 rds through it.

I can't see a way of of not engaging the lands using these projectiles. I can't measure pressure but there are absolutely no signs of over pressure- just solid recoil.

Where would you go with this?

Engraving ...



Fired cases...



3 shot group @ 50m...

the issue is simple..you have a Marlin and not a Winchester....... the Marlins like a shorter skinny fronted projectile...the bullet makers make bullets specially for the marlins...I did a few same as yours (different powder) for mate with marlin and he too got the engraving.
Robert will probably chime in and correct me if Im wrong...but thats pretty quick for a cast load....I would try dropping down to 1800fps ish powder charge level and see what happens...and dont sweat the touching the rifling...its a Marlin thing.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

the issue is simple..you have a Marlin and not a Winchester....... the Marlins like a shorter skinny fronted projectile...the bullet makers make bullets specially for the marlins...I did a few same as yours (different powder) for mate with marlin and he too got the engraving.
Robert will probably chime in and correct me if Im wrong...but thats pretty quick for a cast load....I would try dropping down to 1800fps ish powder charge level and see what happens...and dont sweat the touching the rifling...its a Marlin thing.

Cool bananas. I sold my Winchester cause all the jangly bits jangle lol

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

the issue is simple..you have a Marlin and not a Winchester....... the Marlins like a shorter skinny fronted projectile...the bullet makers make bullets specially for the marlins

I've never heard that one . . sounds a bit dodgy Micky

Originally Posted by rossi.45

I've never heard that one . . sounds a bit dodgy Micky

If you look at 160grn ftx hornady you will see they have cannalures , you use the front one for marlins as they have a short throat/ lead in .

Originally Posted by m101a1

If you look at 160grn ftx hornady you will see they have cannalures , you use the front one for marlins as they have a short throat/ lead in .

My 160grn ftx only have one cannelure (code 30395).
Hornady do another version of the 160 ftx (code 30396) with the cannelure further forward, though that is intended for the 308 Marlin Express

I crimp all my 30-30 ammo, I have had bullets get pushed deeper in the case just through being in the tube mag. I have Lyman dies that do a roll crimp, so a light crimp is enough to stop the projectile moving deeper than the front edge of the cannelure.

I should also mention my 30-30 didn't like the FTX, so I'm using the rest of the box in a 308.

Originally Posted by Cigar

My 160grn ftx only have one cannelure (code 30395).
Hornady do another version of the 160 ftx (code 30396) with the cannelure further forward, though that is intended for the 308 Marlin Express

I crimp all my 30-30 ammo, I have had bullets get pushed deeper in the case just through being in the tube mag. I have Lyman dies that do a roll crimp, so a light crimp is enough to stop the projectile moving deeper than the front edge of the cannelure.

I should also mention my 30-30 didn't like the FTX, so I'm using the rest of the box in a 308.

Just checked my stock which is 30396 and is the same with the can way forward must have been older stock I was using in a 307 that had two cans . I no longer have a 30/30 or 307 so will use these in a 300 aac or 308

Originally Posted by Cigar

My 160grn ftx only have one cannelure (code 30395).
Hornady do another version of the 160 ftx (code 30396) with the cannelure further forward, though that is intended for the 308 Marlin Express

I crimp all my 30-30 ammo, I have had bullets get pushed deeper in the case just through being in the tube mag. I have Lyman dies that do a roll crimp, so a light crimp is enough to stop the projectile moving deeper than the front edge of the cannelure.

I should also mention my 30-30 didn't like the FTX, so I'm using the rest of the box in a 308.

Just checked my stock which is 30396 and is the same with the can way forward must have been older stock I was using in a 307 that had two cans . I no longer have a 30/30 or 307 so will use these in a 300 aac or 308

Originally Posted by rossi.45

I've never heard that one . . sounds a bit dodgy Micky

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....50/index4.html

theres a bit about feeding issues on #18 post

I remember the hornady fn projectiles came in two types some years back,the cannalure was in different places,the marlins like it shorter,why all factory ammo is short I believe...

I'm amazed you can get 2351 fps with a cast lead bullet even with a gas check. I would expected leading and bullet stripping leading to tumbling even with microgroove rifling,
I use 180 grain flat nose bullets with no gas check at 1500 ish fps in a 94 and find that I done need anymore speed.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

I'm amazed you can get 2351 fps with a cast lead bullet even with a gas check. I would expected leading and bullet stripping leading to tumbling even with microgroove rifling,
I use 180 grain flat nose bullets with no gas check at 1500 ish fps in a 94 and find that I done need anymore speed.

Have a look at the holes in the paper, no tumbling there. No discernable leading in the barrel either. To be fair, have not put many through it so it may be sneaking up on me. But yes, I was not quite expecting that velocity. I will be backing it off and looking for a node further down. However this is also one of the better grouping loads. Somewhere around 1600 -1800 would suit me

Originally Posted by Jhon

Have a look at the holes in the paper, no tumbling there. No discernable leading in the barrel either. To be fair, have not put many through it so it may be sneaking up on me. But yes, I was not quite expecting that velocity. I will be backing it off and looking for a node further down. However this is also one of the better grouping loads. Somewhere around 1600 -1800 would suit me

Greetings @Jhon,
You can often used the start loads for a reduced load. My old Lyman and Speer manuals give 26.5 and 24.5 grains of IMR3031 respectively as start loads for the 150 grain in the .30-30. The latter develops 1,844 fps in a 20 inch barrel. It looks to me that your primers have backed out a little from their pockets. This suggests that the pressure is low enough not to stretch the cases and you may be able to just neck size your brass. This is what I do with my old .303 rifles to extend case life. Engraving of the cast projectile when chambered was considered a desirable feature to cast lead target shooters in the late 19th centurybut they always fired a round once chambered so your needs may differ.
Regards Grandpamac.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings @Jhon,
You can often used the start loads for a reduced load. My old Lyman and Speer manuals give 26.5 and 24.5 grains of IMR3031 respectively as start loads for the 150 grain in the .30-30. The latter develops 1,844 fps in a 20 inch barrel. It looks to me that your primers have backed out a little from their pockets. This suggests that the pressure is low enough not to stretch the cases and you may be able to just neck size your brass. This is what I do with my old .303 rifles to extend case life. Engraving of the cast projectile when chambered was considered a desirable feature to cast lead target shooters in the late 19th centurybut they always fired a round once chambered so your needs may differ.
Regards Grandpamac.

Geeze Gramps, that's pretty interesting! I don't think I'm game to up the charge any further. My barrel is 18.5in. While I took someone else's suggestion and checked my chrono with 22 LR I'm beginning to think I should borrow another chrono. Maybe there's an aberration.

It's good to hear about engraving being desirable . I've been doing wider research and have also come across that. Right now my intention is to back the charge down some and see if I can find a good node at a saner velocity.

I will definitely take a look at case stretch. Would be good to just neck size. In the flesh the primers are still flush with the head. I will check how low they were when seated

Thks for the info

Greetings @Jhon,
24.5 grains is less than you are using now at 30.5 grains. A lot of current data has a narrow range of loads, often two grains or less. I suggest you try 24 grains which should give around 1,800 fps in your shorter barrel.
GPM.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings @Jhon,
24.5 grains is less than you are using now at 30.5 grains. A lot of current data has a narrow range of loads, often two grains or less. I suggest you try 24 grains which should give around 1,800 fps in your shorter barrel.
GPM.

Yes I answered that far too fast. You're quite correct. I'll put it down to cooking dinner, mixing G&T for the neighbours, trying to converse intelligently and read/relpy to your post. Lucky I wasn't reloading lol