.30-30 cast bullet load data anyone?

[Tangle Eye]

Well I finally did some backsliding and am getting away from shooting nothing but the holy black - at least for one caliber anyway.    I'm looking for load data for .30-30 Winchester (or .30 WCF if you prefer) for cast bullets. I've tried H4198 with good results at very low velocity with a 165 grain .310 bullet but the load falls apart as it approaches 1600 FPS -- looks sorta like a buckshot pattern instead of a group.  And - I'd like something in the 1600 FPS range so the trajectory will be at least a little flatter than your average rainbow.

Anyway - if any of you have had good luck with a .30-30 cast bullet load I'd like to hear about it.

[J.W.Neely]

Last year I embarked on a quest to get the old 30wcf to shoot cast with real powder.
The rifle groups great with  the heathen powder and copper bullets.
The rifle hates cast bullets, I tried different bullets, in different hardness, smokeless and real powder.
It would never give a group smaller than 12" at 100 yards, with cast, 
I read that the  old nickle steel barrels would do just that, sorry I can't help you pard.
Here is a pic of the fine old rifle and a Spring 2005 ( dead) Rio Grande .

[litl rooster]

Sorry, I buy my smokeless .30-30  cowboy ammo 170gr. lead cast bullets...They shoot good when they don't hang. With in 2" of where I point roughly 75 paces. I might add consistanly also. I replyied here to keep thread going, am sure enuff curious on using some black powder ammo in it.

lr

[Griff]

I shoot a lot, no a LOT of .30-30 mostly lead pilled.  I'll post in a little while with a link to a fine forum dedicated to the lever guns and a lot of info on .30-30s.
In the meantime, I suggest casting yer own, out of a 1/6 or 1/8 mix of linotype/wheel weights, then using a medium load of RE7 behind a .309 sized bullet.  (that is if yer using a Winch.).  Pushin the .30-30 beyond about 1600fps tends to break up the bullet when they're too soft; too hard and impact tends to break 'em up.

[Griff]

Ok, here goes:  http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?f=8.  If you pull down the search screen, you can simply type in .30-30 and it'll bring up most all the threads that refer to this caliber.  Another good forum is:  www.leverguns.sixgun.com.  Both will be highly informative.  I ain't ever met KCSO or 30WCF but in reading over their posts, I'd have to say these are two knowledgeable men when it comes to the .30-30.
Good luck.

[Tangle Eye]

'preciate the links and the info. Just to clarify, the load I'm working on is for a Uberti/Winchester low wall so bullet shape is irrelevant. Now it would be good if the same load in this one would work in the lever gun though. :-)

[Throckmorton]

My late fourties Marlin hated cast until I tried gas checked bullets.Now it'll scare the hack out of anything near a hundred yards.havent'' tried iot any  fruther yet.

I'm gonna try out that castbullet link myself as we have a long range shoot coming up soon.One of the few we have around here.

[Capt. Augustus]

Tangle Eye, Capt. McNelley is having pretty good luck so far with his .30-30.  He's shooting a Marlin, man is it slicker than my Buffalo Bill rifle.  It seems that he is using 4895.  I'll check.

[Tangle Eye]

Well I'm off to the powder store today to get some stuff to experiment with.  According to what I've researched I'm going to try IMR 3031, IMR 4064, and maybe 4895 too.  I'm reading that the slower burning powders seem to work better.  Of course I've had pretty good luck in my lever with Unique so that contradicts that.  I guess that's what makes developing loads kinda fun (but expensive!).

[Capt. Augustus]

Capt. McNelly is pushing a 170 grain bullet at 1600 using 4895 and his group at 200 yards was unbelievable.  If you don't have his phone number let me know.

[Tangle Eye]

I've got his contact info. We're working together on the long range side-match at MSSA in September.  Sounds like he's found a winner. I'm using 165 grain bullets right now but may go to 170 since they're easier to find.