Looking for load data for 150gr cast in 30-30

jtmarine0831

I can find all kinds of start load data for cast bullets in 30-30Win. but it all seems to be above and below 150grs. I have some hardcast bullets from a Lee 150gr flat nose mold and would like to load some for my Winchester and Marlin.

Any help would be wonderful

flyingtorpedo

The only thing in my manuals for a 30-30 150 grain lead bullet is from my Lee 2nd edition for VEC TU200. Start of 18.5 (~1745 fps) grains and a max of 20.1 grains (~1870 fps)

dtknowles

In Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook, 3rd ed. there are loads for 12 powders with a 151 gr. bullet with gas check. Pressures are usually higher with a gas check so the starting loads should be safe with your bullet and then you could work up. Let me know what powders you might use and I can check for you.

Rocky Raab

You'll find that with cast bullets, the loads don't vary as much with bullet weight. It's safe to use data for a somewhat heavier cast bullet, also. In this instance, just use data for a 160-180 grainer and you'll be fine. The velocity will be a bit higher, though.

In my own 30-30, I shoot nothing but cast bullets. For plain-base bullets of 150 to 170 grains, I use 7.0 of 700X (easy to remember that one!) for right at 1200 fps and a very accurate plinking or small game load to about 75 yards or so. I tried about a dozen fast pistol powders (Clays, Bullseye, RedDot, GreenDot, American Select, Solo 1000, Nitro 100 and a few more). All went about the same speed, but my gun shot 700X with the most accuracy.

Above that speed level, I switch to gas-check bullets. One great load is 16.0 of 2400. That one runs about 1700 fps.

For near full-speed loads of 2000 to 2200, I like Accurate 5744, but W748 is also good. Refer to the Lyman manual for these loads.

b00mer

lee load manual #2 has a whole section on cast bullets for 30-30,308- and 30-06

bpost

I had good results with Lyman 311041 and about 10 grains of Unique.

jtmarine0831

The only manual I have right now is the Lee manual which has cast data in it. The bullets I am casting are from a Lee 150 gr mold and the lead I melted down(alot of old nasty 200gr 45cal SWC) they all weigh in right at 152gr. Because I don't have any gas checks(no money right now) and the softer nature of this cast I am wanting to load them fairly slow, less than 1400fps. The only powder I use listed in the Lee manual is AA2230 and that is way to fast(velocity wise) for what I want. I use a wide variety of powders, for pistol I use Accurate No. 2, No.5, Bullseye, Unique, and H110. And for rifle I use 748, 2230, H380, H4895, BL-C2, Benchmark, Varget, IMR 3031, 4350, 4320, 4895,4064, Reloader 10x, Re15, and Re22.

Can anyone suggest me some start load data with hopefully one of these powders that will keep me under 1400fps?

Thanks for any info!

Rocky Raab

See my post above, but with those powders, here's my advice. First, avoid using ball powders in very reduced loads. They just don't burn well that way.

That leaves Bullseye and Unique among your pistol powders. Both are usable, with Unique the better choice. You can try 7.0 grains of Bullseye or 8.0 to 10.0 of Unique. Either will get you in the 1200 to 1400 fps range with ease. Use standard primers with both, if you have them. No fillers needed.