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Re: .30-30 shooting C309-160R GC

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 09:30
by Ohio3Wheels
Ranch Dog wrote:Honestly, in that the Hornady checks need to be crimped on I would buy a .311 sizer to accomplish the seat without sizing the bullet. Otherwise, I think the checks will come off.
+1

They will more than likely fall off. Wont hurt anything but wont do their job either.

Make smoke,

Re: .30-30 shooting C309-160R GC

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 13:12
by Ranch Dog
Being they are flared for a crimp I think they come off as the hit the bore/groove. Once in awhile I will notice a pressure spike with my pressure trace gear immediately behind bullet movement. I figure it is the check in the barrel. Not much pressure there but something interrupting the flow. I've been able to relate these shots to fliers as well.

I use "oversize" sizers to seat just the check often. For instance, you can hear & feel the a 30 caliber check crunch down as it passes through a .314" sizing die on a .313" bullet. The bullet itself doesn't touch but the check sure does. Plenty of diameter to hang up and affect the shot.

Re: .30-30 shooting C309-160R GC

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 16:09
by r1200r
Thanks for the info, that you could feel the checks swage with a .314 makes sense as I mic the checks OD at .321". Oh well I guess it's another order, I'll try the .311, and I thought this hobby would be saving me money.

Re: .30-30 shooting C309-160R GC

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 16:37
by GasGuzzler
Genuine question but can one "check size" only on a LAM2 by only dropping the ram far enough to seat the GC and not size the lead like a push through does?

Re: .30-30 shooting C309-160R GC

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 16:57
by Ranch Dog
r1200r wrote: I thought this hobby would be saving me money.
One of the great lies of all time.
GasGuzzler wrote:Genuine question but can one "check size" only on a LAM2 by only dropping the ram far enough to seat the GC and not size the lead like a push through does?
What is a LAM2?

Re: .30-30 shooting C309-160R GC

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 20:35
by GasGuzzler
Lub-a-matic 2 by RCBS

Re: .30-30 shooting C309-160R GC

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 20:38
by Ohio3Wheels
I think he speaks of a lubrisizer.

Yes, I have seated and crimped gas checks that way on some 6.5mm boolits I wanted to shoot as cast but wanted (needed?) the gas checks on. Pan lubed the lot and shot in a couple of my Swedes and the 6.5mmTCU Contender.

Make smoke,

Re: .30-30 shooting C309-160R GC

Posted: 24 Apr 2016 13:08
by r1200r
My goal is to develop a relatively inexpensive, accurate, repeatable load for cast bullets for target shooting. So, here are the results for the day. Cast C309-160r GC, sized to .309" tumble lube with Lee Liquid Alox, CCI large rifle primers, COAL between 2.525 to 2.542. Powder is IMR 4895 following loads. The rifle is the Henry .30-30, 1:12 twist, 20" barrel, fitted with Leupold 1.5 to 4 power scope. The scope is one that is NOT conducive to shooting tight groups as the reticle is probably 2MOA in width. I shot 100 yards, very windy conditions today gusting to 20mph, bench resting with sandbags. These were 5 shot groups. The first figure is total group vertical displacement, second number is vertical displacement with high and low thrown out.

28.0gr powder = 7", 2.5"
28.3gr powder = 5 1/16", 3 9/16"
28.6gr powder = 1 13/16", 1 3/16"
28.9gr powder = 5 7/8", 1 1/16"
29.2gr powder = 7 1/2", 5 5/8"
29.5gr powder = 2", 15/16"
29.8gr powder = 4 1/8", 5/8"
30.0gr powder = 3 5/16", 2 3/8"

My takeaways are as follows;
1. Work harder to make more consistent COAL, start with consistent case trim length.
2. Don't shoot in these high wind conditions.
3. Appears that sweet spot would be 29.5gr to 30.0 gr (higher velocity)
4. Reload and try this again.

Very interested in feedback.

Re: .30-30 shooting C309-160R GC

Posted: 24 Apr 2016 13:53
by Ranch Dog
Hmmm...

the 28.6 grains look real good to me. Maybe shoot 28.5 and then 29.5 while controlling the OAL.

One thing that I do is shoot up close, starting at 25 yards. If a three shot group isn't within a "caliber" it isn't going to be worth pursuing down range. At least it offers a very fine detail between loads such as my suggested 28.5 & 29.5 while eliminating a lot of range induced variables.

The overall length variation isn't really large as long as the the longer length doesn't increase the start pressure by contacting some portion of the chamber. Sitting there in free space the .017" difference with 29.0 grains of H4895 is 6 FPS.

As far as the scope goes, compensate with some contrast such as using a 3 MOA orange block on your target. At 100 yards you should see four little orange squares, all equal, the area not covered by the heavy reticle.

Re: .30-30 shooting C309-160R GC

Posted: 25 Apr 2016 02:51
by r1200r
Thanks for the reply. I've started a ladder similar to above now with H335, I'm also going to load up a few with the 4895 at the 28.5 and 29.5 and test some more.