well, I have to add an update to the documentation of my cast 30-30 loading journey. RD knows of my new addiction as he's been THE enabler to lead me down the path
.... but it's a great ride.
The heavies and higher hunting velocity are still my number one goal to make work to the fullest in my old 336, but I also know I need to concentrate on the basics first. That way it's maybe just a few minor bumps and bruises in the learning curve rather than broken bones by jumping out too fast. My local buddy that's a novice lead caster had decided to give up on the 30-30 and quit casting them. I believe it's the Lee C309-150F mold he was using and his bullets with gas checks came out finished around 142 gr average and .309 -.3095 dia. They also tend to have 10-15% that will still shoot through the tube, but being OCD myself, I'd have tossed them back into the pot. Regardless, he traded me his last 180 of them as he had no other use for them other than re-use as casting lead. As a beginner at the cast bullet in a bottle necked case - and microgroove barrel - I figured the best use for them would be low velocity loads and pistol powder. So, yesterday I had some time to spend at the bench and noticed I had a few pieces of sized/primed (but not completely trimmed) that had been occupying a plastic box for several years. I had tried the 9.0 gr of Unique load with them a week or so with a limited few through the chrony with surprising results and decided to load a small batch to use up the untrimmed brass for grins.
Had the chance late this afternoon to take them to the range and put them all (only 11) through the chrony at a 50 yard target ... well, two targets - one 5 rounds and the other 6 rounds. Again, it produced surprising results for me. The 11 shots through the chrony averaged 1454 fps with extreme spread 49 fps, and a nice circular pattern (considering spread of both targets) of 1.0". Granted, it was only 50 yards, but they do seem to be consistent. I've now shot about 50 rounds of those lightweights with both Unique and A2400, and every single group has been in the 0.8 - 1.1" size range (50 yards).
I have experienced more leading with these apparently "undersized" (diameter) bullets than with the heavier 170+ gr, .310+ dia bullets (shooting much slower rifle powders), but it only takes a bit more cleaning than I consider normal.
One good thing, this whole experience has caused me to put more effort into proper length trimming of all my 30-30 brass and concentrate a bit more on prepping the case mouth to accept cast bullets.
This being my only experience with cast bullets in bottle necked cases, it's taught me that its a whole lot like loading cast in straight walled handgun brass .... but isn't nearly the same. Kinda like the old adage about tomatoes being a fruit, but I still ain't puttin' tomatoes in a fruit salad.
just rambling
jd