Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Anyone used these .30 cal

These

165gr Meister or these manufacturers.

Mike

First off they are plain based bullets. You'll need to keep velocity down to around 1400fps or less, unless you like wearing out bore brushes. I would take the $55 and buy a used mould, Lee push-thru sizing die, and a stick of bullet lube. At that point you can make as many bullets as you want, as long as you stay on the good side of the garage men who can keep you in used wheelweights. From that point on you can make your own lead plinking bullets for a small fraction of the cost of 500 of these bullets, with very little effort on your part, indefinitely. (Plus your bullets will probably be better than these store bought ones. )

I cast for pistol bullets occasionally now.

I have to buy wheel weights now the freebie days are over in my area.

thanks,

Mike

Anyone else?

polymer coated bullets

You might be happier with these. Drop a note to the guy and ask how they perform.

No problem shooting this type (un-gas checked) of lead bullet. Loads in the 1,000 to 1,200 are easy with Unique and W-231. I shoot cast boolits (not the ones the OP listed) in and old WW-I Springfield.

Load data here:

http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

....or, use some with gas checks, and drive'em 2200-2300..... Montana .30s

link not working hh

Next question what would have been an original cast load for .30-30's?

Mike

Depending on manufacturer and/or barrel length...Somewhere around 1800 FPS; Give or take.

I regularly drive 170-ish cast bullets (of proper alloy and gas checked, sized to fit the throat, with a decent lube) at factory velocity. No sweat. My hunting loads in .30-30 and .303 Savage are 190 cast bullets driven at 1800fps.

Key words there are "proper alloy, gas checked, and sized to fit the throat, with a decent lube." If those criteria aren't met then you will experience disappointment on some level, and it's a crap shoot whether or not a store-bought lead bullet will meet them.

I ordered a box from Meister and will let y'all know how they do!

I'm just looking for a good plinking bullet to whack the occasional armadillo and play with, I'll load the Hornady 150 gr RN Interlocks for deer most likely.

Mike