Hi-Tek Missouri Bullets 30-30

[1006]

Hello,

I am am looking for any specific info you might have regarding the Missouri Bullets 30-30 Hi-Tek coated 165 grainbullet -- accuracy and load data.

So far, I have loaded a few with 17.0/2400/Federal LRPrimer yielding 1844 fps and a few with 20.7/RL#7/Federal LRPrimer yielding 1633 fps.

The 2400 load was about 200 fps faster than I expected from my gun (16inch Win94), and it flattened the primer without any cratering.

I have not shot it it for accuracy yet.

I am wondering how fast this bullet can be pushed.

Does anyone have some Data to share?

Thank You.

[1006]

Well, I did some shooting today with the loads mentioned in my last post.

Niether load was consistent. Both would produce five shot groups at 50yds in which 3/5 bullets landed within an inch of two others. The other two shots were more than three inches away.

100yd shooting produced paper plate sized groups that were roughly centered on the plate. The only good news was: no keyhole shapes were found in the target and the holes were nice and round, like that of a full wad cutter from a 38.

Given that I have a scope on this lever action, and I have gotten much better groups from this gun in the past, I think the load needs to be lightened a bit.

For now, I am going to abandon the Reloader #7 load and focus on the 2400 load.

I am going to use 15.0 grains 2400 with the Hy Tek coated 165 grain Missouri Bullet and see how that works.

I am thinking that I should be able to get 1500FPS with these bullets and the right powder.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

[OnHoPr]

If they are 18 BHN you should be able to push them at least above 2000 fps. I know there are a lot of shooters that use the faster powders, but my 94 likes the slower powders. There are quite a few powders from 2400 to 4350. I have had fair results with 2400 and good results from 4350. I have also had poor results with powders fall in that range of powders that were close to those powders burn rate.

[popper]

Those are plain base boolits? Slow powder and slow fps. Typically their alloy is hardball. I can get ~ 1600 in 300BO PB HiTek with 4227, then accuracy goes to pot, about the same in 30/30. I got really good 50 yd groups with the 150 gr. PB in 308MX, using 4227 (16 gr IIRC) PC'd. Weird. Might try some dacron filler but I suspect it's the base that isn't quite perfect. PB GCs may help.

[leadman]

The bullets look like plain base in the ad. Slow them down to at least the velocity popper said and they should shoot better. You may want to go as low as 1,200 fps velocity as this seems to be a sweet spot for my 30-30.

[OnHoPr]

I took a quick peek after the above post after my first quick peek and noticed that they don't have a gas check, so disregard my post. The slower powders in the 2460 or 4895 range might help though.

[rond]

I've had good results with Leverevolution start loads and their lead boolit with a gas check.

[popper]

Attachment 149505This is the RD 170PB, best I could do. Filler didn't improve it much. I really culled for perfect bases on these, alloy was Roto high Sb, sulfer added & WDd. IMHO, RL7 is too slow for the hardball they use.

[1006]

I shot a few of the Hi-Tek bullets 165grain with 15.0 grains 2400. The groups improved with the powder load reduction, but the difference in size between a 100 yard group and a fifty yard group was larger than I want. At 50yards the 4shot group is an inch. At 100 yards the 4 shot group is about 7 inches. I would be happy with a 3.00 inch group at a 100yards, and 1500fps.

I have a 4 power scope installed. So, I think it is the load and not the shooter.

I have one more load to try this week - 9.5 Trail Boss.

I would like to be able to use these bullets, but If they cannot be pushed to at least 1200fps, I might as well go back to my 375Winchester. My 375Winchester accuracy seems to be better than my 30-30 at equall velocities with plain base cast bullets, and it is easier for me to load.

I had thought the coating would partially substitute for gas check from a functional perspective -- it does not.

Happy note: The bullet does not seem to be leading my barrel. (Hi-Tek coated 165grain Missouri Bullet Co.)

Do you guys think there is a powder that will push this bullet at 1500fps, and maintain a 3.0 inch group at 100yards?

Is it even possible for a coated cast bullet to maintain this level of accuracy and speed, or do I need a gas check?


Thanks --

[popper]

You should be able to get to 1500 OK. Cull boolits by looking at the base under a loop. Any rounded, uneven - set aside. Are they sized to your rifle? Loaded to just off the lands? Did you try dacron filler? Don't compress the powder but fill good to the top of the neck. I don't know about your eyes but I have a 9x to see the mark I put on the target, 4x isn't good enough for wringing out a load. Mine is a marlin so needs harder boolits. 50 is easy to get reasonable groups, 100 is not. Post some target pics.

[1006]

Popper--your group at 50 yrds with 15.0 2400 and your RD 170 bullet looks just about like a 6 shot group from my gun with the same powder charge and a 165 Coated Missouri Bullet. I did not chronograph mine. However, I did measure a 17 grain load at 1844fps from 9 yards away. So, I think our velocities may be similar.

Thanks

[popper]

I started with unique but L.G. recommended 2400 so I switched. I am NOT a hunter but I would use GC boolits for deer. I've used the same HiTek coating with plain base (300BO) and get more than an occasional flyer.

[1006]

The plain base coated Missouri Bullet looks like a fifty yard bullet at any velocity between 800 and 1800fps. After 50 yards, the group grows to a plate sized scattering at 100 yards -- for me.

I shot Trail Boss loads - 9.5 grains, chronographed at 1020 fps from my Trapper.

They seemed more accurate than previous loads at 50 yards--they were slower. The group was just under an inch. I will try them at 100yards another day.

I believe I am done with this bullet--It seems they shoot best the slower they go, and the accuracy just isn't available at the power level I want.

1500 FPS, with a 165 grain bullet, Capable of 3.0 MOA at 100YDS is what I wanted. I got the speed without leading the barrel or bullet tumbling, but not the 100yd accuracy.

I will load the remainder of these at 1000-1200 FPS, it does not seem to matter which powder I use. They will work nicely for shooting my Grandfather's iron sighted Winchester 94, made in 1941. He was the original owner.

Thanks for your advice guys--

[725]

Are your groups opening after you have shot for awhile? Hot barrels can play the devil with consistency. Have you opened the barrel band any? Scope of good quality? Rings and bases tight? With that scope, do you have to lift your face away from the stock? Are you holding the rifle to the sandbags and not letting the recoil jump off a solid rest interfere with your shooting? Just a couple of thoughts about the basics. Best of luck. I'd slow it down to 1500 fps or so.