Varget in 30-30 with 311041 boolit.

[pps]

In searching the archives here, the last post I've seen on this was in 2006. The gist of things seems to be that Varget likes higher pressures, the boolit needs to be pretty hard, crimp needs to be firm. I've seen posts in the 25-26 grain ballpark, all the way up to 30 grains.

For those of you who use Varget in 30-30 with this boolit, how hard do you cast the boolit, what are your start and max loads (any velocity data would be welcome), and how accurate is this combo at medium(ish) pressures? I'm shooting out of an older Marlin 336, so I'm not wanting to crank up the pressure.

My gun shop was all out of reloader 7 or the Varget question would be moot.

[Nobade]

I was burning some Varget in my 30-30 just a couple of weeks ago. #311041, cast from wheelweights and water dropped, gaschecked and sized to .309. 50/50 alox/beeswax lube. Seated to the crimp groove, loaded over 32 gr. Varget, I was seeing 1 1/4 inch groups at 100 yards. No pressure signs at all, I don't think you can overload a 30-30 with this powder. This was a lightly compressed load. Rifle is a 788, with a 1:12 twist barrel on it. Your 336 with its 1:10 barrel might not like going this fast, but you can try and see what happens.

[felix]

NoBade, your 788 has a 12 twist? Most factory barrels were 10 twist to keep the cost down via quantity for the 30-06s and the likes. The 700s were issued 12 twists, at least some models like the VS model were 12s. ... felix

[Jeffery8mm]

Not Varget, but I use a fair amount of IMR4064, which is very close to Varget. I use 30 gr with that boolit and get smallish groups.
Jeff

PS: America is ALIVE and well.

PSS: I am not an Obama supporter, but my America is still alive and well and I am proud to be here.

[pps]

Thanks guys. I'll start working from around 26 grains, chronograph...look for pressure signs and work up from there. I'd like to get in the low 2000's which is close to factory loadings (170gr Rem Core lok) out of this gun.

I don't think I'll be pushing the 32 grain mark. But it's nice to know it has been done without pressure signs.

PS: Jeffery, my America is in the health care field and we are under direct assault from this administration. If his socialist agenda with health care gets carried through, America will have a long way to go to recover, in terms of freedom and the economy. I pray he fails, but in the meantime I'm taking the LSAT in prep for law school in case I have to change professions.

[Jeffery8mm]

PPS Bless you. I can only imagine working in that field. Obomacare, or Obama anytthing is a complete JOKE.
I too felt that when Barack Hussien Obama was elected it was the end. But this is MY America!! I wont give up. Just looking for Jan 20 2013!!!!!!!!!
Jeff

[pps]

PPS Bless you. I can only imagine working in that field. Obomacare, or Obama anytthing is a complete JOKE.
I too felt that when Barack Hussien Obama was elected it was the end. But this is MY America!! I wont give up. Just looking for Jan 20 2013!!!!!!!!!
Jeff

Trust me, I'm not giving up, nor will I ever. Change professions, if I have to. I'll change my avitar only when "we the people" rip the control of our country out of the hands of Obama and his communist ilk. Come on 2010 and 2012!

Anyway, back to our originally scheduled thread...lol

[Nobade]

Hi Felix, Yes, my 788 has a 1:12 twist barrel. A 4 groove Brux, #3 contour I installed on it. Chamber is Dave Manson's 30-30 CBM (cast bullet match). Factory it was a 1:10, but I figured since it is going to only ever be used with cast boolits I may as well make it a little more friendly to them. So far it works great, I can't push them fast enough to cause any leading or accuracy issues. Shoots really good with paper patch boolits too.

[izzyjoe]

i may be wrong but, every marlin 30-30 i own or delt with was 1-12'' twist. any way 31gr. of varget showed presure signs in my gun w/ 170gr. boolits. and i backed it down to 29.5- 30.gr. just my 2 cents.

[C.F.Plinker]

I just got back form the range. I loaded up new Remington brass, the first boolets I cast from the recent 311041 group buy, WLR primers, and Varget starting at 27 grains and going up to 30 grains in 1/2 grain steps. Boolets were cast from range scrap, water dropped, and sized to .311 and gas checked. These usually run 8-10 BHN air cooled and 12-15 BHN water dropped. The lube was LBT blue.
The velocities were:

27grains 1867fps
27.5 1948
28 1988
28.5 2010
29 2027
29.5 2065
30 2100

At 50 yards the first 5 shot group was 2.6 inches, the next two were over 3.5 inches and then the 28.5 grain group tightened up to less than 2.25 inches. The groups stayed under 3 inches for the 29 and 29.5 grain loads and finally opened up to over 3.5 inches for the 30 grain load. No signs of leading.

When I shot Remington 170 grain factory loads they came out of my 20" Winchester 1894 at 2130 fps with a 5 shot group of 3.4 inches. While I didn't get factory velocities 4 out of the 7 loads I tried grouped better than factory. I found out what I wanted to know and will start using the 28.5 grain load.

[izzyjoe]

c.f.plinker,you say'n @50yd. factory 170gr ammo would do 3.4''or 3/4'' cause 3.4'' seems like a big group from 50yd. was you shoot'n freehand or from a bench.

[C.F.Plinker]

The old Mark I eyeballs aren't anywhere near what they used to be. I got out the old 67A a couple of years back and I couldn't even see the rear sight. All of my rifles are wearing peep sights now and I use reading type glasses to get the front sight in focus but the target gets fuzzy. This is just a long way of saying that the group was 3.4 inches. I was just trying to put down some numbers that would show that cast can shoot at least as well as and often better that factory jacketed and give some idea as to the amount of improvement that you can get with a little handloading.

[pps]

I just got back form the range. I loaded up new Remington brass, the first boolets I cast from the recent 311041 group buy, WLR primers, and Varget starting at 27 grains and going up to 30 grains in 1/2 grain steps. Boolets were cast from range scrap, water dropped, and sized to .311 and gas checked. These usually run 8-10 BHN air cooled and 12-15 BHN water dropped. The lube was LBT blue.
The velocities were:

27grains 1867fps
27.5 1948
28 1988
28.5 2010
29 2027
29.5 2065
30 2100

At 50 yards the first 5 shot group was 2.6 inches, the next two were over 3.5 inches and then the 28.5 grain group tightened up to less than 2.25 inches. The groups stayed under 3 inches for the 29 and 29.5 grain loads and finally opened up to over 3.5 inches for the 30 grain load. No signs of leading.

When I shot Remington 170 grain factory loads they came out of my 20" Winchester 1894 at 2130 fps with a 5 shot group of 3.4 inches. While I didn't get factory velocities 4 out of the 7 loads I tried grouped better than factory. I found out what I wanted to know and will start using the 28.5 grain load.

Thank you. That's exactly what I was looking for.

[Dannix]

Until recently, I had never considered use Varget for 30-30.

What got you guys started on it (and for you guys around for a while, away from your old 30-30 powder choice)? Availability?

[pps]

Ran some boolits over the chrony sat.

27 Grains = 1700fps
27.5 1737
28 1800
28.5 1875

28 Grains was the tightest group at 2"... Found my load.
1940's vintage Marlin 336 20" barrel No leading.

Thanks for the input guys.

[Baron von Trollwhack]

My 31141 casts out at 182 grains sized to 311 and checked, then dipped in thinned LLA. Moderately hard alloy. I started with 26 grains of Varget and went to 32.5 without pressure signs in Winchester cases. The cases are match prepped, trimmed, annealed after firing then only necksized 0.3" and use Remington 9 1/2 primers. I am shooting a M-94 from the late fifties with a very nice chamber and a long throat allowing a long loaded length near functioning capacity. I use the Lee FCD.

I settled on 31.5 grains as the best load which goes into 1.5" at 100 yards. Case life will likely be extended.

BvT