Several questions
1. I don't want to cast my own, just buy them.
2. Don't want to resize, add gas checks and lube.
3. I have a Marlin 336 in 30-30 that I want to shoot CLAS (Cowboy Lever Action Sillouete). Targets are as far as 200 yd rams shot offhand.
4. I reload for about nine other calibers but none with cast bullets.

What can you suggest as far as bullets, load data, dies etc when held up to the previous requirements.

Thanks

I shoot a 30-30 in the cowboy sillouette and might be able to help.Any set of 30-30 dies will due.You will need a tool to flare the case mouths inorder to seat the cast bullet.I shoot 15 grains of 2400 powder with a lyman bullet #311291.This load is good up to 200yrds.I cast my own but the link below has them made up and ready to go.There is a link to a flaring tool also.I hope this helps you get starded.



http://www.westernbullet.com/ly3gr2.html
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewP...productNumber=140461

Thanks RayO, that is exactly the info I needed. Appreciate your consideration.

RayO, I noticed the bullets you suggested are round nosed. Is that ok in a tubular magazine or should I stay with a flat pointed bullet?

Super 88: You need to check were you are going to shoot as some matches do not let you uses GS bullets. On loading, I would take out stem and bell in your sizeing die to to open the case back up to caliber. If you need to keep the stem on to deprime just put a smaller bell on lika 7mm or .257. I would use a Lyman M die (30s) to open the necks and flare the case mouth. The die will work on any 30 cal that is as long as a 30-30 and has a body no larger than a belted H&H case. The 30 carbine(too short) and the RUM's and WSM(body too big)will not work in that die. I have used mine to open the necks on 30-06, 30-30, 308Win, 7.5French, 7.5 Swiss and 300 Weatherby. PS: I have seen a Win 73 that had a round in the magazine go off and he was useing round nose bullets.

quote:

Originally posted by Super 88:
RayO, I noticed the bullets you suggested are round nosed. Is that ok in a tubular magazine or should I stay with a flat pointed bullet?

I've used that bullet for a long time with no mishaps.If it concerns you,go ahead and use a flatpoint.They work just as well.

First off, you will experience no problem using Lyman #311291 in your 30-30 in the magazine.
If you have any control in the matter, you might consider having them sized to .310", especially if your Marlin has Micro-Groove rifling. FWIW, I use that .310" sizing in my Marlin and my Winchester M94 30-30's. I usually load them up to full power for deer hunting and they work just fine when cast from Wheel weight metal.
The Lyman #31141 or #311041 as they now call it has never shot well for me in any rifle. many people say they get good results but I guess they slaughter a goat at midnight over their casting pot or something. The flat nosed bullet I like is the RCBS #30-180-FN which weighs right at 190 gr. in wheel weight metal and is absolutely deadly on deer.It is a flat nosed bullet.
I do think that for cowboy shoots, gas checked bullet are not allowed, not so much that they'll hurt the targets but because of the bounce back of the check which could injure the shooter or a bystander.
Lyman used to have a large list of cast bullet molds but the bean counter have cause most of them to be disontinued (A pox on them.) and I see no plain based bullets at all in .30 caliber. You might go to Lyman's web site and see what they have in plain base bullets but remember with those velocity is best kept somewhere in the 1400-1600 FPS range and preferably close to the 1400 FPS level. If you really get into it, you're gonna want to start casting your own.
If you know the satisfaction of taking game with a handload you made yourself, imagine what it feels like when even the projectile you made is the one that took your game.
Lyman #311291=15 deer
RCBS #30-180-FN=2 deer so far.
Both those bullets take gas checks.
Paul B.

lyman HAD a mould #308241 that was a plain base (no gc ) but droped it you may find one
on onethe web .
but thay will be high.

Paul has some very good advice especially about if the Marlin has Micro-Groove. Not that Micro-Groove can't shoot, in fact it can shoot very good, it's more difficult to get to shoot for the novice cast bullet shooter. On that type of rifling it's best to fit the throat or shoot the bullet as fat as possible. Buying already cast bullets make that difficult to do. The bullet is going to have to fit and shoot well for it to do good at 200 yards.

Good luck on your venture.

I started using the 311291 in my Grandfather's Win 94. We started using them in a Marlin 336 a couple of years ago. Didn't know they we're supposed to work. They did for us.

Kill deer too.

Super 88, before you spend money on a bullet mould, you might want to try out some of the 165 gr. FP bullets by Hunter's Supply. These are plain based and sized to .311".

I'm pretty sure that the cowboy shoots don't allow gas checked bullets so these would be legal for that type of shoot.

quote:

I have used mine to open the necks on 30-06, 30-30, 308Win, 7.5French, 7.5 Swiss and 300 Weatherby.

Fat_Albert, Are you loading cast bullets in a .300 Weatherby?

I am looking for a practice/plinking cast bullet load for my .300 Wby. The .30 cal molds that I have are: Lyman 31141 and 311466, and Lee C309-150-F.

Any suggestions?

try 18 grs of 2400 in that weatherby.
a large pistol primer will help also.
should give about 1850 fps.

I'm not going to cast either. where is the best outlet to buy them?

www.laser-cast.com


The Silver Bullet Company in Baker City, Oregon. They make a specific bullet for the 30 caliber lever action rifles. Plain base 170 (?)gr from the old Lyman mould #31141.

Rich