.309 in a M94 Win 30-30

[KHornet]

Don't know why I never paid any attention to Lyman recommendation of .309 cast for 30-30. Have always shot .310/311 depending on which shot better. (have never slugged a bbl, and have no intention to start
now).

Any how, I decided to shoot about 50 rounds of Ranch Dogs 165's sized .309 as a test. Loaded 50 of them 30 with PB and 20 with GC, and all with just two coats of BLL. Frankly, I expected to have a fully leaded bore. Rifle has Williams receive sights. The 30 PB that I shot were with 8.5 gr of Trail Boss, and shot 20 of them at paper, with the average grouping being about 2 1/2", nothing to write home about, but the rest I shot at 100 metal, and with hold over they did decent as plinkers. The GC's were over 16 gr. of 2400, and shot very well on paper with 5 going into 1.4", which for me was excellent with the little 94.

NO LEADING at all, one pass with clean patch and bore was slick and clean. The only other rifle I have ever shot with .309 before was my K-31 Swiss. Guess this old dog learned a new trick, at least for this 94 Win.

Paul

 

[Rick]

If it's working and your happy with results all is good but I am sure happy I slugged the bore of my Win 94 30-30. Checked out the length of the bore with a bore scope and it's good clean sharp rifling from one end to the other. Run a snug patch through and no loose/tight spots and no rough spots to catch the patch. Nice bore on that rifle so why am I so happy I slugged it? Well turns out that nice bore is a nice bore from one end to the other . . . All .3105" groove depth of it.

Rifle shoots well for 94 lever but it dotes on .311" and even .312" sized bullets.
.

 

[waco]

KHornet. I also have a Win 94 in 30-30 with Williams receiver sights and the RD 165gr mold. I too always size to .311" I have had decent accuracy with this combo.
I'll have to try .309" and some 2400 and see how it works for me.
The 30-30 is my favorite cartridge to play around with right now.
BTW. I have used 3 coats of BLL with nothing else and got right at 2000fps with good accuracy and zero leading. It's good stuff for sure.
Thanks for the info Paul.
Walter

 

[JWFilips]

Paul,
How do these targets compare with the .311
Targets?

 

[fiver]

I have never slugged any of my 30-30's either.
the only size I have ever shot in them has been .310.
I do have to snick the lever home on my rcbs 150gr mold and crimp them in to make sure I can get them back out because the nose is a bit tight.

 

[waco]

I am becoming a big fan of that SC311-165-RN RD design. I bet it will be a hard hitter on deer.

 

[fiver]

definitely a good hunting bullet.

I will say they are over kill on small game at full 30-30 velocity's.
unless you shoot grouse just right then you avoid cleaning them and just pick up the breast meat.

 

[waco]

I'm running them with 29gr of H4895
No Chrony info yet but probably around 2000fps

 

[Ian]

Marlins with MG rifling really do need a fat bullet, but that's because they tend to run dimensions like Rick's Winchester but with a bore about .303-4" to go along with it. That means they need a fat nose, too. .309x .301" works fine in my Savages that have normal .30-caliber dimensions. The one Winchester I loaded for liked .300x.310" just dandy.

 

[KHornet]

Target wise Jim, with the GC's, probably one of the
best groups I have ever shot with it. Will try again
next time out.

Paul

 

[Ian]

Even though we don't always get the luxury of being able to use a bullet just barely over groove diameter, the truth remains that the less you change the shape of the bullet when firing, the better.

 

[Rick]

the truth remains that the less you change the shape of the bullet when firing, the better.

Absolutely! In a perfect world what comes out the muzzle is what you chambered with only the edition of rifling engraving. Yep in a perfect world.
.

 

[blackthorn]

definitely a good hunting bullet.

I will say they are over kill on small game at full 30-30 velocity's.
unless you shoot grouse just right then you avoid cleaning them and just pick up the breast meat.

Shoot head off Grouse. Lay Grouse on its back, spread wings, stand on wings with feet close to body, grab Grouse by feet and pull straight up, You are left with the breasts (wings attached) along with some skin and feathers! Poor shot placement and---ymmv!

 

[Creeker]

Paul I always sized .308 for my 30-06 till someone told me that was too small. Same for the 30-30.

 

[KHornet]

This is interesting, comment wise. Will continue to experiment with
the 30-30 on a trial basis with both PB and GC bullets .309. Half the fun
of loading beyond the basics is trial and error. Then often it is a
matter of win some, loose some, and on some break even.

Paul

 

[Creeker]

I've lost a bunch in my time.

 

[fiver]

I'm so far behind I'm surprised when I don't have to fight with something.

 

[freebullet]

Our 336w does fine @ 1k w/309. That degrades as velocity increases. Sometimes you can get away with it, at low velocity & close range much less matters much less.

 

[KHornet]

So far in testing at vols up to about 1600 fps with the 165 gr RD, .309, has
proven more accurate in my 94 Win than .310 or 311. Next time I get a chance
to load comparison loads, will take them up to 1800+.

Paul

 

[Chris]

So far in testing at vols up to about 1600 fps with the 165 gr RD, .309, has
proven more accurate in my 94 Win than .310 or 311. Next time I get a chance
to load comparison loads, will take them up to 1800+.

Paul

Paul, do you have a sense of why that is? I am interested in whether it is your bore diameter or throat size that makes that work for you.