What would you tell them ? ?

[Joshua]

Just read the 3 pages on cast bullets for 30-30 and 30-06. Wisdom of the ages regarding bullets and powders. As far as the 30-30 is concerned have about 4 but the one that stands out is my 26" bbld Canadian Centennial Winchester. And it's little brother with the 20" barrel. The former hasn't been shot and is new in the box while the 20" barreled one has been shot a lot. Have about 6 30-06's sporterized 03A3,sporterized 1917 Enfield, M70 match rifle, Sako 75 Hunter, and some I probably have forgotten. Plenty of brass for each and never tried cast bullets in either caliber. Would like to rectify that situation now that I'm self quarantined. Local ranges are closed due to the virus so seems and ideal time to get a couple molds I've been thinking about and do some serious casting. Have some 2400,4227,unique and hoarding some 4759 which I use exclusively in my Finnish model 27. That rifle has never seen a jacketed bullet since I swapped for it. And most likely never will. Have to finish some projects before I can start casting or they never will get done. So thanking all of you for the information you have shared. And apologize for the lengthy post. Frank

I have a sporterized 1917 also. It’s the first gun that I bought with my own money. We were on a family vacation thirty years ago. Stopped at a sporting goods shop somewhere in Wyoming, my Dad saw it (he is a fisherman, and doesn’t care for guns). He knew that I wanted a centerfire rifle, he also knew that he didn’t want to pay for one. It was $75.00 dollars.
Mine has the original five groove barrel. It mics out at .310” using the “wrap around pop can shim” slug measuring method. My first mold that I tried was the Lyman 311291. I used a Lee push through sizer at .311”, with a Gator gas check, and three layers of 45/45/10. I use the NOE .313” x .309” expander for this cartridge/gun combo. This bullet is seated so that it engraves on the rifling. Funny thing is, the bullet engraves at the chamber, but drops snuggly into the front of the barrel. I, like many others had read Ed Harris’s articles on feeding the older military surplus rifles, so with that sound advice I went with a powder charge of 16gr of 2400. This load will shoot as well as I can.
I have only been casting for a year and a half now. So not a whole life of experience. But, this would be my recommendation.

Josh