Unique in .30-30?

[Walt]

I remember watching a You Tube video of Sagebrush Longshots years ago in which someone was shooting a .30-30 at long range using a load of around 10 grains of Unique. I wasn't really involved in shooting rifle calibers in lever actions at the time but with my developing interest, I searched around and found the video. (Thanks, Marlinman!) The only piece of information missing was the bullet weight. I have Lyman reloading manuals dating back to the 60s and found a recommended accuracy load using 10.6 grains of Unique behind a Lyman 311291 round nose gas check bullet going at 1570 fps. That was from manual #45 published in 1970. Seems to me that would make an ideal small game load. I cast and loaded up 50 rounds yesterday and will try to get out and shoot a few this weekend or next.

[Bill in Oregon]

Walt, look forward to your range report. Actually, that bullet at nearly 1600 would not be a bad choice for deer this side of 100 yards, I should think.

[Tycer]

Nice. Looking forward to the range report.

[Oldncrusty]

Thanks. Add ome more to the waiting list.

[earlmck]

I've shot a fair number of rounds with several different cast bullets and anywhere from 9 to 10.5 grains of Unique, Universal, or Green Dot (all loads in that 1400 to 1700 fps level that I have best luck getting consistency. Nothing tricky about it. Right now the old 30wcf gets most action using 10 grains Universal (Hodgdon's copy of Unique) pushing the little Ranch Dog 117 grainer to just over 1700 fps. But when I use the 30 for our buffalo shoot where we have gong targets to 500 yards I'll load up 180 grainers, probably push 'em with 4759, though may give the Unique/Universal a try.

[Nath]

How about jacketed bullets folks?

[Walt]

I only very seldom shoot jacketed bullets.

It's necessary in .223, .243, 6.5, 7mm, .308 and .30-06 but everything else up to .375 H&H and .45-70 is cast only. It makes me less dependent upon political swings.

[DiamondD]

Pretty neat old post here that I have referred to quite a bit over the years.
https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showth ... Rifle-Load

[marlinman93]

Walt, there are several guys at Sagebrush Longshots shooting Unique in a number of rifles. I have old Ideal manuals that list 9.0 grs. of Unique with a 150 gr. cast bullet at 1300 fps, so likely the 10.0 gr. charge is with the same 150 gr. bullet. Unique is truly unique in that it can vary loads a full grain in reduced charges, and not have big pressure differences. So 10.0 grs. should be great. And unlike other powders, Unique requires larger charges with heavier bullets, instead of reducing charge with heavier bullets. So even if you shot a 170 gr. it would likely be fine with that same 9.0 gr. charge.

[Walt]

Thanks for the info, Marlinman.

[6pt-sika]

I’ve used Unique in the 30-30 and 32 Special with home cast . Killed deer with both I might add .

[JDL]

I have shot a lot of 6-7 grains of Unique in some of my .30-30s using Lyman 311241 which is similar to 311291 without the gas check. Heaps of fun!

[Walt]

JDL, I had wondered whether molds for .30-30 cast bullets were available in plain base. Seems like they would work nicely if the velocity were kept below about 1500 fps. Thanks for the post; I think I'll look into that. Sounds like a good time.

[Catshooter]

My favorite cat sneeze load for the .30-30 is a Lyman 3118 (311008) over 5.0 grains of Red Dot. Very quiet with the silencer and great for small game.

[1894cfan]

FYI. RCBS makes a 150FN plain base for the thirty thirty cowboy bullet mold that's unfortunately out of stock with no back order at MidwayUSA.

[308magtip]

Loaded some 170 gr GC lead flatnose for my single shot breakopen.Like shooting a .22mag..

[Bryan Austin]

I remember watching a You Tube video of Sagebrush Longshots years ago in which someone was shooting a .30-30 at long range using a load of around 10 grains of Unique. I wasn't really involved in shooting rifle calibers in lever actions at the time but with my developing interest, I searched around and found the video. (Thanks, Marlinman!) The only piece of information missing was the bullet weight. I have Lyman reloading manuals dating back to the 60s and found a recommended accuracy load using 10.6 grains of Unique behind a Lyman 311291 round nose gas check bullet going at 1570 fps. That was from manual #45 published in 1970. Seems to me that would make an ideal small game load. I cast and loaded up 50 rounds yesterday and will try to get out and shoot a few this weekend or next.

Unique has been a .30cal reduced load powder since 1900, first manufactured under the Laflin & Rand name.
8gr with a 180gr bullet by 1936 for the 30-30.
https://sites.google.com/view/44winches ... ars/unique

[Walt]

Thanks, Bryan!

Fascinating history of Unique from the beginning of the 20th century. All useful information and I'll admit I was unaware that it had been recommended for reduced loads for over a hundred years. Thanks again for the interesting post.

[Oldncrusty]

Awesome thread. Thanks to all participants.

[OldWin]

These threads keep reminding me I have to get off my Duff and and load up some of my stash of 110gr half jackets. I think this would be a fun and useful load in my dozen or so 30-30's.
Been building a hunting camp and it's really eating up my time.

[Ray]

I wonder if this might work in this application......

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/pr ... uctId/5400

[Catshooter]

I wonder if this might work in this application......

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/pr ... uctId/5400

Good chance, but you know the only way to find out.