30 wcf small game loads

[stinkycat]

Just ordered some hornady .308 86gr for a 30 mauser, want to use in my 30wcf for small game. Thinking somewhere around 6 or 7 grains unique ? 1400fps or there abouts is what I'm looking for, any ideas?

[Don McDowell]

Might want to think about 15 grs of 2400 also. I think you'll have a dickens of a time holding those lightweight bullets to 1400 and still getting reliable powder ignition.

[Hobie]

27 gr. of IMR 3031 was the old "trapper" load we've discussed here. I've also used 8-10 gr. of IMR SR4759.

[Don McDowell]

I did look in some really old Lyman/Ideal manuals and they called for 4 grs unigue with the 87 gr bullets for an estimated velocity of 1200 fps. I think going that light with the powder is going to cause more problems than it helps.They did list some loads with 4198 and 3031 but the velocity was stated as 2600 fps territory.

[stinkycat]

I could go up to 1600, used a 60gr .257 in a 25-20 at that speed worked fine on squirrels. have 125 and 150 loads if I can get these 86gr to work would be fun to do all my hunting with one rifle.

[iceman]

I have never used a special small game load. If I happen to see something legal to shoot when I had my 30 wcf in my hand, I just shot it in the head with a 170 gr bullet. Pick a load, adjust your sights, shoot it alot, and watch your backstop.If you are not sure what will happen if you miss, don't shoot. A lot of partridge are sorry they walked out of the bush in front of me. just my .02

[w30wcf]

stinkycat,
7 gr. of Unique should put you pretty close to 1,400 f.p.s. with the 86 gr. bullet.
Back in the early 1900's, UMC & Savage offered a .30-30 MINIATURE cartridge.
It consisted of a 100 gr. full patch bullet @ 1,400 f.p.s.
The powder used was "Infallable" in 8 gr, doses.
Infallable was very close in burning rate to Unique.

With 110 gr. .30 Carbine bullets in my .30-30, 8 gr. of Unique chronographed @ 1,430 f.p.s.
and was very accurate with 50 yard groups in the 1" range. 8/231 also shot very well.

w30wcf

[TX Gun Runner]

This is a good article

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/3220wcf.htm

[Don McDowell]

This is article

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/3220wcf.htm

Good article on the 32wcf, but one should not confuse that cartridge with the 30wcf.

[stinkycat]

Well ups tracking says bullets should be here tomorrow, will start with 7gr unique and go from there. Have shot 125 and 150 loads in the rifle if the 86gr loads work may try to do all my hunting with one gun. Gun is 336 stainless took about 50 rounds to settle the barrel. Takes some getting used to a silver rifle.

[Don McDowell]

Well looking forwards to seeing how it all works out for you. I've shot alot of cast and jacketed bullets as light as 110 grs in my winchesters and Marlin, but have never ventured into anything lighter, with reduced velocity.

[TX Gun Runner]

Good article on the 32wcf, but one should not confuse that cartridge with the 30wcf.

I'm 66 and have bad eyes and I don't see that screen well , SORRY I shot a lot of 30 carbine 120 gr cast around 8.0 Unique in my 30-30 rifle and 10" TC pistol they were super accurate in both guns .

[CEMENTHEAD]

My small game 30-30 load is a .311 round ball over 5.4 grains of Unique. Accurate at 40 yards, 1.5" or less. Hope this helps. Thanks, Tom

[stinkycat]

well if a .311 roundball will stabilize then the short little .86 grainer should as well, and from everyones info unique seems to be the powder.

[Malamute]

I use 3 grs Unique with the .310 or .315" round ball for a great grouse and bunny load. About the same noise level as a standard vel .22 LR (not the hi-speed loads).

Also use 6 1/2 grs Unique with the 120 gr cast bullet for small game. noisier, but a little more range.


Been studying this question some. Red dot is supposed to give better, more consistant results without filler. I use dacron fluff with the Unique, a tiny amount, to keep the powder by the primer at all angles. The dacron fluff makes ignition much more consistant at all angles of powder orientaion.

[Bill in Oregon]

Might also want to investigate the use of Trail Boss, as the high bulk nature of this powder would tend to eliminate any powder positioning problems.

[mudgunner49]

I use 4 gr of Universal Clays under the .310 roundball, greased with Liquid Alox and 6 gr of the same powder under the 110gr JSP for the .30 M1 Carbine for a bit more range and punch. I have used this as a finisher several times and it will go thru the head (side-to-side) of a mi-sized white-tail at 6'...

[KCSO]

I have a camp kit for my 30-30 that hhas an Ideal tong tool and I use a similar bullet and 6.0 of Unique. The load will group into an inch at 50 yards and is ideal for small game up to turkeys and fox. The whole kit is nesteled in a cod box with a small flask of powder and 100 bullets and 20 cases. We load and plink all week on a hunt with the kit take about 15 deer loads just in case.

[Modoc ED]

Ok -- show us a picture of a Cod Box.

[Nath]

I have used the Speer 110 grn HP and a few grains of W231 before for squirl and rabbit.
I was going to use some slower shotgun powder , maybe green or blue dot but never did. I did use some blue dot and a 150grn gas checked cast bullet years ago. I remember it being very accurate and doing somewhere around 1500fps, got it from an old Alliant powder brocher.
The 231 would drive some 116grn lead pills too.

Nath.

[stinkycat]

Made it to the range yesterday, 7gr unique 86gr hornady. At 25 yards 3 shot groups make 1 ragged hole, at 50 1 to 1.5 inch could be better but my eyes getting old. The best part with this load zeroed at 25 my 125gr load is 1/2 high 150 load 1 inch high. Someone left a bunch of clay pigions around, the heavier loads hit everything out to 100yds after 50 86gr load starts to drop best I can tell down around 4 or 5 inches at 100. Will chrono first chance I get, but looks like will work out fine.

[Don McDowell]

Great. It's always good to see a plan come together as hoped.

[WCF3030]

Made it to the range yesterday, 7gr unique 86gr hornady. At 25 yards 3 shot groups make 1 ragged hole, at 50 1 to 1.5 inch could be better but my eyes getting old. The best part with this load zeroed at 25 my 125gr load is 1/2 high 150 load 1 inch high. Someone left a bunch of clay pigions around, the heavier loads hit everything out to 100yds after 50 86gr load starts to drop best I can tell down around 4 or 5 inches at 100. Will chrono first chance I get, but looks like will work out fine.

Sounds like a nice load,

I use the same cast bullet a Lyman 173gr for both deer (H335-28.5gr) and small game (Unique-10gr) for the past 2 years now.
1 buck and well into 30 tree rats and a handful of bunnies. Nice clean .310 hole thru.