Rabbit load.

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Nath
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Rabbit load.

Post by Nath »

My search for loading gear for my new old m94 had me happen on more primers this week and a few bullets were thrown in.
The bullets were unsuitable for 30-30 them being a 155gn Sierra match bullet so I dug out the A2400 and loaded them backwards in an attempt to develop a rabbit load.
IMG_20220730_132923.jpg
With a little testing it seems the rear sight needs elevating to its maximum height and the front also held high but they seem to work well for rabbit hunting.
IMG_20220731_181818.jpg
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Drawdown
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by Drawdown »

Looks like rabbit medicine to me! If you're looking to do any testing with any other bullets, I've recently tried some Speer 130gr H.C. with a minimum load of 3031. In my 20" 94, they're grouping at squirrel hunting accuracy at 30-40yds. Didn't chrono them, didn't matter.
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Nath
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by Nath »

I have some of those Speer's also but they are for full power loads.
I only want to use non tube magazine safe bullets on rabbits.
Just gets me out with it more often. What's not to like 😁
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Drawdown
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by Drawdown »

Oh OK, I see. I've never tried that, loading a bullet backwards!
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piller
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by piller »

Using a 30-30 on rabbits? Next you will be using ye holy hand grenade.
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Blaine
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by Blaine »

Nath, I like your style. 8)

I wonder how a round ball would do?
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earlmck
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by earlmck »

Good job there Nath: the "pesky critters" surely don't need a full-power red deer-killing load. But for affordable shooting you need to get a mould and cast some bullets for that 30/30. One of my favorite 30/30 loads is a 117 grain 32/20 bullet pushed by 8 to 10 grains of Green Dot (or Unique for the same 1500 to 1700 fps velocity). I consider my 30/30 to be my favorite 32/20 because the cases are easier to find when they have got ejected into the grass. And the 110 grain round-nose bullet built for the 30 carbine is quite nice out of the 30/30 when loaded lightly. I'm afraid it'd make a heckuva mess on a rabbit at full velocity.
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jeepnik
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by jeepnik »

Drawdown wrote: Sun Jul 31, 2022 3:46 pm Oh OK, I see. I've never tried that, loading a bullet backwards!
What, you never loaded HBWC’s backwards for a .38 spl defense load? It’s all I use for my 2” revolvers.

Even with today’s magic bullets I don’t think there’s a better load for snubbies.
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Nath
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by Nath »

Full patch 357 work well too.
20ydcub 004.jpg
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JFE
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by JFE »

You might want to see if you can find some commercial cast pills in the UK for your rabbit loads. With jacketed bullets loaded backwards you will likely end up with a short OAL which may not feed well from the magazine.

The article below provides some pointers.

https://leverguns.com/articles/paco/3030varmint.htm
Nath
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by Nath »

JFE wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 5:04 pm You might want to see if you can find some commercial cast pills in the UK for your rabbit loads. With jacketed bullets loaded backwards you will likely end up with a short OAL which may not feed well from the magazine.

The article below provides some pointers.

https://leverguns.com/articles/paco/3030varmint.htm
Excellent article. Thank you.
I was singularly loading them. I didn't fancy pushing one into the case
These bullets are just a few given to me. I won't be deliberately acquiring them etc.
I would like to come across some Speer half jackets and see what I can do with some Herco.
Finding lead cast over here is getting more and more difficult!
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Twodot
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by Twodot »

Nath,
Your pup looks rather pleased with the outcome also.
..
Nath
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by Nath »

Twodot wrote: Tue Aug 02, 2022 3:14 pm Nath,
Your pup looks rather pleased with the outcome also.
..
Jess is getting on a bit now. Near 10 we think.
She is very fit though.
I've been taking her work and giving her a work out first thing in the mornings chasing a ball on ashpalt to also harden her feet.
She is very affectionate and everybody loves her.
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by piller »

Good dogs are a real gift from GOD.
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Nath
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by Nath »

piller wrote: Wed Aug 03, 2022 5:02 am Good dogs are a real gift from GOD.
👍🏻
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Dusty Texian
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by Dusty Texian »

Nath for making a light for caliber small game load in my 45 Cal rifle s , I just run a .490 round ball through the .458 sizing die and load it over a light change of Unique powder . In the 30wcf you could do the same with a 36 Cal RBI’ . Works for me . Pic of .490 balls sized through the 458 die .
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Nath
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by Nath »

Dusty Texian wrote: Wed Aug 03, 2022 8:11 am Nath for making a light for caliber small game load in my 45 Cal rifle s , I just run a .490 round ball through the .458 sizing die and load it over a light change of Unique powder . In the 30wcf you could do the same with a 36 Cal RBI’ . Works for me . Pic of .490 balls sized through the 458 die .
That is neat. Good to know 👍🏻

I took another bunny today with this load.
I was creeping around the edge of a large maize field. It was windy and when I bumped bunny up it was confused and paused just 10yards away.
I didn't wait for introductions!
IMG_20220803_170840.jpg
Later I took a long shot at a crow but it fell short. I really have not tested these properly at all. I'm just having fun.
Anyway I managed to dig it up. It had gone 12" plus in dryish turf. It looks like it could be shot again!
IMG_20220803_181043.jpg
IMG_20220803_181240.jpg
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samsi
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by samsi »

Fun stuff. I loaded up a half dozen with Unique and the Speer 100gr Plinkers but haven't tried them out yet. A few years back a friend cast up a bunch of 85gr FP's for the 32acp and he gave me a bunch to play with in the 30-30. They were decent at 5 gr Unique but got a little wild at 7 grains. Short bullet, probably getting spun up too fast I guess.
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6pt-sika
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by 6pt-sika »

Hmmm I’ve put the end to rabbits with 22LR’s of all things a 25 ACP and most regularly 16 or 20 gauge doubles .
DC7D72AE-D01E-41EA-A478-5FA762E51FCC.jpeg
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Pathfinder65
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by Pathfinder65 »

Another good (light & accurate) load that I have been shooting out of my Marlin 336CB .30-30 lately is 7.8 of Red Dot behind a 110 gr. plated M-1 carbine bullet.
The Lee 'Soup can" works as well. I can do one ragged hole at 50Y with peeps and pretty tight at 100Y, though 2-3" lower. I doubt that a bunny would stand a chance!
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by gamekeeper »

Welcome to the campfire Pathfinder65.... :D
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by Bill in Oregon »

There's that Lee "soup can" bullet popping up again. I am currently without anything in .30 caliber but would like to try it someday.
Nath, it never would have occurred to me to load a boattail backwards!
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by Nath »

Bill in Oregon wrote: Sun Aug 07, 2022 4:55 am There's that Lee "soup can" bullet popping up again. I am currently without anything in .30 caliber but would like to try it someday.
Nath, it never would have occurred to me to load a boattail backwards!
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Rube Burrows
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by Rube Burrows »

Well that is cool. Getting the job done.
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2ndovc
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by 2ndovc »

Blaine wrote: Sun Jul 31, 2022 6:06 pm Nath, I like your style. 8)

I wonder how a round ball would do?
A .310 RB and few grains of most any powder, I used IMR 4064 the last time, makes a very quiet short range rabbit whacker.

Good stuff Nath,

I've done the backwards open base FMJ before. Didn't shoot anything but paper with it, but it was far more accurate than expected.

jb 8)
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Re: Rabbit load.

Post by Drawdown »

jeepnik wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 12:12 am
Drawdown wrote: Sun Jul 31, 2022 3:46 pm Oh OK, I see. I've never tried that, loading a bullet backwards!
What, you never loaded HBWC’s backwards for a .38 spl defense load? It’s all I use for my 2” revolvers.

Even with today’s magic bullets I don’t think there’s a better load for snubbies.
No, I hadn't tried any this stuff. All my reloading has been pretty much the text book stuff, but this is interesting stuff to me. I may have ti try some of it for squirrel loads when I'm deer hunting, seems they run you over then! And just for more fun with the 30-30!
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