Thread: Questions for you 30-30 Cast Bullet aficionados

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

the issue is simple..you have a Marlin and not a Winchester....... the Marlins like a shorter skinny fronted projectile...the bullet makers make bullets specially for the marlins

I've never heard that one . . sounds a bit dodgy Micky

Originally Posted by rossi.45

I've never heard that one . . sounds a bit dodgy Micky

If you look at 160grn ftx hornady you will see they have cannalures , you use the front one for marlins as they have a short throat/ lead in .

Originally Posted by shooternz

Hi John, good to see the 151 HP going that fast I have seen the damage they do at 1600 fps at 2300 they will be like bombs!
The 151 is designed for the .308 chamber which is cut to fit 168 SMK's that is why they engrave the rifling in the 30/30 Marlin
Check out my listing for the 30/30 bullet it is a clone of the bullet designed for the 30/30 the Lyman 311041 at 1800fps with cast bullets
you don't need a HP to get expansion.

just reviving an old thread.......... so after a couple of years on factory ammo and getting a bit low and looking at the price and availability, i have finally bought some dies and ready to start reloading for the 30-30 . so couple a questions are these lymans a good place to start ? probably not going to go subs is necksizing acceptable (have read varying opinions) do i need to crimp? (generally only put 2 in the chamber so when first one is chambered there is only one in the mag which also gives me the option of using pointy projectiles i guess)
mid 70s vintage marlin if that makes a difference

you would do a lot worse than to start there...and finish there LOL...Robert makes good projectiles,if you are a tw oshot 30/30 man,one might suggest you not looking for top velocity or barrel stretching so a mild load with a great cast pill should be just the ticket...they sure are easier on the ears and the wallet. you probably WONT get a pointy projectile to cycle in the marlin...they are short in chamber,not sure how long they will let come up out of magazine.... round nose is the compromise. you could always single feed a pointy one from the top and have a feedable one in magazine.... at close range the difference in POI wont be bugger all.

Originally Posted by rossi.45

I've never heard that one . . sounds a bit dodgy Micky

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....50/index4.html

theres a bit about feeding issues on #18 post

I remember the hornady fn projectiles came in two types some years back,the cannalure was in different places,the marlins like it shorter,why all factory ammo is short I believe...

Originally Posted by m101a1

If you look at 160grn ftx hornady you will see they have cannalures , you use the front one for marlins as they have a short throat/ lead in .

My 160grn ftx only have one cannelure (code 30395).
Hornady do another version of the 160 ftx (code 30396) with the cannelure further forward, though that is intended for the 308 Marlin Express

I crimp all my 30-30 ammo, I have had bullets get pushed deeper in the case just through being in the tube mag. I have Lyman dies that do a roll crimp, so a light crimp is enough to stop the projectile moving deeper than the front edge of the cannelure.

I should also mention my 30-30 didn't like the FTX, so I'm using the rest of the box in a 308.

Originally Posted by Cigar

My 160grn ftx only have one cannelure (code 30395).
Hornady do another version of the 160 ftx (code 30396) with the cannelure further forward, though that is intended for the 308 Marlin Express

I crimp all my 30-30 ammo, I have had bullets get pushed deeper in the case just through being in the tube mag. I have Lyman dies that do a roll crimp, so a light crimp is enough to stop the projectile moving deeper than the front edge of the cannelure.

I should also mention my 30-30 didn't like the FTX, so I'm using the rest of the box in a 308.

Just checked my stock which is 30396 and is the same with the can way forward must have been older stock I was using in a 307 that had two cans . I no longer have a 30/30 or 307 so will use these in a 300 aac or 308

Originally Posted by Cigar

My 160grn ftx only have one cannelure (code 30395).
Hornady do another version of the 160 ftx (code 30396) with the cannelure further forward, though that is intended for the 308 Marlin Express

I crimp all my 30-30 ammo, I have had bullets get pushed deeper in the case just through being in the tube mag. I have Lyman dies that do a roll crimp, so a light crimp is enough to stop the projectile moving deeper than the front edge of the cannelure.

I should also mention my 30-30 didn't like the FTX, so I'm using the rest of the box in a 308.

Just checked my stock which is 30396 and is the same with the can way forward must have been older stock I was using in a 307 that had two cans . I no longer have a 30/30 or 307 so will use these in a 300 aac or 308