Arsenal 313-115-RF in the 30/30

[Spindrift]

A while a go, I got a 4- cavity plain base mould with the intention of finding some good, fun plinking loads for my .30- cal rifles. Arsenal molds (they are making moulds, not fungi- despite the name) allow you to make adjustments to desired diameters. I asked for a .310- mould, knowing that production tolerances would probably result in bullets around .311 in my alloy. Which turned out to be the case. Perfect for my needs, the bullets are fat enough to work unsized/tumble lubed, yet slim enough to allow powder coating without pre- sizing the bullets.


Today, I tried some loads in my Marlin 30/30 carabine, with a micro groove barrel. This rifle seems to like .311 bullets. I wanted to try some Vectan Ba10. This is a single- base, extruded, low density powder with listed burn speed like Bullseye; excellent metering characteristics.
Seated the bullet to the crimp groove, with a little «factory crimp». This COL allowed chambering with no resistance, and a minimal bullet jump.
I tried 5 and 5,5 grs, both grouped well. Haven’t chronied these, but there was a supersonic crack. Shot at about 50m, 5,5grs made a 22mm group with a very relevant point of impact. This load is probably zeroed at 60-70m with my current sight settings, perfect!

This should be fun!

 

[Jeff H]

Beautiful!

That's a good-looking little bullet and the results look great as well.

It's prettier than my plain-based ("Ben'd") "Soup Can." I love that basic form and have several moulds which adhere to the same basic principles of design. from 22 to 44, and they all shoot wonderfully at a wide variety of speeds.

Nice shooting!

 

[Spindrift]

Thanks, Jeff!
I think this will probably work well in several other rifles as well. Something in that basic "RD"- nose shape seems very forgiving, or adaptive, to a variety of throats.

 

[Jeff H]

Michael was definitely onto something with his design. It seems to work across a broad range of calibers and chambers.

My personal hypothesis is that the nose/full-diameter transition, and the series of little "piston ring" bearing surfaces allow the bullet to conform to the chamber and bore without putting the whole structure of the bullet under stress. I have no scientific data with which to back that thought - it's just a thought.

Can't discount the fact that you have a lot of experience with this stuff either though.

 

[CZ93X62]

These bullet designs can serve a lot of calibers really well. For the 31/32 caliber arms (32/20 WCF, 32 H&R Mag, 327 Federal) a fatter as-cast diameter serves well. I had Mountain Molds make me a 118 grain revolver-specific plain base for these calibers, it drops at .315". For use in the 30-06 and 30 Carbine, I size then twice--size & lube @ .313", then a second sizing at .310"-.311".

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I got this one the other day..



It casts a beauty of a bullet!



I cast and coated a lil over 100. This is Bronze-Chrome from Prizmatic Powders.

 

[Spindrift]

Wow, that’s nice, CW!

I wasn’t aware of that RCBS design, never seen it before. I have, however, recently bought a RCBS 7,62-130 spire point, and the mould is a joy to use! Only done some preliminary testing in a .308 win, results are encouraging so far.

 

[fiver]

that's gotta be a new mold from them i've never seen those markings before.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

It is a newer style with the pins and set screws.

 

[CZ93X62]

It has been some years since I bought a new RCBS mould. None of mine have those nice asterisk markings. That must designate a Deluxe Model. Or something.

 

[Jeff H]

It shows up on their site, but no pic of an actual mould:

Buy Moulds and More. Shop Today For All of Your Outdoor Needs!

We carry Moulds and more for all of your hunting and shooting needs. Shop now!

www.rcbs.com

Midway shows it as "Discontinued," and not surprisingly, they were asking $5 more than is listed on RCBS's site.

RCBS 2-Cavity Bullet Mold 30-115-SP 30 Cal (309 Diameter) 115 Grain

RCBS Bullet Molds are machined from solid cast iron blocks to exacting specifications to ensure accurate, clean, repeatable castings cast after cast....

www.midwayusa.com

 

[Missionary]

That FN should be a good one for the larger ground pest that seem to be in that up to 50 pounds area. Plant that through the shoulders and they will not be getting to far very fast.

 

[Spindrift]

This bullet, with 5,5grs of Vectan Ba10 has proven to be a really fun load in the Marlin levergun. It groups consistently at an inch at 65 yards, with perfect point of impact at this distance.
Mostly, I shoot from a sitting position at a 4- inch steel plate, rated for handgun cartridges.





Learning to shoot this rifle has been a process. Shooting from the bench is one thing. Mastering the long lock- time and barrel time from off-hand positions is another skill set.
All my other rifles are bolt guns, typically with tuned triggers and stocks with pistol grip.
The ergonomics of the Marlin carabine is vastly different. The trigger is a bit heavy, but clean.

Having a cheap load with no recoil is very conductive to target practice, and I'm getting better. And having tons of fun in the process!

 

[Ben]

You are in the weight and speed zone that I love to shoot in.
Looks like a great load.

Ben

 

[Spindrift]

A word of caution, regarding my "pet load" of 5,5grs Ba10.
The brass I'm using, has been reloaded multiple times. Mostly, I use the Lee collet die. When a FL resizing is necessary, I've adjusted my Lee FL die to minimal shoulder set- back (0.002in). Earlier, I've been switching between low- node, and more regular 30/30 loads.
After 5 cycles of neck sizing, and firing these light loads, the base of the fired cases look like this:



Light primer strike, and a protruding primer in brass neck sized for five cycles.
It is obvious, the combined forward thrust of the hammer and primer, is greater than the obturative capacity of this light load- head space is increasing.
No disaster, but good to know.

 

[L Ross]

A word of caution, regarding my "pet load" of 5,5grs Ba10.
The brass I'm using, has been reloaded multiple times. Mostly, I use the Lee collet die. When a FL resizing is necessary, I've adjusted my Lee FL die to minimal shoulder set- back (0.002in). Earlier, I've been switching between low- node, and more regular 30/30 loads.
After 5 cycles of neck sizing, and firing these light loads, the base of the fired cases look like this:

View attachment 29572

Light primer strike, and a protruding primer in brass neck sized for five cycles.
It is obvious, the combined forward thrust of the hammer and primer, is greater than the obturative capacity of this light load- head space is increasing.
No disaster, but good to know.

I thought a rimmed casing was supposed to be the ticket for gallery type loads. Does that indicate your .30-30 has technically excessive head space?

 

[Spindrift]

I believe the cartridge needs to head space on the shoulder in this rifle. It might have to do with a spacious recess for the rim?
It is also possible another kind of brass would give a different result. This was R-P brass

 

[Glaciers]

I’m not sure that’s head space. You do have a Marlin 336 levergun correct?

 

[Glaciers]

The light primer strikes, is it possible that your brass primer pockets are starting to enlarge? There’s something about light loads, shoulder set back and primers setting back. Not sure that would happen with a rimed case.
Not familiar with the Vectan Ba10, what velocity do you think your getting? I’m wondering about the pressure curve moving the primer back a before the bullet exits the barrel.
Do you have some new brass you could duplicate these loads and see if the results are the same.

 

[Spindrift]

Yes, this is a Marlin 336. The load leaves the muzzle at 1250 fps.

The resistance when removing the primers felt normal, and I get quite a good impression, using the Lee hand press and a collet die; primer pockets seem OK.
Time will tell if this phenomenon also emerge with other kinds of brass.