Perfection!

[Griff]

Well, ok... it is just a .30-30. But, for an all-around, North American levergun cartridge, I can think of none better. Sure, some may perform this or that task, better(?); can they do so with generally mild recoil, in a number of nifty, handy, need I say, good-looking firearms?

Here's 3.921% of the results of yesterday's casting, sizing, lubing, and loading session.


Now if they'll shoot as good as they look!

[Canuck Bob]

Wow, those are so pretty I thought they were 32 Special!

Just kidding, superb looking rounds and you are preaching at the choir when you extol the virtues of the 30-30 and cast bullets with me.

[Blaine]

Where the heck was I ten years ago when lead was still cheap?

[cshold]

Very nice.
Soft or hard cast?

[Grizz]

looking good. what bullet is that? how hard is it? it looks like a real winner in the harvest department. probably annoyingly accurate too, eh?

[92&94]

Schweet!

If I didn't already have a 32 Special, I'd be lookin' for a 30-30

There's a coupla tons of dead soft lead on a telescope we're tearing down in AZ... too much for a bit of horse trading, some surplusing scumbag is going to get all of it. What a waste!

[Griff]

Very nice.
Soft or hard cast?

I'm callin' it "hard"! Straight wheelweights measure in the 15-18Bhn range, and by adding 1lb of Linotype for every 6lbs of WWs, I come right up into the 25Bhn range. So, yea, hard. With the gas-check and nice hard alloy, 2200 fps is not a problem.

[octagon]

Griff I have always thought the 30-30 is the perfect round for Texas hunters, I have been a dedicated lever hunter for 38 years and never found it lacking. When I leave the house with my Winchester, there is gonna be some blood in the back of the truck when I get back.

[Griff]

looking good. what bullet is that? how hard is it? it looks like a real winner in the harvest department. probably annoyingly accurate too, eh?

I cast an alloy of 6 parts WW to 1 part Linotype... works to about a 25Bhn on that scale, harder than you can cut with a fingernail... It's from a Saeco #316 mold, as cast, lubed and gaschecked right at 150 grains. And yes, when I do my part it is accurate. Unfortunately, I never used it on game. I almost always have a few boxes of 150 factory loads that go deer hunting, and coyotes get a dose of my handloads using the Sierra 125 HPs.

[Sixgun]

Griff, Seriously, your hardness tester has a kink in it. What kind of wheelweights are you using to get a hardness that's equal to or harder than Lyman #2? Even straight lino gets about 22.---------------6

[Griff]

Griff, Seriously, your hardness tester has a kink in it. What kind of wheelweights are you using to get a hardness that's equal to or harder than Lyman #2? Even straight lino gets about 22.---------------6

I've always gotten a harder reading with straight WW over Lyman #2... just a few points, but harder. And straight Lino gives about 30Bhn on this scale. It ain't the number that's important, it's that I can repeat that number with the next batch. I've always felt this one reads "hard". But, I've been cartin' in around for goin' on 25 years... but, hey! It's in the original box!

[rjohns94]

Those are some nice looking rounds. My casting is in need of some serious work. I just can't seem to get such nice results. I'm sure it's a temperature and procedure thing. One day I will need to focus my energy in learning proper techniques. Well done

[Sixgun]

Griff, Seriously, your hardness tester has a kink in it. What kind of wheelweights are you using to get a hardness that's equal to or harder than Lyman #2? Even straight lino gets about 22.---------------6

I've always gotten a harder reading with straight WW over Lyman #2... just a few points, but harder. And straight Lino gives about 30Bhn on this scale. It ain't the number that's important, it's that I can repeat that number with the next batch. I've always felt this one reads "hard". But, I've been cartin' in around for goin' on 25 years... but, hey! It's in the original box!

OK, that makes sense. Try a pure lead round ball, which is usually around 5 bhn. If you get a "10", you can just deduct 5 from each reading..............if you want to be scientific about it. Oh hell, leave it alone, it works.-------6

[furnaceoven]

Perfection is, broadly, a state of completeness and flawlessness. The term "perfection" is actually used to designate a range of diverse, if often kindred concepts. These concepts have have historically been addressed in a number of discrete disciplines, notably mathematics, physics, chemistry, ethics, aesthetics, ontology, and theology.