Range Day with the Mosin and the Model 94 Trapper

[JimT]

Having some loads I wanted to check I headed to the Range this morning. I was still interested in shooting cast bullets in the Mosin Nagant and had talked to Mic McPherson. He suggested increasing the powder charge 15%. He felt the added pressure would obturate the bullets better and help the accuracy. I loaded 20 to test.

On The Range - 50 yards

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Two of the targets .. the largest group and the average group

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I was really encouraged by these.

Then I got out the 30-30 Trapper ..

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First were loads with the cast RCBS bullet ..

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Then I shot some with the Sierra 125 gr. JFP

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Last up were some that I loaded with the 7.62x54R PPU JSP spitzer. These are .311" diameter and being spitzers I loaded them in the Trapper single shot.

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They were the definite winner in the accuracy department. This is the best group I shot with them. The worst group was 1 1/4".

All told it was a good day at the range.

[Nath]

I never thunk of .311" in the 30wcf...hmmmmm.

Thanks Jim.

[JimT]

I never thunk of .311" in the 30wcf...hmmmmm.

Thanks Jim.

I size all the cast bullets for the .30-30 to .311" ... and I have shot a lot of the AK47 bullets in it which are .311" ... they work quite well.

[Bill in Oregon]

Good to see you having fun and getting results, Jim. That makes a range day even sweeter.

[Grizz]

that's Outstanding Jim. thanks for sharing . . .

[Oldncrusty]

Good stuff. Thanks for the lessons.

[1894cfan]

Jim, are those Sierra 125 grainers hollow points or soft points? Never new Sierra to make soft points, knew them to make the hollow points for decades.

[JimT]

Jim, are those Sierra 125 grainers hollow points or soft points? Never new Sierra to make soft points, knew them to make the hollow points for decades.

They are hollowpoints. I was kinda rushing when I posted and didn't think ... seems to be fairly common with me these days if I get in a hurry.

[RIHMFIRE]

oh boy..
I like that trapper!
Nice shoot'n
I dont think I have ever seen 190gn bullets.

[JimT]

oh boy..
I like that trapper!
Nice shoot'n
I dont think I have ever seen 190gn bullets.

It's an RCBS mold ....

[1894cfan]

Jim, are those Sierra 125 grainers hollow points or soft points? Never new Sierra to make soft points, knew them to make the hollow points for decades.

They are hollowpoints. I was kinda rushing when I posted and didn't think ... seems to be fairly common with me these days if I get in a hurry.

No worries, I'm getting up there in years too and the same thing happens to me from time to time!
I've got the same RCBS mold and they come out at 195gr when made with Lyman #2 lead. I'll have to try your 30/30 2400 load in my 94 one of these days.

[Poohgyrr]

Well, every range day is a better day! And the 30-30 Trapper is simply a great little Lever. I like those targets too. Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

[2ndovc]

I'm curious about using Unique for the 7.62x54s. I've used it for some light .45-70 loads for the Trapdoors, but I've never used it in a bottle neck cartridge. Is there an advantage to it over, for example 20-25 grains of 4198 or something similar?
The reason I ask is as a kid, I ran through thousands of .30-06 cast bullet / IMR 4198 rounds my grandfather had made. They were quite accurate out of the 03's we have.

jb

[JimT]

I'm curious about using Unique for the 7.62x54s. I've used it for some light .45-70 loads for the Trapdoors, but I've never used it in a bottle neck cartridge. Is there an advantage to it over, for example 20-25 grains of 4198 or something similar?
The reason I ask is as a kid, I ran through thousands of .30-06 cast bullet / IMR 4198 rounds my grandfather had made. They were quite accurate out of the 03's we have.

jb

I really have no clue. I am not a rifleman. For most of the years I've been shooting it has been handguns. I've always had a rifle or two but never went "in depth" studying, reloading and shooting them like I did with the handguns. I am using Unique because (1) my ancient Lyman Manuals list it and (2) I have a decent supply of it and (3) I am trying to get the bullet to "swell up" into the rifling and you can't do that with low pressure loads. The faster powder will tend to oburate the bullet where the slower powders (at cast bullet velocities) won't. At least that's my theory.

[2ndovc]

Makes sense. Like I said, just curios and thinking I'm missing out on double secret reloading info.

jb