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larger (200 gr?) 30-30 bullet loads

2K views 6 replies 4 participants last post by  Jeffro426 
#1 ·
My Marlin 336 has a 1 in 10 twist, so I know that it can handle (like the 30-06) a longer (therefore heavier) bullet. and I recognize the 2.55" over all length limitation. So I thought I would ask whether anyone here has loaded larger than "regular" bullets (preferably round nose) in their lever actions. Does the 2.55 COL limitation preclude running a 200 gr. through the magazine, or does it bang up against the rifling in the throat and thereby increase pressures? I like to shoot cast bullets at slower speeds for noise reasons, but I would like to know anyone else's experience before I shell out bucks for a hundred of them.

BTW, I see in my Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook a tech note regarding shooting Lyman 311284 (214 grains) in a bolt 30-30, so I know the round will shoot accurately.

thanks in advance for the advice .
 
#2 ·
In a single shot rifle where OAL isnt much of an issue then 200+ grain bullets are fine...but in a lever action where OAL plays a crucial role in action cycling, they dont work all that well. Its kinda a trade off...if you stick them in too far to where they will work with a lever action, your going to lose alot of case capacity and that bullet is just going to be too far down in the case. Seat it out too far and its just not going to cycle. Where the heck did you get a 336 with a 1:10 twist?? :confused:
 
#3 ·
the depth issue is one I hadn't thought of. thanks.

According to my Cast Bullet Handbook, the twist in a marlin is 1 in 10; in winchester, 1 in 12. The is a 1951 ("H" serial) 24" bbl 336A. Do you know otherwise?

I just ran a brush on my cleaning rod in the bore, with a tape flag to watch the twist. Sure looks like 1 in 10 to my eye and ruler.
 
#6 ·
I used to load 200s and 220s for a bear hunter here in Michigan. Trick was to get the bullet seated so it would cycle. Heres what I came up with, most bear hunters here are hunting from platforms over bait so the shots were close and they wanted full penitration and entry and exit wounds. The only way I found I could get them to hold in the cases with out the crimping in the groove was to resize without the expander. Now you have the Lee factory crimp die which will allow you to secure a bullet without a groove to crimp. Just a thought. Hope I have helped.
 
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