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well, since the reloading sub-forum has been quiet for several weeks, I'll add again. My old 336 has been taken out of action for a couple of weeks while waiting to get a new firing pin. It's back so I finally got it back on the range to run some more cast bullets through the chrony. I've been on a hunt for both light loads and heavy bone crushing loads with the cast bullets (30-30 Win), and have experimented with some high quality 173 gr gc and 183 gr gc bullets from internet buddies from around the country, and some lightweight 142 gr gc (from a 150 gr mold) that were made by a local buddy.

I had loaded a couple of test rounds last week to run the lightweights and the heavies and finally had the gun in my hands a went to the range this afternoon to see how things went. First, the new firing pin did it's thing well.

The light loads were the 142 gr cast LRNFP GC (locally cast) and 9.0 gr of just plain old Unique. Mixed brass, CCI 200 LR primers, 2.44 COAL. This was my 4th or 5th time running this load through the chrony on a 50 yard target and have had the same results every time. Ave velocity 1472 fps, extreme spread of 33 fps, and a target group of 0.9" (1.8 MOA). With a muzzle energy of 684 fpe it would be "adequate" for 50 yards or so for small/medium game, but really not much more than from a .357 (if that much). But, it's sure a fun and accurate load .... and inexpensive on using pistol powder.

The heavy loads I tested today, also loaded last week, were 183 gr cast RNFP GC bullets from a friend in Wyoming. They were loaded over a start load of 29.4 gr of IMR 4895. This was my first test of the 183 gr bullets, so the next bump up, or two, will most likely see an improvement. With ten rounds through the chrony they averaged 1949 fps, extreme spread 52 fps, and muzzle energy of 1544 fpe. Quite the difference from the "light loads" comparing velocity and energy. But, accuracy wasn't near what the old 336 is capable of. The ten shot group on target was 2.2" spread, which would be 4.4 MOA. I have no doubt it will get better along the way, and I do have other powders to work with. Since I still have another 100+ of these particular bullets the load testing can continue for a short time. But, when they're gone ... they're gone. Time to find a substitute commercial bullet - then start over.

I can't think of anything else I'd rather do though :)

jd

I've been on a mission the last few weeks working with cast/gas checked bullets (both rifle powders and pistol powders) for my old Marlin 336 30-30. I still love the straight wall revolver/carbine loading (considerably less love for the bottom feeders), but have gotten intrigued by the cast 30-30 loads.

Loading them is still almost as fun as shooting them, even when the stats tickle you after going through the chrony or when making small groups on the target.

I wish I hadn't waited until near retirement age to start re-loading.


jd

last week was prepping around 800 pieces of brass .... .38 spl, .357 mag, .45 acp, and .44 mag. Loaded 50 rounds of .44 mag "thumpers" for early part of deer season. This week, so far, no actual hands on .... but I sure think about it a lot.


jd