Most Consistent 30-30 Winchester brass.

[pondskipper]

Decades ago I loaded for a friends bolt action 30-30, a Western Auto (Savage 340). It shot a group like that at 100. IIRC I was using Win brass and W-748 powder. Dont recall the bullet but that rifle shot amazing. Until then I didn't think a 30-30 could do it.
Gorgeous rifle!! and great shooting.

Got me to thinking, he also has an original Marlin 1884 or 6, cant remember. It was a 38-56 Win. I cast bullets for it and made the brass from RCBS 45 basic brass

Yep, funny enough getting it to do that was a two part ordeal because it's not a modern rifle design by any means and the barrel being what the gun rests on being the biggest part of that, I had to move it forward and backwards in the rest to find where it shot the best group overall kinda like a guitar string against the frets on a guitar neck, it changed "tone" or frequency depending on where along the barrel it was resting but now that I know where that is it's extremely repeatable and I actually slightly pulled one of those shots on that target so I'm pretty sure it will do even better than that, two of them went .062 and the last put it at .142 even with me pulling one, either way it should be WELL below .5" at 100yds and completely capable of staying well inside the 10" X ring at 1000 if I do my part.

 

[Seabeeken]

Yep, funny enough getting it to do that was a two part ordeal because it's not a modern rifle design by any means and the barrel being what the gun rests on being the biggest part of that, I had to move it forward and backwards in the rest to find where it shot the best group overall kinda like a guitar string against the frets on a guitar neck, it changed "tone" or frequency depending on where along the barrel it was resting but now that I know where that is it's extremely repeatable and I actually slightly pulled one of those shots on that target so I'm pretty sure it will do even better than that, two of them went .062 and the last put it at .142 even with me pulling one, either way it should be WELL below .5" at 100yds and completely capable of staying well inside the 10" X ring at 1000 if I do my part.

Never thought of that but sure makes sense. Good luck with it.
Going back thru my notes on that 38-56 Win, it was a Marlin 1895, not an 1886. Sorry, my memory isn't quite what it used to be

 

[98s1lightning]

I'm surprised that weight barrel gets effected by harmonics/rest

 

[pondskipper]

I'm surprised that weight barrel gets effected by harmonics/rest

Yep, last weekend it was around 1.5" at 100 which is probably about as bad as it could potentially get. The group I shot at 50 testing to find the harmonic sweet spot would work out to .284" at 100 so that is a massive improvement.

 

[Dirtrax]

I used to shoot 7mm International Rimmed in IHMSA. This is based on the 30-30 case. The T/C Contender was (at least at the time) was a relatively low pressure weapon but the brass available left something to be desired.
I started buying every box of 375 Winchester I could find. Even then it was somewhat hard to find so I can only imagine that it would be a challenge now.
After forming I used the most consistent 100 cases to compete with. The results were very good and I never lost a single case after many multiple firings.
Good luck!

 

[pondskipper]

I used to shoot 7mm International Rimmed in IHMSA. This is based on the 30-30 case. The T/C Contender was (at least at the time) was a relatively low pressure weapon but the brass available left something to be desired.
I started buying every box of 375 Winchester I could find. Even then it was somewhat hard to find so I can only imagine that it would be a challenge now.
After forming I used the most consistent 100 cases to compete with. The results were very good and I never lost a single case after many multiple firings.
Good luck!

Sounds kinda like the 7-30 waters.

 

[Greatgrandad]

I used to shoot 7mm International Rimmed in IHMSA. This is based on the 30-30 case. The T/C Contender was (at least at the time) was a relatively low pressure weapon but the brass available left something to be desired.
I started buying every box of 375 Winchester I could find. Even then it was somewhat hard to find so I can only imagine that it would be a challenge now.
After forming I used the most consistent 100 cases to compete with. The results were very good and I never lost a single case after many multiple firings.
Good luck!

I still have a barrel in 7mm Int-R in a 14" TC

 

[Dirtrax]

Sounds kinda like the 7-30 waters.

Somewhat before it's time, and a steeper angle on the shoulder.

 

[Dirtrax]

I guess my point is that there are/were options for your 30/30 that you may not have considered. I wish you the best of luck with that beautiful rifle.

 

[98s1lightning]

Curious why you chose traditional 30-30 vs. 30-30 Ackley Improved

Especially with long range goals

I admire traditionalism though!

My guess would be to enter specific competition classes

 

[pondskipper]

Curious why you chose traditional 30-30 vs. 30-30 Ackley Improved

Especially with long range goals

I admire traditionalism though!

My guess would be to enter specific competition classes

I knew before work on the rifle started that 2650fps was achievable speed wise.

 

[pondskipper]

3" shot group at 620yds just goofing off. Not bad for a 130 year old cartridge, 140 year old rifle design and a 170 year old sighting system.