Developing/Choosing a Hunting Bullet for a Win 30-30

[Ranch Dog]

Thanks. Take all the time you need.

BTW, I'm not trying to look a gift horse in the mouth, but do you mind if I double check a few of the measurements? I took two sets of measurements and I feel the second impact cast was the most accurate and taken with an average case length rather than the minimum case length I originally trimmed to. Also, the body diameter is shown as .303. Should that be .310?

Thanks.

You're welcome and thanks for the catch on the diameters. I was looking at this bullet for another application and trying to figure out exactly how sizing effects weight.

Anyway the bullet drawing and chamber drawing are where they should be at .310".

As far as trimming goes. Give me the measurement for how you normally would do it. As an example, when I draw a bullet for my use I go with what the Lee Trimmer delivers as that is what I will be using.

As I noted in the PM, give this a couple of days to ponder. This is closing weekend of hunting season so I'm going to hit it very hard and will come back to the shop drawing as soon as I can.

[klr]

I'll resize a bunch of my cases this weekend and come up with a final trim length. From net research it appears that the standard is 2.028" so likely I'll just go with that. Trimming to a standard spec may make it easier for others to use this design in their 94.

Good luck with your hunt!

[klr]

I resized some this week and I'm going to trim to 2.028.

[Ranch Dog]

I resized some this week and I'm going to trim to 2.028.

Based on the dimensions that you provided, 2.028" is too long for your chamber. Your chamber is 2.020" in length so anything longer than that places the case mouth in the step.

Image deleted

The 2.020" I used the drawing is a bit too long, it needs to be reduced to match the bullet's crimp groove. What kind of crimp do you use; roll or Lee Factory crimp.

[klr]

Hmmm... either I'm not understanding what's going on or I got confused and provided bad numbers. I went and grabbed my chamber cast and measured everything again carefully. I measured it repeatedly until I was cross-eyed and dizzy. Here is what I came up with:

A = 2.140" ~ .3085"
B = 2.095" ~ .3300"
C = 2.028" ~ .3310" ~ corrected length from 2.016" to 2.028"



I have both a roll crimp and a Lee Factory Crimp die. Which do you prefer for this bullet in a lever gun?

Sorry for the confusion.

Thanks.

[Ranch Dog]

Okay, the chamber and bullet will need be redrawn. I should have asked for the A, B, and C distances with the diameters back on page one. I will try to get to get this weekend.

[klr]

Yeah, I think my original description contained some irrelevant numbers. Sorry about that.

[Ranch Dog]

Okay, I redid all the drawings and here is what I have.


The SAAMI chamber


Your Winchester M94AE 30-30 Win Chamber


Your 30-30 Win brass trimmed to 2.028"


The bullet that fits your chamber, the Ranch Dog TLC309-180-RF


The complete chamber drawing


A close up the the important part of the chamber drawing.

Take a bit of time to ponder these images and make sure all the dimensions are as you determined. I went to four decimal points for the work but the drawings display only three to reduce any clutter. The bullet is a good fit for the available case length and utilizes the total cartridge OAL of 2.550". I ran some numbers with BL-C(2) and it would be a real thumper, suitable for anything with hooves in the lower 48 and black bear.

There is a tendency to want to see a bullet that is .002" over groove but in your case I think you would have a hard time chambering a .310" bullet. With the dimensions you provided, if your case neck thickness exceeds .011", even a .309" bullet will be tough to close the bolt.

Sit back and look at it a bit and I will do the same. I will also go in and delete all the other drawings.

[klr]

Sit back and look at it a bit and I will do the same.

Will do. Thanks!

[Archer]

Out of curiosity what are your normal mold / die tolerances?
I'm sure there's empirical fitting factors for lead alloy and mold materials that compensate for CTE effects.

Most of the aircraft companies I've worked for use .X =+/- .10 (once in a while .060 or .050), .XX =+/- .030, .XXX =+/- .010, .XXXX = =+/- .0005 on drawings.