30br & a 155gr bullet

[hepburn45110]

I have a 30br that is a cast bullet gun. 10twist barrel with .090 freebore. The cast bullet matches have all but passed away in this area. But, once a month there is a benchrest varmint silouette match near by. They shoot at 200,300,385 & 500 meters. I was thinking of using a 155 gr bullet to compensate for the long freebore. Do you think a 30br is capable of say--2500fps--- with that large of a bullet? I realize there are alternatives that offer more but the gun setup is what it is. I'm trying to keep from rechambering.

 

[TAJ45]

Nothing but opinion here but just read an article @ the pawn/gun shop today about the 6.5 Grendell. They were kowtowing about how the 120 something grain @ 2500 was just the ticket for most everything and about how well it did in Africa yada yada & YADA!! Sounds downright anemic to me from a killing stand point (they mentioned Zebra and Camel) Z's are good sized critters. But everything was taken under 125yds iirc so better than a thutty thutty for terminal I'd say.

OK, all of that to say this: If that is what they were getting with something 20% lighter with probably 35-40% (off the top of my head) more powder capacity, then I'm thinking that it probably won't happen. AS I SAID........only a mental exercise on my part.

That very thought has run through my mind on occasion as I have more than a few of those 155 Palmas.......It's a shame that your cast boolit matches dried up - bummer for sure.

 

[deepwater]

A friend of mine shoots a .30BR for IHMSA. Uses Winchester 125 gr. spire points @ 50 & 100 yards, Winchester 150 gr. spire points @ 150 & 200 yards. All loads @ 2200 fps. No trouble knocking down the rams @ 200 yards. I am attempting to illustrate the terminal energy of such loads. At higher velocities should reach out. Lead bullets are able to achieve higher velocities than jacketed bullets with identical powder charge (proper alloy, gas check and good lube such as Carnuba Red)

 

[tiny68]

Yes - 2600 fps is obtainable. I had a 1:16 twist 30br in which I played with the 150 SMK to try and shoot some 300 yard matches. Using H4895 I could a little over 2700 fps in a 24" barrel. Recoil was more that I wanted so I went back down to the 125s. Luck, Tim