Quality 30-30 brass

[mturner]

Tommie,

I just ran across this old thread. I am the 30-30 benchrest shooter. I would like to talk with you on the phone about your 30-30 based wildcat. I have spent the last 23 years playing with the 30-30 and wildcats that I have developed. I can achieve velocities over 3100 fps with a 125gr bullet, and remain PPC accurate. I have won registered BR matches competing against 40+ PPC shooters. Not trying to come across as a bragger, but if so, it's not me it's the 30-30 that is one of the most amazing cartridges ever made. Most people will never have a clue of it's full potential. Call me any evening at 575-682-3036.

Michael

 

[butchlambert]

I can vouch for what Michael is saying. I think I still have a couple hundred un headstamped 30-30 brass that was made by Federal.

 

[Tommie]

I’m the OP of this old post. Decided on Federal 30-30 brass. The cartridge is a 204 Wasp (see my avatar). Cases have been formed and the reamer design is in process. Hoping the gun will be a prairie dog smasher.

Years ago I had a 6mm Wasp reamer built. That was during my paper punching days. Never did finish the project and lost interest the bench game.

 

[mturner]

Tommie,

I received a sample of 30-30 brass from Starline today. They sent it to me so I could ring it out. I will report back on the quality, and pressure handling capabilities. The brass looks great so far. It does have slightly less capacity due to a greater web thickness. Necks are more uniform in thickness. I'm starting with 40gr. of LT32. That should be around 3200 fps from a 118gr bullet. I will continue to go up until I see the first weakness in the case. If I can't get there, I will switch to LT30 or H4198. If I can hit at least 3300 fps, then the brass is real good for pressure. These are proof loads, don't duplicate them.

Michael

 

[Tommie]

Tommie,

I received a sample of 30-30 brass from Starline today. They sent it to me so I could ring it out. I will report back on the quality, and pressure handling capabilities. The brass looks great so far. It does have slightly less capacity due to a greater web thickness. Necks are more uniform in thickness. I'm starting with 40gr. of LT32. That should be around 3200 fps from a 118gr bullet. I will continue to go up until I see the first weakness in the case. If I can't get there, I will switch to LT30 or H4198. If I can hit at least 3300 fps, then the brass is real good for pressure. These are proof loads, don't duplicate them.

Michael

Thanks!

 

[jimmymac]

I just read that thread over on BRC. Good read. Thanks Michael.

 

[weewilly]

I shot at a benchrest match in Texas a bunch of years ago, I think Michael was shooting the first rifle he made from the action up. We loaded and talked to him, other shooters that he had been shooting with, didn't talk to him much because he had beat them too many times with their 6PPC's. We were from out of town and had never even heard of him. He won all matches that day. Really enjoyed the day and visiting with him.

 

[mturner]

Tommie,

I just got through testing the new Starline 30-30 brass. I tried to push the pressures to the first sight of case weakness, but for the first time, I just had to back away. I could not loosen a primer, even though the loads were crazy high pressure "proof" loads. I ran out of room in the case with H4198, and with LT30. I am not going to put H4227 in it. I do not want to swell the chamber on my "zero" size group capable Lederer barrel. The new Starline brass has been manufactured with a thicker case web for greater strength, I did see about 1 grain less capacity, but for me, it is worth it.

It was 46 degrees outside this morning at 8600 ft. elevation, so it took more powder than usual to get these velocities, but you won't be disappointed by the velocities. All velocities were checked with my Labradar.

Rifle: My HV benchrest with a 23" Lederer barrrel
Bullet: My 118gr 9 ogive .925" Hines jacket, all loads touching lands (this bullet allows the most room in the case)
Case: Just released Starline 30-30 brass, neck turned to .0085"
Powders: Hodgdon H4198, Accurate LT30, Accurate LT32

Test load:
34.5 - H4198 - 2977 fps (slower than 30BR because of air space)

Proof Loads:
40.0 - LT32 - 3144 fps
41.0 - LT32 - 3252 fps (running out of room way to quick, moving to faster powders)

LT30 - 41.0 - 3319 fps
LT30 - 41.5 - 3352 fps
LT30 - 42.0 - 3387 fps (out of room, primer seats the same as new)

H4198 - 38.5 - 3240 fps
H4198 - 39.5 - 3295 fps
H4198 - 40.0 - 3316 fps
H4198 - 40.5 - 3358 fps (out of room, primer seats the same as new)

I used two cases to complete all testing. Cases were trimmed to 2.015", and grew to 2.018" after five very hot loads in each.

The energy level reached was 3005 fpe. A 270 Winchester pushing a 130 gr bullet at 3150 fps is 2864 fpe. If you ever reach 3000 fpe in a 270 Winchester, chances are you loosened the primer.

These velocities are real, and even though the brass was up to the task, these loads are considered extremely dangerous in almost any other firearm without a long trigger string.

Michael

 

[Tommie]

Michael,
Thank you for the range report. That Starline brass sounds STRONG. Wondering if they utilized .375 Winchester web dimensions.

 

[mturner]

Tommie,
They talked about using the new 375 brass that is about to be released, but did not. They said the web thickness increase is .005", where the 375 brass is .010" thicker.

Michael

 

[mturner]

I shot at a benchrest match in Texas a bunch of years ago, I think Michael was shooting the first rifle he made from the action up. We loaded and talked to him, other shooters that he had been shooting with, didn't talk to him much because he had beat them too many times with their 6PPC's. We were from out of town and had never even heard of him. He won all matches that day. Really enjoyed the day and visiting with him.

I think I remember you. You came with one or two other guys. Maybe from the Brownwood area. Seems like you had some tables at a gun show when I ran into you a few years later.

When you saw my 30-30, I remember you saying "how refreshing". I said "refreshing"?, "how so"? You said it was nice to see someone at a match having fun, and it not being all about winning. I said "well that's not me, I'm here to win".

Michael

 

[TC260]

It's great to see Starline making 30-30 brass. I recently picked up a 357 Herrett to replace one I'd sold a while back and this sounds like a good excuse to pick up some new brass. Have a 7-30 Waters Improved that could use some new cases as well.

 

[weewilly]

I think I remember you. You came with one or two other guys. Maybe from the Brownwood area. Seems like you had some tables at a gun show when I ran into you a few years later.

When you saw my 30-30, I remember you saying "how refreshing". I said "refreshing"?, "how so"? You said it was nice to see someone at a match having fun, and it not being all about winning. I said "well that's not me, I'm here to win".

Michael

I was one of the other guys, about 270lb.,shot next bench over from you one match. I knew as soon as we started talking to you, you were a winner because the shooters that we had met in Austin were staying away from you. You told us some of them were giving you a hard time about a rifle you were shooting and you told them you could win with a 30-30.Did you ever! Won every match you entered, and was through shooting before most had shot 3 shots.

 

[mturner]

I was one of the other guys, about 270lb.,shot next bench over from you one match. I knew as soon as we started talking to you, you were a winner because the shooters that we had met in Austin were staying away from you. You told us some of them were giving you a hard time about a rifle you were shooting and you told them you could win with a 30-30.Did you ever! Won every match you entered, and was through shooting before most had shot 3 shots.

Where were you from? Was it the Brownwood area? Did you show up in a Powerstroke pulling a white closed in trailer?

Michael

 

[weewilly]

Where were you from? Was it the Brownwood area? Did you show up in a Powerstroke pulling a white closed in trailer?

Michael

Yes, we were from Brownwood, I think there was five of us, probably in big Ford pickup and white trailer. The one driving was the most experienced shooting benchrest, the rest of us just local shooters that got interested in shooting with him at the local gun club at local matches. We mostly shot hunter class in postal match.