How accurate do you think a 94AE 30-30 can be

WINCHESTER MODEL 70 For Sale, New and Used In Stock Prices

 

If I remember right, the pre-64 ones carry a premium. I think it was +30% or so.
I'd say if it was really nice condition, $750-800, and maybe 1000 if pre-64. Just my guess.

 

Ok things not to do:
Don't load hotter than 34gr.
Don't neck size only.
34.5gr kind of shot all over the place.
Neck sizing only, after I seated the bullet rounds had to be forced in. No good. Then they shot like 3 minutes lower compared to everything else. Double no good.
Neck turning probably made 34gr worse, which is unexpected.

I do get a lot of shoulder movement, need to set the sizing die with feeler gauges. I'll set it 25 thousands which should be way too much. 25 thousands would be ridiculous. Load up 2 or 3 like that and see how they feel going in.

34gr shot pretty good. 33.5gr did a little better it shot a nice 3x3 inch square group at 150 yards and 33.7gr did the best making a 3 inch tall 2 inch wide group.
Made one flyer, let the round sit in the chamber too long and I could feel the extractor have to pull that shell out after that shot. I'm sure if I would have sent it sooner or let the gun cool off better before loading it wouldn't have sent one high. Then I definitely pulled one low.
I assuassume that leverevolution is double base because it's spherical and hodgon isn't saying it's temperature stabilized. So it's temperature sensitive.

Also at 150 yards you can really see that point of aim try to move as you squeeze on the 5lb trigger. I bet a 2lb trigger and a more user friendly stock and those groups could be an inch smaller.

 

Glad your listening to the gun, It's saying, I like this one daddy!

 

I sized the cases all the way to the shell holder, trimmed them to 2.03 inches.
Next generation of 30-30 reloads I backed the die off 20 thousands now the cases are about 2.027 inches so that shoulder is at least 4 or 5 thousands longer. That should be way too much. They all chamber as sized cases. I'll load a few make sure they chamber and load up the rest. And recheck the loads in 20 thousands longer aized brass, if they chamber.
If they don't want to go in keep lowering the die till they do.

 

All you need is to bump back the shoulder no more than .006 thousands, Thats plenty good on necked cartridges.
You seen the run on Marlins lately? 1000.00 or better for an old 336 model

 

All the Hornady 160gr FTX bullets (30395) you can buy at grafs for $38 for a box of 100. Buy 3 or more and get them for $36.

 

Now the 160gr ftx bullets are $44 per 100. I'm glad I got like 600 of them when they were $36.

 

You ever try casting your own?

 

Yeah I burned them up at the range.
The ballistic covfefe sucks on cast and I'll get heavy barrel leading if I run them too fast.
The new hotness FTX bullets stay supersonic out past a half mile. Where as traditional bullets fall subsonic in as little as 300yd.
I may work up a bunny blaster load using CBI and cast lead, since I have unlimited CBI for the foreseeable furniture and CBI likely won't lead the barrel.

 

Powder coating may eliminate the leading. Probably running these around 2K feet per second would be a good load.

 

I did a milk jug test with 30-30 down loaded to about 1,960fps, which is equal to full power Leverevolution ammo at 100yd. It mushroomed nicely and became about 22gr lighter.
It will keel.

 

Did more water jug testing at expected 200yd velocity of 1,800fps. The 160gr ftx bullet expand nicely. Next test will be the 300yd at 1,600fps. I expect them to do fine at 1,600fps.
This rifle is so accurate and shooting so far I think I need a moa drop scope.
If I get good expansion at the 400yd velocity (1,450fps) I'll need a scope with at least some graduated elevation points.

 

I shot a bunch of cast lead at the range, probably at least 50. Loaded fairly hot.
Using RE12 at 1,800fps.
I fired some copper jacked ammo to clear out the lead and 2 shots of copper jacketed cleared all the lead out, as I was shooting water jugs and recovered the pristine bullets. First shot after the cast bullets had lead on it, second one has a lot less lead and the 3rd shot had no lead on it.
Also found the leverevolution ftx bullets expand quite well down to 1,650 to 1,600fps. Which is how fast they should be going at 300yds.
On to 1,450fps, 400yd test.

 

Tested some 160gr ftx bullets over 33gr IMR4350. I was only shooting it at 25yd and I only had 7 shots but all 7 shots made 1 hole.
Appears to have very good accuracy potential. They chronograph a bit slow at 1,950fps, which is perfect for close shots and shots under 150yd. 33gr was the max load I worked up to and that's about all that will fit. Recoil was pleasant.
I shot off some Sierra 110gr HP bullets loaded over 40gr of 748. They flew at about 2,700fps and accuracy was poor by my standards, shooting a bit over 1 inch at 25yd.