I just finished (I think) tuning in my re-loading for 30-06 and 30-30, am very proud of myself and I thought I'd gloat. This is so fun, I'd rather do this for a living. First photo is the 30-06, I was in a sitting position with the rifle on my knee (sort of) because I forgot to bring along my home-made bench rest. The second photo is the 30-30 on the bench rest, and actually it seems to be more accurate than my 8mm Mauser. I love my Marlin, want to try out some of those LeverRevolution bullets when I get some more funds to buy booolets and stuff.

Looks like you're getting this figured out ... Good shooting!

Yep, thats better than MOD (minute of deer)

What load did you settle on for both the .30-06 and the .30-30? And at what distance?

Looks good, by the way...

I have this great spot out in the woods, where I measured out 50 and 100yds, these were shot at 50yds. They're high on the target to give me a 100yd zero. Some might say the shots aren't close enough for 100yds, but for me they're wonderfully close. I'm 54 with bi-focals, I do use a scope, oh and my birthday was the 27th, so HAPPY B DAY TO ME! For the 30-06 I used WIN748 @ 45.5gr and a 150gr sp with canilure (no crimp) and CCI200 primer
The 30-30 I used BL-C(2) 34gr (pretty minimum load) Sierra 125gr flat nose hollow pt. and CCI200 primer. Both loads are light, but both seem accurate and I can try at 100yds now that my 50yds look good. Going to try out my 8MM Mauser today to see if my secret-trigger-job-from-Hell works or not. I shortened the sear a bit to see if the trigger pull improves my accuracy. If not I'll have to break down and buy a new trigger rig for it. I bought 2 trigger replacements to play with and came up with the sear job. Awful lot of travel in that military trigger, after the first stage (which you can't always feel) the second stage is lengthy and tough, kinda reminds me of a ......well never mind.
I know it's not right to mess with a sear but I gave it lots of trials at the bench and if I don't shoot my panties to my knees I think it just might be the trick. Stay tuned....Photos? don't think so
Suz

Just got back from trying out my Mauser trigger-job-from-Hell.....don't know what to think....better?....I dunno....tighter group in some respects, and the trigger pull was really nice and crisp, I like the way it works now anyway. These targets are at 50yds. First one is before the trigger job, second one after the sear circumcision. ..HHmmnnn kinda reminds me of.....nevermind.




I think the group is smaller anyway






Any expert opinions???? HHHHmmmmmm???

I have an expert opinion... Bifocals suck for shooting and hunting!! Try them in a tree stand some time if you enjoy vertigo. I ended up getting a pair of glasses that had just the "distant" correction and adjusted my scopes accordingly. I can't see up close so good but shooting is easier.

And Happy Birthday!!

Appears that you are doing just fine. What loads are you shooting in the 8mm Mauser? I have several 8mm Mauser rifles and like IMR4895 and 150 grain spitzers. All the best...
Gil

Hi Gil M!!! That's what I just shot! No wait it's not....it's H4895 @ 44gr with crimped Hornady 150grsp. Also another good one for me is 180gr Nosler ballistic tip, using Win748 @ 42gr and CCI250 primer. And last but not at all the end of ends a 200gr Nosler Accubond, using H4895 @ 38gr. This one I haven't shot yet but it's loaded-ready-to-go. I'm going with very easy loads and ending up with good accuracy, that's all I want. The c.o.a.l. on the 150gr is 2.97". The 180gr is 3.135" and the 200gr is 3.191". The Noslers are boat-tailed so you have to measure your head-space and all that tweaky stuff. Seems to work though. I love my Mauser, it's my first military bolt action, I have a Yogo 24/52C and it's in wonderful shape, I put a scout scope on it and wish I could find a long eye relief scope capable of more distance (power). I've found one but it's soooo expensive I have to pass on that. So Gil M. what's a Schnecks (Schnecksville) anyway, sort of reminds me of a .........well....nevermind.
Suz

Hey Suz, the second target does look better to me. At 100 yards you should be all over the bullseye. Nice job!!!

Nice shooting, however, if you actually shoot at 100 yards I would bet that you will find that your point of impact will be several inches high. That is not neccesarily a bad thing, I zero most of my rifles between 2-3 inches high at 100 yards. With your line of sight 1.5 to 2 inches above centerline of bore (as with a scoped rifle) , you should be dead on or slightly low at 50 yards for a 100 yard zero.

Nice grouping!
I would go hunting confidently with that load and gun!!

Way to go Suz....you done good.

As Donut Slayer (he has to be a cop) said...well within Minute of Deer.

Now you have a 125gn boolit load sorted for the 30.30, have a look at either a 150gn PPFN boolit or a 170gn flat nose. Correct me if I'm wrong Bushy, but wasn't the 30.30 round actually designed for a 170gn boolit?

I also load 110gn FNHP boolits designed for the .30 M1 Carbine for my 30.30...boy, don't they "hum"

Cheers, Vince

Vince. The original .30 WCF cartridge used a 160 grain metal patched (jacketed) soft nosed bullet. The 170 grain RNSP came later, but not much later.

Hey Roklok !! I should be shooting low at 50yds for a 100yd zero? What in the world is going to make the bullet rise? If I shoot high at 50yds and push it back to 100yds, gravity will make it drop...... not rise. Are you talkin about facing away from the target, bending over and shooting from between my legs, upside down? I can't function that way. I've been there but not with a rifle, and not outdoors, although it might be a treat sometime. HHhmmm let me think on that one.........
Suz