madsenshooter wrote on Oct 16^th, 2014 at 3:56am:

I have been thinking about trying the 30/30 FTX for some time, but never got around to it.  With its less tapered forepart I thought it might get a bit closer to the rifling than 168gr match bullets.  But they're nearly as expensive, which is probably the biggest reason I never got round to it.  I need to cast some bullets that shoot like match bullets.

I placed 2 aluminum wheel collars on my ramrod W/an 8-32 socket head screw/locknut that has the head ground flat screwed into the end.

I use a stiff spring just long enough to reach the neck of the case to push the bullet into the lands.

I check the barrel length to the bolt face, slide both collars against the muzzle & tighten the set screw of the 2nd collar. Then, I insert the case/spring/bullet into the chamber, close the bolt & measure again, slding the 1st collar to the muzzle & securing it. I measured 3.089" between the collars.

I had my dies set for 3.150" OAL for a 150 Nosler BT. By adding .075" shims under the locknut, I got 3.075" W/the 30395 160gr FTX. the nose is really stubby. The BC is only .330, but that still carries + or - 3 .5" way farther than I can hit anything W/iron sights anyway.

"Quick Target" plots 2500 fps, 1" LOS above bore axis striking 2" high @ 50yds to be + 3.5" from 110 to 130yds, zero @ 214yds & - 3.3" @ 250yds. 300 yds is 10.2" low & retains 1780 fps W/1126'# of energy.

It should get the job done on the biggest deer @ any range that a person is capable of putting it on target. W/open iron sights from a rest I can do it to 150+ yards. W/aprerature sights on a bright morning when the sun is at my back in the tri-pod, I think I could extend that range quite a bit more.