Reeder Custom Guns - My Favorite Levergun Cartridge

I posted this on the Leverguns Forum .. thought I would share it here also.

The old .30 WCF known now days as the .30-30 Winchester. It is my favorite for a number of reasons, one being I find it the most aesthetically-pleasing. It just looks right. It is also very easy to reload, the brass being thick enough to handle heavy loads but light enough you can easily use cast bullets. Bullet weights from super light 90/100 gr. to over 200 gr. will work with the right loads. For most, jacketed bullet data translates to cast bullet data. But my main reason is "I like the way it works."

NOTE: These are my personal preferences and in no way reflect the idea that my preferences are superior to anyone else's.

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Left to right: 170 gr. Sierra ... 130 gr. Speer .... 170 gr. Winchester Silvertip

It was doe season and my Dad and I were hunting on our property. We saw two deer on a small rise about 100 feet away. Dad told me to shoot the doe... I had a bit of "buck fever" and missed the first shot. The second shot brought it down. He then told me to shoot the second deer. It was jumping away and I used the peep sights... I put the bead on the deer's head at the top of a jump, pulled the trigger... perfect head shot. I doubt I could duplicate that shot now. At 13 years old I had good eyesight and quick reflexes... I love the .30-30....

Shot my first WT with a 94 in 30/30, he came in to a water hole about 75 yards, I put it tight behind the shoulder and let it rip. Mud blew up behind him, my dad said you missed him, I was pretty young so had to lower it to run the lever, with extreme vigor I might add ,busted my lip open with the empty case before I could shoot again he feel over . Wish I could find that old pic, huge smile with bloody lip

I have 2 Miroku Winchester 73s in .357 that I've had a few years. I've mostly shot .38 specials in them. The other day I decided to shoot some full power .357s in them and got case separations in both. The cases separated right in the middle. What would cause that? It happened with Buffalo Bore 125 gr loads and some 158 gr below max handloads.

would be my first guess. The 1873 wasn't designed for the super hot loads. I would ease away from the loads you mentioned. The Miroku are excellent guns but are a 140 year old (or so) design. Stay with the standard loads and you shouldn't have that problem.

I couldnt hit crap with it and I thought the cartridge was lacking, even in my 12 yo mind. My thoughts on it changed when I was 14 we were Antelope hunting in eastern MT. We were driving down a dirt road when 3 antelope bucks ran across the road in front of us. My Dad slammed on the brakes, grabbed the 30-30 that my brother had between us and shot 2 of them before they could jump the fence. I got the 3rd with a 22-250. The quick action of my dad and that rifle always left an impression on me. I had told him that I didnt care for the 30-30 cartridge or the lever gun, and in eastern MT it has its limitations. He told me
"Its not the gun or the cartridge that matters, its how well adjusted the loose nut on the trigger is."

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I can easily push the 150 grn BT or SST to 2500+ fps. Trajectory and retained energy are impressive with the High BC Bullets.

Many clammer that modernizing takes away from the original intent of the cartridge. But, that's silly. We do it all the time with 45 Colts, 45-70s, etc.

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almost buying one a while back. I think Gary had it on a Saturday sale even!

Require a side mount for scopes...

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it's so mechanical I guess and you are part of that function. I have always liked the Winchester hammer .22's and I have a nice M62A. The Remingtons are always winners and usually the mark if a fine marksman and hunter. I've always wanted one of those ultra gaudy, Dolly Parton of the gun world, M760 BDL with the basket weave checkering. Maybe a .270 or .280 cal. would be cool. They have a cheek piece stock and a special hump on the receiver.

The Savage 170 is purposeful and humble looking. They made a deluxe version with pressed checkering! I forget the chamberings besides .30-30 but I think they did .35 Rem. too. They sort of looked like a sick dog with it's back humped up. The tang safety made good sense, I always liked that.

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My first large rifle was a Marlin 336 Texan in 30-30. I was 12 when dad bought it for me. Countless mule deer and elk have been taken with the 170 grain bullet and to this day I would not hesitate to take it on a hunt. The rifle and the round are a keeper. It taught me all about bullet placement and how to close the distance on a animal to 30-30 range with open sights. A few years back a few of us went on a deer hunt and all agreed to use lever guns with open sights. There were four 30-30's in camp and one 35 Remington. Within the second day of the hunt we all had taken deer. Long live the rifle and round of a simpler time.

I don’t own a lever action rifle or carbine.

How can anyone call themselves a rifleman if they don't own a levergun?

:)

Louisiana and Arkansas. the 35 Remington is my favorite lever cartridge with a 200 grain pill, some times the 44 mag.

OVER 6.5 RED DOT

over 8 gr. Unique. About like shooting a .22 Long Rifle.

that I used two HHC ago. I love it and have killed hogs, deer, and a varmint or two! I will probably have to switch to my 1894 in 44 mag. as I can't stand up to a lot of recoil. Just got a Marlin 336 in 30-30 and have a bunch of brass to load for it.

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