30-30 vs 308 vs 30-06 - Cast Iron Skillets

[Big Jack]

Mine's a microgroove



No, I just went with the length that lined up the mouth with the crimp groove. I like calibres/rifles that don't take a lot of fiddling with to get good results. The best I was able to achieve with my combo was about 1.5 MOA at 100 yards. Most attempts have given 2-3 MOA, including all attempts with Leverevolution powder and the Hornady FTX bullets. So far I don't see the potential of handloading for my combo.

That’s actually promising. I know you don’t like fiddling but forget the cannelure for a sec and seat it out a bit further if it will cycle in the gun. A Lee factory crimp die doesn’t need a cannelure. Sometimes levers are real picky but usually a little forgiveness in there!

i had a 760 that was a 3 MOA turned in to a half MOA by doing this. Clip fed but hopefully you see my point.

[werner.reiche]

They should but remember that Remington loaded up the 444 Marlin with pistol bullets for a long time.

The FTX bullet is not a penetration bullet, it is an SST, it is designed to blow up, this is what the line of bullets is for, the caliber does not matter.

The SST is a Super Shock Tip, the FTX is just an SST with a flexible tip.

They are controlled, they do not blow up until they get through the first couple inches, better than a V-max.

Even the 240 grain .44mag bullets Remington uses hold together nicely.
I guess we have different views of controlled expansion. If the bullet is not 75% in one piece after expansion, then I'd say its a failure.
The 265 grains designed for the .444 are usually pretty close to 100%. The 240 grain .44mag is usually 90%+ - although I've had the core separate from the jacket.
The flex time - well - if its designed to blow up - it works pretty well. Not a very good hunting round though. But in the XLR, it is more accurate than either Remington load.

[rippin_355]

They should but remember that Remington loaded up the 444 Marlin with pistol bullets for a long time.

The FTX bullet is not a penetration bullet, it is an SST, it is designed to blow up, this is what the line of bullets is for, the caliber does not matter.

The SST is a Super Shock Tip, the FTX is just an SST with a flexible tip.

They are controlled, they do not blow up until they get through the first couple inches, better than a V-max.

The ftx is actually quite stout. I have shot a ton of the .458 325ftx. Have never recovered one from game but have from dirt and trees. After the first ML week I discharged it right though a 8" ash tree at 50 yards. Then after the second week a 6" dead elm was my target. It only made it 2 inches in and stopped and still weighed 300 grains. So don't go on things you read on the internet!

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[Gun Nut]

I've been shooting cast iron skillets for years, great backyard gongs, perfect size and audible feed back. Shooting thick products like ballistic gel or wet paper products doesn't prove anything but distance to stop a bullet...not really applicable to a hunting scenario.

edit at...

Is the bullet resistance of x3 cast iron frying pans less than the resistance of a broadside double lung shot on a deer ?

Thanks for the idea MikePal, it never cross my mine to use an old cast iron skilled for a gong. I've been looking for a gong to do some distance shooting with my 43 Mauser. I thought about a disc off of an old farm disc or possibly a circular saw blade from the platform saws they use to use for limb wood, hard to find or too expensive, but an old cast iron frying pan might just work.

You don't stop hunting because you grow old, You grow old because you stop hunting.
- Gun Nut

[Fox]

The ftx is actually quite stout. I have shot a ton of the .458 325ftx. Have never recovered one from game but have from dirt and trees. After the first ML week I discharged it right though a 8" ash tree at 50 yards. Then after the second week a 6" dead elm was my target. It only made it 2 inches in and stopped and still weighed 300 grains. So don't go on things you read on the internet!

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I have never seen the 458 FTX bullet, what velocity were you running? I would assume that since it was from a muzzle loader that it was not running very fast, that bullet is designed to be shot out of a 450 Marlin at 2200fps at the muzzle.

I have ELD-X bullets for one rifle and they are also the SST, they blow up in a tree I can say that.

[Fox]

Even the 240 grain .44mag bullets Remington uses hold together nicely.
I guess we have different views of controlled expansion. If the bullet is not 75% in one piece after expansion, then I'd say its a failure.
The 265 grains designed for the .444 are usually pretty close to 100%. The 240 grain .44mag is usually 90%+ - although I've had the core separate from the jacket.
The flex time - well - if its designed to blow up - it works pretty well. Not a very good hunting round though. But in the XLR, it is more accurate than either Remington load.

The problem is that what you want from a bullet is not what that bullet is designed to do, you probably should stay away from Bergers then too, no personal experience with them but they are suppose to be a grenade once they get through the hide of an animal.

This is why I am going to be loading up a pointed 150gr partition in the box magazine 30-30, get the higher BC with the tougher bullet.

[Rob Stewart]

At the end of the day you can take any game with a bow and a vitals shot. When it comes to hunting it’s important to know the ballistics of your cartridge so you know how far out is the limit for an ethical shot, but under 100 yards or even a bit more, with the right projectile, even a 223 can take a deer with a vitals shot.

My point is from a hunting point of view most of us are way over powered when we take an ethical vitals shot.

Where the conversation takes a different turn and where this kind of terminal ballistic testing really becomes interesting is when we are talking about non-hunting situations like a charging bear. Now at that point penetration and expansion differences will be apparent.

But for hunting centre fire will work working within the parameters of bullet style and range.


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[MikePal]

but an old cast iron frying pan might just work.

This is an 8" cast iron skillet hanging on a 6' garden Shepard's hook. I put it at 50 yds to practice Standing shooting with my .45 Kentucky.



Any frying pan works; you're not testing for penetration persee . A 10" pan simulates a deer vitals and one with a good 'ding' sound so you can hear it. Picked up this whole crate of them for $5 at a garage sale, 3 cast iron ones in the mix.

[Goosesniper]

This is an 8" cast iron skillet hanging on a 6' garden Shepard's hook. I put it at 50 yds to practice Standing shooting with my .45 Kentucky.



Any frying pan works; you're not testing for penetration persee . A 10" pan simulates a deer vitals and one with a good 'ding' sound so you can hear it. Picked up this whole crate of them for $5 at a garage sale, 3 cast iron ones in the mix.

You should try filling them with cement. Then hang them and do the test again with different rounds.


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[Fox]

You should try filling them with cement. Then hang them and do the test again with different rounds.


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How does cement change anything?