Monday night

Junior wants to play with reduced loads and is thinking about a squirrel load for the .30-30. Reloaders know that even .22 rimfire ammo costs money, and when you have a bunch of components on your bench already paid for, the cost per round can come down to where it is almost as cheap as .22 ammo.

Paco Kelley, world renowned lever gun expert says the following about reduced charges in the .30-30 Winchester. He starts off talking about the Lyman 311440 bullet and says:

19.5 grains of 4759 will give close to 2000 fps..recoil is nothing and over 1300 lbs of muzzle energy. Good deer load for the younger shooters, or those that can’t take recoil. 4 grains of Bullseye will give around 1000 fps...it’s a better squirrel load than any 22RF...cheaper too. You can shoot right up thru a branch a squirrel is laying on...he’ll come off and right down into your game bag. The 311041 is a 170 grain flat nose that can take the above fast powder loads, and it kills better and is one of the most accurate I have used in my 30 caliber rifles...nice gas checked bullet that flies very flat.

Let's see? 4 grains of bullseye comes to less than a penny a pop, and a primer costs two cents. Bullets are almost free if you cast them yourself. So, for under three cents, you can have a squirrel load that fires from your deer rifle.

That is interesting.

Dick Lee says, in his Modern Reloading (p 94 says)

Very light loads called squib loads are always loaded with fast burning powder. The object is to use the lightest bullet with the smallest charge that will move the bullet completely free of the barrel. Light cast bullets or buckshot can be used. It may be necessary to size the bullet to fit. A little case sizing lube or Liquid Alox on the bullets, will keep your barrel lead free. The two hazards are a bullet getting stuck in the barrel and an excessive powder charge. Remember that a little too much of the fast burning powders can be dangerous. Charges as little as one grain of Bullseye can be used.

And that, folks is about as close to the horse's mouth as you can get.

If Dick Lee and Paco Kelley says it will work, then we are on firm practical ground. As it turns out, I have a ordered a custom 6-hole mold for the 311041 bullet. I expect it to be delivered sometimes around Christmas. This might be a lot of fun. Squirrel loads through the beater rifle would certainly make the season more interesting.

Why do I even own a .22?