Expected 30-30 Win Performance

[FNG1001]

What's everyone results and expectations when reloading for 30-30 Winchester?
My setup is: Windows Model 94, Starline 30-30 brass, VV N130, CCI LRP. Barnes 150 TSX (for 30-30).

I'm getting an SD approaching 20 fps. Groups well at 100 yards on an 8 inch ring, which is probably has far as i would take it hunting.

First time loading for this cartridge, so I'm shocked by the high number. I'm considering trying another brass manufacturer.

 

[Emerson0311]

I have used Leverevolution for my 30-30. Adds a lot to the performance. Don’t remember the SD though. At 100, not really important. How were the groups?

 

[supercorndogs]

For 100y shooting 30/30 es/SD arr basically irrelevant.

 

[redbullitt]

Starline is usually good stuff. Not alpha or lapua, but plenty good for most shooting.

How did you arrive at your load? Try any other powders? Any velocity numbers?

Ive had a lot of rifles shoot well with varget and w748 for full house jacketed stuff.

A 4 inch consistent group will stack deer all day long at typical hunting distances. I wouldnt fret about 20SD here. Does it group well at 150 or 200? If so, SD is plenty fine for any typical 3030 shot.

Hell, i bet youre doing notably better than typical factory core lock that has a billion deer kills inside 100 yards by people who dont know what starline, berger, VV or Sd even is haha.

All that said... with a general purpose loading of w748 and a nicely cast 170fn ( with pop can gas check or fancy copper) pretty much any 3030 here will shoot inside 2.5 inches at 100 yards consistently. Ive never paid attention to the Sd given theyll be shot 200 yards and closer.

My nice mgm barreled 14 inch encore will do about an inch with what it likes. Couple lever guns do about 2 inches at 100 with what they like. Old pump action does about the same as levers with a little less consistency.

All do great with cast or jacketed lead and smack deer well. I have not tried coppers in them though.

 

[wvfarrier]

My 24" Winchester Legacy 30-30 will do 1.5-2" groups with several loadings at 100. It tends to like 130-170 grain weights. I tried several varieties in the 175-195 weight range and none shot well.

I do not chase low sd/ed with leverguns. I chase speed and accuracy. The Hammer bullets 143 grain Hammer Hunter has been the best middle ground for me. I can get grear velocities because they are lightweight and they shoot extremely accurate. Sadly, they are super pricey.

.308 Cal-143gr Lever Hammer - Hammer Bullets

This bullet is designed specifically for 30-30 lever action rifles with tube feed magazine. It will also work very well in any 30 caliber rifle. Recommended min twist rate is 1-14" or faster Bullet length is 1.053" Bullet weight is 140gr Recommended use: Big game hunting G1-BC= .287

hammerbullets.com

 

[Jack's Dad]

Imr 3031 with 150-170gr bullets will do an inch at 100 yards with my old Marlin

 

[XP1K]

My 24" Winchester Legacy 30-30 will do 1.5-2" groups with several loadings at 100. It tends to like 130-170 grain weights. I tried several varieties in the 175-195 weight range and none shot well.

I do not chase low sd/ed with leverguns. I chase speed and accuracy. The Hammer bullets 143 grain Hammer Hunter has been the best middle ground for me. I can get grear velocities because they are lightweight and they shoot extremely accurate. Sadly, they are super pricey.

.308 Cal-143gr Lever Hammer - Hammer Bullets

This bullet is designed specifically for 30-30 lever action rifles with tube feed magazine. It will also work very well in any 30 caliber rifle. Recommended min twist rate is 1-14" or faster Bullet length is 1.053" Bullet weight is 140gr Recommended use: Big game hunting G1-BC= .287

hammerbullets.com

Killed anything with the hammers ? Been kicking around ordering a box to try. Recently picked up a marlin 30-30, and I'm thinking about chopping it to 16"

It'll mainly see subs but I'd like to have a solid full power load for it also.

 

[wvfarrier]

Killed anything with the hammers ? Been kicking around ordering a box to try. Recently picked up a marlin 30-30, and I'm thinking about chopping it to 16"

It'll mainly see subs but I'd like to have a solid full power load for it also.

Sadly no. But my son has killed several deer with them

 

[Haney]

What's everyone results and expectations when reloading for 30-30 Winchester?
My setup is: Windows Model 94, Starline 30-30 brass, VV N130, CCI LRP. Barnes 150 TSX (for 30-30).

I'm getting an SD approaching 20 fps. Groups well at 100 yards on an 8 inch ring, which is probably has far as i would take it hunting.

First time loading for this cartridge, so I'm shocked by the high number. I'm considering trying another brass manufacturer.

I would say you already have your load . Worrying about 20 fps in a 30-30 lever gun...waste of time .

 

[mtrmn]

My best load for 30-30 conventional bullets was 150 gr RN, 33.5 gr H335 with a CCI 34 LR mil primer. (magnum primer)
Letting the bbl cool between shots for like 15 minutes kept it below 2.25" at 100 yds. This was during late summer in La so it was still in the low 90's. I can easily remember that H335 powder charge by moving the decimal 1 place to the left.

I did better with 160 gr flexible tip Hornady bullets but currently don't have access to my load data.

 

[KYAggie]

I use Starline brass with Leverevolution and a Hornady 160 Flextip for a 1.5 moa group. I’ve also loaded some Nosler 140 Custom Competition bullets and shot it out to 600 yards. Of course, only one in the magazine at a time. Those bullets were made for the 30AR I think and are no longer manufactured, but fit perfectly in a 30-30; I picked up a 1000 on close out. I hit a 14”x16” steel target 4 out of 5 times. I slow mo videoed through my spotting scope and it looks like the bullet is dropping straight out of the sky onto the target; good fun. My gun is a Marlin 336 Cowboy.

35.7 grain’s Leverevolution, F210M, 160 Flex avg 2379 fps, 28 ES, 11.3 SD in Starline brass.

32.6 of IMR 4166, F210M, Nosler 140CC. 2368 fps, 39 ES, 13.2 SD