30-30 Loads

[Coldreunion]

Just wondering what some of everyone's favorite 30-30 loads were. Picked up a Marlin 336 that I've had my eye on for a while and thought I'd see if anyone else had a fancy for the ole' .30 WCF for a whitetail round.

Thanks

 

[bohem]

Re: 30-30 Loads

It's an excellent round for places on the east coast that don't have any semblence of long range shots. My first few deer fell to a 30-30. I like the 150 FN's and BLC2. The 336 has that tube clamped to the barrel and it causes some serious accuracy woes after the 3rd shot when the barrel gets warm.

 

[packratt]

Re: 30-30 Loads

My brother swears by Remington Corelokt 170gr. Don't recall the powder. He's taken a bunch of deer with them and the few I've shot have had good accuracy through my 94.

 

[JeffinTX]

Re: 30-30 Loads

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: packratt</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My brother swears by Remington Corelokt 170gr. Don't recall the powder. He's taken a bunch of deer with them and the few I've shot have had good accuracy through my 94.</div></div>

The classic would be IMR 3031

 

[packratt]

Re: 30-30 Loads

That's what I was thinking 7x57. I know he uses 3031 for several calibers but don't want to state that as a fact.

 

[bohem]

Re: 30-30 Loads

I've used I3031 as well, it's good stuff. I have a lot of BLC2 on hand and it meters very well so I've started using that instead.

If you ever get into casting bullets that 336 will digest gas checked hard lead without any issue, 10gr of Unique gets them around 1800 fps for a 150gr FP. Costs less than 10c a round for plinking ammo.

 

[bohem]

Re: 30-30 Loads

deleted double post

 

[Coldreunion]

Re: 30-30 Loads

Would the cast loads work well for hunting or as a plinking/target round only? I've thought about getting set up to cast my own lead bullets, but haven't read enough about it to feel comfortable taking the plunge and getting the equiptment.

Seems to me that most of what I've read about powder choices for the 30-30 are that most people stick with 3031, but I've seen some loads using W748 as well. As for bullets of the jacketed type, I think I'm going to try the Hornady LeverEvolution bullets since they're available in component form now. But I'll still probably get some 150's and 170's to try and see if I can get the accuracy I'd like out of them for a little less coin.

Where I hunt in PA, there aren't many shots past 100 yards, much less anywhere close to the limit of what a factory Core-lokt load would be capable of.

Thanks for all the info, and keep it coming!

 

[Queequeg]

Re: 30-30 Loads

I picked up a used Model 94 in 30-30 a few years back, slapped a lyman receiver site on it (that I bought for, but didn't have the balls to drill and tap on, a 94 I bought new in .45 Colt!) and find it to be a hoot to shoot. Iron sight shooting is good for me!

I haven't settled on a particular load, though I ran off some 150s and 170s. Can't remember which powder I used but it was easy to keep it on a 6" shoot n see (mostly )at 50 yards.

 

["Partridge"]

Re: 30-30 Loads

32 grns of 3031 is what i ended up shooting through a model 94 with 170 grain bullits.i went thru a few different loads before i settled on that one.

 

[cinosbus]

Re: 30-30 Loads

I like the 125gr Sierra JHP over a stiff load of Varget.

This bullet is great on deer!

The Leverevolution stuff gives up too much case capacity for me in an already small case fired from a low pressure action.

 

[superyota]

Re: 30-30 Loads

does anybody ahave any problems with primers backing out, no signs of pressure just sitting high after being fired, my load is 33grn of tac over serria 125's at 24oofps. please let me know what you think of this, also brass is first time reloaded so on second firing.

 

[Clark]

Re: 30-30 Loads

"Speer 12" 1994:
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Some bolt-action and single-shot rifles have been chambered for this cartridge. Reloaders can sue spritzer-type bullets in these rifles, but should keep the weight to 150 grains or less. Heavier spritzer bullets cannot be drive fast enough in the 30-30 to expand reliably. We are occasionally asked if the 30-30 can be loaded to higher velocities in a modern bolt action like the Remington model 788. The answer is NO! The 30-30 case is an old design with relatively thin walls. Attempting to load "hotter" would risk a dangerous case failure.</div></div>

Last week I fixed a Savage 219L and shot it:
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">1 in 12" twist
26" long.
7 pound rifle

220 gr HNDY round nose moly W748 2.92" 26" barrel, 30-30
Quickload prediction:
33 gr 51 kpsi 2176 fps
34 gr 56 kpsi 2232 fps
35 gr 62 kpsi 2287 fps
36 gr 68 kpsi 2340 fps
37 gr 75 kpsi 2394 fps
38 gr 83 kpsi 2446 fps brass and primer still look good </div></div>
Oi, that rifle kicks as hard as any 7 pound 30-06.

The brass I used was a mixture of:
RP
WIN
WW-SUPER
FC

Evidently the brass has not been reading Speer 12.

I have been reading De Haas about the Sav 219L.
He hated his too.
He must have taken it apart and put it back together.

 

[bohem]

Re: 30-30 Loads

Switch-

Those cast boolits are exceptional performers on game. Unique just happens to be the easiest powder to use since I have an 8lb jug of it and it only uses 10gr at a time.

The Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook has a lot of loads for it. You can shoot the 150 cast gas checked bullets faster than jacketed usually because the lead moves through the bore easier than gilding metal does.

I wouldn't take a 200y shot with a 1700 fps cast bullet in a hunt, but 100y wouldn't bother me, and if you zero for the slower load you'll do just fine.

Hard cast lead penetrates like a high speed drill at these speeds in animals.

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: 30-30 Loads

My brother used IMR 3031 in his Marlin. But I can't seem to find his load notes. He may have that notebook.

 

[Coldreunion]

Re: 30-30 Loads

bohem,

Thanks for the Unique load. Seems to me like that will be a very cost efficient load to practice and hunt with. Now i just have to find some cast bullets and Unique to load up.

Thanks for all the ideas guys. It's really helpful to get some good ideas starting out with a "new" old caliber!

 

[bohem]

Re: 30-30 Loads

Switch-

If you want to try a few, I think I have a handful I can send you. I have to look, I might still have a few loaded rounds, but I know a buddy of mine really took to shooting the lever action last time at the range and he pretty much cleaned me out of them. I might have a handful left. Shoot me a PM where to send them out.

You should get a copy of the Lyman Cast Bullet handbook. It has load data for practically everything else in there you might want to shoot as well, as long as it was a commercial round before about 1990 (that was appx when the book was published).

 

[cinosbus]

Re: 30-30 Loads

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: superyota</div><div class="ubbcode-body">does anybody ahave any problems with primers backing out, no signs of pressure just sitting high after being fired, my load is 33grn of tac over serria 125's at 24oofps. please let me know what you think of this, also brass is first time reloaded so on second firing. </div></div>

Compare a re-sized case to a fired case and see if the shoulder is set back very far. This could be a headspace problem. While this case is supposed to headspace on the rim, some don't. Try re-sizing less (screw the die away from the shellholder some) so that the shoulder is only .002" further back than a fired case, or until it just chambers freely.