Harriw
Member
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2018
- Messages
- 282
The "Pick your favorite rifle bullet manufacturer poll" thread started up some interesting side conversations. One of them concerned bullet choices for reloading .30-30. In order to avoid de-railing the poll thread too badly I'd like to move the .30-30 discussion here.
I don't have a particular direction in mind for the thread - it's just that I'm just now adding .30-30 to the list of calibers I reload for, and thought I'd pick some brains a bit. Here's the side conversation from the Poll thread:
Just to status where I'm at, I have a few boxes of Hornady's 150 grain InterLock RN (#3035) that I'm going to be loading up tonight in a test ladder. I have some Winchester Large Rifle Primers and some H335 to use. I understand H335 may not be the BEST choice, but I have quite a bit of it on hand for 55 Gr. .223 loads. So it's what I have. I'm curious if others have used it in .30-30? What sort of down-sides should I expect to see? Dirty cases? Heavy Recoil? It looks like it's a bit faster-burning that most of the powders listed in the Hornady manual for that bullet, but it's not the fastest... This will be used in a lever gun with a 20" barrel.
Any other bullets that people suggest trying besides what GeoDudeFlorida mentioned above? I like the idea of a 110 grain bullet for light, cheap plinking loads. Particularly because I'd like to pick up an M1 Carbine some day, and it would be handy to be able to use the same bullet for both .30-30 and .30 Carbine loads.
Thanks in advance!
I don't have a particular direction in mind for the thread - it's just that I'm just now adding .30-30 to the list of calibers I reload for, and thought I'd pick some brains a bit. Here's the side conversation from the Poll thread:
Not to pull the thread off on a tangent, but would you mind expanding on your Speer .30-30 comment? I just added .30-30 to my list of calibers I reload for, and would love to know which bullet you like. I ordered some 150 gr. Hornady round noses (#3035) to start with, but would like to try others as well. Thanks!
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Sure but you also might want to start a new thread. For varmints I like the 110gr JHP bullet. It’s real easy out of a big lever gun like the Marlin 336 but also shoots good in the short T/C Contenders barrel. For hogs I go with the 150gr HotCor. Not much to say but it gets the job done. Nothing wrong with the 130gr HotCor but my Stevens and Marlin both do better with the 150. Hope that helps
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You made me check what I have left on the shelf with that question: I got most of a box of a hundred box of the 130gr. HotCors I tried out that the Marlin liked but the Stevens didn't. Those will probably get loaded up for the Contender. I also got most of a hundred box of 170gr. HotCors both rifles like fine to the best of my recollection but for some reason I never loaded up for the field. I need to check my notes on that batch to see what wasn't working. I got about 500+/- 150gr. HotCors and several boxes loaded with 3031 and a few loaded with LeveRevolution in the ammo cabinet. Everything else .30-30 was either the 100gr. JHP's loaded with 2400 or lead. So, Speer 150gr. HotCor JSP is definitely my goto bullet for .30-30.
Just to status where I'm at, I have a few boxes of Hornady's 150 grain InterLock RN (#3035) that I'm going to be loading up tonight in a test ladder. I have some Winchester Large Rifle Primers and some H335 to use. I understand H335 may not be the BEST choice, but I have quite a bit of it on hand for 55 Gr. .223 loads. So it's what I have. I'm curious if others have used it in .30-30? What sort of down-sides should I expect to see? Dirty cases? Heavy Recoil? It looks like it's a bit faster-burning that most of the powders listed in the Hornady manual for that bullet, but it's not the fastest... This will be used in a lever gun with a 20" barrel.
Any other bullets that people suggest trying besides what GeoDudeFlorida mentioned above? I like the idea of a 110 grain bullet for light, cheap plinking loads. Particularly because I'd like to pick up an M1 Carbine some day, and it would be handy to be able to use the same bullet for both .30-30 and .30 Carbine loads.
Thanks in advance!