.30-30 NEF load questions

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high country

high country

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St. Louis, MO
I recently picked up a .30-30 NEF single shot, and am working on some loads. I have a little stash of 150 grain Berry's plated bullets and some Unique, so I will definitely load a pile of those over 7 grains for plinking.

I would also like to work up a nice 170 grain load running in the 1900 fps range for general purpose. Any suggestions on bullets and powders that I should look at for that? It would be a 100-150 yard cartridge (perfect for the intended use of this little rifle), so I don't know that spire point gains anything over traditional .30-30 bullets. I want something that is designed for those lower velocities, where most of the spire points are intended for much higher speeds and so don't have good terminal performance going slow.

Another question - I went to start working up a seating depth for the berry's bullets, and realized that the lands are right off the end of the chamber, there is no lead section basically. I tried cambering a commercial Hornady 150 grain, and it chambered fine, but you could see where the bullet was forced slightly into the lands. Is that normal? Seems questionable. Doubt that it would be an issue with light loads, but it seems like the pressures would potentially be high with a 2400fps commercial load. The OAL I came up with for the Berry's right at the lands was 2.420".

I don't remember that from when I had a Marlin 336, but that was a while ago, and I didn't ever end up loading much for it. I bought the berry's and unique for that rifle, but the microgoove didn't like the .308 bullets much. The NEF is not microgroove (some are, but not this one).

One final question - I will probably order some new brass to work with. Is there a brand that anyone would recommend? I know brass life is an issue with .30-30, but I will be running lighter loads, and will probably just neck size, so it should help especially if I start with a good set of new cases.
 
As far as the brands of brass go looking down the brass into the mouth my Frontier brass looks to be thicker, WIN and Hornaday are in between, and my FC looks thinnest. You do not have to crimp the necks for a single shot and that will prolong neck life, also you can play with seating depths some too.
 
I've noticed the same thing with the seating depth in my '94 with the berry's bullets. I had to seat them significantly deeper than the saami minimum OAL to get off the lands. Just started very low and worked up. 500 rounds later everything is fine.
 
In the 30-30 I like to load a 165gr cast bullet or coated cast bullet over Unique, 2400, SR4759, AA5744 or 4198. I'm currently using AA5744.

When loading a 170gr JFP bullet I'm using LVR.
 
Use a magic marker and keep shortening your seating depth until you aren't touching. Set it back another .010".
I'd use IMR3031 for your intended velocity. Start at the minimum charge and work up for accuracy.
I use the Berry's bullets for plinking also. They're cheap and accurate.
 
Yep another vote for IMR3031 that is what I use for my 30-30 and 32SPL loads. It seems to work best for me with jacked/plated bullets. Don't forget those are thick plated. So almost as thick as a jacket anyway. About everything I load is in the 170 grain area. For lead bullets I use TrailBoss.
 
i shoot lots of 30-30 each year in nra lever action silhouette matches/practive. i use varget in my 125 hp and 170 fp bullet match loads. i also use 5744 and buffalo rifle powder for the plated 150 gr extreme bullet. when i run out of 5744 i am not going to buy any more because of the price. buffalo rifle does the same as 5744 and is priced better. do your own research on buffalo rifle powder and you will never go back to 5744. i buy 8 pounds jugs, one pounders does nothing for me. i am going to start using home made powder coated cast lead bullets with buffalo rifle powder and stop using the 125 hp and 170 fp. as brass goes i got some with over 10 reloads on them this year. i buy use brass off the net in bulk and get many differfent head stamps. the only brass that has not work for me is ppu brand brass. i anneal and trim my brass once a year. i full lenght case size and wet pin clean each time. i need my loads to work in five different 30-30 (marlin/winchester) without having to anything special except setting in the correct sight adjustment on the aperture rear sight.
 
Thanks for all the great suggestions so far. I will definitely stick with a light load of pistol powder under those Berry's bullets for plinking.

The IMR-3031 suggestion looks to be a good one. Looking at the pressures, it seems like a person could get up pretty near where I was thinking keeping the pressures in a range that should allow for running a lot of commercial BHN 18 bullets without a gas check. A 165-170 grain lead bullet going 1700-1800 fps should suit my needs nicely.

I got the OAL worked out to keep those Berry's bullets off the lands a little bit, but I was more concerned about finding that a hornady commercial load was getting forced into the landings. Is that an issue that I should be worried about? They chamber and the action closes, but you can feel the bullet hit the lands as it does, and you can see little indentations where the lands contacted the bullet.
 
Is yours a cast iron era / 158 receiver, or the later SB2 receiver? If the latter, the only pressure issue is the brass. The barrel and receiver are good for 65,000 psi, so if you have a load that shoots well jammed into the lands, it's not going to be a pressure problem. If it's the pre SB cast iron receiver, caution is advised.
 
It is an SB-2, made in 1988, so I should be good to go, thanks for that. I was just a little surprised to see a commercial round contacting the lands like that. I haven't had a chance to get the rifle out to the range yet, so it remains to be seen what is shoots well with.
 
You may want to take a rod to the range with you. I have had handloads where the bullet touched the lands pull out if I tried to eject them before firing , leaving the bullet stuck in the chamber.
 
Back a few years ago I called the NEF factory about hot loading a SB2 in 45-70 and in 500 S&W. I have a bunch of the SB2 rifles in different calibers.They told me it would take the pressure OK but a steady diet of hot loads would stretch the locking mechanism and eventually ruin the rifle. I have one in 30-06 that had this happen. When you shoot it the action will pop open and eject the brass in about half a second. It basically pops apart when you shoot it! Someday I will fix this so I can use the rifle again. That one was the older cast one though so be aware this can happen when hot loaded.
 
Had a SB2 Ultra in 243 that would pop open with starting loads. Federal 100gr Sierra SP loads would pop the action open and the case would be stuck in the chamber requiring a cleaning rod down the bore to get it out.

I do not miss that gun.
 
If you own a Handi Rifle that "pops ooen", don't shoot it, it is not safe. No SB2 receivers are cast iron and no cast iron receiver should be used with a high pressure cartridge such as 30-06.

An SB2 receiver is steel and is rated to 65,000 psi. It will not "stretch" to any appreciable degree when used with loads within its pressure parameters. A mismatched barrel may be sloppy and may cause " popping open". H&R and NEF barrels were not interchangeable and, if not fitted by the factory, require fitment by the home smith that may require shimming the barrel lug and some shaping of barrel latch and breech face.

These links are helpful in identifying receivers and what barrels can be fitted to which receivers:

http://www.hr1871owners.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=221

https://www.go2gbo.com/forums/108-h-r-centerfire-rifles/380304-how-tell-sb1-vs-sb2.html

218468d1531305175-how-tell-sb1-vs-sb2-frames.png
 
Guess I did not make myself understood. I agree, if it pops open do not use it. The receiver will not stretch either but the locking system will losen with heavy loads in some calibers according to the factory rep when I inquired about it some six months before the barrel program was scrapped. His words were "will stretch."
 
FROGO207 said:
You do not have to crimp the necks for a single shot and that will prolong neck life
Click to expand...

Stevel said:
For a single shot 30-30 I may take advantage of ballistic tip or spire point bullets.
Click to expand...

That, and that ^^^ ...although you will need to verify the velocity range any given bullet is intended to perform in. Even at 150yds, there is very little penalty for a RN JSP intended for .30-30 velocities. For that matter, you could shoot gas-checked cast bullets and call it a day.

I use IMR4198 for my lower velocity cast .30 loads, I use IMR3031 for my faster .30 loads... (that is .30-30 and .308, and even .348WCF.) Alternates would be AA5744 and H322, respectively. One other option you might have would be H4895, you can safely download it for reduced loads, and it would be a good choice for hunting velocity loads, too.
 
The rifle I am using is definitely an SB-2 receiver (visually verified with the stock removed) and I am looking to develop low to middle of the road .30-30 rounds to shoot through it, so really doubt that I will be getting anywhere near receiver stretching territory. I have other rifles if I need more punch.

Thanks all for the great suggestions. I am leaning towards getting either some IMR4198 or IMR4895 to load up some cast gas check bullets around 1800-1900 fps. It would be a great reason to pick up some casting equipment and scratch that long standing itch. Any recommendations as between those two powders for cast loads (or for the 150 Berrys if I decide I want to try running some of those faster than the unique loads).

I am also looking at maybe trying to work up a load using 130 grain speer jacket hollow points. It looks like those are designed for good terminal performance at .30-30 velocities, and I should be able to get them up around 2500 fps fairly easily. Anyone have any experience with loading those in the .30-30, recommendations on powder, etc?

Thanks again for the great suggestions!
 
On the 130 gr. speer load, I spent some time perusing powder options. Hornady's site doesn't have data for LVR for a 130 grain bullet, but it shows LVR pushing a 150 grain bullet as fast, and at lower pressures, than varget or CFE223 pushes a 130 grain. Is there some magic there that applies to using LVR for a heavier bullet?

I have varget for loading 223, so I might give that a try first, but has anyone tried LVR under a lighter (125-130gr) bullet?

If I could get a 130-150 grain spire point going 2500fps accurately out of that little rifle, that would be pretty fun. Tf LVR works better with a slight heavier bullet, maybe I should look at a 150 grain bullet to work up. The BC would be higher, so if the velocities are similar, trajectory should be a little better and wind a little less troublesome.
 
I don't know the velocities but I loaded some 150s with 3031 and could hit paper plates at 100yrds for 10rnds with iron sights, the Winchester with a scope held a tighter patern for 10rnds. My son-in-laws marlin liked them better than the factory 170gr that we had. We shot 100rnds that day and found 1/2 gr below max was our best choice.
 
Sorry to dredge up an older thread, but I figured I might as well rather than starting a new one. I ordered up some Speer #2005 130gr hollow points to experiment with, and wanted to see what experiences folks have had with that. I figure I will use the 130gr FN load data, which suggests that CFE 223 is a good powder to start with. I haven't seen any LVR data for that weight bullet, so I am guessing that it is better for the heavier weights.

Any suggestions/thoughts/experiences with this load would greatly appreciated. It seems like I should be able to get these running around 2500 fps, which would make this handi little rifle a great 200 yard predator control and steel plate ringer, which is its intended purpose.
 
I bought a SB2 in .25-06, it shot great but the extractor claw would get hung up on the casing rim and wouldn't eject ever few times. I took it back where I bought it and they gave me another one. It did the same thing. So the store refunded my money. hdbiker
 
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