30/30 hunting load work up

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rammy

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Hello all !! ill get right into it.

this load will be a 1 in the chamber, 1 in the tube. EVER! for safety reasons.

I'm out of my Sierra #2000 150gr FN that I've been using to reload my 30/30 and supply is low and I've spent my reloading budget already this month LOL.

I have 100 Hornady #30501 168gr BTHP (pointy tip I know) so I was looking around for some load data to try this round out in my Marlin 336. My books have 150gr, and 170gr data. Is the .002gr difference on the 170gr load data going to make it too hot or will it not matter that much. I was thinking I could reduce the 170gr load by 2 to 3 % if needed.

opinions?
 
The OAL is going to be the issue... you will have to seat that long 168grn BTHP pretty deep to get it to feed right vs that flat base FP bullet. You didn't mention what powder you are using... you will likely have to reduce 10% and work back up with the deeper seated bullet.

Basically, the same thing happened to me... I'm out of Hornady 170 SP's, but I substituted a cast 170grn FP bullet.
 
I'd look at 300 Savage or 30 Remington as possibilitys. As always start low if you decide to go that direction and do so at your own risk.
 
My books have 150gr, and 170gr data. Is the .002gr difference on the 170gr load data going to make it too hot or will it not matter that much. I was thinking I could reduce the 170gr load by 2 to 3 % if needed.

opinions?
I know - picky, picky, picky, but 168gr to 170gr is 2.00grs, not .002grs.;)
Regardless, I think you might have a problem with your OALs. And those 168gr Hornady BTSPs don't even have a cannalure to crimp into do they? I want the bullets crimped in place in the cartridges I use in my tube-fed rifles - whether I'm only loading "1 in the chamber, 1 in the tube" or otherwise.
Reducing your loads "by 2 to 3%" is a good idea though. I'd reduce them by a lot more than that until I got things figured out. But then again, I don't think I'd even try to use Hdy 168gr BTSPs in a tube-fed lever action.
Welcome to THR anyway, rammy.:)
 
If you want to shoot a more ballistically capable bullet in your 30-30, I would suggest the Hornady 160 gr FTX flexible tip bullet. It is designed for hunting with the 30-30 Win and leave the 168 gr BTHP bullets for the cartridges and paper/steel targets they were designed for. The FTX bullets are one of the few that seem to be available these days.
https://www.hornady.com/bullets/rifle/30-cal-308-160-gr-ftx-30-30-win#!/
 
If you want to shoot a more ballistically capable bullet in your 30-30, I would suggest the Hornady 160 gr FTX flexible tip bullet. It is designed for hunting with the 30-30 Win and leave the 168 gr BTHP bullets for the cartridges and paper/steel targets they were designed for. The FTX bullets are one of the few that seem to be available these days.
https://www.hornady.com/bullets/rifle/30-cal-308-160-gr-ftx-30-30-win#!/

Not bad advice, if those bullets can be found.

I'd figure how much case capacity you lose by seating the bullet deep enough to feed and reduce the max load by that much (as a percentage) and from there, reduce by about 10% and work back up.

So...

Let's just make up some numbers...

Regular 30-30 load =30gr h20 capacity
168gr 30-30 load=27gr h20 capacity

10% reduced capacity

Normal max load=25gr of powder X
168gr max=22.5gr
Start=20gr

At least, that makes sense to me. All numbers completely pulled from thin air.
 
The OAL is going to be the issue... you will have to seat that long 168grn BTHP pretty deep to get it to feed right vs that flat base FP bullet. You didn't mention what powder you are using... you will likely have to reduce 10% and work back up with the deeper seated bullet.

Basically, the same thing happened to me... I'm out of Hornady 170 SP's, but I substituted a cast 170grn FP bullet.

I was going to use up what's left of my accurate 2700, but looks like a no go. didn't think about the OAL, I'm sure I would have figured it out as soon as I tried to seat the first one. The seating die looks to be better suited for a round nose anyway.

I know - picky, picky, picky, but 168gr to 170gr is 2.00grs, not .002grs.;)
Regardless, I think you might have a problem with your OALs. And those 168gr Hornady BTSPs don't even have a cannalure to crimp into do they? I want the bullets crimped in place in the cartridges I use in my tube-fed rifles - whether I'm only loading "1 in the chamber, 1 in the tube" or otherwise.
Reducing your loads "by 2 to 3%" is a good idea though. I'd reduce them by a lot more than that until I got things figured out. But then again, I don't think I'd even try to use Hdy 168gr BTSPs in a tube-fed lever action.
Welcome to THR anyway, rammy.:)

good catch Norma! I've been rebuilding a motor and have been in thousands mode for a while, seems like I automatically convert :)

Thanks for all the great replies, was just looking for a way to use up yet another bullet that I don't have anything to shoot out of.

"Oh honey, I need to run to the gun store to buy a rifle to shot these rounds"

lets see how that works out
 
I'll see if I can find some of that power 2ndtimer.

Midway and Midsouth are out of stock on the FTX, but backorder is ok on both sites (week, month who knows)
 
Could just single load them, not worrying quite so much about oal.
It is possible to get an 168 AMAX to shoot well from a Marlin. Cartridge overall length was moved to the length of the ejection port. It will still cycle through the magazine.
After shooting a handful. I came to my senses tossed my notes and went back to a round nose bullet.
 
Hello all !! ill get right into it.

this load will be a 1 in the chamber, 1 in the tube. EVER! for safety reasons.

I'm out of my Sierra #2000 150gr FN that I've been using to reload my 30/30 and supply is low and I've spent my reloading budget already this month LOL.

I have 100 Hornady #30501 168gr BTHP (pointy tip I know) so I was looking around for some load data to try this round out in my Marlin 336. My books have 150gr, and 170gr data. Is the .002gr difference on the 170gr load data going to make it too hot or will it not matter that much. I was thinking I could reduce the 170gr load by 2 to 3 % if needed.

opinions?
Load principles aside, that 168 was designed for higher impact velocities the the .30-30 projectiles, even if you could get it to shoot well, are you prepared to potentially have non expansion and shoot fmjs? You say hunting, this is where my mind went immediately.
Go buy that new rifle, you're welcome!
 
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