.30-30 recommendations please

Rule of thumb for me is play what you hunt with!!!
170sp as hot as you can make them

The most popular powder that I see recommended is probably W-748. There are a couple of others that come pretty close. I use 748 it and it works. I like Remington and Winchester 150 & 170 gr. JSPs because you can buy them in bulk and they shoot as well as anything else. I have the Sierra 125s also for reasons other than hunting, but I talked to one of the Sierra techs recently and he assured me that their 125 is constructed heavy enough for use on Whitetail. For a great plinker or for deep penetration, the True Cast 170 gr. Gas Check bullet made by Oregon Trails is pretty accurate. I was kind of thinking about hogs when I bought them, but they are fun to shoot and can be very accurate in reduced loads as well. A couple of years ago I started using Ramshot X-Terminator and my loads have been slightly more accurate in a Winchester 94.

thumbs up for win 748 speer 150 170 or sierra 150 170.


a great cast load the best ever.


http://www.carrollsweb.com/gunshop/html/midstates_cast_bullets.html

http://nationalbullet.com/index.php?name=32_Cal_Bullets

either site get the 165 grn copperized. with TRAILBOSS 8 grains of powder. this will give you a very low cost round. COL 2.5 winchester long range primers. wow i have shot some very nice groups at 100 yards with very minimal drop. at 50 yards shoots really nice. Very low recoil. what an impressive round.

by the way i am using a winchester 94 made around 1989-1990. i bought brand new in 1990. I have used with scope and without. right now i have been playing with iron sites.

Winchester or Remington cases properly trimmed. Primer=CCI 200 or WLR. 32 grains of W-748. Under a Speer 170 grain FNSP. Load them in a 1949 Winchester Mod 94...

Ppphhssttt Scrat...Mines older then yours. Bought mine in 1958

Over the years, I've used just about every combination of loads available for the .30/30.

Most of what the previous posters have said is spot-on.

I have a few different twists however.

I prefer Reloader 15 both for power and accuracy, with H4895 coming in a close second for the heavier loads. I prefer the 150gr bullets particularily due to better performance on smaller deer. I can personnally attest to the performance of the Sierra 125jhp on deer. It's a super performer and with the correct powder charge is exceptionally accurate. (It actually requires a bit less powder than the Speer 130grFN, and performs MUCH better although trajectory at longer ranges isn't quite as flat).

Enough discussion. You wanted "recipes", here they are !!!

Hunting loads (all purpose too!)
Cases: All loads- trimmed to min. spec. and sorted to headstamp. Partial full-lenght sized to minimize stretch between loadings.
Remington 150gr CorLokt; seated and Lee Factory crimped to mid-cannulure
Reloader-15; 35.0gr (36.0max but a little too warm in my gun) 2,400fps (20"bbl).
Remington 170gr CorLokt; 33.5gr Rl-15. Awesomely accurate from my rifle. Amazing performance on deer. (it expands a quick as the 150 and has better penetration. Perfectly matched to the .30/30. Can't say the same for ANY other 170gr I've used).

Speer 130FN; I can't recommend this bullet for .30/30. It dosen't expand readily on smaller deer. Might be better in the new .308MX.
Use 37.5gr of RL-15 for 2,450fps.Decent accuracy.

Sierra 125gr FN; 36.5gr RL-15 (cannulure is set to seat this bullet deeply). Exceptionally accurate and effective on deer and pigs to ~250lbs.

Lee 150gr FNGC (mine cast to 158.5gr w/gas check, lubed with SPG). Size to .311" for Marlin MicroGroove barrels. .309" ok for Winchester and others.
RL-15 @ 32.0gr for 2,250fps. Accurate and devastating on deer and heavier game. I prefer this load to all others in my .30/30. Performs much like the Rem. 170gr CorLokt, but MUCH cheaper !!!

Plinking load:
Above cast bullet over 7.0gr Unique. (no gas-check, tumble lubed, no need to size) My brother calls this the coffee can load. Load up a coffee can full of them for about a "buck". Will hit a soda can at 50yds with iron sights set to "hunting" loads as listed above. (at least with his pre64 M94). About like shooting a .32/20. Caution, they are "dangerous" to deer! An aquaintance of my brother had a "can" full of them for plinking and small game hunting. Was hunting "snow shoe's" in up state NY in the deer season. Whitetail Doe took one to the left flank, and bullet lodged under the hide on far shoulder!. Ran about 25yds and dropped!). Shooter was almost as amazed as the deer was!
You can imagine what it does at 2,200fps if this is what it does at 1,200fps! With a sized, lubed and gaschecked bullet, try 10.0gr of Unique for 1,500fps. Awsome plinking/target load. Ditto 15.0-16.0gr #2400.

For much more info and discussion from very informed forum go to www.marlinowners.com. These guys are very knowledgeable and don't descriminate against Winchester owners. Most in fact own as many "Winnies" as Marlins. And they shoot them as well.

My boys started shooting .30-30 with 10 grains of Red Dot shotgun powder and a 150 gr. cast bullet. We've been using RD in the .30-30 almost seven years now.

This load is still my favorite mild .30-30 target load. Just enough kick to know you're not shooting a .22 rimfire.

winchester long range primers

Click to expand...

I believe that's Winchester Large Rifle Primer

I have enjoyed the following wimpy, but accurate 30-30 load:


30-30 1977 Win 94 CCI200, .2.58" [ammo too long jams feeding] Lyman mold 311291 170 gr .309" bullet round nose 3 lube bands, 25 gr IMR4895 . 25 gr 4 shot group at 100m 2.4"

I got those bullets from this old guy:
http://westernbullet.com/cbip/cbip.html

The secret to the accuracy is the long seating.
When closing the lever, it pushed the bullet up into the throat, like a Schuetzen rifle.

Accuracy loads: 26.5gr 2015BR, 30gr H4895, 28 gr 2230,
(H322 or IMR4064 not so good). Worked up in a .30-30 Contender rifle using 168gr Match Bullets (Spitzers not to be used for the 94!)

Medium speed 170 gr gas checked cast loads: 18 to 20gr of one of the following powders (RX7, H322, 3031, 2015BR, H335, 2230). - Phil

748 seems a popular choice here, but I think the "classic" load you were seeking would be with IMR 3031. 3031 is also quite versatile. I have used it from .204 Ruger to 30'06.

Regards,

Stinger

I have enjoyed the following wimpy, but accurate 30-30 load:


30-30 1977 Win 94 CCI200, .2.58" [ammo too long jams feeding] Lyman mold 311291 170 gr .309" bullet round nose 3 lube bands, 25 gr IMR4895 . 25 gr 4 shot group at 100m 2.4"

I got those bullets from this old guy:
http://westernbullet.com/cbip/cbip.html

The secret to the accuracy is the long seating.
When closing the lever, it pushed the bullet up into the throat, like a Schuetzen rifle.
__________________

Click to expand...

These cast bullets are gas checked i hope. just a little word of advice to new loaders. Cast bullets with powder grains above 15 grains in a 30-30 should be gas checked. even if you are using hard cast bullets.

yep they are gas checked.


OMG

$9.00 per 100. OMG. you need to seriously learn to cast. Send me a check for 9.00 i can send you 100 lead bullets. I can cast 100 bullets in about 30 minutes or less. sizing them and lubing them is about 15-20 minutes more.