.30-30 and .30-06 bullet the same??

[brockgl]

I just went to the gun store and asked to buy some bullets for reloading .30-06 cartridges. The owner hands me .308 bullets that say ".30-30 .308" on the package. I asked him if the .30-30 and .30-06 used the same bullet and he said yes, since it's the same diameter. Well, i bought them, but before I reload my cartridges I want to make sure I'm not gonna blow up my rifle if I load these bullets into a .30-06 cartridge. These bullets have a flat nose, and I know the .30-30 needs this because of its magazine system, if it had a pointed nose the bullets would strike each other's primers in the magazine and possibly detonate. However, will this flat nose bullet work fine in my .30-06? Will it tumble because of the higher velocities? Will it be as accurate? Should I just give it a shot and see if it works?

Thanks!

 

[cdrt]

The .30-30 and .30-06 are the same diameter.... .308, so they will work, no problem. In the old days, there were .30-06 loads out there with round nose bullets for big creatures, like elk.

You didn't say what grain they are, but if they're 150s or 170s they should have pretty good accuracy.

 

[brockgl]

I'm sorry, yes they are 150gr. 150 has been my favorite weight for a LONG time with commercial ammo. So I plan to stick with it a while, while I'm learning to reload.

 

[cdrt]

Re-read your first post. They won't tumble because of the higher velocities, but they may drop more after 200 yards because their ballistic coefficient is not as high as a SPBT. But heck, they'll kill a deer just as dead as a pointed bullet.

 

[Galil5.56]

Might also be careful how fast you drive them in a 30/06. Pushing these bullets to typical 06 velocities would not be wise IMO because impact velocities may be out of their design parameter and poor results could happen.

 

[rcmodel]

+1

30-30 bullets are more lightly constructed then would normally be the case for bullets designed for 30-06 & higher velocity.

Driven hard, they may tend to blow up like a varmint bullet.

With the price of bullets being what they are, I'd take them back and jam them up the gun-stores restocking box.

Get some .308 Spitzers that are made for bolt-action rifle velocity.

rcmodel

 

[rodregier]

If you're punching paper the bullet construction isn't going to matter. If you're going to actually use them on game then matching bullet velocity with intended use would be important.

 

[Galil5.56]

If you're punching paper the bullet construction isn't going to matter

It could in certain instances.

That big, flat meplat bullet going 3000 fps+ *could* cause the bullet to come apart in mid flight. Had it happen to me using Rem 80 grain PLHP match bullets in my .243 Winchester. Really something to see, with some bullets striking the ground several/many feet before the target, and some that did not even make it breaking up in mid air. Not saying it will happen for sure, just that it could, especially if driven to 300 mag type velocities.

 

[The Bushmaster]

.30-30 bullets were not designed to be loaded in .30-06 cases and shot at .30-06 velocities. My answer...? NO! And on top of that I wouldn't use that bullet supplier again. He sold you a verbal bill of goods...

 

[qajaq59]

Use them up on targets, but avoid that vender from now on if you can. He's either ill informed or else he just wanted to sell you something when he didn't have what you actually needed.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Disregard what most of the "NAYSAYERS" are saying above.....

You didn't state what brand or particular bullet you have... Extreamly important !!!
When reloading, it's extreamly important to be SPECIFIC as to what you are referring to, or talking about. Details are critical, if you haven't found out already.

Either the Nosler, Remington, Speer, Hornady, or Sierra 150gr RN or FNs, and likewise the 170gr RN's and FN's will perform SPLENDIDLY at .30/06 velocities.

BTDT; and have the antlers to prove it..........

Back in the late '70's and early '80's, I was a "broke" college student, and later "broke" young Police officer and my only deer rifle was a Mauser MkX in .30/06. I shot a LOT of the .30/30 bullets and killed an impressive number of deer with them.

The only bullets I experienced problems with were the Winchester "Power Points". They would "blow up" on deer. Ruined a lot of meat with poorly placed shots (the deer don't always get the "memo" and cooperate). But, the deer died quicky!!! DRT, usually (dead, right-there!)

Likewise the Speer 110gr and 130gr HollowPoint "Varmint" bullets-and similar, would cause a lot of meat loss, but then, thats what they were designed to do.

Remember, there are a lot of "internet" experts. But most have little REAL WORLD experience- "out there"...........

Seating depth will also be different for the .30/06. The throat of most '06's is somewhat longer than for the .30/30, so, you don't have to seat the bullets all the way to the cannulure. I use a "rule" of thumb that Rick Jamison used to write about in his articles on reloading in ShootingTimes.
You seat the bullet one "bore diameter's depth". In otherwords, for a .30 caliber rifle, you only need the base of the bullet .30" deep in the case neck. Works for me too!

The loaded round will look a "little funny" with the cannulure for crimping about 0.15" above the case mouth, but accuracy will usually be better than seating it all the way down into the case mouth. Just be sure that they chamber easily in YOUR rifle before heading out to shoot them......
Welcome to the wild and wooly world of reloading......... !!

 

[Walkalong]

I though the "naysayers" offered some good advice.

Will they "work"? Yes. Are they necessarily the best choice? No.

 

[SASS#23149]

I was looking at bullets at Sportsmans' yesterday and don't recall any of the boxes specifying that a certain bullet was for 30-30's.
Are most here surmising that if a bullet is a flat point style then THAT is a thutty thutty bullet?and only a thutty thutty bullet?
I also don't think any of them said 'not for use in xxxx rifles'.

I"m just getting into rifle reloading so thought I'd ask if anyone has seen bullets so marked.?

 

[rcmodel]

If you care to look at any bullet manufactures reloading manual, they will clearly state which .30 caliber bullets are suitable for 30-30, and which aren't.

In general though, if it has a flat point and a crimp cannelure, it is designed for 30-30 tube magazines, and to perform properly at 30-30 velocity levels.

rcmodel

 

[ocabj]

I've shot plain 30cal 150gr spire point bullets out of a 30-30. Of course, it was a TC Contender pistol.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Aah me...And I have shot pointed bullets out of my mod 94 too. Just didn't load them in the magazine.

 

[Ol` Joe]

I was looking at bullets at Sportsmans' yesterday and don't recall any of the boxes specifying that a certain bullet was for 30-30's.
Are most here surmising that if a bullet is a flat point style then THAT is a thutty thutty bullet?and only a thutty thutty bullet?
I also don't think any of them said 'not for use in xxxx rifles'.

I"m just getting into rifle reloading so thought I'd ask if anyone has seen bullets so marked.?

 

[qajaq59]

Well, that pretty well wraps it up.....

 

[243winxb]

Not the same, but will work in a 30-06. At one time 30-30 bullets came in diameter .307"

 

[Ol` Joe]

Not the same. At one time 30-30 bullets came in diameter .307"

Could be, the old 22 Hornet was loaded with a .223" bullet to start instead of .224" but, it`s been quite awhile ago. That box is at least 35-40 years old, my dad loaded both bullets in his 308 for us boys back in the mid/late 60`s. I don`t know the charges but they were powder puffs.

 

[rcmodel]

Yep!
They sure did!

I still have a few squirreled away.
Very accurate in my old 94 Winchester.
One heck of a coyote bullet.



rcmodel