30-30 Gallery Loads - min velocity?

[forestswin]

I’m looking to make up some 30-30 Gallery loads to shoot out of my Marlin 30-30 w/ Microgroove 20” barrel at 25 yards

I have shot the following loads based on data from this website:
http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

Powder /Charge weight / Avg velocity / SD / ES / Group size
CCI 200 LRP used for all loads below
Used Laser-Cast 170 grain RNFPBB for data below

Bullseye / 5.6gr / 1128fps / 3fps / 8fps / 1.3 inches
2400 / 8.0gr / 1069 fps /15fps / 42fps/ 0.9 inches
Unique / 9.0gr/ 1397fps / 3 fps / 10fps / 1.6 inches
W231/ 7gr / 1217fps / 9fps / 24fps / 1.6 inches
IMR 4227 / 10gr / 1058fps / 15fps / 34fps / 0.6 inches

I would like to further reduce several of these loads a little more – so they are definitely sub-sonic
I plan to use LaserCast 170 grain RNFPbb because they have a history with gmdr and I have collected some data on my own with these bullets - but I'm open to suggestions for other bullets

I will be testing them over a chronograph
And would like to know what would be the slowest velocity I could get without sticking a bullet in the barrel?

I will be working down in 0.2 grain increments from loads listed above and want to stop well before the “stuck bullet” scenario

 

[dgod]

What Bullet are you using for the data shown? I see you "Plan" to use the LaserCast 170 RNFB, just curious as to which you used.

Dan

 

[243winxb]

I stuck a bullet in a .357mag rifle today

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/i-stuck-a-bullet-in-a-357mag-rifle-today.513183/

I would go with 750 fps minimum with lead. My guess.

 

[res45]

I don't see any problems with any of those loads listed but being it's your gun I would agree with your load development process to find what works best for you. I shoot a Lee home cast 170 gr. RNFP lightly tumble lubed with the gas check left off using 6.0 grs. of Red Dot and it very accurate out of my old Sav. pump 30-30. I use Bullseye as well 3.0 to 3.5 grs. with a Lee 32 cal. tumble lube 90 gr. SWC sized to .311" in all my US an .314" in Russian 30 cal. rifles and it's a tack driver in them all and all ar subsonic. There pretty accurate out to 50 yds.


You might want to take a look at the coated plain base Missouri bullets which are sized to .311" and designed for the Marlin lever guns with micro groove rifling. You can get them in 135 as well as 165 gr. Under samples you can also buy them in 100 packs for testing.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

I use the same Lee Cast bullet. I think it's the TL314-90-SWC.
I tumble lube in 45-45-10, or a modified BLL (Ben's Liquid Lube),size to 311, over 4 grains Promo (or RedDot).
That gives me ~1000fps from a lever .30/30.
Very accurate to 50yds, and no recoil. Amazingly quiet.

Think .22 LR, with a double-weight projectile. Good for yard vermin, up to coyote size. Really puts the smack on 'em.

 

[forestswin]

What Bullet are you using for the data shown? I see you "Plan" to use the LaserCast 170 RNFB, just curious as to which you used.

Dan

I used the same bullet as mentioned

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have made some 30-30 ammo with a 165gr MBC plain base cast bullet with H4895, IMR3031, IMR4198, Trail Boss, AA5744 and a few others. All worked to some degree or another with my favorite being AA5744.

I have also made some lighter loads with the same bullets using Unique, W231 and Red Dot. Again all three were good rounds with Red Dot taking a slight edge. Since I don't stock Red Dot I use W231 mostly. I'm charging 7gr of W231 and that works well in my levergun.