30-30 in Savage 340?

[LRDGCO]

I have a guilty pleasure, or perhaps it's a dirty little secret, that I must confess to: I take an utterly inexplicable delight in my first year of production Savage 340, no suffix, in 30-30 Win.

It's not pretty. 'The wood is better than later models that I have seen' is really the best I can say of it. Stamped metal parts. A really rather vile trigger. Chambered in a cartridge that really has no reason to be in a bolt gun. First year 30-30s were not drilled and tapped for the Weaver side-mount, so it's a peep rear and blade front. Nevertheless, I enjoy this rifle much more than prettier, more powerfully chambered, better built rifles. And it is as I accurate as I can shoot.

The Hornady 160 grs FTX over 36.5 grs LVR is accurate and at 2460 fps, quite stout. Since the magazine was designed around a 30-30 used in lever guns, the Hornady FTX is the only spire/flex tip bullet that seats properly and fits the magazine, that I have this far found.

So my query is whether anyone has found perhaps a 120-130 grs spire tip bullet that has a short enough ogive to seat properly in the case and still fit the magazine? I don't need to hotrod it, but I use it as a truck rifle when wheeling and sometimes will take it when riding (horses) and would like a 120 ish grain spire tip for the opportunities at coyote that arise now and again.

Advice on such bullets welcome; experience in this application preferred. Thanks very much.

 

[denton]

I get a real kick out of my 325. It's a hoot to shoot, and cheap, too with GC cast bullets. I don't know why it is so much fun, but it is.

For a while, I was looking at using 130 grain bullets. I concluded that the way to do it was to trim the brass down a bit. It won't hurt anything in a bolt action. Just don't use maximum loads.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Since LVR and the barrel length are delivering over 2400fps with a 160gr bullet I'm fairly sure you can used most any 120/130gr bullet and insure proper expansion. I'm not sure Hodgdon recommends using LVR with that light a bullet though. I thing Hornady has a flex tip 140gr bullet too that might fit. Good luck.

 

[LRDGCO]

LVR data kicks in at 140 grs. I was unaware that Hornady did a 135 grs FTX, thank you. (The 140 is .358). I will have to give those a try and I am certain they will seat properly and fit the magazine. Thanks very much.

 

[Scooter22]

I have the 340s pappy, a Stevens 325 30-30. I use Lee 150gngc. I just got the Lee 113gngc to use in my 30-30s. I haven used any jacketed bullets in it yet. They are solid little rifles. Stay away from warm loads because the stamped metal extractor will slip off the rim. Heres a great site with info on them.
http://www.leeroysramblings.com/Gun Articles/stevens_325_savage_340_bolt_act.html

 

[Galil5.56]

I have the 340s pappy, a Stevens 325 30-30. I use Lee 150gngc. I just got the Lee 113gngc to use in my 30-30s. I haven used any jacketed bullets in it yet. They are solid little rifles. Stay away from warm loads because the stamped metal extractor will slip off the rim. Heres a great site with info on them.
http://www.leeroysramblings.com/Gun Articles/stevens_325_savage_340_bolt_act.html

I used the same Lee 150 grain bullet in 30/30 (Marlin 336), and even with its MicroGroove rifling, it shot very, very well. Never used GC's for this application, and drove the bullets with either 5 grains of Red Dot, or 7-9 grains of Unique w/o filler. Alloy was straight WW shot as cast, lube was Lyman 50/50 Beeswax and ALOX. No leading as I remember at all. What a blast for a kid just starting to reload.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

LVR data kicks in at 140 grs. I was unaware that Hornady did a 135 grs FTX, thank you. (The 140 is .358). I will have to give those a try and I am certain they will seat properly and fit the magazine. Thanks very much.

The 135 FTX was made for the 300 BLK not the velocity that the 30-30 can push them at. So if your using them on deer them be aware that you may get bullet failures.

I'm using the 135 FTX in a 7.62x39 @ 2280fps and it dropped 2 deer this year. Shot at 25 yards and deer died quickly and internal damage was impressive.

 

[Scooter22]

I used the same Lee 150 grain bullet in 30/30 (Marlin 336), and even with its MicroGroove rifling, it shot very, very well. Never used GC's for this application, and drove the bullets with either 5 grains of Red Dot, or 7-9 grains of Unique w/o filler. Alloy was straight WW shot as cast, lube was Lyman 50/50 Beeswax and ALOX. No leading as I remember at all. What a blast for a kid just starting to reload.

I've used that bullet close to 30 years in 2 Winchesters, 2 Marlins and the Stevens. Cast from WWs, heat treated and lubed with Lee liquid Alox. Always shoot good and no leading at about 1800fps. Minute of clay pigeon at 100yds. From what I've read the 113gr is as good and uses less lead. So I'll almost get 3 for 2 boolits with it.

 

[Galil5.56]

I've used that bullet close to 30 years in 2 Winchesters, 2 Marlins and the Stevens. Cast from WWs, heat treated and lubed with Lee liquid Alox. Always shoot good and no leading at about 1800fps. Minute of clay pigeon at 100yds. From what I've read the 113gr is as good and uses less lead. So I'll almost get 3 for 2 boolits with it.

Very nice, and maybe LRDGCO can give either a try someday in his rifle. I have used this Lee 150 grain for just a bit longer than you (1983), and also find it stellar in 30/06... Many coffee can's full of 06 ammo made with this bullet were launched at steel silhouettes, and it delivered. I used a lot of Unique and Red Dot to drive them to 1700-1900 fps, some straight WW, some a WW and Linotype alloy, all w/a GC at these speeds.

FWIW, attached are some of these Lee bullets, showing very nice expansion using un-quenched WW driven to about the speeds mentioned. Would seem to be a real killer on light-skinned game, at fairly close ranges. I really like these bullets, and miss the old days when Lee guaranteed their molds to within .001" of stated diameter, and roundness. Have gotten enough Lee molds well past this period that were not up to snuff; many out of round by a lot, and it seems may be due to a change of manufacturing technique.

 

[LRDGCO]

The 135 FTX was made for the 300 BLK not the velocity that the 30-30 can push them at. So if your using them on deer them be aware that you may get bullet failures.

I'm using the 135 FTX in a 7.62x39 @ 2280fps and it dropped 2 deer this year. Shot at 25 yards and deer died quickly and internal damage was impressive.

Bummer. Wasn’t aware of that. Thanks for the intel.