.30-30 Load check please

[Devon]

Ok, for starters I've never reloaded for rifles of any kind, I've done handgun ammo for years. I'm a little nervous about this so I'd like someone to check me before I destroy myself or my 336.
Basic information: Winchester large rifle primers, once fired Remington cases, Hornady 150 gr. RN interlock bullets, IMR 4895 powder. All cases measured 2.040 or less and run through the case trimmer only to square the end of the necks, bullets seated to the crimp groove and crimped with a Lee FCD.
Primer holes were cleaned & flash holes inspected for burrs & obstructions (cases were tumbled in cob media). No cases showed any signs of problems like cracks or burns on the outside.
Powder charges were measured individually on my trusty Lyman D-7 scale, 5 rounds each of 32.0 gr. 32.5 gr. 33 gr. & 33.5 gr.
I think I'm well within the safe starting range but want to be sure. If any of these rounds group well I will load more of the same and use them for hunting rounds.
The Hodgden #26 manual lists 32.0 of IMR 4895 as starting load and 34.0 gr. as max load. Reloaders Reference shows the only load as 35.5 gr.
Any suggestions and critique are welcome.

Thanks,
Devon

 

[scrat]

You seem safe i like H4895. Hodgdon much better though. Also may want to try out Winchester 748. Both those powders are really good for 30-30

 

[ants]

You're good to go

Congrats on moving up to rifle, Devon! You're about to discover a whole new world of reloading fun. Especially .30-30, an old favorite of mine.

I've shot those same IMR4895 loads in a Marlin 336, and they all shot the same groups. .30-30 is such a forgiving low-power cartridge that it often shoots well with 4895 regardless of the charge. Please load and shoot them and let us know the outcome.

If you ever get a chance, try a slightly faster powder like 3031 with those 150 grain bullets. That was my favorite powder back in the mid 1970's.

Have fun!

 

[Okiecruffler]

Sounds like you have it all figured out. I'll second the 3031 suggestion, that stuff just plain works.

 

[scrat]

only powder i never tried is 3031

 

[lgbloader]

only powder i never tried is 3031

Scrat, that's because your having too much damn fun with the Trail Boss, Mate.

Cheers

 

[Cosmoline]

Win 748 works good but it's messy to use and tends to stick to the inside of the neck if you have any resizer residue left in there. IMR 3031, like all the IMR's I've used is composed of tiny tube shaped grains that pour and measure much easier.

You seem to be doing everything fine. The round is a fantastic choice for a beginner. It's easy to handle, the necks are pretty robust and it's forgiving. You can't get yourself into *too* much trouble if you stick to the suggested powders, since there's not enough room in the case for a double load. This is in contrast to the .45-70, etc.

 

[243winxb]

The starting load of 32.0 grs IMR 4895 seems to high to me. Some books list max at 31.0 gr. 10% off your max(34gr) is a starting load of 30.6 Gr. Hodgdon online data list 33.5gr as max. I load 29.0 gr with the 150 hornady.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I would also recommend W-748 in .30-30. And if you wipe the access lube off and tumble your cases after resizing W-748 will not stick to the case mouth. At least I have never experienced it...

I would also recommend that when you trim your cases that you trim them to the same length to insure you are getting the same crimp on each one and lessen the probable chance of crunchin' the shoulder when seating and crimping.

The Lee FCD is ideal for crimping .30-30. It also helps to eliminate collapsing the case shoulder. .30-30 cases do tend to be one of the more delicate rifle cases...

 

[scrat]

Scrat, that's because your having too much damn fun with the Trail Boss, Mate.

Cheers

you know it

 

[ArchAngelCD]

You won't go wrong with either H4895 or W748. A friend has just tried BL-C(2) and says it works well too, especially with a 170gr bullet.

As to your question on charge, the Hodgdon Load Data Site lists a starting charge of 30.5gr H4895 and a Max charge of 34.0gr H4895 for a 150gr bullet.

 

[Devon]

I'll give either the 748 or 3031 powders a try when I run out of the 4895, depending on what my supplier has in stock.
As to the "crunched" cases, yep, I did that a couple of times. 2 cases to the trash can.
Once when resizing and once when seating a bullet.
A shoulder was dented quite badly, I noticed there was a lot more lube than I thought on the case. I took the die apart, cleaned it, and used less lube than before, just wet my fingers with the lube every 3rd case or so after that and was good to go.
The first case I seated a bullet in was crunched, I guess I had the die screwed about a half (or more) turn too far.
After those two screwups were fixed I felt pretty good about things.
It seems to me that a rifle die doesn't put the same kind of crimp on a case that pistol dies do. I'll stick to crimping with the Lee FCD.

I'll ask 2 more questions here.
Is the .30-30 supposed to have a taper crimp or roll crimp? I never could get a good crimp of the case mouth into the cannelure of the bullet with my seater die.
Should I be using the sizing die without the decapping pin in it to crimp if I dont have the Lee FCD? This question feels like the answer should be no, but like I said, this is my first jump into rifle reloading.

Thanks,
Devon

 

[Devon]

Since there has been some discussion of different powders, I have to say that I really like the way the IMR4895 flowed through my Redding 3 powder measure. While I measured every charge, it really seemed unnecessary. Once I got the charge weight set that I wanted, each subsequent charge I threw weighed exactly the same as the one before.
Are the 748 and 3031 powders the same shape as IMR4895? It flowed through the powder measure even better than my favorite pistol powder (unique) does through my Lee perfect powder measure.

Thanks,
Devon

 

[243winxb]

i don't crimp the 30-30 win. (30WCF) Loaded in a pre-64 model 94. The long neck along with the bullet give enough grip for me. If you must crimp, roll crimp it. This mean all your cases must be trimmed to the same length.

 

[The Bushmaster]

And you don't load them in a tubular magazine either...

 

[243winxb]

Crimp not needed in a lever action 30-30

And you don't load them in a tubular magazine either...

Yes i do. With that long neck, it give lots of grip on the bullet if your loading dies are correct and of good quality. (RCBS)

 

[The Bushmaster]

And you carry this rifle all day long over hill and dale bumping it on logs and stumps, rocks and dirt. Not to mention shooting it...No thanks. Maybe it would be O K if you were in a stand ambushing those deer, but...

I'll crimp thank you very much. I hate even ONE setting back on me when I least expect it...