30-30 load development and casual observations

[AJC1]

So after many moons I finally got the rifle to my place. I got it in a trade for a glock 9mm that was my first ever pistol. I got it from a family friend who owned it for 3 decades and shot it very little before shifting to a new 7mm mag a year later. My dad had borrowed it to compete at Pala range in San Diego, and I am unsure of any load development. I have about 100 rounds loaded with a cast 173 and 26 grains of tac. I have fired a grand total of 10 rounds so far in a rush to get it ready as a secondary option for my son, the primary he used was a 308. Being that it's quite brisk this time of year, I have lots of tests loaded but zero tests completed and many boxes of factory rp and federal in 150 and 170 set aside for testing.

 

[AJC1]

I fired the first 10 rounds at 50 yards based on my ability to see the target well and find out if I was even on paper. The results were less than stellar and I have a big pile of this load to shoot. I'm not exactly writing off the load, but without some results much better I'll be moving on from it.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

So after many moons I finally got the rifle to my place. I got it in a trade for a glock 9mm that was my first ever pistol. I got it from a family friend who owned it for 3 decades and shot it very little before shifting to a new 7mm mag a year later. My dad had borrowed it to compete at Pala range in San Diego, and I am unsure of any load development. I have about 100 rounds loaded with a cast 173 and 26 grains of tac. I have fired a grand total of 10 rounds so far in a rush to get it ready as a secondary option for my son, the primary he used was a 308. Being that it's quite brisk this time of year, I have lots of tests loaded but zero tests completed and many boxes of factory rp and federal in 150 and 170 set aside for testing.View attachment 1122992

Very nice! What a great trade.

 

[Bfh_auto]

So after many moons I finally got the rifle to my place. I got it in a trade for a glock 9mm that was my first ever pistol. I got it from a family friend who owned it for 3 decades and shot it very little before shifting to a new 7mm mag a year later. My dad had borrowed it to compete at Pala range in San Diego, and I am unsure of any load development. I have about 100 rounds loaded with a cast 173 and 26 grains of tac. I have fired a grand total of 10 rounds so far in a rush to get it ready as a secondary option for my son, the primary he used was a 308. Being that it's quite brisk this time of year, I have lots of tests loaded but zero tests completed and many boxes of factory rp and federal in 150 and 170 set aside for testing.View attachment 1122992

That's an awesome trade. I would just zero the Federal 150s or corelock. Then start playing with your load. That way the rush is taken out of it and you can relax and enjoy it.
If that trigger is like every 30-30 trigger I've experienced. I would pull it apart, stone it, and get the pull weight down to 3-4 pounds.

 

[AJC1]

That's an awesome trade. I would just zero the Federal 150s or corelock. Then start playing with your load. That way the rush is taken out of it and you can relax and enjoy it.
If that trigger is like every 30-30 trigger I've experienced. I would pull it apart, stone it, and get the pull weight down to 3-4 pounds.

It's not, it has been tuned. I shot huggers 30-30 and though I needed a comealong to fire. It's not the 11 Oz of my 39a but it's definitely not a tug o war that a stock one is.

 

[Charlie98]

What size are those cast bullets?

just FYI, TAC may be a little slow to obturate the bullet, if you have some IMR3031, I’d give that a try.

 

[AJC1]

What size are those cast bullets?

just FYI, TAC may be a little slow to obturate the bullet, if you have some IMR3031, I’d give that a try.

That's what their loaded with already. I started off on the other end with 4227. Dad used ramshot almost exclusively. It was competition, tac or Silhouettewit a jug of hunter in the mix once.

 

[N555]

I fired the first 10 rounds at 50 yards based on my ability to see the target well and find out if I was even on paper. The results were less than stellar and I have a big pile of this load to shoot. I'm not exactly writing off the load, but without some results much better I'll be moving on from it.View attachment 1122996

Yeah that was me before load development.
Now at 50 yards all those holes would be touching.
If you need range, 160gr ftx and 34gr of leverevolution, +/- 0.5gr.
If you do that need a longer range 30-30 like for near east coast forests I say use a typical round nose bullet and powder at least as slow as 748.
I use leverevolution now but next batch of 30-30 I load will include some w760 and n555 loads.

 

[AJC1]

Yeah that was me before load development.
Now at 50 yards all those holes would be touching.
If you need range, 160gr ftx and 34gr of leverevolution, +/- 0.5gr.
If you do that need a longer range 30-30 like for near east coast forests I say use a typical round nose bullet and powder at least as slow as 748.
I use leverevolution now but next batch of 30-30 I load will include some w760 and n555 loads.

I have some 170 Hornaday rnfp loaded up with 4064 for testing for the boys hunting. The lead is for me to shoot metallic Silhouette. I have 500 160s 200 of which are seconds. I have one pound of AR Comp and I'd like to develop an every situation temperature insensitive load with the 160s and AR comp.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

What size are those cast bullets?

just FYI, TAC may be a little slow to obturate the bullet, if you have some IMR3031, I’d give that a try.

IMR 3031 and .30-30 go together like black-eye peas and smoked pork jowl.

 

[AJC1]

IMR 3031 and .30-30 go together like black-eye peas and smoked pork jowl.

3031 and 4350 are the only imr rifle powders I don't own.... still got plenty of time...

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

3031 and 4350 are the only imr rifle powders I don't own.... still got plenty of time...

Well, I guess that’s okay. After all some folks don’t like smoked jowl and black eyed peas either. I just don’t understand that kind of thinking but, to each their own.

 

[Bfh_auto]

3031 and 4350 are the only imr rifle powders I don't own.... still got plenty of time...

If you get tired of chasing a load. 29.5 of 3031 with a 150 shoots lights out in every 30-30 I put it in. Velocity is a hundred fps or so down from other powders. But it's accurate.
Right now I'm trying to burn up 2 pounds of bullseye which will take forever.

 

[Bazoo]

Well, folks. I do like jole and black eyes. And I’ll take some greens and cornbread too.

For 30-30, I’ve had good luck with the 31141 with both 748 and 3031. Not experimented further yet.

 

[N555]

I can understand not wanting to use hunting bullets to ring steel, gets a bit expensive.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

I can understand not wanting to use hunting bullets to ring steel, gets a bit expensive.

But, a hunting bullet and a cast bullet are the same thing!

Aren't they?

 

[Stevel]

3031 and 4350 are the only imr rifle powders I don't own.... still got plenty of time...

I found 4350 too slow in 30-30. But for plinking might be just right. Then again, for plinking Trail Boss would work too.

 

[Akula69]

Been using H335 @ 27.8 grains under a 160 grain Hornady FTX. Good, solid round. Can cover 5 shots from 50 yards with a .50 piece.

 

[AJC1]

Been using H335 @ 27.8 grains under a 160 grain Hornady FTX. Good, solid round. Can cover 5 shots from 50 yards with a .50 piece.

In the data I'm pouring over 2520 looks real close in speed to leverevolution. The top extruded powder is AR comp.

 

[Charlie98]

Prolly tomorrow, I’ll be going out with a Marlin. I’ve got cast (both .309” and .310”) some 170grn Hornady and Nosler bullets. Most are loaded o’er IMR3031… I’ll share me results.

 

[N555]

But, a hunting bullet and a cast bullet are the same thing!

Aren't they?

They could be I just haven't made that leap yet.

 

[AJC1]

But, a hunting bullet and a cast bullet are the same thing!

Aren't they?

They might be but it's to early in this story to know. If I get good accuracy with my home brew cast boolit 175 real close to 2000 fps I'd roll with it. If I can get 2100 accurate I'm done.

 

[Bfh_auto]

That's what their loaded with already. I started off on the other end with 4227. Dad used ramshot almost exclusively. It was competition, tac or Silhouettewit a jug of hunter in the mix once. View attachment 1123061

19 gr was my load for 308 with a 165 and 250 gr bullet.
17 was my load for SKS with a 115 gr bullet. So I bet you're going to find happiness somewhere in your load range.

 

[AJC1]

19 gr was my load for 308 with a 165 and 250 gr bullet.
17 was my load for SKS with a 115 gr bullet. So I bet you're going to find happiness somewhere in your load range.

My 4227 load in 308 with a 150 was 23ish. It wasn't better than 1.5 moa but if the 30 is inside two ill consider myself winning.

 

[Bfh_auto]

My 4227 load in 308 with a 150 was 23ish. It wasn't better than 1.5 moa but if the 30 is inside two ill consider myself winning.

I was going for pure accuracy. I was in the 1900 fps range if I remember correctly. It was definitely 1.5 moa. Closer to 1.25.
I am going to try cast 30-30 soon. Keep us updated.