30-30 loads and powder - hows this look?

[bison]

I'm headed to Cabelas tomorrow to pick up supplies to start loading for my new pre-64 Win Model 94. Here's what I'm thinking about getting - any comments? I'm planning to load for both fun and for hunting (deer and pigs).

Plinking:
Bullet:MBC #1 Whitetail 165 grain bullets
Powder: Trailboss (I already have some), about 9 grains

Hunting:
Bullet: Hornady 160 grain FTX
Powder: IMR 3031, about 30 grains

From what I've read H4895 is an alternative to 3031, though both seem to have plenty of fans. I also have on hand H414 and H335 that I've seen some like as well.

Thanks!

 

[blarby]

H4895 is indeed a great powder for the 30-30.

Jech has done some interesting research using unique powder with the MBC bullets you are going to purchase- I'd suggest looking into that as well.

Hornady makes a great round, but you will more than likely need to both seat your bullets differently, and may require a different seating die as most of them for 30-30 are configured for flat-nosed bullets, and will damage the ballistic tips.

I made this mistake myself with my lee dies, and if using these bullets instead use the following :

If you have RCBS dies with removable seating pins, substituting a .308 pointed nose bullet seating pin is a great workaround. Lee also will make you a custom seating die for these rounds.


Honestly, the biggest advantage to using the FTX bullet is for ranges that exceed 200 yards... very hard for me to make shots that are minute of deer past 150 without a scope....just something to consider. If you are going to be hunting pig, which I consider dangerous- scope mounting without see through rings can deprive you of iron sights when you need them most. .30-30 is a great versatile cartridge, but the setups required for hunting pig/boar and deer ( for me) are two different setups completely. I compromised on my .30-30 by mounting weaver see through rings, to give me the best of both worlds- but its that, a compromise.

Your terminal and ballistic performance within 150 yards in my humble opinion dont justify the additional expense of these rounds.

One last tidbit : Be very careful in approaching the max load data hornady lists for this cartridge combo in your older rifle.

I'm not saying don't load to it, just saying load to it carefully and incrementally, and check for undue wear on your firing surfaces and brass carefully each step of the way.

 

[Bmac1949]

Good advice on an older gun. I've got a late 60's Mod 94 that I load with 30gr of A2520 under a 150gr Hornady bullet. For the newer Marlin 336 I load the same bullet with 33gr. The Mod 94 is the one I really enjoy shooting but at 100 yards the Marlin is pretty darn accurate.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Using the MBC #1 Whitetail 165 grain bullets I loaded 21.0gr H4895 with good results. The ammo I loaded was very accurate and did not lead the barrel. The velocity was a little lacking from my Marlin levergun though at only 1340 fps. I might try upping the charge weight a little next time.

 

[blarby]

If I remember correctly, Jech was getting in the 1200 range using Unique, so 1300-1400 doesn't seem that bad.

Being as I have both Unique and H4895 on hand, I look forward to trying them both.

Once I get the bullets, that is I will post the results once I get em.

You may want to consider a standard round-nosed bullet for hunting if the FTX round doesn't work for you. Hornady makes a great round nose 150gr that works well around 32 grains of H4895, Sierras Flatnose 150gr offers very similar performance at the same charging rates.

 

[ssyoumans]

Hunting:
Bullet: Hornady 160 grain FTX
Powder: IMR 3031, about 30 grains

From what I've read H4895 is an alternative to 3031, though both seem to have plenty of fans.

Where did you come up with this load data? I didn't see it listed by Hornady for this bullet. The FTX bullet can be a little tricky to load. With Lee dies, the seater plug is borderline too short so many people have to have a longer seater plug made ($7.50 + s/h from Lee). Otherwise, you can't seat the bullet to the canulure without over crimping. I've loaded some with BLC-2, with max published data, was only able to get 2050 fps vs. Factory load at 2350 out of my 20" 336.
I'm waiting to hear more results of users with LeveRevolution powder before I try it. May end up abandoning reloading FTX and go with the Sierra.

 

[bison]

I found that load after a lot of searching the net - I found an article that listed a number of loads for the FTX. http://www.realguns.com/Commentary/comar178.htm

Seemed consistent with a number of other posts I found elsewhere.

I do have Lee dies and didn't know about the seating issue so thanks. Will call Lee about the other die and also pick up some of the Hornady or Sierra bullets today.

 

[NCsmitty]

I have worked up to 31.0gr of H4895 in my M94 with no sign of high pressure, and they averaged 2080fps with the 160gr FTX. That data is over Hornady's recommended on the FTX page, but Hodgdon shows 30.5gr as maximum for the 170gr Sierra FP and in my rifle, the load that I used is safe. Use at your own risk.



NCsmitty

 

[788Ham]

bison,

Before you make another die purchase for using the FTX bullets, you might try something I just did last evening. My .223 die would always mash the Amax- Vmax bullet tips from Hornady, the plastic tipped bullets. A friend told me to take my Dremel tool, put in a drill bit just a bit smaller than the seating die seat, gently drill this out just about 0.002, thus allowing the tip to not be crushed. It worked like a heavy-weight champ!! No more bullet tips smashed, corrected my problem in 5 minutes! YMMV !

 

[bison]

Just picked up some H4895 and the Hornady round noses so I should be set.

788Ham thx for the tip - i saw something else on this from Lee that suggested a 3/32" drill bit to do same for the 30-30.

 

[popper]

30-30 loads

I use H335 for the FTX or Sierra 170 RN. Works great for both, no difference in POI. Check the Hodgdon powder site, in their load tables, enter cal, bullet weight and then look at velocity and pressure for various powder.

 

[PO2Hammer]

My Win '94 plinking load is a Magnus 150 LFP over 7.0 grains Trail Boss giving 1,128 fps.
My '94 likes cartridges near max length. Shorter than max and they tend to nose dive before they hit the chamber, but that shouldn't be a problem with a 165 lead bullet.
FWIW, I could not get the shorter 100 grain flat point to cycle reliably because of the short COAL.
With 9 grains of Trail Boss I would guess you'll be around 1,300 fps with the 165.

 

[ChefJeff1]

I use the exact trail boss/MBC load. it is fun but smells funny.

you're right on tf=rack with the 3031 load too.

I will use 3031 or h335 with a 170 Beartooth cast gas checked.