30-30 loads.

[.45Coltguy]

As I've plenty of handgun loads for rifle and handguns, I have started loading for my Win Mod 94 in 30-30.
My standard loads are:
34.0gr Win 748, 170gr Hornady FN, Win cases, CCI LRP mag,
35.0gr Win 748, 150gr Hornady RN, same primer. IMR 4064 as a back-up powder, if needed.
Have always liked loading for the 30-30, sooo, off I go.
How about you guys here? Care to share some of your 30-30 loads?

Besides, I ran out of .45 Colt cases to load up!

 

[WestKentucky]

I load 30-30, but shooting it in a marlin takes a lot of fun out of the loading. Can’t use most bullets unless you load them into the chamber by hand making the rifle essentially a single shot. Seems I just load 3030 like I load 9mm, cheap blasting fodder.

 

[Armored farmer]

I just recently stuck my toe into loading for my two 30-30s.
I bought several lbs of unique years ago...
10gr Unique under my cast and tumble lubed LEE 170gr GC is most excellent in my '94 SRC Trapper carbine.
Not a great target...but not too bad for such a simple load.....and my first attempt.
50yds

 

[badkarmamib]

My favorite load is 28 grains of IMR3031 pushing a 170 grain Hornady flat point. I inherited a can of IMR3031 from my wife's grandfather, and it proved to be the most accurate powder in my son's JM 336.

 

[AJC1]

26 grains tac under a cast and checked 170
15.8 grains bluedot under a berry's 150.

 

[AJC1]

I load 30-30, but shooting it in a marlin takes a lot of fun out of the loading. Can’t use most bullets unless you load them into the chamber by hand making the rifle essentially a single shot. Seems I just load 3030 like I load 9mm, cheap blasting fodder.

You mean a 2 shot....

 

[N555]

My one load to rule them all is about 34gr of leverevolution under a 160gr ftx bullet.

 

[.45Coltguy]

Armored farmer, first attempt? Not bad! Not bad at all. Keep at it.

badkarmamib: IMR 3031 is a superb powder for the 30-30. I ran out some time ago and couldn't locate any. But, if I do........

 

[WestKentucky]

You mean a 2 shot....

No, single. The long pointy bullets don’t want to get along with the feeding mechanism in my rifle and it tends to hang up. I can use light for caliber pointy bullets, but I can’t use anything heavier than about 150gr without it causing issues. I havent taken the feeding contraption apart yet, but when I get ready to
I will be painting some bullets and running them through to force a jam with wet paint to see what my issue is.

 

[.45Coltguy]

No, single. The long pointy bullets don’t want to get along with the feeding mechanism in my rifle and it tends to hang up. I can use light for caliber pointy bullets, but I can’t use anything heavier than about 150gr without it causing issues. I havent taken the feeding contraption apart yet, but when I get ready to
I will be painting some bullets and running them through to force a jam with wet paint to see what my issue is.

Hmm. Why not load some round nose or flat nose bullets designed for the 30-30? That ought to solve any loading, chambering issues. 6-7 in the magazine with rn/fn and you should be fine.

 

[.45Coltguy]

Dang! Just noticed this in "Similar threads" below. Guess I forgot about that one. I'll be.
If it needs to be closed, okie dokie.

 

[AJC1]

No, single. The long pointy bullets don’t want to get along with the feeding mechanism in my rifle and it tends to hang up. I can use light for caliber pointy bullets, but I can’t use anything heavier than about 150gr without it causing issues. I havent taken the feeding contraption apart yet, but when I get ready to
I will be painting some bullets and running them through to force a jam with wet paint to see what my issue is.

I hadent tried past 150 flat base due to the effective range so I guess heavier might be a problem.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I load for a single shot Handi rifle.
20 grains H4198 under a 110 grain Varmageddon or a 110 RNSP.
6 grains Trail Boss under a 115 LRN for a sub sonic pinker.

 

[WestKentucky]

Hmm. Why not load some round nose or flat nose bullets designed for the 30-30? That ought to solve any loading, chambering issues. 6-7 in the magazine with rn/fn and you should be fine.

I do, but they just aren’t nearly as accurate. Accurate is fun. The fact that I’m loading less accurate rounds intentionally just doesn’t interest me and it’s just like loading cheap 9mm blasting ammo. Just not a whole lot of fun to load it.

 

[PO2Hammer]

Only accurate loads and rifles are interesting,

 

[MarshallDodge]

I have a couple loads that I put together for lighter recoil...

23.0 H4895, RMR 110RN, WLRP, 2.390 COAL

20.0 N133, 170SP, WLRP, 2.550 COAL

 

[.45Coltguy]

I do, but they just aren’t nearly as accurate. Accurate is fun. The fact that I’m loading less accurate rounds intentionally just doesn’t interest me and it’s just like loading cheap 9mm blasting ammo. Just not a whole lot of fun to load it.

I agree that accurate is fun. But, accuracy from a lever rifle is going to be a bit less than from a bolt action. Load for your lever action and it's accepted accuracy. Which, for 30-30 would be 200 yards and under. Normally. We all accept that lever guns aren't going to be as accurate, for the most part, as a bolt rifle. But, again, for the lever rifles intended purpose, they can be loaded to some very respectible accuracy levels.

 

[Show Me]

The American way is to hot rod. 30 30 is great for what it is. That arbitrary 1000fp is roughly at 150 yds for a 150gr.
.308 with 150 gr is roughly 450 yds. For comparison sake.

30 30 is special because of the rifles and nothing feels more natural than a 1894.

 

[Targa]

I can’t remember the numbers off the top of my head but I have been loading my 150 and 170 grain cast bullets over Leverevolution. For accuracy and full power 30-30 loads, I have been very happy.

 

[DMW1116]

I switched to cast and coated bullets for my 336. They’re going about 1400-1500 fps with 135 grain and 165 grain bullets.

135 gr Acme RNFP/~6 grains of W231/Winchester LPP.

165 gr MBC White Tail #4/16.1 gr H335/Winchester LRP

 

[.45Coltguy]

I switched to cast and coated bullets for my 336. They’re going about 1400-1500 fps with 135 grain and 165 grain bullets.

135 gr Acme RNFP/~6 grains of W231/Winchester LPP.

165 gr MBC White Tail #4/16.1 gr H335/Winchester LRP

That's good to know .^^^ I have loaded and shot those MBC 165 coated bullets with 9.0gr Unique and they shot pretty good. Just need to load more, IF, I have any left.

 

[FROGO207]

In the past I loaded a pile of 170 Lasercast RNFP lead with tac and 4064. They both were good loads but I found a 170 flat point jacketed bullet over a near max load of 3031 is the best shooting of the bunch. Dont forget the 30-30 specific bullets are made to work at the velocities of the rifle and the flat point stops chainfires in the tube. Have a few Cor Lokt and Win Silvertips left to load but looks like when they are gone I'll have to work up a new fav bullet. Funny thing is the ammo I made is about equally accurate in 5 different 30-30 's I own.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

You mean a 2 shot....

Only if it also clears the lifter.

I load for a Marlin and a T/C so nothing is off the table but the T/C loads that clear the lifter and feed in the tube are just as good in the 336.

I really like the Sierra FNSP .30-30 170gr and 28gr IMR 3031 for as far as 150yds. I don’t get many shots past 50yds so long range loads aren’t a priority.
The same load of IMR under a Hi-Tek coated and gas checked Linotype lead 173gr bullet gets a slightly flatter trajectory somehow.

 

[zeke]

Not loading 30-30 very often, but another fan of 748 under 125, 150 and 170 bullets. If looking for better accuracy, some might consider trying differing amounts of resizing. No, i did not recommend "neck sizing" for a lever, but there is a variance in chamber cuts and sizing dies.

 

[DMW1116]

At least in load testing, the slightly larger diameter of the MBC White Tail #4 was more accurate than the 135 grain Acme. H335 was also just a little more accurate than W231. I think the MBC are sized 0.311" instead of 0.309". The Acme bullets I have are 0.3095".

I've tried the 160 grain FTX bullets, but I don't really have a good load for them. They aren't fun to shoot but are the most effective on game I'd imagine. I had a similar experience with 150 grain Interlock bullets. Accuracy wasn't good enough to justify putting up with the blast and recoil for fun for either load. I should probably revisit them and get a good load worked out. The 160 grain FTX will go in a full power hunting load. The 150 grain Interlock will go in a reduced load targeted at 1000 ft-lbs or close to it. That puts the velocity on the bottom of the Hornady load data range.

I also forgot about the 110 grain FMJ load I made. It pushes a 110 grain Hornady FMJ with about 1 kernel shy of a case full of H335. These aren't fun to shoot either and they make a fireball as big as a soccer ball. I have a couple dozen left and they will be gone. If I ever get more 110 grain FMJ, I'll try to make a 30-30 Miniature or Short Range load. One uses a jacketed bullet and the other a cast bullet, which I was trying to copy with the 135 grain cast load mentioned above. My Marlin 336 and 30-30 are my test rifle for all the oddball reloading stuff I try. My Blackhawk/357 Magnum is the same for handguns.