30-30 reloading...

[Schleprok62]

OK, we all know MOST 30-30's are tube magazines and pretty much require round or flat tip bullets. (with the exception of the Harnady LeveRevolution stuff)

What's to stop one from loading a nice ballistic tip as the chambered round, and use the round/flats for follow-ups? I have some 168 gr ballistic tip bullets I'd like to run a few through the ol' 336 just for fun and possibly as a hunting round.

Is this something worth considering?

 

[Ol` Joe]

Nothing is stopping it.
The biggest problem I can see other then possibly mixing them in the mag dureing a excited moment is you will have 2 different bullet styles in the gun and the POI very likely won`t match between them.

 

[Encoreman]

Try using a 150 gr. PSP or Bronze point and use 150 gr round point for follow-up though you probably won't need them. Mac

 

[sargenv]

The biggest problem I see if using a bullet that is constructed for higher velocity cartridges that the 30-30 does not have any getting poor performance from said bullet since it was not pushed fast enough to open up sufficiently. The Flat point bullets are plenty accurate up to 150-200 yards, and the flat point really doesn't make a difference under 200 yards anyway. They are constructed generally for the lower velocities that 30-30 rifles can manage.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I used to do just that...I hand loaded a Sierra 165 grain spire point and hand inserted them in the chamber of my Winchester 94 and loaded the tube with flat points. Then I started doing ballistic tests on both and found out that the gain just wasn't worth it as I use my .30-30 for short ranges anyway (0 to 100 yards)...

 

[scrat]

Bushmaster is correct i did the same. i went on a kick to try everything. i even found some old load data on 180 and 200 grain bullets. Well i had to try it out. i went to the spire bullets did them all. In the end If im just range shooting and shooting at distances up to around 100 yards then i should just stick with 150 and 170 grain. then i started shooting lead and started casting. Now i just shoot cast lead. Saves a lot of money and when your shooting steel targets at anywhere from 50-100 yards using iron sight. The steel wont know the difference.

 

[jr_roosa]

I use spire points in my .30-30 but only becasue I got 200 for free. They're my plinking rounds.

One thing I learned is don't put even one in the magazine of a Win 94 or it will jam badly becasue the point sits out too far. I tried to feed one through the mag and I spent about 15 minutes trying to get the sucker back out through the magazine door.

Great way to spend time at the range.

-J.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Fun huh........

 

[moooose102]

been there, done that, still do. go 4 it!

 

[nambu1]

I loaded some 150gr Spire points for one friend's Thompson Center pistol, he later sold it and gave the ammo to another friend. He used them in a Winchester 94 to hunt white tails. He would load one in the chamber and one in the magazine.

 

[CU74]

With the understanding that my good friend Jack Daniels is helping me read this post, my I recommend NOT loading anything other than flat/round nose bullets in .30-30 brass? Once loaded, you will have to be 100% sure that only you have access to those rounds and, moreover, that you must always remember to only load one of those rounds as the single chambered round.

The old saw about the firearm's safety being between your ears also applies to reloaded ammunition.