Accuracy in .30-30 w/ Hornady FTX

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Airgead

Airgead

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I've tried off and on to develop a good load for a Marlin 336C (70s era) in .30-30 Winchester using Hornady FTX bullets (160gr) and LeveRevolution powder. I've worked through a variety of charge weights and the best grouping I've come up with is a little under 4". Factory Hornady LeveRevolultion ammo was a better but I wasn't blown away with the performance. Using some factory load RNs (Remington I think, didn't record it) i had much tighter groups, about 1.5". I realize the 336 isn't going to be a sub-MOA tack-driver but I would have expected a bit better.

What are people's experiences with the FTX bullets in a 336? Have you been able to dial in a good load in a Marlin 336 with them? If not, what bullets work well?
 
I have a 336 CS with micro grove barrel. Never tried the FTX in it so that is not on the table here but with both Hornaday and Remington Core Lokt 170 grain bullets and IMR3031 I can get MOA groups often but not every time off a rest if I do my part. I do not worry about this as most shots at a whitetail around here are 25-50 YDS average and this load is GTG and proven minute of deer accurate.
Been thinking a bit--Have you looked at your crown for damage? and is the barrel really free of copper fouling. These are two things to check.
 
Yeah, mine is micro-groove too. I was wondering if that has something to do with the lack of accuracy I was seeing. I'm basically looking for reasonable accuracy between 50 - 100 yds. Where I hunt sometimes has some long downhill shooting possibilities. I picked this rifle up used about two years ago and haven't shot it much, which I'm working to change. So I don't have a good handle on its performance yet.
 
I would try a different bullet in it and see if they shoot well. Your rifle just might not like those FTX. If Remington ammo shot better try a box of their Core Lokt bullets with your propellant. Betcha they shoot better.;) I got mine at Midway about 2 years ago. Still available at $25.22 per hundred plus shipping. On the marlinowners.com website they have an ongoing discussion with info about the 336 and the bullets/propellants that they found work best. Might be worth the read. Some are saying the Hornady FP bullet and some are saying the Sierra Pro Hunter in 170 FP. I also had good results with that one in mine. It is available from Natchez Shooters Supplies for $25.99 per hundred plus shipping. All of them will perform well out to 200 YDS if accurate.
 
You are not the first to complain about the FTX bullet in the 30-30 especially with LVR powder. I have a,guess, I think it's the higher velocity generated by LVR powder, the twist rate in those leverguns just wasn't designed for the higher velocities and that's what is affecting the accuracy.
 
Ive never loaded any of the FTX rounds, but I have shot a bunch of factory ammo built on them from a couple of 336's. Accuracy was always acceptable, 1.5" groups at 100. I have no idea what powder Hornady is using in the factory load.

However, and this was the big rub for me, I cant find them everywhere. You can find 160 and 180 30/30 rounds everywhere, and thats the draw. I can walk into Walmart and buy a box of 160s for $16, and be ready to hunt. Will the FTX be more effective? Yes. Do I care when Im shooting a 30/30 at 100 yards max? Not really.
 
Kaldor said:
Ive never loaded any of the FTX rounds, but I have shot a bunch of factory ammo built on them from a couple of 336's. Accuracy was always acceptable, 1.5" groups at 100. I have no idea what powder Hornady is using in the factory load.
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Hornady is using Leverevolution powder in the Leverevolution ammo with an FTX bullet. They use a specially formulated LVR powder in each cartridge but the one Hodgdon sells is the 30-30 formulation.
 
Every barrel is different.
My Marlin 336C in .35Rem is indifferent on the FTX.
Unfortunately, I'm not! I had a near failure of a 200gr FTX on a big deer. Complete pass through with no evident expansion.

I do like LVR powder. In the .35 and .338ME, it's unexcelled. However, in the .30/30, I already had loads with RL15, BLC2, Win748, and H4895 that are more accurate and within standard deviation of velocities.
In the.338, the FTX is practically the only deal available, but has worked well for me. However, for 98% of my use, I'd prefer the discontinued 200gr FN Interlok.
A .35Rem with a 200gr Sierra or Remington Corlok over H4895 for 2,250fps is adequately flat shooting for 200yd hold-on shots sighted +3" high at 100yds. I've used them and trust them.
However, due to unavailablity during the Obamaammogeddon, I got a RCBS 200gr FNGC mold that throws a 220gr gas checked and lubed bullet. Over 34.5gr of H4895 or more accurate, 39.0gr BLC2, gets 2,050fps and really slams deer. I no longer "buy" .30/30 or .35 Rem bullets.
Last .30/30 bullet I bought were 150gr Nosler Ballistic Tips. Haven't had an opportunity to "test" them on a deer. They're loaded over enough LVR to run them to 2,450fps.... from a 20"bbl.!!!
 
I have a good load worked up for my dad's 336RC in .35 Rem. I had bought 4lbs of LVR for that and .30-30. The FTX for the .35 Rem shoots nice - 1"ish groups at 50yds. I did that after the .30-30 loads so I guess I now have a lifetime supply of LVR for that gun. they havent had a successful "field test" yet though.

I ordered a box of 170gr Interlocks today. Need to pick a powder to test alongside LVR. I have 4895 on the shelf for my .30-06 loads but I am thinking about trying 4166 or CFE223. Varget is listed in one of the manuals I have as a "most accurate" powder too. I have some 4166 I have never opened so maybe that will be first up. But I am also stopping by Cabelas next weekend so who knows what will come home with me. I have a itch to try a spherical powder for some reason.
 
A Speer 170 gr FP Hot Core works well in my Marlin 36 G with IMR 8208 XBR.
 
Airgead said:
Maybe I'll look for Varget and 3031 at Cabelas.
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From what I read when IMR3031 was developed it was developed for the 30-30. It was named 3031 for the 30 cal and 31gr of powder. I have always had very good performance with 3031 in the 30-30 with all bullet weights, that's why I mentioned above.
 
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ArchAngelCD said:
From what I read when IMR3031 was developed it was developed for the 30-30. It was named 3031 for the 30 cal and 31gr of powder. I have always had very good performance with 3031 in the 30-30 with all bullet weights, that's why I mentioned above.
Click to expand...

Didn't know that bit of powder lore. I will definitely get 3031 when I find it. If Cabelas doesn't have it, then it'll just give me another reason to go to Fin Feather Fur soon. Ah, the sacrifices for this hobby...
 
This probably won't help since I don't reload and have no real data, but my 336Y does not like the Hornady FTX rounds that much. Nor Remington and Winchester ammo, for that matter. The Marlin, however, shoots like a dream with Federal ammo for whatever reason. 150 gr and even 170 grain. The flat nose non-typicals are my best shooters in 150 gr but the 170 fusions shoot well too.

Whatever powder and bullet combo that Federal uses, my Marlin 30-30 likes it best.
 
Factory LeverEvolution ammo is the most accurate ammo I have ever run through my pre-64 Winchester 30-30. It's a pretty accurate gun to begin with, usually around 2.5" or better with most factory flat-nose rounds. But the Hornady gives me reliable 1.5" groups and another 50-100 yards of range, so I pay the premium for it.
 
So a 1lb canister of Varget came home with me from Cabelas. Sadly they were out of IMR3031 but I still love seeing a sizable stock on the shelf now after those few horrible years. So I'll have to make a trip out to Fin Feather Fur for IMR3031. But I've decided that I'm going to load some batches of FTXs and Interlocks over a range of charges of Varget, IMR3031, and IMR4166 and then test them all. Might take awhile to get all that done and then get enough range time to shoot all that in a reasonable fashion. Maybe I will start a "Loading .30-30 for Marlin 336 for Accuracy" thread as I go...
 
Always ask the clerk to check stock if out on the shelf. A lot of time they have some in back that has not been set out. Or just check online will tell you if they have any at that store too.
 
Blue68f100 said:
Always ask the clerk to check stock if out on the shelf. A lot of time they have some in back that has not been set out. Or just check online will tell you if they have any at that store too.
Click to expand...
Actually I tried. The Cabelas in Triadelphia, WV has a distribution center on the other side of the complex has more stock. In many cases, you can buy on order from the store and then zip across the street. Unfortunately they didn't have any there either.
 
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