First 30-30 loads - range report

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bison

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Just got back from the range after my first chance to shoot my new Win M94 (1940's vintage). I shot four different loads including factory ammo, brief comments are below. The gun has a Lyman peep sight with one stripped screw hole that I need to get retapped, so I wasn't particularly focused on getting max accuracy yet, just some impressions on how various loads shot. I don't have a chrono so no detailed data. All shooting was at 100 yards. Would be interested in any thoughts/comments.

First, factory loads. Winchester 150 grain round noses. Had a healthy kick, and rifle happened to be reasonably well sighted in (about 4" low and same left). I used these to get near zero. Shot pretty well, certainly less than 3" groups and probably better as I was getting used to the peep sight.

Next, 150 grain Hornady RN behind 32 gn H4895. Shot pretty well, about the same as the factory loads. Again a healthy kick, very close to same zero, and same <3" groups (3 bullets were one ragged hole, certainly some luck there).

Next, 160 grain FTX behind 27 and 28 grains H4895. Significantly less kick, and rounds hit a good 8" lower than the prior rounds and slightly left. Load data for these was scarce, I'd gone off of the 25.8-28.9 gn from the Hornady web site but have seen postings from people as high as 31 gns. Groups were again 3" or better. I'd loaded the FTX's to 2.55", the absolute deepest my Lee seating die would go and right at the canelure.

Finally, 165 gn MBC Whitetail cast bullets behind 9.0 grains of Trailboss. Pleasant to shoot with almost no recoil, but POI was almost off the target, a good 12" or more below original zero).

I need to get the scope mount fixed before working on this any more, but my impression is that the Hornady RN's shot as well (at least) as the FTX's. I'd like both a good hunting load and a good plinking load, and think I'm headed in the right direction. I am wondering about the significant difference in elevation that these two loads will likely have. The Lyman peep sight has a traditional screw adjust (1/4" clicks) and also can be moved up and down in entirety by pressing a button on the back. There's an index that can be set to zero using a set screw. Is this made for such a situation, meaning set it to zero for one load, then adjust accordingly for the other and return to zero for the first?

Thx!
 
To each his own. Here is my take on the 30-30.

It was the first caliber I ever loaded for. I was 17 years old and still in high school. I had a Win 94 with a Lyman Peep sight. I filed the front sight off to a blade instead of a bead. Imagine a young man with a nice high power rifle and cheap ammo. I shot that one like most kids shoot a 22 LR. It was my plinker, my varmint rifle, my big game rifle. Once I found a good load for the Hornady 150 grain RN. I stuck to that load. No fussing around, I always knew where it would hit. It was groundhog accurate up to 200 yards. I say groundhog accurate, because I didn't spend much time shooting paper. I had the ballistic chart memorized up to 350 yards, so if I could guess the range, whatever I was shooting at was in severe danger. My son now has the rifle.

You have a great old gun and a very useful and tested caliber. Enjoy

Oh, my powder of choice is 3031.
 
Thanks for the report on the 30-30 and your sweet old vintage 94.
I'm one who has shot the 160gr FTX with 31.0gr of H4895 out of my 20" M94, and got 2080fps average with the load and no sign of high pressure.

I used to use IMR3031 with the Speer 150gr for years in a Marlin lever. The introduction of new powders recently has given the old 30-30 a boost in performance, but I have not tried them.



NCsmitty
 
If you really want to load some cheap and accurate plinking and hunting ammo you might want to look into shooting 165 to 170 cast bullets in the 30-30. I shoot tumble lubes non gas checked bullets at moderator plinking velocities in the 1300 fps range. My plinking and small game loads run me about $1 per 20 using Red Dot powder and Wolf primers,a commercial cast plain base 165 gr. bullet would run you cost up to still less than $3 per 20.

For Whitetail hunting I put a gas check on the same 170 gr. bullet that adds an extra 3 cents per rd. and push it right up to factory 30-30 170 gr. velocity using H335,it kills them just as dead as any commercial jacketed bullet. Total cost for 20 cast lead hunting rds. a whopping $1.50.

A friend who I shoot with often uses the same bullet in his Win. 94 along with SR-4756 for plinking and H335 for the big game bullets. There are a great selection of powder for both purposes,if nothing else the cast bullet will allow you to shoot more and cheaper and you can save your J bullets for hunting if you so desire.
 
Another nice plinker round, still below commercial velocity, uses Unique. I don't have a chrono, so I can't tell you velocity, but it kicks more than a .22 Long Rifle but much less than a standard .30-30. Use a 165gr cast boolit sized .311 in the Marlin (if you have Micro-Groove rifling) for optimum results. I use Missouri Bullet's Whitetail and find it to be a good shooter, but I do have to raise the rear sight several notches to get it on paper.

Q
 
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