How creative can I get when loading for my oldish Winchester '94?

[davek]

I've got a Cannadian Centennial, so I assume that it was made at or around 1967. It has a heavy octogonal barrel and is a very accurage shooter.

I keep reading that the .30-30 cartridge gets more and more versatile as you move away from "cowboy" loads towards hotter loadings with the newer rifles available. I was just wondering if my rifle is "new" enough to try doing some of that.

Thanks

 

[Jim Watson]

I am kind of conservative. My idea of "creative" loading is looking in all my manuals to see who lists the best load with powder I have on hand. You will not turn your .30-30 into a .30-06 by hotrodding it.

But you can sure beat "cowboy" loads. Just look for factory duplicate deer loads.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The .30-30 will launch a 150 grain bullet at between 2200 and 2400 fps with safe handloads. With 170 grain bullets, it will reach between 2000 and 2200 fps. It's a fine saddle gun, woods gun, and general all-around knockabout rifle -- but a .30-06 it will never be,