Light 30-30 Loads

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tkcomer

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Trying to come up with a light plinker load for my 30-30 Winchester. I haven't decided on the bullet yet, but will probably go with the 110gr or the 150gr jacketed variety. I've seen several spots on the web that use 10grs of Unique for both bullets. My Lyman Cast book shows 7.5 to 11grs for the 151gr cast bullet. 7.5 to11.4grs for the 115gr cast bullet. I do have a lot of Win 760 powder, but my Sierra book doesn't list reduced loads for that one and my Lyman book doesn't list it for anything under 170gr. So has anybody used Unique in 30-30? 10grs doesn't seem like much in that big case. Can I reduce the loads for the 760 by say, 10%, that the Sierra book lists? If I have to buy new powder I will, I'd just like to use what I've got on hand. Thanks for any replies.
 
I actually saw that page, but those are near max loads. Sierra lists 31.7grs of 760 to start with on the 150gr bullet. 39.3grs for the 110gr bullet. No mention of Trailboss in either book.
 
Of course the standard of : reduce 10% and work up to ideal still applies. I have had good luck with trailboss in nearly all cast loadings, also keep in mind I am using a 336 carbine, and get next to no leading, longer and tighter barells may need more attention payed to sufficient lube grooves.

these are the bullet of choice when theyre in stock, good cheap fun (.310 for lead 30-30 load by the way) http://www.laser-cast.com/30Cal.html
 
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I use 7.5 grains of Unique with a .309 diameter 165 gr Meister Lead Flat Point bullet. It gives you 1250 fps for about the same power as a 357 mag. Very accurate out to 100 yards (I haven't tried them further). I shoot these in a Marlin with Micro Groove barrel. Accuracy tends to fall off after about 50 rds which is cured by a quick barrel clean.

Hotter loads with Unique are still safe but you will run into more leading unless you use gas check bullets. Unless you make youyr own, commercial gas check bullets cost about the same as jacketed. You can save a lot by using lead instead of jacketed especially for reduced loads.
 
I got a super buy on some gas checked bullets a while back,and tried them with 10 grains of Unique.
worked great! of course recoil was almost nil in my 'heavy' Marlin 336.... a lot of wood on those guns.
 
If you put 30 gr WW760 behind a Lyman 115 gr 311359 cast bullet, quickload thinks you will get 12,000 psi and 1600 fps.

If you put 30 gr WW760 behind a Lyman 152 gr 311466 cast bullet, quickload thinks you will get 18,000 psi and 1660 fps.

760 is a ball powder that does not like reduced loads, but the 30-30 case is small for a large rifle primer, so you may well get away with it. I would listen for the bang of the rifle until you see if it is accurate. If it is accurate, there is consistent burning. If the range is noisy, look down the barrel between shots for a stuck bullet. Half the gun blow ups are from stuck bullets. But if you can get a group, you know you are into a consistent powder burning load.

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You can get the same kind of velocity with 10 gr Unique, with more the pressure and know that the powder is for sure going to burn.

10 gr Unique gives 22 kpsi 1717 fps with 115 gr.
10 gr Unique gives 28 kpsi 1555 fps with 152 gr

And Unique is one of the best powders for burning.
 
Does anybody still use kapok or corn meal as filler for the empty space on reduced loads
Click to expand...

tried it a few times in 45colt with bullseye, basically throws dirty cornmeal everywhere, and not much of a difference in accuracy, trail boss was designed from the ground up for large volume cases originally designed for BP, and lead bullets. It is about 1/2 the density of most other powders and fills the cases nicely(looks like little grey cheeri-Os), seems to burn fairly clean for such a small ammount of powder in a large volume, and as clark said earlier the case is fairly small for a LR primer, reliable ignition has never been a problem.

If you like shooting lead, light loads or BP cartridges Trail Boss is definitely worth a try.
 
The more I think about this, the more I'm leaning away from trying reduced loads with 760. I'll just have to pony up for a pound of Unique as I have load data for that. I'm sticking with jacketed bullets at first because if this doesn't work out like I planned, I can load them in my 308. I'm tying to learn to shoot off hand again with iron sights. I've used scopes for years off of a bench, fencepost, trees, etc. The 30-30 had just a tad bit more kick than I remember and I have bursitis in my shoulder. That's why I'm looking for a reduced load for practice. Without the Limbsaver pads and what not.
 
Don't bother with reduced loads with the #760, you won't like the results. The chance of a stuck bullet is too great. The sperical powders don't respond well to reduced charges. Stick with the 170gr bullets with the Win#760. I've gotten sub-moa and 2,250-2,300fps with it in this application.

The 10.0gr of Unique will work very well. You can go as high as 12.5 with the jacketed bullet, but I wouldn't go nearly that high.

My brother has a 160gr cast bullet load that with 7.5g of unique hits to POI/POA at 25yds, and is a perfect plinker. BTW, this load has take deer too, so it's a tack driving cream-puff, but don't disrespect it !!! Try starting at 7.5 and work upwards to ~12.5gr and see if you can get the POI/POA to match. I'd try the 150gr Remington Corlokts as they are cheaper than the Speer or Horndady 100-110gr bullets. Also, can be run to full speed if desired.

BE EXTREAMLY CAREFUL IN CHARGING THE RIFLE CASES WITH UNIQUE !!!

I had an empty case and a double charge in one lot I loaded because I didn't carefully inspect the cases in the loading block before I started seating the bullets. It resulted in a stuck bolt (from the double charge) and required some gunsmithing to remove the case. Fortunately the rifle (a bolt action .30/06) wasn't damaged. My Marlin 336 in .30/30 would have been "toast" however........).

Procede carefully.
 
I bought some Unique yesterday and I'm going to try it. I used it years ago for 357. 10grs was a pretty hot load if I remember right. I'm going to start at about 7.5grs and see what that does. I haven't quite decided on the bullets yet. At first I thought the 115gr ones were the way to go, but once again, I'm worrying about that weight going too fast and leading the barrel. Now I'm leaning towards the heavier ones. Not sure if the Lee Pro Auto Disk will handle the Unique. If not, I'll use the RCBS Uniflow. Still kinda nervous about that small amount of powder in that big case.
 
Ive been using Lyman's 311041 cast of WW over 15.0 grains of 2400. It moves about 1600fps., is accurate, and very managable.
 
In the past I have been using Unique with lead bullets.

I do not use a filler like COW (Cream of Wheat), corn meal, or kapok (sp).

Works well for me.

Regards,
Rob
 
Does anybody still use kapok or corn meal as filler for the empty space on reduced loads?

I've found that filler isn't required with the Unique load I mentioned above. I tried getting powder to the front and rear of the case with no difference in accuracy or velocity. I theorize that that's because the Unique burns so fast it doesn't make a difference where it is in the case upon ignition.
 
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