Need a 30-30 load, if bullet is usable

[theCZ]

While in town today, I went searching for some 30-30 bullets for reloading. The only store listed in the Reno phone book for having "reloading accessories" was the Shooter's Shack. Anyway, all they had in the .308 cal for round nose was a 110 grain. I didn't notice until I got back home that they are actually meant for a .30 carbine. Can I use these bullets in my model 94? Also, any idea of how to find COL on a levergun?

Oh, and the bullets are Sierra's.


Thanks for any advice!

 

[HankB]

Lever action carbines usually have a tubular magazine, right? If yours does, you should NEVER use anything other than a bullet with a LARGE flat point in the magazine. A pointed - or even round nose - bullet may set off the primer of the round ahead of it in the magazine when you fire the rifle.

This would be a bad thing.

As far as loading data is concerned, I suggest you consult a manual or look at the online data from the powder manufacturers.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

They should work fine in your .30-30. They are a good plinking bullet, or for shooting varmits (jackrabbits, coyotes, and so on.) They are too light for deer, and I wouldn't use them for that.

For a starting load, try 30 to 32 grains of the old standby, IMR 3031 with the 110 grain bullet. If they are softnoses, I wouldn't worry about loading the magazine. If FMJs, you might want to restrict yourself to single loading, or to carrying one in the chamber and one in the magazine.

For OAL, the main concern is to have at least one caliber (.3 inches) of bullet gripped by the neck. If these bullets have a crimping cannelure, then load them to crimp on the cannelure, if you intend to use them in the magazine.