New to 30-30; anyone use IMR 4064 or H335 to load this cartridge?

[Matt Dillon]

Folks, I am new to loading 30-30 and have quite a bit of IMR 4064 and H335 on hand, and was wondering if anyone has suggestions for loads based on these powders? I am planning to load the Sierra 150 grain round nose pro- hunter projectile. According to Lyman’s 48, a medium velocity load of ~30 grains of IMR4064 looks to be a good starting load. What do you all think? Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Sunray]

Go here. Begin with the start loads. You do not need bullet specific data either. Any jacketed 150 grain data will be fine.
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle
"...a good starting load..." Manuals are always a bit different. Hodgdon's IMR4064 start load for a 150 is 31.0. 29.7 for the H335.

 

[Slamfire]

I think IMR 4064 is an excellent powder in the 30-30 Win. It produced the second best groups in my rifle:


N135 was the accuracy champ:




My loads are above book value. But, I chronographed my loads and based on velocity and case expansion, I have a huge chamber. I had to add powder to compensate for the extra chamber volume. So, don't copy my loads exactly. Factory 150 grain Rem came out of the barrel at 2250 fps. Best accuracy with 170 grain bullets was around 2100 fps. Loads that went 2200 fps were awful. My lever action is very sensitive to velocity changes and N135 gave very low velocity differences. So, let me recommend N135 for the 30-30.

 

[Matt Dillon]

Folks, thanks so much for your replies, and please keep them coming. I know that I’d be perfectly happy if I can get groups like those! I did go on Hodgdon’s web site and it looks as though they are listing 32 grains as a middle of the road load, at around 2150 FPS. I hope to get my brass and bullets in soon, load up a few, and get out to the range to test them out.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have shot 170gr jacketed bullets in the 30-30 using IMR4064 and they shot just fine. I have not tried H335, I use that for my .223 ammo instead.

 

[Don McDowell]

4064 isn't my favorite powder in the 30 wcf, but it does work well. Follow the recipe's in the lyman manual or hogdons web data, and you should find a good load for your rifle.

 

[entropy]

I prefer IMR 3031 over IMR 4064, but both work well.

 

[Matt Dillon]

Is there a reason you like IMR3031 over IMR4064?

 

[243winxb]

I have not used your 2 powders in the 30-30.

H335 is a ball powder that will go through a powder measure well. Its burn rate is faster then IMR 4064. But a magnum primers is needed IMO, becauses its ball powder. May work better at near maximum powder charges.

IMR 4064 , being a stick powder should require each charge to be weighed on a scale. Standard primers work well. Its burn rate is slower, but ok, as there is loading data for it. Starting loads should be more forgiving then a ball powder. If you only have magnum primers, they will work ok.

IMR 4895 is my powder for the 30WCF, 30-30 in a Win M94 or hot loads in a T/C Contender 30-30. The burn rate is in between your 2 powders.

 

[RainDodger]

I've used IMR-4064, IMR-3031, and H-335, all with 150 gr. bullets. My only notes indicate that I liked the 29.4 grains of IMR-3031. I called it a consistent, good load. No bad comments about any of the three powders. Can't remember why I bothered to try the H-335 at the time. I'd rather save that powder for other uses.

 

[entropy]

Is there a reason you like IMR3031 over IMR4064?

Like Rain Dodger, I found that between 29.5 and 30.5 gave me the best accuracy and good velocities with IMR 3031 and 150 gr. bullets. IMR 4064 was better with 170 gr. bullets, can't remember the grain weight, and I didn't write it down because I decided to stick with 150 gr. bullets.