One powder for 30-06 sprg. And 30-30 WCF?

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

Desertrat357

Member
Joined
May 6, 2010
Messages
311
Location
Northern Nevada
I am curious if anybody had found a powder that will work for both the 30-06 and the 30-30? I realize I won't be able to have the best powder for each caliber but I would like something that would work decent for both. I will be loading 165 gr. and 180 gr. bullets in the '06 and 170 grain in the 30-30. Any suggestions?
 
IMR-4064, IMR-4895, BL(c)2, Varget, etc.

You can figure it out yourself real easy with a reloading manual too.

rc
 
I have been using 4064 in both the .30-30 and the .30-'06 for quite some time shooting 170 grain bullets in the .30-30 and 180's in the '06.
 
h4895

Motion seconded :)

I do not use leverreverneverlotion powder anymore than I do the bullets.

If I wanted 200+ yard shots, I would use a different weapon.

Depending on your exact make and model of rifle, it may not like the 170 gr.... I would at least try 150gr FN's as part of your process. Sierra makes a great one.

I find excellent accuracy in my marlin 336 using 30.5 grs of H4895, behind a 150gr sierra FN, seated to 2.530. YMMV
 
I am a huge varget fan - however, I recently wanted to load some 30-30 and had some BLC-2 unused on the shelf - the stuff meters like water and it seems to work pretty well (plus it was considerably cheaper than varget). For plinking rounds I'll likely stick with the BLC-2 due to the ease of metering and faster bullet production. I will continue to use varget for more of my precision work.
 
.06 & 30-30

I've been using IMR 4350 in both for over 25 years.

I download the .06 to 57.5 gr. for my 150 Nosler ballistic tips. This gives me a 1 1/4" group at 100 out of a Rem 760 pumpgun ( a full charge 59 gr opens the group up to just over 2" out of that rifle). I started with Speer Spitzers and ran quite a few different bullets and weights until settling in on Noslers.

I run a full charge of it (34.5 gr) for my Speer 170 gr Flat nosed and get the same sized group out of my Marlin 336 RC.

I just resized some 300 Win mag brass and will likely use 4350 and work up a load for either 165 or 180 gr Nosler BT's.

Whitetail is all I hunt here in western Pa.

The deer don't seem to mind a few fps difference that I might pick up with other powders.
 
Excellent. Thanks for the suggestions. I'll bury myself in my reloading manuals also, but I can't replace the feedback I get on here. Time to work up a few loads and hit the range!
 
H4895 would be my first choice for this combo.

I have used the new Leverevolution powder and 160 grain Hornady lever bullets with great success. In my 1971 Winchester 94 .30-30 I was able to shoot a 1/2" group at 50 yards with a Williams peep sight and factory front post sight. I loaded about 15 different powder/bullet combinations and found out that for that rifle, 37.0 grains of lever powder gave the best results with 160 grain Hornady lever bullets.
 
No one mentioned W748, so I'll toss it out there. I've used it quite a bit in the 30-30 before the LeveRevolution powder came out. Works well with 125gr - 170gr bullets in 30-30.

The only 30-06 that I load for is my M1 Garand. W748 is in the correct burn rate to not damage the Operating rod on the M1 Garand with 125-180gr bullets. Meters very nicely. Some complain about temp sensitivity but I haven't had any problems with it, but use a Mag primer. Best metering of the bunch listed. Some people like Ball powders, others don't.

H4895 would probably be my second choice. Good for 30-30, excellent for 30-06.

Varget didn't work great in a 30-30. Could not get the velocity of the other powders.

The 30-30 just doesn't have the case capacity of the 30-06, so that means if you want to use the same powder in both, keep max performance in the 30-30, and you are going to have to use slightly faster than ideal powder in the 30-06. 30-06 usually has so much more case capacity and longer barrel, it can leverage slower powders.
 
I have used the new Leverevolution powder and 160 grain Hornady lever bullets with great success. In my 1971 Winchester 94 .30-30 I was able to shoot a 1/2" group at 50 yards with a Williams peep sight and factory front post sight. I loaded about 15 different powder/bullet combinations and found out that for that rifle, 37.0 grains of lever powder gave the best results with 160 grain Hornady lever bullets.
Click to expand...

I have been thinking of trying this combo so I have to ask - that 37.0 grain load is 1.5 grains above Hodgdon's maximum in .30-30, and they already not that load is compressed. Have you had any issues with that load?
 
Quote:
I have used the new Leverevolution powder and 160 grain Hornady lever bullets with great success. In my 1971 Winchester 94 .30-30 I was able to shoot a 1/2" group at 50 yards with a Williams peep sight and factory front post sight. I loaded about 15 different powder/bullet combinations and found out that for that rifle, 37.0 grains of lever powder gave the best results with 160 grain Hornady lever bullets.
I have been thinking of trying this combo so I have to ask - that 37.0 grain load is 1.5 grains above Hodgdon's maximum in .30-30, and they already not that load is compressed. Have you had any issues with that load?
Click to expand...

Mandates a little of :

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=27444

Not that levers are prone to chamber-bustin, but that pressure gets it in the territory.
 
blarby said:
h4895

Motion seconded :)

I do not use leverreverneverlotion powder anymore than I do the bullets.

If I wanted 200+ yard shots, I would use a different weapon.

Depending on your exact make and model of rifle, it may not like the 170 gr.... I would at least try 150gr FN's as part of your process. Sierra makes a great one.

I find excellent accuracy in my marlin 336 using 30.5 grs of H4895, behind a 150gr sierra FN, seated to 2.530. YMMV
Click to expand...
I agree H4895 is like the Unique of rifle powders ( in my opinion).
It shoots jacketed well and can be toned down for light loads and for shooting cast.
Try it you like it!!!
 
Quote:
I have used the new Leverevolution powder and 160 grain Hornady lever bullets with great success. In my 1971 Winchester 94 .30-30 I was able to shoot a 1/2" group at 50 yards with a Williams peep sight and factory front post sight. I loaded about 15 different powder/bullet combinations and found out that for that rifle, 37.0 grains of lever powder gave the best results with 160 grain Hornady lever bullets.

I have been thinking of trying this combo so I have to ask - that 37.0 grain load is 1.5 grains above Hodgdon's maximum in .30-30, and they already not that load is compressed. Have you had any issues with that load?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
According to the Hodgdon website, the max load is 35.0 grains of powder.

According to the Hornady load book, the max load is 37.0 grains of powder.

One of my load series was 32.5 33.5 34.5 35.5 37.0 grains of this powder with Hornady FTX 160 grain bullet. And yes, the load works great with low noise/flash. I was able to take a shot on a hunt and barely heard the report. Of course, I worked this load up in my rifle, and even at the start load, the primers backed out of the case a bit. I have never seen that before, but it looks like the pressure pushed the primers out about .045" +/- from flush in new Remington brass. Standard practice is to work up a load in your firearm to your comfort level. Definately more pressure/speed with this round, however, after I shot a 1/2" group @ 50 yards with a peep sight, I promptly loaded another 130 rounds or so for future hunting trips. I don't expect to plink with these rounds and they will probably last me 50 years or so. I rarely take a first shot while hunting much less a follow up shot. If they do not perform on game as expected, I will happily return to Sierra bullets; their flat points put a real whack into game.
 
The primers backing out on the .30/30 is from excessive re-sizing, and LOW PRESSURE pushing the primer back to the bolt face after the firing pin pushes the loaded cartridge foward in the chamber during the firing cycle. Raising the charge to nominal pressure (38.000-42,000cup for the .30/30) will strech the case head back to the bolt face and "re-seat" the primer. continuing to excessively size the cases and re-firing will eventually lead to case failure due to head seperation. I resize my .30/30 just enough that the loaded ammo easily chambers. Accuracy and case life is dramatically improved. I increase the powder charges till extraction becomes "sticky", and/or accuracy starts falling off, and then I reduce till "stickiness" goes away or accuracy returns... For my .30/30, with RL15, this is 35.5gr for ~2,350fps with a 150gr bullet, and 34.0gr with a 170gr bullet at ~2,250fps.... And this kills deer amazingly well out to 200yds. Really, all you "need", but then again, I really like my .257Wby with a 100gr bullet at 3,600fps......

I've used both Win748/BLC2 in both the .30/30 and '06. But, currently I'm using, and favor Reloader15.
I have LVR that I load in my .338ME, but haven't gotten around to using it in the .30/30. I've worked up superlative loads with H4895 in the .35Rem, but won't likely replace that load as though I love the 'Old .35, I seldom use it anymore as I now have both a .338ME and a .358win BLR..... too many guns,-loads, - not enough tags !!!

But, I've also used and can recommend IMR4064, IMR3031, Win760/H414, ect, ect, ect..... Many many choices in dual purpose powders.....
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

U
  • Locked
IMR 4895 for .30-06 and .30-30
Replies
9
Views
8K
ArchAngelCD
ArchAngelCD
N
  • Locked
Powder for 270 and 30-06
Replies
7
Views
2K
DAL
D
Bandit67
  • Locked
170 gr. Bullet for .30-06?
Replies
13
Views
2K
Dudedog
Dudedog
R
  • Locked
Need 30-06 load help
Replies
9
Views
639
GooseGestapo
GooseGestapo
T
  • Locked
30-06 powder selection
2
Replies
32
Views
5K
Rem700CDLSF3006
R
Back
Top