I think I am right but I need to make sure. I am going to reload about 60 each .30-30's and I have for the bullet the SPEER HOT CORE .308 SPRN, (soft point round nose), they are 30 Cal /150 grain bullets. They say they are round nose but not like the old round nose bullets I used to shoot which were the Remington soft core lokt, is there a difference, can I use these bullets to reload my .30-30's?? I will be shooting them in a Winchester 94 Trapper.Thank you for answers.
RELOADING THE .30-30 WIN QUESTION!??
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Jonny2guns
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I loaded some up, but when I went to put them in the mag., they seemed way too pointy for a tube mag. I test fired one at a time. They were accurate, but I would not load more than one in the mag.
Just my experience.
Just my experience.
N555
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The original patent for the model 94 30-30 shows round nose soft point bullets. So they don't appear to be a problem as long as you use rifle primers.
Bearded Phil
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If they are like these
https://www.speer.com/bullets/rifle_bullets/hot-cor_rifle_bullet/19-2023.html
Which are a spitzer soft point I probably wouldn't chance it in the mag tube. Like Johnny2Guns said, load one at a time through the ejection port.
https://www.speer.com/bullets/rifle_bullets/hot-cor_rifle_bullet/19-2023.html
Which are a spitzer soft point I probably wouldn't chance it in the mag tube. Like Johnny2Guns said, load one at a time through the ejection port.
GeoDudeFlorida
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Is this the bullet?
https://www.speer.com/bullets/rifle_bullets/hot-cor_rifle_bullet/19-2023.html
There’s things about tube magazines to keep in mind other than tip-to-primer contact. One bullet setback. The bullets I found when I looked up Speer Hot Cor .308 150 don’t have a canelure. That means you have a good possibility of bullet setback and that can be very bad. Another thing to keep in mind is the lifter. Tube magazines require a lifter to get the base of the cartridge in a place where the bolt can grab it and ram the cartridge into the chamber. The bullets I found from Speer with that name are too long for the lifter in a Winchester’94 unless seated too deep for safety. @Jonny2guns already talked about the loading gate problems but the loading gate is another thing you need to think about for a back stuffed tube (as opposed to the Henry rifles with front stuffed tubes).
So bottom line if you can tell us exactly which Hot Cor .308 that’s a round nose soft point with a canelure it’ll be easier to say if it will work or not.
Yes, there is a difference.
To safely use them, flatten the tip with a couple passes of a flat single cut file. How much? Enough so the tip is 3/4 or more the diameter of the primer. QC with weight. 148 plus or minus 0.1 grains, as an example.
If this sounds complicated, don’t do it. It’s pretty simple for me, though.
Pay dirt for me is the 165 Grand Slam meant for 308, 30-06 etc. The Grand Slam with a flattened tip for 30-30 turns the 30-30 into a 200 yard dangerous game killer. You basically file the soft lead off, literally two passes with a file. Bonded 164gr bullet with inside reliefs to promote mushrooming? All day long with 30-30
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GeoDudeFlorida
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Yes, those are fine.
In the future keep this post in mind. Give us as much information as you can, especially the bullet number.
According to Speer Load data for 30-30 Winchester it calls for the Speer Part No. 2011 and I can use CFE223- Accurate 2520-and 17 other powders which I don't have. What do you guys think about the Lever action 94, tube fed??????
GDF they do have a canalure around the bullet, so will that make a difference?
GDF they do have a canalure around the bullet, so will that make a difference?
FROGO207
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Generally a purpose built 30-30 bullet will be designed to expand at 30-30 velocities, have a flat nose, and a canalure that will allow it to cycle the action when crimped.
Hugger-4641
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Those bullets are fine and as long as you have your seat die set to get a good crimp , a cannelure is not required. As long as you stay at or under max COAL you should not have any feed problems. Mine won't feed anything much over 2.54, actually it will feed longer cartridges but will not eject them unfired.
GeoDudeFlorida
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So maybe go the other way: look up the powders you have and see if any of them have loads for a 150gr jacketed soft point in .30-30. If none of your powder works with any .30-30 150gr JSP, then you’re going to have to buy some powder.
Hugger-4641
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What powders do you have?
30-30 is pretty versatile, I've personally used 3031, 4064, Rx11, Rx7, 4350, 4895, BCL-2, Varget, 4166, 4198, and 8208 xbr, RL-15, Tac, and Lever Evolution.
Just remember your Trapper barrel being shorter is likely going to see slightly lower velocities than published.
put one on the chamber, one in the magazine. Seldom going to need more than two.
Charlie98
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That was the 'point' I was going to make. Bullets intended for the .30-30 are designed to expand at lower .30-30 velocities, most other hunting .30 bullets are designed to expand at higher velocity that cartridges like the .308 or .30-06 would give.
Very true. A deer/elk lung shot at 50y with a Sierra or Speer 170 FP and results will be good. Hit the front shoulder or leg knuckle on the entrance side on that same shot, and you will see bullet failure. If you are lucky, you can have quick follow up shots. Both bullets are designed for 30-30 and neither is a bonded bullet.
A “dressed up” Grand Slam or hot core spritzer like I described in post 8 is about the best, most inexpensive bullet you can get for 30-30. Neither was designed for 30-30, but by dressing the tip, you just made em so. Both will mushroom nicely on a good lung shot. Both will punch thru that shoulder or knuckle on a bad shot and find the heart / lungs.
Making a jig is pretty easy.
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King Medallion
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I think you would be better served to load up 5 of whatever suitable powders you have on hand and test them, see what works best. I wouldn't load up 60 only to find they don't shoot for chit.
Got a reply back from Speer, and they stated "This bullet being a flat nose is designed for use in a Tube Fed magazine so you shouldn't have any issues". This came via email from the Technical Service Rep. Guess it is OK since it came from the horses mouth. just hope he knows what he is talking about. My email stated " I am getting around to reloading some 30-30 Win cases and I have on hand Speer Hot-Core 2011 bullet. Is it OK to load my Winchester Model 94 Lever action rifle with these bullets? Or should I use a round nose bullet instead?" What do you all think??
Charlie98
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The Speer 2011 is intended for the .30-30, I loaded the 170grn version of that bullet for years, until I switched to Winchester, then Hornady bullets.
That's correct. What powder are you planning on using? The list of good options is huge.
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