papajohn
Member
The 30-30 was designed around heavier bullets, back in the naive days before we had all these GeeWhiZ Supermagnums that worship at the altar of velocity. Heavy bullets don't buck brush like it was long thought, but they do penetrate and break bones better, and two holes in an animal is always better than one, energy-dump theories aside.
If I was chasing Mule Deer or Black Bears I'd opt for the 170-grain bullets, but for your everyday Whitetail, I think the 150 is plenty. (I've seen a lot of Pigs wearing Body Armor, but never a deer!
A little ex-cop humor there, I can say that 'cuz I WAS one.......Pride, Integrity, and Guts .)
As for load development, there's no real trick to it, but a little luck helps. Just find the bullet it likes, hopefully something you can buy from the maker, then match the powder to the capacity available. I think 32 grains of IMR-4895 was the maximum recommended charge for the 150-grain bullet, it turned out that 30.2 filled the case to the base of the bullet, so I got good density at safe pressures. That the rifle loved it was icing on the cake. Had a friend not given me a box of 20-year old Core-Lokt ammo, I'd probably still be searching for the Ultimate recipe.
IMR-3031 was loaded in factory 30-30 ammo by several makers for many years, I'd call it a great powder to start experimenting with, even though I never did. (I'm NOT always the brightest bulb on the tree.............)
As for me hoarding powder...........Okay, I'm busted. But in my defense, I use 4895 for loading 223's, (1000 last week alone) 7.7 Jap, 30-30, 35 Remington, and 375 Winchester. JustSayMo is just mad because I beat him to it!
I'd love to stay and chat, but the No-Hair Club for Men meets in one hour, gotta go!
PJ
If I was chasing Mule Deer or Black Bears I'd opt for the 170-grain bullets, but for your everyday Whitetail, I think the 150 is plenty. (I've seen a lot of Pigs wearing Body Armor, but never a deer!
A little ex-cop humor there, I can say that 'cuz I WAS one.......Pride, Integrity, and Guts .)As for load development, there's no real trick to it, but a little luck helps. Just find the bullet it likes, hopefully something you can buy from the maker, then match the powder to the capacity available. I think 32 grains of IMR-4895 was the maximum recommended charge for the 150-grain bullet, it turned out that 30.2 filled the case to the base of the bullet, so I got good density at safe pressures. That the rifle loved it was icing on the cake. Had a friend not given me a box of 20-year old Core-Lokt ammo, I'd probably still be searching for the Ultimate recipe.
IMR-3031 was loaded in factory 30-30 ammo by several makers for many years, I'd call it a great powder to start experimenting with, even though I never did. (I'm NOT always the brightest bulb on the tree.............
)As for me hoarding powder...........Okay, I'm busted. But in my defense, I use 4895 for loading 223's, (1000 last week alone) 7.7 Jap, 30-30, 35 Remington, and 375 Winchester. JustSayMo is just mad because I beat him to it!
I'd love to stay and chat, but the No-Hair Club for Men meets in one hour, gotta go!
PJ
