Magnum Research in 30/30 Win.

[Wis. Tom]

I picked up my Magnum Research BFR with a 10" barrel, chambered in 30/30 Win today. Looking forward to getting it out to the range this weekend. Anyone have any suggestions on loads? I have a 150 gr. flat tipped bootlit with 27.7grains of benchmark to start, and have some HSM factory loads lined up. It's looks like even the weather might get above freezing. Can't wait.

[44man]

I sure want to hear what you come up with.
Sadly SR 4759 was best in a 10" barrel and they stopped making it. I have no idea what powder will replace it.

[Love Life]

I'll be wathing this thread as the BFR in 30/30 has always intrigued me.

[runfiverun]

I have shot the 45/70 version and the 30-30 looks like a lot of fun.

[Love Life]

It's (30-30 revolver) definately one of the few guns made that makes me want to whip out the wallet. It just seems like a cool deal.

[DeanWinchester]

I bet she barks like a big dog.

[Wis. Tom]

I am putting together some reloads for tomorrow. I would presume that a pretty good crimp is in order for this beast. Has anyone else reloaded for a 30/30 revolver? I have some 30 Cal. 135 gr. RNFP cast, sized to .309, and some Speer 125 gr. 308's, that I am putting together with Benchmark, H4895, or Varget. I do have other powders, but these are what I have used for my Savage 1899, for loads. Any suggestions?

[44man]

Powder burn rate can bite you if too slow. Same with the 45-70 because of the short 10" barrel. Any shorter is a joke to find a powder. I have been trying to find a powder that will replace 4759 and there is NOTHING so far. 5744 was sad. I just spent a lot of time trying to make it work. Out of every three shots I got one with a huge amount of blast, noise. I used Dacron filler too and tried LP mags and LR primers. Sick groups. RL7 gave me a "click-bang" with one shot and very low velocity. 4198 gave me pressure excursions to stuck brass. 1600 fps with a jump to over 1800 fps.
4759 is my best powder in the 7R and 7BR 10" pistols and was the only powder for the TC Tender 10" in 30-30. The BFR 45-70 ONLY shoots with 4759. I have not found a replacement. Everyone should call Hogdon and complain.

[Wis. Tom]

A man my age should not have this much fun. The 30/30 BFR was a joy to shoot. The recoil was manageable to say the least. The sites were spot on right out of the box and for open sites, it shot the place up, but I have a lot of work to go with my 135 gr. roundnose lead flatpoints. They are .309 diameter and I loaded them with 28 gr. and 28.7 gr. of Benchmark. They seemed to be everywhere, with a grouping of over 7" at 50 yards. Hands down, the Speer 125 gr. HP .308, loaded with 34.5 gr. of H4895 shot great, with a grouping of 1" at 50 yards. I had a great time, and am planning on going back tomorrow. I wish I would have used the same powder for each one, but will enjoy trying to find the best combo in the making. The 170 gr. factory loads grouped at 5", but shot 20 of those and only 3 of each of the others. I didn't have any leading and cleaned the barrel in between each change of ammo. I will say this BFR really barks, and I even put ear plugs in, under my muffs, after the first group were shot. I used a Rock Jr. with a sandbag under the elbow, for a rest. The guys shooting their ARs at the 50 yd. couldn't understand that it was a 30/30 that I was shooting. A lot of fun, and I might even get a scope for this thing, but I was very happy with the open sites. Will check in later, hopefully with better cast results.

[357maximum]

Powder burn rate can bite you if too slow. Same with the 45-70 because of the short 10" barrel. Any shorter is a joke to find a powder. I have been trying to find a powder that will replace 4759 and there is NOTHING so far. 5744 was sad. I just spent a lot of time trying to make it work. Out of every three shots I got one with a huge amount of blast, noise. I used Dacron filler too and tried LP mags and LR primers. Sick groups. RL7 gave me a "click-bang" with one shot and very low velocity. 4198 gave me pressure excursions to stuck brass. 1600 fps with a jump to over 1800 fps.
4759 is my best powder in the 7R and 7BR 10" pistols and was the only powder for the TC Tender 10" in 30-30. The BFR 45-70 ONLY shoots with 4759. I have not found a replacement. Everyone should call Hogdon and complain.

Jim

Have you tried 2400 and dacron in your 45/70 pistol? It worked great with 300 grainers in my contender 45/70, but my "pistol" had 17inches of barrel...so ??????not usre how that would transfer over. I have picked up 9 pounds of 4759 in the last few months, just in case......there is still some to be found if you are lucky and cover some miles.

[44man]

I did not like 2400 in mine. There is only one store here that has powder, but they are out of everything. I would like to try some of the new powders but there is none to be found. My friends keep checking where they live with no luck either.
That Benchmark sounds interesting, if it works in the 30-30 it should work in the 45-70. Maybe our chickens can lay some! :wink:

[rexherring]

Muzzle blast no matter what, found that out with a 10 inch contender I had. Faster powder is better I used Unique with cast 150's but if memory serves me 4198 with jacketed.

[Wis. Tom]

2400 is nowhere to be found around here, but the LGS had 10 lbs. of Benchmark.

[Wis. Tom]

I am having a problem with the cylinder locking up due to the primer deforming, but it only happens with lower powder charges. When I shoot mid to hot loads, it has never happened. I just have to advance the cylinder by hand, to the next round, and it shoots fine. It also happens when I shoot 130 grain Winchester factory 30-30's, but cycles fine with the 150 and the 170 grain Power points. Anyone else have this problem with a large frame revolver? I even switched from Winchester primers to CCI, but it still happens on the lighter loads. It will shoot hot loads all day, and never have a cycling problem. ???

[Wis. Tom]

Just when I was finding the perfect load combo that is shooting great( Varget and a 170 gr. 308), I now get to test Magnum Research's warranty dept. Over the weekend, as I was shooting, the ejector rod came loose and lodged in the cylinder. I called them and it had to be sent back. Fed Ex picked it up so will have to wait and see. Since I have only had it 3 weeks, at least they sent me a prepaid label so I didn't have to pay shipping. Will let you know how it goes.

[44man]

Low pressure with dragging primers. The primer backs out and the brass does not go back to re seat them. Primers are sticking up. Loads too light.
I do not understand an ejector rod lodging in the cylinder. The screw on the EJRH usually shears and it leaves out front. The rod usually goes forward under recoil. It can only go back so far so let us know what is found, it does not make sense at all.

[Wis. Tom]

I took the loose rod out when the shell dropped out. The problem was that I had to send it back, to get it put back in so it would stay. Sorry about the wording, the cylinder locked up when the rod went inside the shot casing, halfway in the spring loaded ejector tube and inside the shell casing, stopping the advance to the next round, so as soon as the shell came out, so did the rod. The revolver still shot and everything worked, but just couldn't use the ejector rod to get the shells out of the cylinder after opening the gate. Since it was only 3 weeks old, I sent it in right away, to get it fixed right. Still very happy with the revolver.

[Wis. Tom]

44man, thanks for explaining that. I knew it was happening on the lighter loads, but didn't know why. Brass not moving back to reset them. Thanks again. Still learning everyday.

[Wis. Tom]

Fed Ex has returned the BFR from Magnum Research, and the ejector rod has been welded back into place. I have some 165 gr. cast ready for testing. I had to take the scope off to send it back, so have to reinstall that and then it's off to the range. Can't wait.

[dougader]

I've only ever had the T/C Contender with the Super 14" barrel, but it loved AA2460 and 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips. That thing just seemed to hit everything I pointed it at. It was scary accurate.

I wish I still had it so I could try some cast loads with it...

[44man]

Funny how a TC in 30-30 can be so accurate. I loved mine but a friend talked me out of it. Mine was 10", but took some work to find a load, sorry I don't remember as I gave it all to my friend. I used the RCBS 308-165-sil but it has no crimp groove. With a scope I could hit pennies at 100 yards from a rest. I asked him for the loads but he does not use my boolit so it was wrong. He lost my stuff.
I don't think the boolit will work in a revolver anyway, need a crimp. I don't want to use it in my Marlin either.

[Wis. Tom]

Hornady makes a 30 cal. .308 165 grain boat tail soft point, called Interlock, that I am also using, and it has a crimp groove. It is extremely accurate with Varget, and I am getting 2300 avg. velocity, using CCI #250 magnum primers. The Hornady number is #3045. This gun with the 10 in. barrel, is more accurate than I could ever image. I am getting away from the rest and sandbags now, and developing my off-hand shooting. The trigger of this Magnum Research, I think, is the key. Very easy to master the steady squeeze and the pull is very steady and smooth. I am putting in one empty case, every now and then,in the chamber with the live rounds, just to make sure I am not developing a flinch of any kind, from the recoil. Later on in the shooting is when I notice it, so I am limiting myself to 10 to 20 cartridges, per session, when using full-power loads.

[44man]

Sounds good. I was shooting my friends .454 and caught a flinch or two but not sure. It has a scope and I can't shoot a scope off hand. I want the gun to go off as the shaking cross hairs pass the target.