Looking for Some Favorite 30-30 Loads

[35 Whelen]

I'm brand new to loading the 30-30 and would like to poll the forum for some favorite loads. I have a plethora of .30 caliber moulds including an NEI 155 gr. plain-base FP, 311041, 311672, 311291, 314299, 311284, and probably some I'm forgetting.

FWIW, I'll be loading for an H&R single shot so bullet shape is irrelevant and I'm not necessarily looking for hunting loads, just something to shoot out to 200 yds.

Thanks!

35W

[Butler Ford]

Not familiar with your NEI or 311672 but any of the other that you have listed would be ideal. If I had to pick one to start with, it would be a toss up between the 291 & 284.

BF

[Hick]

I've used the 311284 with 22.0 grains of IMR 4064 and got 1450 fps (Win 94) and SD of 18. Was plenty accurate for my eyes (open sights). Nice at 100 yds but maybe slow for 200 yds.

[Four-Sixty]

I've had good luck with the 165 grain Ranch Dog boolit over 16 grains of 2400. Works at 100 yards, but I've never tried it further than that.

[aspangler]

The 041 and 30.5 grains of IMR 4064. 2045 fps. should work for you at that range for targets. Not so sure about game though. Works good in my OLD 336 witth cut rifling.

[FergusonTO35]

My Marlins with Micro Groove really like the Lee C309-150-RF with 28 grains IMR 4895. I size to .310 with Randyrat's Tac-X and an aluminum check from another vendor here (can't remember who). I'm probably going to switch to 4064 at some point as it is always in stock and my j-word loads do so well with it.

[Lead pot]

I have two loads I like for my 336 and 93 Marlin .30-30's For the .336 with Micro groove it takes the heavier 173 gr 041 Lyman with a load of 4198 or 40 gr of 2F black. It's the only good load I found for the Micro groove barrel that shoots any where close to what I want shooting a cast bullet in that rifle. Jacketed is a different story, I think if I could see a fly at 100 yards it would be splattered on the paper.
The 93 Marlin likes a load of Rx-7 and the new 150 gr Accurate arms mould 31-151-G I just got shoots very good. With Rx-7 and especially with a load of 2-F black.
I found the micro grooved 336 I have to keep the velocity below 1700 fps or the recovered bullets had some strange showings, Most where longer then they where before I shot them. The two end bullets are unfired, The #2 and #3 from the left are longer then the fired bullet it was a load around close to 1900 fps. I have to look up to see what exactly the load was.
The other three were shot at 1600 fps. Strange ain't it?????????
I haven't looked at any shot with the 93 with Ballard rifling.

[Lead Fred]

Well we only have one 30WCF left. Its has eaten nothing but the Ranch Dog 165gr, designed for Marlin Levers.
It works real good in the ballard rifled Winchester 94. 29gr 4895 for the Mrs, a tad more for me.

[dogrunner]

The 041 and 30.5 grains of IMR 4064. 2045 fps. should work for you at that range for targets. Not so sure about game though. Works good in my OLD 336 witth cut rifling.

My old SRC '94, circa 1925, shoots well with 30.9/IMR3031 using the 041 bullet. Sized .308, GC, alox lubed. Killed several deer and turkeys with that rifle.......just try to avoid hitting bone with the really hard cast stuff as it'l shatter like a grenade hit it!......never have recovered a bullet and never had a deer go more than about 50 yards with a chest shot. Far as turkeys go, just hit 'em above the wings and you've got thanksgiving or Xmas good to go.


Aspangler, meant to mention that my Oehler says my loads just a bit faster than yours.........not that it really makes a lick of difference!

[John Boy]

Take your pick of 30-30 loading data ... http://reloadammo.com/3030load.htm

[aspangler]

Aspangler, meant to mention that my Oehler says my loads just a bit faster than yours.........not that it really makes a lick of difference!

Haven't seen the deer yet that could tell 1-200fps difference.LOL

[quilbilly]

My current favorite might be just what you are looking for if your rifle likes it. I am shooting the Lyman 130 gr plain base boolit over an 85% load density of Trail Boss for an MV of about 1250 fps. Coyotes have hated it out to 150 yards and it rings the gong at 200 yards. There is almost no recoil and the noise is bearable in a populated area. I am using Lee Alox making it fun, cheap, and simple to cast, load, and shoot year around. Not even a hint of leading after shooting all day.

[flyin brian]

I've settled on 22gr of AA5744 with a 170GC or 33gr of H4895 with a 170 Sierra FP Jacketed. I don't shoot much 30-30 but it is a fun one to play with.

[Tenbender]

I lucked on a load, 311041 boolit, 35 gr. Re15. Powder coated boolits and they group less than an inch at 100. Never have found that load in any book. Don't know how I came on it. My 336 Marlin loves'em though.

[yeahbub]

A Lyman 311466, gas-checked, sized and lubed .309 with a flat top punch to introduce a .180 dia. flat on the nose over 30gr AA 2015 (safe out of this rifle - YMMV) gave me 1-2" at 100 yards from a lapped Win 94. The same boolit paper patched with 100% rag drafting vellum did just as well and left the bore shiny and lead free. Plenty of authority, but recoil was easily managed. They accounted for a host of threatening dirt clods, ravening cow pies and devious hedge apples lying in wait. Dangerous country out there, I tell ya. . . Never know what those pop cans are scheming to do, filled with water and standing on a fence post like that.

[yeahbub]

Tenbender, what alloy are you using for that 311041 PC boolit? Is your barrel micro-groove? I read some folks size them .002-.003 over groove diameter for use in micro-groove rifling. Paper patch is excellent there but I'm curious about the viability of powder coat in that application. A powder coat set-up could produce volume much faster than paper patch.

[Tenbender]

Tenbender, what alloy are you using for that 311041 PC boolit? Is your barrel micro-groove? I read some folks size them .002-.003 over groove diameter for use in micro-groove rifling. Paper patch is excellent there but I'm curious about the viability of powder coat in that application. A powder coat set-up could produce volume much faster than paper patch.

My 336 is a micro groove and I size .310. .311 shoots just as well but to hard to chamber. PC is the way to go. I use 50 50 wheel weights and pure. Add some tin for fill out. The same load with lubed boolits are around 150 fps slower than PC. Have had no leading problem either way. Barrel stays cleaner with PC.

[rintinglen]

311-291 17.5 grains 2400 or 34.0 grains of WW748.
311-041 ditto.
311-466 ditto
311-245 8.0 grains Herco or Unique.
Lee 314-90 grain SWC sized 311 and 7.5 grains of Unique.
311-316 17.5 2400
RCBS 30-180 FN 30 grns WW748 or 28 grns 3031
These are all good accurate loads that I have used. One is bound to tickle your fancy.

[Bill*B]

I shoot a 185 grain Mountain Mold, which should be reasonably close to your 311291 or 311041. Twenty grains of H4198 gives consistent accuracy and about 1600 fps from my short "trapper" barrel.