Light loads for 30-30

[snaketail]

I'm looking for light(er) loads for my 30-30. I shoot a 130gr and a 165gr in silhouette matches. I don't need to
kill" anything, just hit the targets with enough force to knock them over.
Got any loads you can share for the 130gr cast boolit. I'll use 25/26gr of 3031 for the 165gr boolit.

[Ramjet-SS]

I am shooting a 170 Gr FPGC over 11.6 grains of Universal. Out of my Henry 1375 FPS.

[Komodoj]

Try using 165gr using 8gr trail boss

[retiredPO]

Im using 7.2 grs of Clays with 165...336 loves it

[phonejack]

http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm
Here ya go!

[725]

Speer manuals have reduced recoil load data.

[snaketail]

I found a very interesting thread on the Marlin website. The thread has almost 5 years entries about light 30-30 loads. I can find it on my phone, but not when I use the desktop.

[Shuz]

For light loads in my .30-30 Marlin 336, I like 7g of Unique and the NOE 30-165RF in plain base or gas check. Excellent accuracy of 5 shots in less than 3/4" at 50M, and velocity of 1143 fps with an SD of 5.

[Scharfschuetze]

Phonejack,

Great link that you posted. The 32 Special and 45/70 data closely follows my testing with Red Dot, Bullseye and Tight Group in both of these calibres so I think that the data for the other cartridges listed is probably pretty accurate. My SDs were higher than those listed in this study, but that could all be due to primer lot or brand. Accuracy and velocities were pretty much spot on.

Snaketail,

I wish that I could help you with the 130 grain boolit, but my only experience in the 30/30 is with the RCBS 30-150-FP 150 grain and the Lyman 311041 170 grain boolit. Both shoot well at the lower velocities that you seek and will hold well out to 200 yards on a calm day if your sight (Lyman 66 on my Model 94) has enough adjustment in it.

[Salmoneye]

5-6gr Red Dot

[YunGun]

130gr cast (MP411410 HP/solid GC) - 7.5-8gr Trail Boss, 8-9gr Unique, 10gr Herco* (9/10 on 200yd steel past weekend!), 10-11gr 4759, etc.

Also, here is a link to the MarlinOwners thread you were referring to earlier SnakeTail; "Lighter bullets in .30-30" - it's a good read!

[snaketail]

Thanks YunGun - exactly what I need. And the MarlinOwners thread certainly is a good read for any 30-30 owner - its a five-years collection of good info - thanks.

BTW- I have your avatar tattooed on my left leg. It was my 50th birthday present to myself. I get funny comments sometimes ..."Do you know what that means? Were you in a gang? Isn't that an oriental symbol for murder?" Naw man, its yin and yang - if you have to ask, then you don't understand...

Thanks,
M

[Scharfschuetze]

Your tattoo is also very similar to the 29th Infantry Division's insignia of WWII fame.

[woody1]

Back to the original topic.....Lots of good choices listed by other posters. For me, I generally use either ~8 grains of Unique or 7.4 grains of Green Dot for my 30-30 light loads with anything from about 100-125 grains. No gas checked boolits involved. For real light loads, 3.1 gr. B'eye under any of the 70-90 grain boolits works fine for across the yard shots as does the same powder charge under a .311" round ball. Regards, Woody

[snaketail]

I've got some 125s I'd like to try loading with Unique. Do you recommend a tight crimp?

M

[woody1]

I don't ever recommend a tight crimp. Just enough to do the job. Unique lights easily and with no recoil, just enough crimp to keep the boolit from telescoping into the neck is all that 's needed. Regards, Woody

[FredBuddy]

The Marlin thread mentioned is a treasure-trove of information. I use an old Lyman 3118 mold meant for the 32-20 producing a 115 gr boolit at .310 and 6 grs of Unique. Accurate at 50 yds, no recoil, and about as cheap as today's priced 22's.

Ya' gotta try it !!!

[Catshooter]

I also use the Ideal/Lyman 3118 120 grains over five grains of Red Dot. Shoots very well, quiet, and no recoil.

My grandson loves them.


Cat

[TXGunNut]

2400 makes a nice plinking load, 14 grs should be a good start point with a light boolit. Could possibly even go lighter.

[rintinglen]

If gas checked, a great load for the 130 grain boolit is 17.5 grains of 2400, If it is plain based, I have used 8.8 grains of Herco with a 120 grain boolit for chickens and pigs. The 311-465 works great with the afore mentioned 2400 load all the way out to turkeys, but I used a much heavier load of WW-748 for rams.