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Thread: >30-30 Factory Loads in my Contender

  1. #1
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    >30-30 Factory Loads in my Contender

    Went to range this week and fired five factory 170 grain soft point 30-30 loads in my 14 inch Contender G2. I am giving my neighbor the remaining 15 rounds. I prefer 98 grain cast bullets sized .309 and load 7 grains Unique. Not intended for hunting, just targets at 25 yds. Will adjust the loads for best accuracy. Would be interested in learning of other light accurate loads.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
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    With the lee 113gr fp, i use 4-6grs red dot, 5-8grs unique and 10-15grs of 2400. I have a 12" mgm 30/30 barrel and 24" bull. Todd/3leg

  3. #3
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    ShooterAZ's Avatar
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    I use 2.7 gr of Bullseye with the Lee TL314-90 SWC, sized to .311. It's good for around 950fps +/- in my Win M94 Carbine. Super accurate and fun to shoot. I'm sure it would be a hoot in a Contender.

  4. #4
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    Those of you using the Lee 113 grain soup can, have you tried them without the gas checks at these low velocities? Been thinking of a squirrel load for my Savage 219, and I'd prefer to keep it as cheap and simple as possible. Will likely use 700X but I have a lot of other powders that should be suitable.

  5. #5
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    I remember shooting a friend's 10" octagon Contender 30-30 from the bench with 170 gr Remington Corelokt ammo. NOT a pleasant memory. The next time he had 130gr hp reloads- much, much better.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

  6. #6
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    My contender carbine barrel, with its narrow lands,
    seems to prefer powder coated boolits with
    gas checks in order to deliver squirrel-head accuracy.

    I'm still working on the plain base 311008 hoping
    to find cheap accuracy.

    Put Trail Boss powder in the mix, too.

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy
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    I got a 45-70 barrel with 19 factory rounds left in the box.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Adam20 View Post
    I got a 45-70 barrel with 19 factory rounds left in the box.
    Humm sounds like you learned a little about recoil.Didn't get hurt did you?
    Last edited by SSGOldfart; 05-20-2019 at 06:26 PM. Reason: Small keyboard and large fingers
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  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by ShooterAZ View Post
    I use 2.7 gr of Bullseye with the Lee TL314-90 SWC, sized to .311. It's good for around 950fps +/- in my Win M94 Carbine. Super accurate and fun to shoot. I'm sure it would be a hoot in a Contender.
    Hi! I'll second the above. Exact same load I shoot in my T/C G2 Super 14 in 30 Herrett (I guess you could call it a .30-30 short.) Lot's of fun. I also shoot the Lee C309-120-R that I reamed the GC shanks and made PB. I PC those and they are also great shooters over 2.7 gr Bullseye and LPP. Ed

    ETA: I also shoot the same bullets/same loads out of my Savage Model 99 in 300 Savage, and those bullets work very well over 3.4gr Bullseye out of my .30-06s.

    Attachment 242124 Attachment 242125
    Last edited by RedlegEd; 05-20-2019 at 06:50 PM.
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  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    LOL, I did about the same thing with a 10" octagon 30-30. Less than a box of factory rounds through it. Makes a heck of a fireball at night. Got rid of it pretty quick.

    I like the little lee 113 gr bullet with a little red dot..

    Google "30-30 cowboy action loads". I bet some of those will run great in the TC.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    I shoot IHMSA with a 10 inch 3030 and full snort loads, you definitely knew when the hammer dropped! 9 gr of herco with a 311466 became my chicken load,, and general plinker. Didn’t need the extra layer of ear protection with the herco load either.
    “You don’t practice until you get it right. You practice until you can’t get it wrong.” Jason Elam, All-Pro kicker, Denver Broncos

  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy
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    Quote Originally Posted by SSGOldfart View Post
    Humm sounds like you learned a little about recoil.Didn't get hurt did you?
    Did not learn a thing about recoil, when I bought the barrel the box of shells came with it.

  13. #13
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    I am shooting 10 gr Unique with a 311 291 out of my 14" Contender.
    It`s a very pleasant and accurate load..dale

  14. #14
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    I asked a question about using Large Pistol Primers in 30-30 cast loads. several said go ahead, they work fine. I fired a box at the range today and my load was fairly accurate. I am reducing load to 6.7 grains Unique and using the large pistol primers. Seems to be accurate at 25 yards and light recoil. Thanks to those who advised me that the large pistol primers are fine for low velocity cast loads. dd

  15. #15
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    Just returned from range. Fired 5 round of each loaded with 2.8 grains Tite Group, 2.8 grains W231, and 5 rounds with 2.8 grains bullseye. all shot well and were fairly accurate at 25 yds. Wild try and refine the loads for a little better accuracy. All were very pleasant to shoot in my 14 inch Contender G2. dd

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
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    This is the great part about reloading, the flexibility. You can't beat playing with these light loads.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check