30-30 Reduced Load

[Mesmeridicus]

First post, and I have to make it snappy (I'm in a rush).

I came here because you guys are the experts, and I need an expert opinion.

Load Info

Bullet: .309in, 165gr RNFP (Meister)

Powder: IMR 4198, 13.5gr

Primer: Federal Gold Large Rifle

Case: PRVI 30-30

OAL: 2.55


So, am I going to blow my hand off with this load? It's pretty light, but I've read a lot about secondary explosions in light loads.

How low can you go with a powder like IMR 4198?

Thank you, really, for any information you could give me. It is greatly appreciated.

-Mes

[smilie=s:

[Mesmeridicus]

And I think this is the right board, but if not don't hesitate to move it elsewhere!

[felix]

Not likely, but use the long granule version for the extra margin. Much safer at circa 18 grains with the powder level or all on top of the primer. Do not allow all the powder to sit on the boolit base. ... felix

[hicard]

Welcome to the site Mes. Your filling 45.5% of the case with that load. Velocity should be 1152 fps in an 18" barrel and pressuer is at 8617 psi for 486 fp of energy. Do you have Unique? 6.3 grs of Unique will get the same velocity with 13931 fp of energy. Might work better for you.

[725]

If you are interested in reduced loads, I would consult a Speer manual. Speer lists reduced loads for lots of cartridges.

[frnkeore]

A excellent 30/30 load is 14.0 gr 4227 or 4759.

Frank

[stubshaft]

Trail Boss!

[Keyston44]

My reduced 30-30 load is 7.5gr of Unique under a Lee 150gr gas check boolit with out the gas check.

Key

[Rocky Raab]

My 30-30 gives 1200 fps with 7.0 of Bullseye, or 700X or RedDot or GreenDot, or Solo 1000, or Nitro 100. I prefer to use RedDot because it is a bit fluffier.

Pressure spikes with much-reduced rifle powders have only occurred (to my knowledge) with slow to very slow powders such as 4831. I know of no such event with powders 4895 and faster.

[Jack Stanley]

Many years ago I used sixteen grains of IMR 4198 in a .308 case with a hundred and fifteen grain cast bullet . Accuracy was good , tree rats came out of the trees right now when hit and rifle and body parts stayed where they belonged .

Jack

[Ben]

If I was going to shoot 1,100 fps with a 30 / 30, I can think of about 20 powders that I'd feel more comfortable with than IMR - 4198.

Unique being # 1 on that list of 20.

Now .......if 1700 - 1800 fps is your game, IMR 4198 becomes a much better candidate.

Ben

[white eagle]

its kinda funny how everyone has different ideas

[1Shirt]

I go with Ben, it is a reality check!
1Shirt!:coffee:

[Baja_Traveler]

Mine is 8.2gr of Universal (right next to Unique on the burn rate chart, and burns cleaner) under a 165gr plain based cast. It's my go-to chicken load for silhouettes using my 30-30.

I never considered 4198 a light load powder when there are so many better alternatives, but I guess it could work...

[GREENCOUNTYPETE]

i don't use 4198 in my reduced 30-30 but the lee 2nd edition data for it anything between 11 and 21 gr of h4198 now that imr and hogden are one company the data should be interchangeable for anything less than max or near max

if you don't have a copy of the Lee 2nd edition you should definitely consider getting one , it has a lot of data and they list pressures and suggested starting loads , some manuals seem to have so little data they give you the max and that is it no pressures no suggested starting ,and it has a section on reduced loads including a fair amount of data for 30-30 308 and 30-06

[Mesmeridicus]

Wow thanks a lot guys, great information.

As you can tell, I'm a bit of a novice. I've been using the two Lee Loaders (30-30 and 7.5x55), and I began by just sticking to the little data card that comes with the kit. I realized that a reduced load would be a great way to save a some money (college kid). So, IMR 4198 being the only powder I had at the time, I did a little research, a little math, and came up with that 13.5gr load you see there (it's really about 15gr, but I figured I'd be conservative when asking, just to make sure). I fashioned a dipper out of an old .45 auto case and paper clip, and started makin' 'em. Well, I'd made about 50 of them by the time I started realizing how much I value my extremities, so I got back on the web and looked into it again. This was a couple months ago. I'm back from school for the summer, and those rounds are sitting in my garage. I'd like to use them, if they're safe. So that's why I came here. I'll probably pick up another pound of powder (either Unique or Trail Boss, most likely) within the next week so I can start on these suggestions.

Mes

Thanks for the help guys, and thanks for having me.

[Ben]

If you want to shoot some money saving, accurate loads ( fun loads ) , get a pound of Unique.

Unique did not get that name by happen - chance.

As an example , if you shoot 9.5 grs. of Unique, you'll get 737 rounds from a pound of powder.

Ben

[jameslovesjammie]

Trail Boss!

+1.

This is a really fun powder!

[Rocket Man]

Welcome to the site Mes. Your filling 45.5% of the case with that load. Velocity should be 1152 fps in an 18" barrel and pressuer is at 8617 psi for 486 fp of energy. Do you have Unique? 6.3 grs of Unique will get the same velocity with 13931 fp of energy. Might work better for you.

How can this be the laws of physics have not changed. If velocity is the same 1152 fps in both cases how can one have more energy than the other. Both bullets weights and same velocity the same no matter how you manage it energy should be the same. Did I miss something in physics class?

[wiljen]

I'm thinking it is a misprint and he meant 13931 PSI not energy as you are right at the same velocity for the same weight bullet Muzzle energy is the same.

[Greg Mercurio]

+2 on Trailboss. Why mess with anything else? :bigsmyl2:

[fwt1712]

ADI list the following loads for the 30-30 for cowboy shooting i.e. lead loads at lower velocity:

160gn cast

Trail boss 6.5 gn (995fps) - 9.0 gn (1195fps)
AR2207 (sold by Hodgdon as 4198) 15.0 gn (1420fps) - 17.0 gn (1616fps)

[Thumbcocker]

What Rocky said. Happiness will be found with red dot 6-7 grains.

[OnHoPr]

13 gr of Steel and 180gr Lee for my plinker load. Less than 1.5" at 50yd in the ole 94.

[EDK]

Do a search here for gmdr...then follow to his web site and be overwhelmed with calibers, boolit weights, and loads.

:Fire::cbpour::redneck:

[res45]

7 grs. of Red Dot and the Lee 170 RNFP with the GC left off and two light coats of Alox/JPW lube has become my favorite plinker/small game load in my Sav. 30-30 pump gun. It's shoots as good as you can hold it.

[scattershot]

Do you gentlemen who use those light loads (6-7 grains Red Dot, etc.) use any filler, like a tuft of dacron? Or does it matter?

Thanks for any info.

[wiljen]

no need for filler with red dot.

[scattershot]

Thanks. I was just given 8 pounds of the stuff, and I plan to use it in anything I can.

[res45]

Nope never used a filler with any of my Red Dot rifle loads.

[helice]

That's the joy of RedDot-no filler needed. 2400 seems to be the same.

+1 on the RedDot loads. No objection to the Unique loads.

Cheap and they are fun!