.30-30 and IMR-3031. Most Accurate Load For You?

[emrah]

I'm shooting a .311 sized Lee C309-170. Weighs in at 181-ish grains. I've been shooting 2400 in it, but want to step up to some higher velocity (approacing 2K would be nice).

I'm getting pretty good accuracy with 170 gr. jacketed bullets with 28.0 of IMR-3031. I would like to use this powder for the cast boolit as well.

The Lyman manual shows cast boolits maxing out at around 27+ grains. However, I've read on here where people are using 28.0 and above. I'm not looking for max velocity, just an accurate load hovering around 2000 fps. A little less would even be just fine.

What IMR-3031/.30-30 combo works best for you guys? I'm shooting a Win 94 Ranger.

Thanks,

Emrah

P.S. I will probably try LeverEvolution, H4895 and IMR-4198 in the future. I just want to work with 3031 for now.

[kelbro]

I shoot 30gr behind that bullet. Used that load for many years. Accurate and a good killer.

[emrah]

Well, I ended up loading 25.0 grains and 27.0 grains. We'll see how it shoots tomorrow.

Emrah

[Le Loup Solitaire]

An old Lyman manual that I have shows 30-31 grains of 3031 as being the max. I started out at 25 and worked up. At 27 I got the best grouping and stopped there. If you go higher then you will increase the MV and the ME if you are interested in the hunting factor. At 30 grains you are pretty much at the max of around 2000-2100 fps and with the older 94's that's it. I use Lyman 311291 which is the same as 311041 at around 170 grains. LLS

[geargnasher]

The powder you're looking for to get 2K fps with that boolit in .30-30 is Reloder 7. 3031 and 748 are good for heavier boolits at about that speed or maybe a bit more.

Gear

[rintinglen]

Your 28 grain jacketed load will work just fine with a 181 grain gas checked, cast boolit, but you may find that the accuracy is better at the 25-26 grain level.
My personal preference is to use a powder that meters better, because I occasionally load several hundred 30-30's at a crack, but I have used 3031 with the Lyman 311-041 during a misguided attempt to reduce the number of powders on the shelf.