Which powder to start with for 30-30 WCF?

[novalty]

Well last night I thought I'd take a look at my supplies and see what I had on hand for reloading some 30-30 WCF for my Marlin 336. I haven't loaded for this caliber yet, but have accumulated enough supplies to keep me shooting once I am up and running. Have a couple boxes each of 150 and 170gr jacketed bullets either flat or round nose, as well as, a couple bricks of large rifle primers. So I flipped open a couple reloading manuals to see what was listed for powder for the 2 different sized bullets. After looking down through I am not sure which one to start with as I have a bunch on hand. Thinking of 748, as I have about 3lbs of it. For my shooting, I am looking for something on the very low end just for a plinking 100 yard load, as my arthritis is not a fan of recoil.

748
760
A2230
BLC-2
IMR3031
IMR4320
IMR4350
Benchmark
Reloader 15

[felix]

Any of them listed will be fine! Use whatever powder you have the most of to perform your cold start with the gun. ... felix

[jmort]

I would suggest RL 7 or SR4759

[novalty]

I would suggest RL 7 or SR4759
Would prefer not to have to buy another jug of powder where I have 9 different ones already.

[Oldtimer45]

From that list 748 would be my pick.

[Outpost75]

The powders you have listed all all fine for full charge loads.

If you want light plinking loads which approximate the velocity and recoil of the .32-40 blackpowder round load 12 grains of #2400 or 14 grs. of 4227, 16 grs. of 4198, 17 grs. of RL7 or 18 grs. of 3031, 4895, 4064, RL15 or Varget. DO NOT load reduced charges with any of the Ball powders, 2230, 748, H335, etc.

4320 and 4350 are slower than optimum for .30-30, but you can load a caseful of powder and not get into any trouble.

[novalty]

The powders you have listed all all fine for full charge loads.

If you want light plinking loads which approximate the velocity and recoil of the .32-40 blackpowder round load 12 grains of #2400 or 14 grs. of 4227, 16 grs. of 4198, 17 grs. of RL7 or 18 grs. of 3031, 4895, 4064, RL15 or Varget. DO NOT load reduced charges with any of the Ball powders, 2230, 748, H335, etc.

4320 and 4350 are slower than optimum for .30-30, but you can load a caseful of powder and not get into any trouble.

Hmmm, well I know for sure I have some 2400, and think I have a can of 4227 and 4895 as well.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/novalty1970/Reloading/PowdersandPrimers_zpsa1eb1dce.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/novalty1970/media/Reloading/PowdersandPrimers_zpsa1eb1dce.jpg.html)

[cbrick]

The 30-30 is an incredibly easy to load for cartridge and very cast friendly. The powders you listed will all work but not all for your 100 yard plinking round. The ball powders (748) work well but at or near full book loads, not well at all reduced.

My favorite in this cartridge is SR4759. Yesterday I loaded the RCBS 150 FP with a book starting charge of N-133 and the RCBS 180 FP with mid book loads of N-135. Was rather impressed with both. With the 30-30 I think it's harder to find something that doesn't work than it is something that does.

Perhaps as Felix said, use whichever it is you have the most of.

Rick

[runfiverun]

any of them will work fine.
I do use a reduced charge of AA-2230 in my 30-30's in fact it is the same load I use in my 223's with jaxketed boolits.
24.3 grs of 2230 under a cast boolit does very well in all weather conditions.
I don't know the velocity but it corresponds to the sight settings on my model 94's and my savage 340-A. [i'd guesstimate it about 2100 fps though]
I wouldn't hesitate to use the same load with store bought bullets and might even reduce it a bit further.
stick to standard primers.

[DeanWinchester]

None of the above. Reloader 7 rules the roost in 30WCF IMHO.

[jh45gun]

I vote for 2400

[LeftyDon]

Seems like everyone want's you to go buy some more powder. :-P Like a few people said, go with what you've got the most of or the one you least use for other stuff. In voting, I'll go with 748. But if you do get REAL LUCKY and find some other powder to purchase, I'd suggest LVR (leverevolution).

[rintinglen]

I'd choose 3031 for the light load you want, at least, from the list you provided. I use 748 for hunting loads, but for a lighter load, 25-27 grains of 3031 would be where I'd look. However, I'll go with CBRick on this one, it is harder to find a powder that doesn't work at least OK in the 30-30 than it is to find a stinker. I've used powders as fast as Unique and as slow as IMR 4350 and obtained pretty good accuracy.

However, I use 2400 for my lighter loads. 17.5 grains of 2400 under either a 155 grain 311-466 or a 170 grain 311-291 works very well. For a really light plinker, I like the 311-245, an old 95 grain rn design that shoots great at 50 yards. Loaded over 8.0 grains of Herco or Unique, it is surprisingly accurate, and there is virtually no recoil.

[6.5 mike]

My best full power loads in my 325b have been with 748 & a lee 170 fp. For lite stuff I use unique & lighter boolits. 7 grs of unique under a 311410 works great, bout like a 32-20.

[Driver man]

I see you have unique on your shelf. Use 10 grains ,good for 150,180.200 grain cast boolits.

[hatcreek]

I agree with diver man, I load 10grs of unique for a gas checked 170gr cast, easy on the body and a fun round to shoot, good luck HC

[helice]

Novalty,
The men on this forum have made the 30-30 one of my favorite shooters. You have a shelf full of options. I saw Unique and W-231 in and amongst 'em. GMDR gave a bunch of options using a plethora of flake pistol powders like Red Dot, Herco and 700X. The guys here liked the Lee Soup Can boolit of 115 grains or so. That has proved to be lots of fun and NO recoil. The 130 gr FN boolits have been used to harvest game with very mild recoil. Thanks to these guys I use the 30-30 as a step-up gun when I move the kids from rim fire to Center fire. I never see "flinchitis" when I use the 30-30 and light loads with the young'uns. Keep us informed of your attempts and your successes. It's fun for us all.

[imashooter2]

I voted 3031, but I recommend 2400.

[jonp]

3031 or 2400 for target unless you have a bunch of unique on hand.

[novalty]

Well to be honest I hadn't even considered Unique or 2400. I have a little over 2 lbs of Unique, and about 1.5lbs of 2400.

[MtGun44]

For boolits, Unique or 2400 are great. For Jbullets, my best accy was always with W748.

Bill

[TXGunNut]

Well to be honest I hadn't even considered Unique or 2400. I have a little over 2 lbs of Unique, and about 1.5lbs of 2400.

Hard to beat 2400 or Unique for plinking loads.

[trapdoor1873]

31.0 grains of 748 with the Lyman 311041. Meters perfectly. Very accurate in my Winchester 94s.

[Artful]

I voted IMR 3031 out of those listed - 748 for full power J word would be great - Unique or 2400 for plinking loads is also great.

[sparkz]

3031 was my vote, I just did this early in the year
also liked X-700 (like Unique or red-dot) for lite loads and economy loads
2400 worked real well too,,
Full House 748 - 760

All under Lyman 311-041 and -291
thats based on my shooting
so ya have a few options,
time to test a few, and get some shootin in, lol

Patrick

[novalty]

Appreciate all the feedback guys. Think I will run a few batches using IMR-3031, 2400, and Unique. Will try to cross reference those powders with the jacketed bullets in the many manuals I have for a starting load. Really appreciate all the information, as I hadn't considered the burn rate versus starting load performance.

[jlchucker]

Back when I first started loading for 30-30, actually that was the first caliber I ever loaded for. The powder I began with was Winchester 748. Since that time I've used that, as well as 3031, RL7. On occasion, depending on what I was loading, 4198 and AA5744. They are all good, but you have to work up a load for the gun you use if you are seeking perfection out of a given rifle. That's just part of the game. These days the added complication may be what powder your favorite gunshop may have in stock.

[TNsailorman]

H322, H335, BLC-2 for jacketed. I am new to the 30-30 and I still haven't used lead much but that is about to change. I've got a new 2 banger NOE 311-165 mold and I intend to try those with either 5744 or Herco or Trail Boss, maybe all three. H335 is becoming a real friend for me, so far I have used it in .223 Remington(bolt rifle), 8x57 mauser, and 30-30 and it has given me really nice groups. I didn't vote in the poll because I didn't see any choice that fit my experience much. james

[waco]

3031 got my vote, but I would add 2400 to the list as well.

[lylejb]

I've read good things about 3031 and 748, but can't find either now. I've tried imr 4895 and h335. while both worked, neither really hit the sweet spot in my win 94. I've tried hornady 150's and sierra 170's with both powders. Minute of deer at 50yds, but I know it should do better than that. Still looking.....

For cast, I've used lee 150's and lyman 308041 with unique, and with herco. good plinkers, which was what I was after.

[OverMax]

I went the route with 30-31 4198 & 2400. Settled on AA-2230 as my preference. Seems to work well in both my Winchester and old Savage 1899. By simply adjusting the powders scale weight up or down a grain or two. But that old Savage seems to like a little hotter fire in its brass than my pre 94 Winchester does. Both function & target well with anything weighing 170 grains or a shade over in cast weight.

[44man]

Been fooling with my Marlin, testing powders and loads. Ran a bunch yesterday and find little differences.
One thing was RE-7 giving me a low flier with about every load tried. Might try a mag primer.
4759 is a good powder. However I got some 1/2" to 5/8" groups at 50 yards with IMR 3031, H380 and H4895.
I am using the RCBS 150 FP and stopped fiddling around by going to jacketed bullet loads and working to max. This is what I did years ago when I shot a lot of cast in rifles.
33 gr of H4895 gave me 1/2", 33 gr of 3031 was 5/8", 37 gr of H380 was 5/8".
I didn't chrono but figure I am over 2300 fps. Water dropped WW metal, no leading.
I had to settle the powders and still had a tiny amount of compression but the 30-30 seems to like a case full of powder.
RECOIL? Does a 30-30 have any?
I used Felix lube. CR shot the same.

[cbrick]

I am using the RCBS 150 FP and stopped fiddling around by going to jacketed bullet loads and working to max.

I agree, whenever working with a cartridge with reasonable max velocities are somewhere around 2000 fps (like the 30-30) I use the jacketed data and forget trying to work up a cast boolit load. With cartridges like the 308 I often just use jacketed starting loads as a starting point. Same with most handgun cartridges. If the boolit fits the firearm properly and your not shooting either diamonds or putty just expect a bit higher velocity with the boolits.

Jim, the RCBS 150 FP is a great boolit but what happened with the mold you made for that rifle?

Rick

[44man]

Rick, the nose is a little large and is hard to chamber. I need to make a size die to bring the nose to .300". I have a .285" Lee die to lap.

[waco]

44Man....Your capable of feeling recoil?.....LOL!
A 30-30 is like a cap gun for you, isn't it?:)

[44man]

44Man....Your capable of feeling recoil?.....LOL!
A 30-30 is like a cap gun for you, isn't it?:)
Pretty much! It is a nice play gun.
Rick, I lapped the die to size the ogive to .301". Now I need loads for the boolit, it is 193 gr.

[cbrick]

Most of my 30-30 loading has been with SR4759 with boolits from 160 to 180 gr. 18.0 to 19.0 gr & standard primer & velocities from 1800 to 2000 fps. I 've also used 3031, H4895, H335, IMR4198 & very recently Viht. N-133 with 150 gr RCBS FP with starting book load & N-135 with 180 gr RCBS FP & mid book loads. Both of these RCBS boolits with a mild crimp in the crimp groove cycled in the action well. Both Viht loads look like they will work very well but when I tested it about a week ago where I had to shoot was pretty short range (about 35 yards) & no chrono.

Jim Taylor was very fond of 3031 but most of the loads I tried with this powder were up past 2100 fps & sharper recoil than what I was looking for. I used this rifle to shoot 40 round 200 meter matches on the handgun silhouette targets & anything accurate around 1800-1900 fps was all I needed.

My Win 94 BTW is an octagon 26" barrel w/Marbels peep sights.

Any of these powders with your 193 gr boolits & starting loads for the ugly brown things should be at least acceptable. I've found it difficult to find something in the 30-30 that wasn't at least ok, depends on what your looking for. I take it you'll be using this for hunting? Seems I remember something about your Granddaughter or someone hunting with this rifle? If I remember that correctly 4759 should get you past 1800 fps with reasonable recoil.

Rick

[44man]

My grandson doesn't hunt anymore so it is just a fun gun. I just want to make it as accurate as I can.
4759 will be tried too. Not interested in what velocity it takes, just best groups. Varget shot this boolit very good but I only have a small amount left. I also did better with 75% WW's and 25% pure so more testing will be done with alloy.
Soon I will need to find primers and powder.
One thing I found was a lot of brass has run out pretty bad and some is perfect so I neck turned some to see if they will straighten out. It is working, I have zero run out on a bunch of them now, out of the chamber. It doesn't matter the brand either. Some of the stuff shaved a lot off one side without touching the other.

[Dave Bulla]

I've had really good results with 28 to 29 grains of 3031 with Winchester LR primers and the Hornady 150 grain round nose #3035.

[Lead Fred]

Tho I use Reloader 7 for cast, Ball Cl2 does FTX real good at 2250fps

[searcher4851]

I've never tried Unique with a jacketed bullet in 30-30, but it's my go to powder along with Red Dot for cast plinkers in that caliber. (and yes, you can easily plink with it out to 100 yards)

[btroj]

I use mostly 2400 for 1700 fps loads. For hunting loads I turn to RE 15 because I have a fair bit on hand.

I know this shock many here but I have NEVER loaded any 3031. Never bought any either. 30 years of reloading and no 3031. Oh well, life goes on.

[BCRider]

In checking on the Hodgdon reloading data website I noticed that 748 only shows a single max load for data. This gets repeated with some other powders as well. Then I read cbrick's posts number 8 about ball powder not liking to be used with less than full power loads and it sort of makes sense. So while 748 has a good reputation it seems from these other indicators that it's only when used in full power loads.

No point in discussing the other options since they've been well supported. Just thought it would be interesting to consider why the 748 might not the best option for reduced power.

[georgerkahn]

I have several .30-30 Winchesters -- my favorite load is 22.5 grains of IMR3031 behind a Lyman #311291 boolet which weighs in at ~ 168 grains. I have used a bit of Puff-lon filler to put above the powder which has the benefit of decreasing ES significantly. However, the downsize for me is it is dirty stuff, and I come home from range with little particles of the stuff on "everything". Years back I used Unique and 2400 -- but the reliability of velocity and point of impact with IMR3031 keeps me using this powder. As a side note, I also load and shoot .30-30 Remington, and use this exact same loading for this caliber, functioning great in my Remington Model 8. geo

[Loudenboomer]

Except for pistol cals. and a few other exceptions. If its an original style lever gun. It will shoot 3031

[tygar]

44Man....Your capable of feeling recoil?.....LOL!
A 30-30 is like a cap gun for you, isn't it?:)

Actually you should try a old Sav 99 with crescent steel butt plate with stout loads. The recoil isn't bad but you have 2 very sore, black & blue spots where the heel & toe of that butt plate dig into your shoulder.

I shoot lots of big bores to .470 & I shoot the 99 last because if I shoot it first my shooting time will be shortened due to the sore spots.

If it wasn't a 1920s gun I'd put a but pad on it.