Winchester 94 .30-30 with light loads

[David LaPell]

I took my Model 94 out yesterday with some 110 grain Speer LRN bullets with 30.0 grains of Reloader 7 powder, which is on the lighter end of things.
Accuracy is not great, this was out to 25 yards, it shot high, to be expected, I had to work at it to get it around 6 o'clock to get the elevation right, but it shot left and the groups were very large. Compare that to the 25 yard groups with 170 grain bullets and the silhouette target out at 125 yards. Best guess is the bullets are going too fast, too light, and not stabilizing with the rifling.

https://i.imgur.com/Dw7hFgq.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/pE2wMQn.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/4y6kQih.jpg?1

[Outpost75]

Try those 110-grain bullets with about 16 grains of #2400 or 20 grs. of IMR4227, ballistics about like the .30 M1 carbine. Think you'll have better results. With RL7 you might try dropping the charge to about 24-25 grains to avoid pushing the carbine bullets faster than they are designed to go.

[Drm50]

I'm not fimilar with that bullet and I haven't shot light bullets out of my Win. 94. I have done a lot of
experimenting with 30/30 in Marlin 336. I have got excellent results with 110gr Speer Varmiter Hp
with 37.0gr of IMR 4064 at 2710. Have also used Sierra FMJ 30 carbine bullet with go accuracy but
as with FMJs not much good for hunting. I have also shot a bunch of Hornady 100gr 1/2jackets with
6.4gr of Unique at 1200fps. Shot like a 22, killed a sack of squirrels inside 50yds with this load. I tried pushing them faster with poor results. Going up to 130gr Speer Hp ( pointed HP ) I shot the
best groups I have ever shot with 30/30 at 100yds. I got several 60 yd groups with iron sights at 11/2". Clover leaf at 60yds with scope. Loaded with the Speer 130gr hp with 35.0gr Win 748 at 2600
fps. I was hesitant to shoot these in Win 94. My gun for work up was a 219 Savage before I shot in
Marlin 336. This load has also been shot in Savage 340 and H&R Handi gun with no signs of excessive pressure. I just bought a couple boxes of Hornady 90gr XTPs .309" dia. They are pistol bullets. I want to run them hot as possible hoping they will group. My 110gr loads hit about 6" low
fired with 150gr sight in at 100yds. My Marlin has 16" barrel so FPS listed is a lower than book.

[Hick]

According to my Speer manual a 110 grain bullet with 30 grains of reloader 7 runs 2300 to 2400 fps. Your Winchester likely has a 1:12 twist. That Speer load is for a jacketed bullet,not a lead bullet. That velocity in a 1:12 twist means the rotational speed of the bullets is between 138,000 and 140,000 RPM. There are threads on this forum that talk about the effect of RPM. Some types of lead bullets start to loose their shape or even self-destruct somewhere around 140,000 RPM-- that may be why you are seeing accuracy issues. Try slowing them down a little.