Flat nose ,but smaller diameter than primer.

[Elroy]

I recently got into loading for a 94 in 30-30, and have really enjoyed the rifle,and am very pleased with the way it shootsmand functions..I ordered both 150s,and 170s Speer Flat nose, and notice that the tip,or meplat is smaller than the primer.I know there is some disagreement over if this is safe,I did lay some loaded rounds in a corner of a cardboard box to simulate how they should ride in the tube magazine,and the noses fully contact the rim of the cartridge they are inline with..Do you folks only shoot bullets with meplats larger than the primers,or are you OK with smaller tips as long as they seem like they will contact the rim instead of the primer of the round they are against? 245499245500

[Walks]

I've never heard of a Factory or a cartridge Handloaded with a J-FN going off in the mag tube. Not even Round Nose's.

I've loaded 1,000's of FN & RN in .30-30, .35Rem and .45-70. Never gave it a thought. I think there is a very small area on the center of a primer's cup that has to be hit to have it ignite. Look how small firing pins are, and the size of the little apex of the "tripod" inside of the primer cup.

[ShooterAZ]

My opinion is that you'll be fine. Really pointy bullets are the ones that cause problems, think ballistic tips.

[Elroy]

Thanks guys ..I know the pictures are lousy.I can take them with my little tablet,and post them without using a photo sharing sight..I need to remember to quit turning it sidways when I take a picture though.LOL

[RED BEAR]

I have never had a primer go off when installing even the few times i crushed the primers. I really think your ok.

[beltfed]

Elroy,
One bullet you might look at seriously for reloading that 30-30 lever gun
is the Hornady 160 grain Flex Tip , the one specifically for the 30-30.
( they also make one with different ogive and crimp groove for the 308 Marlin Express)
The 30-30 version shoots very well for me
beltfed/arnie

[Outpost75]

Factory .30-30 jacketed round nose with exposed lead nose are .155" meplat diameter on those I have measured.

If your loads are of similar shape I see no issues. 245508

245509245510

Ed Harris design for .30-30 from Accurate I have used with full charge loads at factory velocity, fits pre-1964 Winchester 94 and Marlin 336 chamber throat. 31-155D is plainbased, use 1/2 charge for jacketed bullet. The 171-grain is the GC OK for full-charge loads.

[Elroy]

Thanks.The main reason I went with the Speer was price,because they were on sale from Midway,and the fact that they have been running their free shipping on orders over $50 pretty non-stop for a while.I think I ended up buying more than I should have.I bought 3 boxes each of 170s,and 150s.I ended up with plenty of brass as well.I bought 100 R.P. from Midway, and just the other day I bought 200 new Winchester from a guy here on this forum..Now if this weather cools down a hair I should get some more shooting in.I hate getting sweat on a gun.

[Hick]

What Walks said-- I too have loaded thousands of RN without issues. The original requirement for FN goes all the way back to US government purchases in the days when primers were waaaaay more sensitive than what we have now. That said, I occasionally shoot FMJ/BT pointed bullets in my 30-30 and those I NEVER put in the magazine (Single shot only)