Your Favorite 30-30 Load

[No_1]

What is your favorite 30-30 load? It can be BP or smokeless and of course the projectile must be lead.

Robert

[Butler Ford]

Have only recently discovered WW 748 for the 30-30 and am very pleased. Many years thinking that if it wasn't 3031 it just wasn't for the 30-30. I've tried Varget, 4064 and a couple of others that I can't remember off hand. I have a Lyman 311291 that comes in at 180 gr. checked and lubed that works great in the H&R, Savage and Win but will not chamber in the Marlin. The 31141 weighs 177gr checked and lubed and works in all.
With the current jug of 748, I can't go to the max in the Lyman Cast 3rd with the 291, mine is a bit heavier but not that much, but dropping down to about 2150 fps is about the max and long term comfortable shooting is in the 2000 fps range with either of the two bullets.
Down range there doesn't seem to be much difference in accuracy but that may be me. All five shoot to 2-21/2" at 100. They may do better with different sights, the fire sight covers about 6" at a hundred but I can see them.

[ktw]

I've been working with H414 recently, getting full velocity and remarkably good accuracy in the area of 34-35gr, with several bullets. I have been working with Lyman 311041, the RD 311-165 and RCBS 30-180-FP in both an old Winchester 94 and a Contender Carbine.

It's got me rethinking the concept of fooling around with moderate loads using medium to fast powders. I need to look into slower powders in some of my other cartridges.

-ktw

[JDL]

++1 on the H-414 in 3 different rifles!
JDL

[imashooter2]

Most of my .30/30 shooting is 15.5 grains of Alliant 2400 under the Lee C309-150-F.

ETA: 1,736 fps average and as accurate as any jacketed factory ammunition (or reload for that matter) that I've ever shot. For this rifle, that's 2- 2.5 inches for 10 shots at 100 yards.

[leadman]

Lyman 311041, sized .309", WLR, 28.5 grs, H4895. 1 1/2" at 100 yards, equeals factory 170 gr velocity.
This is with a T/C Contender with a 21" tapered carbine barrel.

Check current loading data before using.

[geargnasher]

34.5 grains Win 748 under 150-grain whatever, with or without check, sized to fit your gun, WLR Magnum primer, tuft of Dacron filler optional for plain-based boolits. I wasn't aware any other powder would work in the .30-30 unless it was Holy Black, I learn something new every day :p

Gear

[barrabruce]

Iv'e been going a differnt route.
I use 5 grns unique.. darcon cci primers under a 170 flt LEE mould.
About that speed.
I'm only getting like 1 1/4" at 100 yrds :(
One group to day 3 shots in an inch at 150 yds and the other 2 dropped 3" down for some reason...errrgh..baugga...mirage...wind..scope...O hhh couldn't been me !!! :) :)

Can hit the 300 mtre gong (18" OD) with only 250" of elevation from a 25 yrd zero....
Bang.....wait for it...two, three"...ting"...:) ..
Some folks are cheap and easily pleased.

I wanna take out rabbits head sized targets a 150 yrds at least and ..empty cans at 200yrds.consistantly.

Long ways to go.
Barra

[rond]

30 gr. H335 behind a Lee 150 gr. FP with a gas check works well in my Marlin.

[softpoint]

Another vote for 760 or H414 here. My XLR likes it with the 180 RCBS!

[Kraschenbirn]

20.5 gr AA5744 under a Lyman 311466. Runs around 1900 fps from my Savage 340 and produces consistent 1 1/2" (or better) groups at 100M.

Bill

[Rocky Raab]

I don't have a single pet load.

I use either a 150 or 170 Lee GC bullet for all loads in my own Savage 340.

I like 7.0 of 700X for about 1200 fps as a 50-yard plinker load.

I also like 20 to 21 of A5744 for just under 2000 fps.

My most recent trial was 16.0 2400, for 1950 or so.

All are accurate in my gun.

[Shiloh]

Currently 15.5 gr SR 4759 clone behind a Lyman 311041 Just over an inch at 50 yds. with a 6x scope

[jimkim]

What is your favorite 30-30 load? It can be BP or smokeless and of course the projectile must be lead.

Robert

I have several. Each one has it's own personality and purpose.
30 WCF
Ideal 308241 152gr PB, 6.0gr Red Dot, 7.0gr Green Dot, or 7.5gr Unique,
Lee Soupcan 10.0gr Unique, 13.0gr Blue Dot,
RCBS 30-180-FN, 30.0gr IMR-4350,

I want to try RL-15, and H414/W760 next. Thumbs-up Softpoint, JDL, and KTW!!! Slower powders ARE the shiznick in a 30-30.

[geargnasher]

Iv'e been going a differnt route.
I use 5 grns unique.. darcon cci primers under a 170 flt LEE mould.
About that speed.
I'm only getting like 1 1/4" at 100 yrds :(
One group to day 3 shots in an inch at 150 yds and the other 2 dropped 3" down for some reason...errrgh..baugga...mirage...wind..scope...O hhh couldn't been me !!! :) :)

Can hit the 300 mtre gong (18" OD) with only 250" of elevation from a 25 yrd zero....
Bang.....wait for it...two, three"...ting"...:) ..
Some folks are cheap and easily pleased.

I wanna take out rabbits head sized targets a 150 yrds at least and ..empty cans at 200yrds.consistantly.

Long ways to go.
Barra

I love that, good cheap fun. Squeeze the trigger, lower the gun, take a bite of your sandwich, pick up your binoculars, futz with the focus, watch the gong jerk, wait for the "tink", smile to self, chamber another round. Nuttin' wrong with that.

Gear

[Tom308]

I use the Ranch Dog tlc 311-165 f, Lyman 311041 and Lee c309-170f with Juniors load of one lee 2.2 dipper of imr 4895. This comes out to about 30.5 grains. This load seems to be safe in my rifle. All rifles are different. I don't recommend this load for anyone else. Use at YOUR own risk. The load is reasonably accurate in my rifle. I lube with LLA and, have no leading issues.
Enjoy
Tom

[dualsport]

No pet load, question instead. I have an old jug of WC 844, anyone use this in a 30-30? It's supposed to be similar to BL-C2. Thanks.

[Firebricker]

Water dropped WW out of Lyman 311041 over 35gr BL-C2. That load shoots well in my Win94
and my friends Marlin 336 with microgroove barrel. FB

[Greg in Malad]

25 grs AA2230 with a RanchDog 165 gr, shoots 2000 fps @ sub 2moa in a Marlin 336
6.5 gr TrailBoss with the same bullet gives 1000 fps.

[32ideal]

29 grs H335 behind the 31141gc at 177grs about 1875fps, shoots great in my 94 carbine.

[JDL]

No pet load, question instead. I have an old jug of WC 844, anyone use this in a 30-30? It's supposed to be similar to BL-C2. Thanks.

I have used 25 grains with a dacron filler and 165 grain LFN but, the H-414 load is more accurate in my rifles.
JDL

[Ventura Guy]

30 gr. H335 behind a Lee 150 gr. FP with a gas check works well in my Marlin.

This load and bullet work great in my Marlin. One of the best. Also H4227 worked great with the same bullet.

My other favorite is 6.5 grains red dot with the lee 150 grain cast bullet. I've tried 4 grains to 8 grains but the 6.5 grains is the magic load. Gas check or not they both shoot extremely accurate. no fillers either.

[jnovotny]

I've got a great load for the J bullets, I know they'er not cast, just shoot me then. My marlin loves 34 grains of H380 under 150 gr round nose soft points. It really is a tack driver.

[Franklin Zeman]

What kind of primer are you using with the ball powders ????

[JDL]

Winchester Large Rifle.
JDL

[TCLouis]

So far loading so the bullet nose seats into the lands I have found 24.5 grains of WC846 to be accurate out of my 14" TC barrel.

I plan to chronograph tis load if range, weather and my schedule come together. Got all set up to chrono the other day and it was too dark to get a boolit to cast a shadow and register.

Who did this GB and what was it a copy of.
three crimp grooves

Sure wish we would sticky every GB Boolit drawing in GB area some place.

Oh well been "wishin" for that to happen for a long time

[jh45gun]

17 grains of 2400 with a 170 to 180 grain cast bullet. I mostly use the Ideal 311407bullet which is the only 30 cal mold I have. This is miserly enough to shoot a lot due to using the 2400 yet plenty strong enough to drop a whitetail.

[Thecyberguy]

I have several. Each one has it's own personality and purpose.
30 WCF
Ideal 308241 152gr PB, 6.0gr Red Dot, 7.0gr Green Dot, or 7.5gr Unique,
Lee Soupcan 10.0gr Unique, 13.0gr Blue Dot,
RCBS 30-180-FN, 30.0gr IMR-4350,

I want to try RL-15, and H414/W760 next. Thumbs-up Softpoint, JDL, and KTW!!! Slower powders ARE the shiznick in a 30-30.

JIMKIM< You say "Lee soupcan". What is the mold number, etc. on that ? I have had many answers to my "soupcan" questions.

Thanks for the help and have a good 'un, Guy

[Auscaster]

22.5 gr's of 4198 behind a Lee C309-150F with GC gets along at about 1850 fps out of my Win 94. Gives me 1 1/2" - 2" at 100 yards. Now if i could get the soupcan to group like that at 100 yards i'd be happy. Gunna try the soupcan with 11grs of Unique, the 4198 just throws it around.

[Auscaster]

Oh yer...Thecyberguy...As far as i understand, the "soupcan" refers to the Lee C309-113F

[jlchucker]

Winchester Large Rifle.
JDL

Same here, as a rule. When they were in short supply last summer I bought a thousand CCI's, and they seem to work pretty much as well. I try to not use Remington primers.

[NHlever]

I recently picked up a straight grip Marlin 30-30, and just loaded up some random boolits ahead of 17.5 grains of IMR-4227. The load shot well with all boolits as the photo of the 50 yard targets show. I like Rx-15 for full power J word bullets, and find the max listed loads in the Lyman manuals to be pleasant, and accurate in my 30-30's.

[Patrick L]

Strictly for plinking and paper shooting, it is 8.1 gr Green Dot under any of my 31141 type boolits(8.1 because that's what my Little Dandy bushing throws. I'm sure 8.0 would be just fine.) I have the genuine Lyman, our GB copy in a six banger Lee, and our GB plainbase in a six banger Lee. Actually, since the PB can be shot as cast lubed with LLA, I guess that's my favorite. I can't see any accuracy difference between the three.I like less work, less expense (no GC), and more shooting.

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb157/patrickl_01/Bullets/GunStuff076.jpg




I doubt this load even breaks 1000 fps, but it is accurate. Here is a 50 yd target shot with the plainbase version with an iron sighted Marlin

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb157/patrickl_01/30-30/GunStuff079.jpg

I haven't gotten around to working up a full power load with cast boolits since I rarely hunt with the .30-30, but I may get around to that someday.

[Clark]

~1978 Win94, Big Sky gas checked 311291, 25 gr bulk IMR4895 [acts like H322].
It shot a 2.4" 4 shot group at 100m.
Single shot loaded at such a long over all length, it was seating the bullet in the chamber like a Schuetzen.

[jimkim]

JIMKIM< You say "Lee soupcan". What is the mold number, etc. on that ? I have had many answers to my "soupcan" questions.

Thanks for the help and have a good 'un, Guy

I'm sorry. I was busy for a minute. Auscaster is right. When I say Lee "Soupcan" I mean Lee C309-113-F. http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=480790 Really to me it looks more like a Heinie minikeg.

http://besthike.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/beer-keg.jpg

[Thecyberguy]

Just bought one from Graf & sons delivered for 24.99. That is cheaper than I could get it from anyone else I looked at. Thanks for the info and have a good 'un, Guy

[Thecyberguy]

One more thing.....what are you all using for lube on these "soupcans"? I am thinking for my 30-30 and 30 carbine and maybe for my M1 Garand. Again, thanks for the info. Have a good 'un , Guy

[jimkim]

I'm using a LLA/sticklube mix.

[Thecyberguy]

Are you using a lube/sizer or T/L?
I am talking low velocity in all apps. Thanks again, Guy

[MT Gianni]

My soup cans get Felix lube [FWFL] or an alox stick.

[Thecyberguy]

MT I guess what I am asking is how is everyone applying the lube and what are they using.

I have only cast for 44 mag and 38 spec and have been using the lee kakecutter method, but they don't make them any more.

I did but one of the Lee sizers that uses the press and LLA just mixed on the bullet and left to dry for the 44 but have not used it yet..

So, I was looking for some specifics with this Lee bullet for lube. Thanks, Guy

[blackpowder man]

Thecyberguy, I like the soupcan pan lubed with darr lube. I used the darr because it seems to be easier to use in a pan than felix and the lube is easier to make. I tried different loads, but settled on 8.0 grains of unique for plinking with the .30-30 and 16 grains of 2400 for plinking with the 30.06. The bullets are seated far enough in to chamber. These are short bullets so they don't stick out real far maybe 1/4". Have shot them out to 100 yards with pretty good results. In the .30-30 the poi is only a few inches away from full steam j word loads. Hope this helps. Oh yeah have shot with and without gas check and prefer gas check sized .309.

[qajaq59]

Lyman #311041 w/ gc and 24.5 grs of IMR 3031. Cast is roughly 11 bhn. It's accurate out of my Winnie, and mushrooms real nicely.

[gnoahhh]

15gr. SR-4759 under 180 NEI, 18bhn, RWS primer. Very accurate in the Savage 1899 and Win M54. For hunting in my .303 Savage and .30/30's I load 28gr. 3031 under a 190 GCFN cast with a 30 year old SAECO custom mould, 12bhn, RWS primers. Not quite as accurate, but mushrooms nicely, no leading (old Javelina lube), and is quite the thumper.