30-30

[two bit okie]

Alrighty then, new to 30-30, just got my molds going, lee 150 gc. and I will probably never get jacketed bullets for the mod 94, so, here is the question.

I will be using 4895 in the M-1 with fmj. so I will have the powder. What are the probable results of using the 30-30 jacketed 150 gr load of 4895 with the 150 gas check. While I do not think it would be dangerous as the cast bullets will create lower pressure, (I think) would it be very erratic, or just plain not worth it.

current load is 16 gr 2400 with the 150 gas check.

I can not longer hunt due to bad knees, so not blood will be shed by my light loads, and probably by the 4895 loads either.

advice and or feedback appreciated.

[Larry Gibson]

I've found 4895 (one of my favorite powders for cast bullets in rifle cartridges) to be a little too slow burning for the 150 gr bullets. Even with a dacron filler by the time you get it burning efficiently the velocity is usually too high for best accuracy. I prefer 4198 or better yet 4759 with a 1/2 gr dacron filler under my RCBS 30-150-FNs. I push them right at 1970 fps fps out of my M94 AE with 24" barrel. They are quite accurate at that velcoity. They are a tudge slower out of My M94 Carbine but just a accurate. Actually your 16 gr of 2400 is a pretty good load also, I'd stick with that for what you want.

Larry Gibson

[Hurricane]

4895 is a good powder for both full power and reduced loads in a wide range of cartridges including the 30-30. I use H4895 but I think IMR 4895 is currently identical or almost identical to H4895. Both powders are made for and marketed by Hodgdon. You can use either one with confidence. The Hodgdon reloading data site recommends 4895 for reduced loads with jacketed bullets and for cast boolit loads. Hodgdon recommends using cast boolit loads with 4895 down to 60% of the full power jacketed bullet load and the load will be both safe and efficient. The max. load with H4895 for 30-30 with a 150 gr bullet is 34.0 grains. You can reduce that load down to 20.4 grains and still have a safe and efficient 30-30 150 grain lead boolit load. I use 22.0 grains of H4895 for about 1650 fps and 26.0 for about 1800 fps with good accuracy. The 1500 to 1800 fps range will probably give you the best results for cast boolits. In addition, 16 gr of 2400 and 10 gr of Unique are also excellent and proven loads for the 30-30.

[Boondocker]

Two bit

My and the grandsons 30/30's are a blast to shoot between 8 to 10 grains of Unique
under 150 and 170 gc boolits ,mild and accurate. I have been loading RD's 165 to try at the range with Unique and 2400 this week.:cbpour:

[9.3X62AL]

OK--I'll say it--and flame away if so inclined. The 30-30 WCF might be the single-best cast boolit rifle caliber ever crafted, with the possible exception of the 45-70. With judicious attention to diameter and alloy, a reloader can duplicate the ballistics and accuracy of the jacketed loads in the caliber. My "usual suspects" in 30-30 have been a little heavier--around 170 grains in Lymans #311291 and #311041 (designed with the 30-30 in mind, that last one). Either of these boolits cast as a soft-point would make a GREAT Venison Collector.

It has been harder to find loads/powders that DON'T work in the 30-30 than to assemble good loads. 2400--the 4198s--the 4895s--3031--4759--WW748. Just a great caliber that gunwriters continue to write obituaries for, while hunters avoid the funerals.

[NickSS]

When I started shooting I believed the gun writers and avoided the 30-30 as a weak underpowered cartridge just barely able to kill a deer at short range and only kept alive by the light handy rifles that chambered it. Then one time hunting I dropped my scope sighted magnum rifle and a friend lent me his backup gun. You guessed it; it was a 30-30 94 winchester. A little later that day I shot a nice buck at around 80 yards and it went down as if hit by a truck. This got me thinking and ever since the 30-30 has been my woods hunting rifle of choice. Today I hunt very rarely and usually not for deer but I have found lots of uses for my 30-30s loaded with cast bullets. It makes a great small game rifle loaded with 115 gr Lyman 3118 bullets over 5 gr of Unique and does wonders in Cowboy silhouette matches out to a couple hundred yards when loaded with 18 gr of 4198 and a Lyman 311041 bullet. The old 30-30 will be around for a long time yet due to its great usefulness. I bet longer in fact than some of the new super magnums that have come out in the last 20 years.

[1Shirt]

I think a lot like NickSS when it comes to the 30-30. One of the great cast ctgs, and I rate it and the 45-70 side by side. I have shot durn near every weight blt both cast and jacketed that it would logically shoot and that is 80 gr. pistol blts up to 190-200 grainers. Even played with sabots and 22 cals and had at least acceptable accuracy to 200 in a 94 Win. It is a fun ctg! My favorite heavy load is with 3031 under both 150 lees, and 170 Lymans Round Nose/HP's/or flat noses at near max Jacketed charges.
Anybody who puts down the 30-30 just has not experianced the versitality of this old warhorse!
1Shirt!:coffeecom

[45-70 Chevroner]

A word from Hodgden. I called them a while back and the tec. said that the only Hogden powder that is the same as IMR is H4198 and also said the rest of them are different enough that you should use the appropriate loading data for each powder and bullet. From the old saying "This is from the horses mouth"! I have personally used data from H4895 and IMR4895 using the same load but I always load on the low end of the chart. No problems as yet, proceed with caution.

[codgerville@zianet.com]

In my experience, 4895 is too slow for the 30-30. I use 27 gr. H335, 311041 at 17 bhn, sized to .309, chronographed at 1980 fps from 20" barrel. Vey accurate, excellent case life.

[gon2shoot]

I have tried several of the "light" loads, and have had good luck with most. I mostly load a "medium" load with 4198, 4895 was my least favorite in 30-30. May have just been my guns.

[rintinglen]

not a huge fan of 4895 in the 30-30 for cast bullets, It works, but I like pistol powders for slow light loads and 748 for fast ones. for a nifty accurate short range load, try a 311-245 or a similar 32 revolver bullet, sized .310 on top of 8 grains of Herco. For your 150 grain bullet, I recommend somewhere between 16 and 17.5 grns. 2400, although 20 grns of 5744 is also good.

[jh45gun]

Stick with your 2400

[WyrTwister]

I believe that is the correct number .

Said to be similar to Ball-C ?

Does anyone have a 150 - 180 grain cast load for this powder ? For .30-30

God bless
Wyr

[sundog]

Wyr, check out the loads on castpics (link at bottm of page). Look under Research and Data. There is a 844 load posted that might help. Keep in mind that 844 and 846 are close but not the same and lot to lot differences in many of these surplus powders can be fairly substantial.

[jlchucker]

If you want light recoil, check out data for AA5744. I haven't shot 150 grain cast bullets in my 30-30, but get real good results and low recoil with 173's with this powder.

[45r]

I've got the best accuracy with 4759 in my 30-30.I got 4895,3031,and RL-7 to work also for full power hunting loads,but 4759 shoots the smallest groups going half inch at 60 yards most of the time.I use 18 grains 4759 under BRP 173GC boolits with fed primers.

[Wayne Smith]

Concerning the longevity of the 30-30 - an interesting point was made in the current Rifle mag - special edition on the 30 Caliber. No cartridge that has had ten million, yes, that's ten million plus made for it is likely to die anytime soon.

[smoked turkey]

Went for a walk in the woods yesterday to check on the progress of my food plot. I could have taken along any one of a number of rifles, pistols, or shotguns. My gun of choice was an old Marlin 336 stoked with 150 gr cast and a small charge of Herco. Just always feels right.