question about load for 30-30

[rmatchell]

My father in law gave me some bullets to load for his 30-30 not a big deal I do it all the time for him, but this time it is a 180gr fmjbt. I was planing on starting out about 20 to 25gr of IMR3031 because the max I can find in my books is 36gr for a 170gr bullet. Also it will be for a bolt gun so now worries there. Just wondering what your guys thoughts are on this.

[rexherring]

From the reloading pages of MD Smith.
180 grain JRN (Speer Jacketed Round Nose))
IMR 4895 30.5 gr. 1,900 FPS
IMR 3031 31.0 gr. 1,925
( 180 gr. Not normally used in 30/30, but you can.

[OnHoPr]

Quick mention, with those jwords just remember to check magazine length and the OAL. What book did you get the 36 gr of 3031 for the 170 gr jword or was it cast?

[Le Loup Solitaire]

I use Lyman 311291, a 170 grain bullet sized to .310 with 27 grains of 3031. It is accurate and groups well. My loading information states that 31 grains is about factory velocity/max. I started with 25 grains and worked up. 36 grains is excessive and you should not consider it for safety reasons. With 3031 start at 25 grains and work up in .5 grain increments and watch your grouping. LLS

[rmatchell]

the 36gr was a mistake I looked at it wrong the max said 29.2g from the hodgen powder site for jwords, and thats why I don't rush into new loads. I started at 24gr just to see where we are at. As for the COAL even setting it deep it is still very long but he said they are to be loaded one at a time.

[rmatchell]

I think ill stick to the lyman 311576

[Jeffrey]

Funny, I saw that big rimmed case with a pointed bullet. First thing I thought of was 30-40 Krag.

[rmatchell]

I have always heard about loading fmj in 30-30 but never tried it doesn't look right to me

[Lizard333]

I use the 311041 in my win 94 exclusively. They come out at 180 grains after lube and gas check. The most accurate boolit I shoot. Don't be afraid of the higher weight.

[atr]

I use C312 at 180 gr and it works very well in my savage 340 30-30. The 180gr cast is a good round.

[popper]

Maybe he has a specific need for heavy FMJ, long range, BC, etc. My method for choosing powder and load usually works for me. I look at burn rate, max. pressure and $/ pressure. I start at mid range from the load book, for the closest bullet type and weight. I assume I will always have a safe starting load and work up or down from there. As your FIL gave you some to load, find out what he expects. If he expects a high performance load with limited resources to work up a load, you need to go toward the upper end of loads. If they are for plinking that he just has, mid range will probably make him happy. My SIL wants factory performance without spending the resources to work up a good load for his guns. My reloads don't meet his expectations so he just uses them for practice. He gets cheap ammo, the performance is not my problem.

[jld_in_IA]

Ok, interesting load. Now I have to ask: what are they being shot in?

I am assuming you probably know this, but felt like it might be worth mentioning for the less experienced members of the site.

Pointed (spitzer) bullets should never be used in a tube magazine. The danger here is that the under recoil, the pointed bullet may dent the primer of the round ahead of it, causing it to ignite in the magazine. This is the reason that 30-30s are traditionally loaded with a RN FP bullet.

That said, if you have a box magazine, single shot, or something that does not stack cartridges end to end, it should be fine as long as it feeds. The goal of Hornady's Lever-Evolution cartridges was to get spitzer like BC's and external ballistics out of traditional tube magazine, lever action rifles. They do this with a soft polymer tip that will "flatten" in the magazine, and recover its normal shape when chambered.

Good luck with the load

[Centaur 1]

Something else that no one has mentioned yet, if the cartridge is too long it can be dificult to unload without shooting it. When you load a round nose first into the chamber it slides in on an angle. When you open the bolt with a live round in the chamber it comes straight back with the case head flat against the bolt. When the bolt reaches the back of the receiver, the ejector swings the nose of the bullet out. 30-30's are designed to be used with shorter round/flat nose projectiles, and a pointed bullet can be loaded so long that it doesn't fit through the ejection port. I hope this makes sense to you because it's confusing to explain.

[MikeS]

jld_in_IA, If you read the original post you will see that he specifically says the loads are for a bolt action gun. Bolt action also for the most part infers either a single shot, or a box magazine, I don't think there's a bolt gun made that uses a tubular magazine.

[jimb16]

There are several on the market. The most common are .22s. Remington even made one of their nylon .22s in a tube mag bolt action. I wish I could find one. I could kick myself for ever letting mine go.

[olafhardt]

I noticed the Hornady 130 grain spitser was thier product number 3031. IMR 3031 was then my favorite powder because it came in a red can. I figured that if I loaded my 30/30 ammo with 31 grains of powder , it would become a 30/31. I bought my self a Stevens 325 and set out on the quest fot the perfect load-rifle combo. I loadedup several Hornady 3031 bullets over 31 grains of 3031 and blazed away. I discovered this load would go bang and break up rocks. I await my Nobel prize.