load for 125 gr 30-30

[happyhunter]

Howdy,
I am looking for a low recoil 30-30 load for my smaller kids to hunt with. They will be 12 and 13 this fall. The 125 gr Sierra ProHunter gets real good reviews on Midway USA. I do not have any load data for this bullet. I am not looking for a hot fast load. But rather something kinda midrange that will give 2000 - 2100 fps. Winchester loads this weight bullet to 2500 while Remington loads it to 2100. I am looking to duplicate the Remington ballistics. I am new to loading rifle, this will be my first. Been reloading handgun for 20 years. I have a couple pounds of IMR4064, would this be an appropriate choice?

Thanks,
Happy Hunter

[Terry Murbach]

THE NUMBER FOURTEEN SPEER MANUAL SHOWS ELEVEN PROPELLENTS WITH A 130gr BULLET CAPABLE OF EXACTLY DUPLICATING EXACTLY---EXACTLY !!!---WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR.
DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TAKE ANY LOADING DATA OFF THE INTERNET WITHOUT COMPARING IT TO SEVERAL LOADING MANUALS, AND I PREFER TO CHECK IT AGAINST SEVEN[7] DIFFERENT MANUALS TOSSING OUT THE HIGH LOAD SHOWN AS WELL AS THE LOW LOAD SHOWN AND AVERAGING THE OTHER FIVE LOADS.
IMR4064 WILL WORK BUT IT IS THE LAST PROPELLENT LISTED IN PREFERENCE.

[happyhunter]

Can you use load data for 130 with a 125 bullet? I know the 125 is lighter but what about the difference in internal volume which does affect pressure.

I prefer to compare data. I only have one Hornady manual and powder specific manuals from Hogdon and Alliant.

Thanks!!

[Dave]

The Sierra data for IMR4064 with a 125 grain is 31.1 at 2100 fps to 35.7 grains at 2500. The XMR4064 data is different. Varget has been very good to me in all kinds of loads. It shows 30.6 to 37.0 with a 125. I was loading 35.0 and it was a cream puff load and accurate. I never shot a deer with it but I bet it would kill one. When I was playing with the 125's I called Sierra because my manuals didn't list 125's and he emailed me the 30-30 data for free.

[happyhunter]

Dave,
that is a sweet looking lever with the scout scope. I used WildWest base on my Win 94 to mount a Leupold scope. Makes a real nice set up. I think it will work well with my kids. That scope has long eye relief. It will work well with them.

My Hornady 3rd edition shows max of 36.4 IMR4064 under 110 gr bullet. So I think your range of 31.1 to 35.7 grains makes sense.

I guess 4064 is not the best choice for this application. I bought it because it seems pretty decent for 150 30-30 and 30.06. I have limited funds and hope to use it for 125 gr bullets. Anyone have any experience with IMR4064 and 125 gr 30-30?

[Dave]

Dave,
that is a sweet looking lever with the scout scope. I used WildWest base on my Win 94 to mount a Leupold scope. Makes a real nice set up. I think it will work well with my kids. That scope has long eye relief. It will work well with them.

My Hornady 3rd edition shows max of 36.4 IMR4064 under 110 gr bullet. So I think your range of 31.1 to 35.7 grains makes sense.

I guess 4064 is not the best choice for this application. I bought it because it seems pretty decent for 150 30-30 and 30.06. I have limited funds and hope to use it for 125 gr bullets. Anyone have any experience with IMR4064 and 125 gr 30-30?

Thanks for the compliment on my gun. It is a pet and a fine shooter. I have lost count of how many deer I have killed with it. Your gun with the Wild West set up sounds like a winner.

I wouldn't give up on the IMR4064 without trying it. It may turn out to be the cat's meow in your gun.

[happyhunter]

Hey, they list data on the IMR website. They listed data for IMR4064 and a 130 gr bullet.
Start 33.3 gr at 2196fps
Max 35.5C gr at 2424fps

What does the C mean behind 35.5?? I did not see a footnote to go with that. There are 2 loads on my print out with C behind it.

Anyway the IMR data seems to jive with the other numbers. That gives a warm fuzzy.

HH

[Cliff]

The letter "C" behind the powder charge stands for "compressed" otherwords, a pretty full case. The difference between the 130 and 125 grain bullets affecting the internal volume of the case is not a problem. Length of the bullets bearing surface would be the factor. Take a chunk of lead you can carve on. Cut off a chunk and make a piece weighing approximately 5gr. you can see it isn't much. Good Luck. Do Like Mr. Murbach says, always have a bunch of reloading manuals for reference. Good Luck.

[L_Kilkenny]

Go to Hodgdon's website. They have a section called "Youth Loads". In that section they use H4895, they have loads already worked up and also have info for developing your own loads. Luckily, I've had great luck for accuracy using H4895 and 125gr. Sierra's. I also use a formula from Lee's 2nd Addition that states that for every 10% reduction of powder you get a 6% drop in velocity.

LK

[Doc Hudson]

I'd have to dig out my reloading journal to be 100% certain, but IIRC, I used 34.0 grains AA2520 with 125 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets in an old Marlin I used to have. Due to the points, I only loaded two cartridges, one in the chamber and one in the magazine.

[Griff]

What Terry said. Now, IMO, even as in the reloading manuals, that means I start well below any max and work my way up to safe 'n accurate loads in MY guns.

I love that 125 Sierra, use it near 2500fps and it's devaststing on coyotes.

[t.r.]

This loading shoots flat and hits hard wa-a-y out to approx 225 yards or so.

TR

[cshold]

I would not hesitate for a second to hunt deer with this round.

[Lawyer Daggit]

I have a 21 inch series 1 TC Contender.

At 30-30 velocities, bullets designed as 308 varmint rounds perform well on fallow (and I assume Whitetail) sized deer, as well as feral pigs.

I find the round so versatile I seldom use my 223 barrel ( it is not up for sale) enabling me to take anything from fox to deer with the one round.

I suggest the following loads:

125 gn Nosler BTip with 35 gn IMR4065 for 2460 fps
125gn Nosler BTip with 36gns IMR 4064 for 2550 fps
125gn Nsoler BTip with 31.5 gns Reloader 7 for 2600 fps

These will give you good 200 yd perfomance.

Consider also your pet 150 gn load with the Mag tip, this semi spitzer performs well out of my TC.

Consider Ackley Improving the barrel you intend using spitzers or semi spitzers in. This is one Ackley Improvement that helps- as well as preventing you from inadvertently feeding semi pointed rounds into a 30-30 lever gun by mistake- as I did one night with a few mag tips.

[Otto]

You say you have been a pistol reloader for years: that means you probably have some powders like Unique or 2400 on your bench. A little searching on the web should produce some reduced loads. Also, here is some interesting reading:
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/3030varmint.htm

[happyhunter]

What is the OAL of the 30-30 when loaded with the Sierra 125gr? I got them yesterday and have started into loading. Next step is to set die to OAL.