30-30 load question,....

[Malamute]

I'm starting to catch up on loading some 30-30 brass, and would like to hear some others' experience with a general use 30-30 load. I've been loading the Hornady 170 gr with 30 grs 3031 powder, and have had very good accuracy form a certain carbine, but less than stellar accuracy with the same load using Speer 170 gr bullets. I'm switching to the Speer 170 gr, I'd like a load with the Speer 170's and 3031 powder in particular that is a generally good performer, in other words, not just that worked good in one gun, but has worked well in a variety of guns. I have a couple 20" carbines, and a 26" rifle. I think this is in line with the "pet loads" concept, tho I've never seen the book.

I don't really have time and facilities to bench test a variety of loads to fine tune for a particular gun. Some cartridge/bullet/powder combinations have a sweet spot that gives fairly consistant accuracy in different guns. I'd like a load that seems consistantly consistant, if that makes sense.


I'd also like some info in the same general concept for 150 gr bullets too. I have some Speer and Winchester 150's I'd like to use up for practice.


Thanks for any info.

[Lefty Dude]

So you want us to work up a load for ya

What may shoot as a tack driver in my Rifle, may shoot like stuff in yours.

[KirkD]

I shoot both 150 grain and 170 grain cast GC bullets in my 30-30. I developed my 150 by starting with 28 grains (IIRC) and shot a series of 5 or 10 shot groups, increasing by 1/2 grain each group. 30 grains of IMR 3031 gave the best accuracy with the 150 grain cast bullet, with a muzzle velocity of just under 2,200 fps. I have used this load in 3 different 30-30's and it seems to be a consistent performer with both 150 grain cast bullets and with 150 grain Sierras. Interestingly, this load also gave the best accuracy (albeit, not so great) out of a barrel that was bent and tended to scatter the hits vertically.) My current set-up does not have a bent barrel (a Winchester carbine made in 1954).

My 170 grain load (again, with a cast, GC bullet) is 27 grains of IMR 3031. However, I've only tried this in the one 30-30 that I now own and I have not experimented with different loads, so I'm not in a very good position to know how it will do in other 30-30's.

[Hobie]

Bill,

I'm afraid I'll be no help to you. The old standard 30 gr. IMR 3031 has worked with every major maker 170 gr. fp (Remington, Winchester, Hornady, Sierra, and Speer) in every .30-30 I've owned or shot/zeroed. Even the Speer bullet. The old Sierras (the .307" bullets) were 100 fps faster than the others but it didn't make that much difference in anything. I tried W748 and other powders but, well, it just wasn't worth the effort.

[WCF3030]

What Hobie said.

Before switching to cast I shot the 170gr cor-loc 99.9% of the time.
Some 3000+ rounds and 29gr of IMR was all it took, at first in my Savage 340 for the first 19 years then in 4 different 30-30's. 2 Marlins a 94 and a H&R.
Blasted holes thru deer and pigs.

[Griff]

I almost exclusively use 150s in my .30-30s and RE-7 as my powder of choice.

[Malamute]

Thanks guys, Hobie, that tells me something,...maybe I should try that load with the Speers again, and in the other guns.


I also found some IMR 4895 in my powder department. Looking at Snooky Williamsons book, he seemed to get more consistant accuracy in the two guns he used with it than 3031, anyone have similar experiences with IMR 4895? I think I bought a couple pounds to try 30-30 loads through the powder measure, it meters a little more smoothly than 3031 does. I think I had grand ideas of setting the Dillon up for 30-30.


Wish I had time to work with loads some. I keep holding off, wanting to tune loads, but I'm whittling down my 30-30 reserves,......

[Hobie]

Lots of folks like 4895 in the .30 WCF. I'm just saying, I got started on IMR 3031 and never found a reason to leave even though I "rebelled" and experimented a bit. That certainly doesn't mean there aren't other solutions!

Let's face it. I'm a rut kinda guy. I like ruts. Ruts guide you even when you get to feeling a bit wild. E.g. breaking bad is getting an 1876 Winchester Repro but I stay in the rut in that it is the same old 20-22" round barrel, straight grip gun. Dittos for the Savage 99. That's just who I am. Sometimes, most times, you see that in my reloads. I find something that works and I stick with it.

Right now I have a bunch of loaded .30-30 with Hornady, Speer and Sierra (the old kind) bullets. Most wouldn't do this but I just grab and go. While the loads with the different bullets are segregated, I just don't see enough difference in trajectory out of MY guns to matter.

BTW, I use H4895 in my .35 Remington loads. Nothing better and safe in the old M8 Remington.

[Slick13]

Not that I've done a lot of work, or had the chance to shoot the same load in several different rifle, but BL-C(2) seems to work well in my .30-30 with whatever 150 or 170 grain bullet I use. Also works well in my .25-35 Win.

As for 30 grains of IMR 3031 under a 170 grain bullet.... Hodgdon lists the max load at 29.2 grains of 3031. At 35,800 CUP this is well under the 38,000 CUP max for the .30-30, but I'd be very careful going above 29.2 grains.

~Michael

[Malamute]

Hobie, I'm a rut kind of guy too. I've used the 30 gr 3031/Hornady 170 for 25 or 30 years, but it just doesnt shoot as flat as the Speer bullets. Much of my lower country use (non-grizzly areas) are pretty wide open, so I'd like the advantage of the slicker Speer bullet. Many of the first shots I take with a new gun are at 300 yards, pistol or rifle, at the 18" plate.

[Nath]

Hmm, I use to use BL-C2 but I got to much blast and flash from my 16" tube so I switched to H322. One day when I'm flush I'll have to get me some IMR3031.
I have noticed the good flight from the Speers than others too.
Nath

[Don McDowell]

Both of Speers bullets have consistently prooven to give the best velocity and accuracy in my rifles.
My favorite powders are 748 and re 15.
More specific to your question , I have had good results with 4895 and 3031 in the 30-30's but have come to prefer the two previously listed powders as they also work quite well in a couple 3 other cartridges I find myself loading for.