Need help building a 30-30 load.

[reo]

If anyone can help I am looking for a load that will give 2500+ fps out of a 20" barrel 30-30 using Speer 150 gr flat points. Can it be done staying around 40,000 cup. My newest reloading manual is 12 years old. Have their been any new powders come out to up the velocity?

[Chuck 100 yd]

If you need that velocity, get a .308. The .30-30 will kill just fine at 2200 fps.

[reo]

Appreciate the straight talk. I read Paco's articles and want to walk the line of getting all I can from my rifles. Although, I am very aware of the vast experience gap between him and I. In the past I have always stayed in the book on all of my loads until I started reading his stuff. I never would have tried 18.5 to 20+ grains 2400 in my Blackhawk 45 until I started reading his words and I am glad I did. I have always stayed in the book with the 30-30 too. Just want to try some new water with it now.

[meanc]

Sure, that velocity is easily attainable.

All you have to do is get your 30-30, as well as all the reloading components, set up for the 30-30 Ackley Improved.

Never mind, just saw you're using a 20" barrel.

Anyway, you're not getting 2500fps out of 30-30 w/ a 20" barrel safely, but if you just want to test the waters, let us know how it goes.

[20cows]

This guy says he's getting 2450 with a 150 gr bullet. That's pretty close.

http://www.reloadammo.com/3030load.htm

[O.S.O.K.]

30-30 Ackley will easily give you 2500 fps at standard 30-30 pressure.

I just rechambered my 26" 94 and I can get 2600 from it.

You need to remove the barrel to do the reaming - that's the hardest part of the process.

I will say the this only extends the range - doesn't realy make it any more potent within 150 yards.... so unless your scoping the carbine or a good shot with irons., the conversion doesn't do much for you. IMHO

[Slick13]

This guy says he's getting 2450 with a 150 gr bullet. That's pretty close.

http://www.reloadammo.com/3030load.htm

36 grains of RL 15 under a 150 gr. Speer? That's going to be compressed, possibly very heavily.

That's old load data from Alliant, no longer on their website. I doubt the guy who created the page you're linking to has actually shot that load, or gotten anywhere near that velocity.

~Michael

[Slick13]

If anyone can help I am looking for a load that will give 2500+ fps out of a 20" barrel 30-30 using Speer 150 gr flat points.

Ain't going to happen. Expect to run out of pressure or case capacity between 2200 and 2300 fps.

~Michael

[Hobie]

I don't think that's reasonable. Load up to 31-32 gr. IMR 3031 under that bullet and be very happy. If you must have 2500 fps get a .300 Savage or .308 Winchester (or .30-40 and so on). To sum it up, if you want more gun, get more gun. I doubt you actually need more gun though.

[gundownunder]

Yeh, OSOK, but your 26" barrel will probably get you about 200 fps more than REOs 20". Why push the 30-30 to its limits when you can get any number of other calibres that can do it easy. Alternatively, why not consider a lighter projy like 125-130gr at about 2500-2600fps out of a standard 30-30.

[Duff L Bagg]

Trade in your 30-30 for a .307.

[Charles]

If you want to drive a bigger nail, use a bigger hammer!

[tman]

look at the hornandy leverevolutions. i think they will get you close to what you want.

[BigSky56]

From the 2000 edition of 30-30 manual (the little pink book). danny
Reloader 15 36 gns 2450 fps 40,600 psi 150 gr speer col 2.525"
Reloader 15 34.1 grs 2330 fps 40,500 psi 170 gr hdy col 2.545"
24" bbl

[O.S.O.K.]

Yeh, OSOK, but your 26" barrel will probably get you about 200 fps more than REOs 20". Why push the 30-30 to its limits when you can get any number of other calibres that can do it easy. Alternatively, why not consider a lighter projy like 125-130gr at about 2500-2600fps out of a standard 30-30.

The Ackley Improved chamber allows for 2500 fps from a 20" barrel at maximum standard pressure for a 30-30.

The extra 6" only give about 100 fps more really.

Can do that with W748 or Varget or RL 15.

Nothing wrong with rechambering to the AI - it is a very useful and practical upgrade. You can still shoot standard factory ammo out of the rifle and get decent accuracy (though velocity is a bit less than with the standard chamber).

Even with the reduction in velocity, with my longer barrel I get the same fps as a standard chambered 20" carbine would produce with standard ammo.

So, its really a win-win, particularly with the longer barrel.

And I like the longer tube with the aperture tang sight - gives a really good longer-range open sight configuration.

[Griff]

Unless you change to an AI, ain't gonna happen. I love my 150grs @ 2160 or thereabouts, each of the deer or coyotes I've shot in the last serveral years have reacted poorly to it.

[GANJIRO]

Step the bullet down to the 130 grain Speer flat-point and you should have no problem.

[O.S.O.K.]

Step the bullet down to the 130 grain Speer flat-point and you should have no problem.

And you lose sectional density/penetration - unless, you go to a TSX.

But again, the AI just extends the range not the killing power IMHO.

[L.F.Combs]

start with Reloader 15 as the powder.

[Don McDowell]

If anyone can help I am looking for a load that will give 2500+ fps out of a 20" barrel 30-30 using Speer 150 gr flat points. Can it be done staying around 40,000 cup. My newest reloading manual is 12 years old. Have their been any new powders come out to up the velocity?

Short answer= Ain't gonna happen

The closest you can come is by reaming to the ackley. The hitting 2600 isn't all that hard to do from a 20 inch barrel.
rl 15 is a really good powder for both the 30-30 as is, and the Ackley version, but the best you'll get out of the 20 inch barrel is liable to hug 2400 fps pretty hard,but the unaltered case won't get past that by enough to worry about. Max loads of 15 will fill the case to the bottom of the bullet, I suppose you could just fill the case and seat the bullet, but I'm thinking the velocity gain won't get to the 2500 fps.
748 might get you close, but the best speeds from the 30-30 and 24 inch barrel I've been able to get with the speer is 2410 and then I'm not prepared to say it was staying with in the saami pressure specs.