M94 Trapper Full Power Loads 30-30

[348win]

I been thinking for 30-30 in a 16" Trapper, being a very light and handy gun, that maybe the 150gr Sierra would be ideal for my full power handloads.
This is an all around up North Hunting load I'm after. Had good luck w Sierra's lately, and read a few reviews where guys say this bullet, p/n: #2000, has been a tough and good performer on deer and made it through body length. I can't remember if they said it exited or not.

I do NOT want a soft bullet that will stop fast. (But they can't be too hard and not expand at 30-30 speeds, I think by now they got the FN's figured out and manufactured correctly for the great 30-30)

Accurate is a requirement.



I will test 150gr vs 170gr,
But the 150 ought to shoot flatter and kick less in the lighter gun.

Do you guys experience any difference in recoil between weights??

I have never tried the IMR-3031, but find it interesting and like that it loads the *30.0 grains of powder. Not sure on burn speed if its gonna throw a big fireball from the 16 or not.
Lotttts of citings where I read this to be the finest powder for 30-30. That I don't know.
I do prefer a full load density/100% case fill w no compression..... And I believe this 3031 and Varget both go to a full case safely. Not sure on the others.
Would like a powder that doubles use in 150gr and 170gr.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I’ve carried around the same Winchester Model 94 trapper for 40 plus years.

I can’t tell any difference in recoil between factory loaded 150 and 170 grain bullets. I carry 170s in the truck because I think they work well and that’s what my sights are filed to.

That’s probably not a terribly helpful response. But I don’t think there’s a whole lot of difference between 150 and 170 grains in this cartridge.

[JimT]

These loads are out of the Carbine, not the Trapper. I have not clocked anything but 130 gr. Speer Hot-Cor in the Trapper.

Winchester 170 gr. Silvertip
Powder: IMR 3031

26 gr. -- 1755 fps
28 gr. -- 1909 fps
30 gr. -- 2041 fps

Speer 170 gr. FP
Powder: IMR 3031

26 gr. -- 1730 fps
28 gr. -- 1892 fps
30 gr. -- 2020 fps

Sierra 150 gr. FP
Powder: IMR 3031

30 gr. -- 1861 fps
32 gr. -- 2248 fps
33 gr. -- 2352 fps

30-30 Data with H-335 Powder

Speer 170 gr. FP

32 gr. -- 2038 fps
33 gr. -- 2061 fps
34 gr. -- 2099 fps

Sierra 150 gr. FP
32 gr. -- 2071 fps
34 gr. -- 2183 fps
35 gr. -- 2233 fps

[ikocher]

If you want an idea of what you can expect velocity wise, American Handgunner did an article back in 2018 about the 14 inch barrel Contender G2 in .30-30. They tested handloads and factory rounds. Its not the same as your 16 but it'll be pretty close. The list does include Sierra bullets.

Found it

https://americanhandgunner.com/handguns ... -g2-30-30/

[OldWin]

I use 170gr Hornady Interlock across the board. I have 13 30-30s and dont want any more loads than I have to have.
I used IMR3031 for decades, but switched about 10 years ago and never looked back.
Ive used W748 with much better results in the 30-30. From a 20" to a 16" I only lose 100fps. I use 34gr behind the 170 Hornady and light it with a CCI LR primer. I e gad excellent results in all my 30-30s.

[JimT]

748 is a great powder in the .30-30 ... as is H335 .... LEVERevolution ... and 3031 among others. I have used them all and they work well and are accurate. My go-to is 3031 just because. I think I like it because it's an old powder and fits an old guy. But mostly just because.

[OldWin]

748 is a great powder in the .30-30 ... as is H335 .... LEVERevolution ... and 3031 among others. I have used them all and they work well and are accurate. My go-to is 3031 just because. I think I like it because it's an old powder and fits an old guy. But mostly just because.

I hear that Jim! You don't know how hard it was for me to break away from 3031. I use a lot if old powders also, and usually stick with IMRs. I still do use 3031 in the 32WS. It's better in it than the 30-30 I think.

[JimT]

I hear that Jim! You don't know how hard it was for me to break away from 3031. I use a lot if old powders also, and usually stick with IMRs. I still do use 3031 in the 32WS. It's better in it than the 30-30 I think.

Here ya go OldWin ... for your tag line...

"Oh bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round.

pooh.jpg

[OldWin]

I hear that Jim! You don't know how hard it was for me to break away from 3031. I use a lot if old powders also, and usually stick with IMRs. I still do use 3031 in the 32WS. It's better in it than the 30-30 I think.

Here ya go OldWin ... for your tag line...

"Oh bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round.

pooh.jpg

Haha! I actually got that line from a T-shirt I saw at a gun show about 30 years ago. Pooh was standing with a tweed had and a big ole pipe in his mouth holding a Martini Henry with the action open and smoke rolling out of it.
It just stuck with me.

[Walt]

A number of people on this forum have talked about good results with RL-7. I bought 4 or 5 pounds of it but haven't tried it. At this point I mostly load plinking rounds with either IMR4198 or 4227 and they both work well with my cast bullets.

[Griff]

I got my 1st 30-30 in 1972 and started reloading for it in 1973 after returning home from VN. I've used 3031,BL(c)2, RE7, 4320 & 748. My 1972 mdl 64A has only had factory ammo run thru it. Usually Federal PowerShok 150s. When I built my custom mdl 94 target rifle I wanted a load that would mimic that load with a gas checked bullet. I got a Saeco #316 4-gang mold and haven't looked back. With 27 grains of Reloder 7 my 26" heavy octagon bbl shoots to the same poi as that Federal factory load. My most consistent loads have been with 748, RE7 & BL(c)2. My chronograph sez that 27 grains of RE7 behind the Saeco 150 GCFN runs 2290 fps at 15' from the muzzle. 34.5 grains of BL(c)2 gets me right there. The 16" Trapper has that same load clocking 2019fps @ 15' in front of the muzzle. The RE7 load chronos @ 2023 fps ave at 15', but according to QuickLOAD, is running almost 4,000 psi higher pressure. The only other bullet I load in the .30-30 besides the Sierra 150 grain FN is the Sierra 125 grain HPFN and it gets loaded with 28.5 grains of RE7 for a smooth 2450 fps and is like the hammer of Thor on coyotes.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I use 170gr Hornady Interlock across the board. I have 13 30-30s and dont want any more loads than I have to have.
I used IMR3031 for decades, but switched about 10 years ago and never looked back.
Ive used W748 with much better results in the 30-30. From a 20" to a 16" I only lose 100fps. I use 34gr behind the 170 Hornady and light it with a CCI LR primer. I e gad excellent results in all my 30-30s.

That’s the simplicity I would look for. One good load.

[Drawdown]

I'd consider one thing before settling into a good load with that bullet. I used the Sierra 150gr PH as my primary bullet back 2019, because of the components shortage, tried it instead of my usual Win PP or Rem CL. Found it the most accurate bullet I ever shot, and still is exception being the Hornady 160FTX. I've done several penetration test back then, found the Sierra 150gr the toughest of them all.
So in a Trapper 16" barrel & powders you're considering, muzzle velocity will likely be aprox 2,000fps+ or maybe minus, but at just 50 yds, way minus!
At those velocities I'd definitely use the Hornady FN or Speer HC!
Biggest deer by far I've ever shot, was with a Sierra 150gr @ 2,400+fps MV, him at 75yds. Definitely a near mid hit broadside, and I lost him never even found a trace blood! I know their reputation but they left a bad taste in my mouth.

[348win]

Thanks for all replies

Ya the Speer Bullets have been pretty soft in my experience, maybe too soft, maybe just right for 30-30. They are affordable and usually available which is nice.

And the Win Silvertip may be moving at the just right speed in the 30-30.

[Sarge]

I use 170gr Hornady Interlock across the board. I have 13 30-30s and dont want any more loads than I have to have.
I used IMR3031 for decades, but switched about 10 years ago and never looked back.
Ive used W748 with much better results in the 30-30. From a 20" to a 16" I only lose 100fps. I use 34gr behind the 170 Hornady and light it with a CCI LR primer. I e gad excellent results in all my 30-30s.

That’s the simplicity I would look for. One good load.

Amen to that. Hobie put me onto this load (also on Hodgdon's website) almost 20 years ago.



This group was shot at a little over 200 yards, same load, from a particularly accurate little pre-safety Winchester 94 Angle Eject.



This is the only 30-30 load I use. H4895 has worked so well for me, in a variety of rifle cartridges, it's the only rifle powder I buy.

[Drawdown]

From my own experience and plenty others here, this has always been a 30-30 area, if you add up all circumstances, barrel lengths & velocities, if I had to settle upon one bullet to the 30-30, an all in all, the 170gr Hornady IL FN would be hard to beat! It's killed deer consistently from near the muzzle, longer ranges than normally encountered with 30-30! I've got a bunch loaded, they're plenty accurate, but I've yet to use em on deer. And I know of several good size Grizxly from a 26" barrel 30-30 in recent years. The Speer 170gr HC is about equal, often more accurate.

[348win]

Wow good shooting @ 210yds

[Sarge]

Wow good shooting @ 210yds

Thank you. I corrected the windage but never could duplicate that group. 3-4 inches at 200 is about the best I can manage with irons--rested shooting--these days. About 5 years ago I decided to use the bench only for zeroing, then shoot field positions/improvised rests. It's been an education.

[OldWin]

That IS good shooting Sarge. I've been playing with the old 30-30 a long time and I couldn't do it.

[mack]

You guys make me feel inadequate. I have a Win. '94 ae trapper, about '02 vintage with a Williams receiver rear sight and a trigger pull like shifting the tractor into gear on a minus 10 degree morning. My 30/30 goto load is a 170gr Sierra ahead of (aprox, data not handy) 30gr 3031 for about 1850fps over an old Crony, if I remember right.
This will shoot a magazine full into a 3-4inch circle at 60-70yds. (my back porch range), and it's killed every deer and 'yote it's been aimed at and about 50% on woodchucks. I'm not sure I could hit a barn at 200yds, even if it was a large one.

[Griff]

Don't feel like the lone ranger... I've had my eyes tested for many years... starting out in applying for a scholarship with the Navy @ 17. They told me my eyesight was 20/15. When I was in the Navy, I had it tested around age 22, it was 20/17. I couldn't tell the difference. It stayed like that until about my middle 50's, when I needed glasses to read. When I was about 45 I shot a qualifying score to graduate the sniper course for our department. I did this with a Winchester mdl 94 I custom built with a tang peep & globe front sight. The course was a scaled target shot at 200 yards. At the time the rear sight (nominally), front sight and target were all in focus for me without any eyestrain. In fact, my score was higher than our department's designated sniper with his scoped .308. (Yeah, that ticked him off)! Anyway, the last time I shot this same rifle, I couldn't focus on anything... the rear tang sight was a just a shapeless blob, the front sight was so fuzzy, I it looked 3 times the size of the fuzzy black blob at the center of the target at 200 yards. Being able to remember when I could see the "X" and the individual rings on a 100 yard target set out at 200 yards... to now, just being able make out the black blob on the 200 yard target is frustrating. And that's with my glasses, supposedly correcting my vision to 20/20!

[Sarge]

I turned 68 last fall and can sure tell a difference in the last couple of years; fast focus between the rear sight, bead and target has gotten more difficult and I have just enough astigmatism to be irritating at 200+ yards. I don't like scopes- I have a perfectly good 3-9-40 Leupold that's lived in a drawer for 2 years. I can't bring myself to hang glass on a lever action, though I sure understand why people do it.

I do have a 10 year old pair of prescription glasses that were, when I got them, too strong in the right eye for iron sights. These days the right lens is just right and the left lens gives perfect target focus to infinity. So I'm learning to shoot all over again, with glasses and with both eyes open.

I miss the old days of perfect 20/15 vision, but we forge ahead the best way we can.