.30-30 Load?

LeverBar · Post by **LeverBar** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 6:09 pm

It finally happened. I have a .30-30.

When younger and up until just a week ago, I had a family ingrained bias toward the .30-30 Winchester. No one ever spoke of it, but there was a dislike or maybe a disdain for that rifle in our family. We were all .32 Special men--Dad and his 3 sons--we each owned a .32 and preferred it over the .30-30.

One of my cousins hunted with the .30-30, and when he would talk of his hunts and the deer he had taken with it, I felt as if he had done his best without knowing he was using an inferior rifle. --Quite ridiculous of me!

Even looking at my recently acquired .30-30, I favor my .32WSP over it--though they are identical in appearance!

I bought my first .32 when I was fifteen, and it only took 38 more years for me to choose to buy the .30-30.

I'd bet with a bit of shooting, the .30-30 might lose its poor karma.

I know my bias is silly. There is little difference in ballistics between the two calibers--but you just have to love that 1in16 twist!

Yikes! I didn't get to the point of this post yet!

I'd like to load for this .30-30 Winchester '94 26" octagon DOM=1924.

Do you people have good loads for it?
Which lead bullet weight=165 or 170gr.?
Using H4895 powder?
Titegroup?
Which jacketed bullet is best?
Suggestions?

Bigahh · Post by **Bigahh** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 6:28 pm

I asked this same question about a year ago, and Hobie suggested 170 grain bullet with a starting point of IMR 3031 of 27 grains. I settled on a Hornady 170 FP with the max load of 28.5 grains. The load just plain shoots out of my 24" Barrel Winnie. Good Luck!

phlatnose · Post by **phlatnose** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 6:52 pm

Check your twist. I think it is most likely 1in12.
Here is what I have used for years, and found nothing better for my rifle, which is similar configuration to yours, except mine has an aftermarket 24" octagon with a 1in10 twist.
Lead bullet bear creek supply. 180grnfn. 10grns unique, or 8.5grns green dot. The green dot gives slightly smaller groups at 100yds.
Jacket bullet fed 1 at a time. 168grn hpbt Hornady. No cannelure. Work up to near full charge of WIN748. Use data for 170 fn jacket bullet. Do not fill magazine with these. This is the best load and combo I have found for my 30-30, and I have tried a lot.
If you eyes are good, and barrel etc etc, you should be looking for 1 and half groups with lead, and 1" or sub with the 168 hornady.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 7:32 pm

LeverBar,

Congrats on the first 30-30 rifle. You now have what I've wanted for a very long time.

I can't speek for lead bullets or 170gr jacketed bullets. However there is one load I've shot for many years that has worked very well in every Win 94 I've shot it from.
That is:

34.5 grs of Win 748
Winchester Std LR primer
Speer 150gr JSP.

Over the years I've had various 30--30s that would prefer Hornady or Sierra bullets instead of the Speer bullet, but that charge of 748 has been my go to powder charge.

It's straight out of the Winchester data sheets clear back to the early 1970s. It is not as hot as many of the bullet maker load books load to, but it's not as hard on the gun either.

Give it a try.

Joe

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 7:37 pm

Your rifle sounds like a nice one! I am very fond of 33.0 grains of Varget under a Sierra ProHunter 170 grainer. This load shoots well out of my Marlin 336 and Winchester 94.

w30wcf · Post by **w30wcf** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 9:42 am

LeverBar,

I'd like to load for this .30-30 Winchester '94 26" octagon DOM=1924.

Neat Rifle! At the time your rifle was made, 170 gr. bullets were used in the majority of factory loadings. With H4895, 30 grs. would be a good place to start with a 170 gr. jacketed or a cast gas checked bullet of at least 18 b.h.n. hardness.

Titegroup would be a good choice for "Short Range" loads. 5.5 grs under a 150 gr. plain based cast bullet gives excellent accuracy at around 1,200 f.p.s.

Have fun with that neat piece of Winchester history!

w30wcf

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:11 am

I have found nothing that shoots as well as 27.5grs of RE-7 behind a 150gr bullet, and WLR primers. I can use either a Speer, Sierra or my GC cast from a Saeco #316 mold.

Accurate,

consistent and, matches factory rounds pretty closely.

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 12:08 pm

At the moment I am very happy with H BL C2 and Speers.