.30-30 110 grain loads

[David LaPell]

I picked up a box of Sierra 110 grain round nose bullets the other day, I think these might make a decent varmint load for my .30-30, anyone have experience or loading info for these bullets?

[GunnyMack]

Years ago I found 110 JHPs and was loading them in 30-06, talk about wrecking pariredogs!

[Nath]

In 110grn I only tried Speer hpsp and a sp 30 carbine bullet in 30/30.
The hpsp rarely exits an end on fox! If you want ready made soup to pour from a critter fox or larger in size they are the one.
Always wished I tried the 130grn range.

N.

[Larkbill]

Man, hate to think how many light bullet loads I've fired through my various .30-30s.

It started with whatever was on the bargain table to use for the chickens and pigs in IHMSA. Low budget was the rule and accordingly I shot 110 gr FMJ, soft point, and short jacket. Whatever the LGS had on sale. They all worked. Got a couple boxes of 110 Spires that I used and still use for varmint loads. I segregate brass by gun so I can size with a Lee Collet die, but I shoot them in the Contender 14", 788, and 94. Single shot in all because they're too long for the 788's magazine. I use 3031, RL7, Varget, 4198 and probably a couple others I'm forgetting. Originally I worked up a fairly stout load using 150 gr. spires for my ram load, then used the same powder/primer for the 110 on chicks and pigs and 130 spire on turkeys. They all shot as well or better then I could hold. I was AAA in all the centerfire classes I shot, only shot International in rimfire unlimited.

Since then I've played with 100 gr commercial hardcast over a couple grains of fast shotgun powder, my squirrel load. Then I fell in to a few hundred .30 Luger and Mauser softpoints. With moderate loads of 2400 or RL7 they'll blow up almost anything you hit, animate or inanimate. Those are 87 and 93gr.

The 30 WCF has to be one of the most forgiving calibers there is to load. The only loads that have disappointed were some 169 and 183 gr. cast/GC I was given. Over the standard universal 10gr/Unique cast charge they wouldn't stabilize. Next spring I'll be retired and have more time to experiment with stouter charges of slower powder plus I have some that are sized .311 for an Enfield the fellow that made them used to have. Fair guess that .309 is too small to shoot well with lower charges.

I also picked up a Savage 325 in 30WCF but it needs better sights before I do much with it.

[marlinman93]

I've used them in a 336 Marlin and BL-C2 or H335. Starting around 32 grs. for either powder, and I ended up with 35.0 grs. H335 that gave about 2400 fps and decent accuracy out to 150-175 yds. After that the short little bullets began to open up group sizes quickly. Just not the best twist rate in most .30-30 guns to push them much farther and get good groups.

[1894cfan]

For more loads, go to Marlinowners.com, click on forums, go down to reloading, and click on the sticky "lighter bullets in 30-30'. HTH Get ready to do some reading though, there's 62 pages of stuff.

[Rusty]

Sounds like fun!