"Light" 30/30 loads?

[L_Kilkenny]

I'm looking at trying to work up a 30/30 load for coon, fox and coyote. Kinda the "Ultimate" 30/30 varmint round. Used to run Seirra 125 hp's at around 2500 FPS using H4895 on coyotes but I'm betting they'll just tear the stuff outta coon and fox. I'm gonna start with Hodgdons 60% (minimum) rule and try to load up some Hornady 90gr XTP's, some 100gr half jackets, some or the other soft point carbine bullets and some of the tried and true seirra 125's.

You boys have some loads I should look at?
What kinda accuracy do you guys get from "light" loads in your Winchesters? Like to be in the 2"-3" @100 area.
Good source for "light" cast bullets that I should look at?


Hey, while I'm at it.......It is safe to use soft-point .30 carbine bullets in the tube mag isn't it?

LK

[86er]

We were loading 110 gr carbine bullets with 4198 or 4895 and getting great accuracy at 100 yds. We can get 5 shot groups that hover around an inch. However, we were loading at 2000 fps to keep it quiet and recoil free. I suppose the same bullets and powder combo's with the right dose to speed it up have potential to remain accurate.

[L_Kilkenny]

Sorry, need to add a little info. I was hopeing to get a load in the 1600-1700 fps range.

LK

[handyrandyrc]

How about 1.90cc of Trail Boss? I think that works out to around 9 grains.

My favorite light load for 30-30. Put a Plinker boolit of some sort on top, you are good to go. I've used from 110 up to 170 grains, and they all shoot wonderfully.

It's around 1100 FPS -- a 22 on serious steroids.

[Don McDowell]

Sorry, need to add a little info. I was hopeing to get a load in the 1600-1700 fps range.

LK

I would skip the light bullets especially if you're interested in the keeping the pelts.Those lite weight bullets are to thin and will blow things to pieces.
170 gr cast pushed by 12-18 grs of aa5744 should proove plenty accurate in your gun, pelt damage will be minimal.
You could also run a jacketed bullet with that charge. I shoot 18 grs quite often with good accuracy to 270 yds.
15 grs of 2400 with a 150-170 gr bullet could proove quite useful. Its worked well for me.

[jlchucker]

try the Lyman 311008 bullet (originally intended for 32-20). size it to around .310 It casts out to around 115 Grains. It's a plain-base bullet, but works very nicely with powders like Unique, around 7.5 grains. Put away your chronograph, and don't worry about velocity--inside 100 yd this bullet is very accurate, pleasant to shoot, doesn't lead or stretch cases, and won't bounce off the kind of game you are going to use it for. Lyman once made a gascheck bullet in this size and shape, but that mold's long discontinued. Still, the plain version, which comes out at around 1400 fps or so, works really well, and some commercial casters even offer it in various diameters and alloys.

[L_Kilkenny]

Thanks for the tips guys. All are appreciated.

LK

[jimkim]

Try these. http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm One of my favorite pinking loads is 10.0gr of Unique under any 100-110gr jacketed bullet or any cast bullet 140gr(SAECO 630) or heavier. Watch for leading and work back if needed. You might also like this article, it has some good data.
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/3030varmint.htm

When hunting coyote I do like Paco did and push the stuff out of the 100gr half jacketed plinker. I haven't seen any exit wounds yet. They explode after entry and cause(so far) instantaneous death. I wouldn't use this bullet if I intended to eat an animal, but it sure does a number on varmints. I also load sabots, but I load them down for use on feral cats, rabbits and squirrels. I load them with 45-55gr cast bullets and push them with 10.0gr of Unique. I haven't chronied them, but they seem to have plenty of zip.

[Lanyard Stretcher]

This is out of my Contender.
10 Grains Unique
110 grain Speer HP

Works well for me.

Mike

[Borregos]

The light load I use is 9.5gr Unique pushing a 150gr plain base cast bullet. It is accurate in all three of my Winchester 94's and in three contender barrels. Not sure of the velocity yet though.