30-30 Ackley advice

[Brett915]

What the best powder and bullets. And what ever other advice. Will be doing the conversion in a few weeks.

[claybob86]

Welcome aboard!

I have no experience with the .30-30 AI, but here's the page out of Ackley's book:

Capture111.JPG

This is from 1962, so there's probably more recent and detailed data available.

[GunnyMack]

Nor do I have but I do have a 257 AI. making brass is easy enough, just shoot factory ammo in your AI chamber to form cases.
As for data don't exceed max loads without working up to them. The data available is old and powders have changed over the years.

Oh, and WELCOME,

[M. M. Wright]

I've thought for many years that a 336 Marlin 30-30 AI would be the perfect woods rifle but I discovered the BLR in 308 and never built the rifle. A 94 Winchester would work too but I wanted a scope on it. I still think a 25-35 AI would be the cat's meow with maybe a tang sight.

[fatboy]

I have a .30WCF AI on an ancient Model 99 action, a custom, it is superbly accurate! My best handloads use 150 grain slugs, usually a round nose because the rotor/mag were cut for .22HighPower and are short, over a charge of 3031. I've also had very good accuracy from the Speer 130gr slug, both the varmint and the deer bullet. If you are using once or many times fired brass, expect to lose about 10% of your cases as you fire form. Just starting out I would look for powders at about the same burn rate as 3031/4064/4895. FWIW YMMV.
Bob

[TedH]

My 30-30 AI is an 18" Marlin 30TK. I've had the best results with the 150 gr Speer and RL15. I can get to 2500 fps. But be careful, when you get to top end loads, they go way beyond real quick.

[Blaine]

Our erstwhile ( ) Forumite Bestlever loaded 30wcf AI with 130 grain pointy bullets. Said he was getting upwards of 2700 fps and excellent accuracy. Couldn't load more than one in the tube, but as good as he shot, I doubt the second shot was ever needed.

[DocRock]

What rifle? In a 336 or 94 action, for example, I would be looking hard at Leverevolution for its flatter pressure curve to diminish bolt thrust with the AI. In something like an H&R SB2 receiver, I would want to try 150s with IMR 4064 headed for 308 Lite territory. And with something like the Savage 340, I would still be working with Leverevolution and it's delayed peak pressure.

[M. M. Wright]

According to P. O. there is no bolt thrust with the AI. His first book has a nice article on his experiments.

[DocRock]

According to P. O. there is no bolt thrust with the AI. His first book has a nice article on his experiments.

Bless him.

I have Ackley's books. By removing body taper, the Ackley profile does diminish bolt thrust. His claim that straight walled cartridges expand and "cling" to the chamber walls, thereby negating all bolt thrust is absurd. Because physics. The idea that straight body taper suddenly defies the thermodynamics of gas expansion is false. And 30-30 AI results in a 8.5% increase in powder capacity with 150 grs bullets. From my perspective, adding 8.5% powder capacity and moving a 150grs bullet up to 308 Winchester speed in a lever gun designed for 30-30 pressures would merit an examination of all technology aimed at mitigating peak pressures. Others risk profiles may differ.

Forgot about this article. The 30-30 Ackley has been specifically tested to determine whether the mitigated bolt-thrust claim made by Ackley stands up. The answer is "Yes, but". Lots of info, but I still think LVR would bear exploration as a further mitigator.

https://gundigest.com/gear-ammo/ammunit ... olt-thrust

[TedH]

I tried loading LVR with 150 gr bullets. Could be my rifle, or the combination with the particular bullets I was using, but accuracy was dismal, and pressures get out of hand very quickly. Thankfully a friend with Quickload saved me from a likely catastrophic ending.

[DocRock]

I tried loading LVR with 150 gr bullets. Could be my rifle, or the combination with the particular bullets I was using, but accuracy was dismal, and pressures get out of hand very quickly. Thankfully a friend with Quickload saved me from a likely catastrophic ending.

Good to know and glad to hear all ended well.

[Brett915]

Thanks for all the information. I have h4895 varget and lvr powder. Been thinking of getting some reloader 15 also. If all is a success I will share my findings with all of you. I just hope I find a good fast, and safe load that is accurate. If not, accuracy will do. Thanks to all f you for your help.

[wm]

I'm partial to IMR 3031 because of its versatility. It is not the best in any application but it always seems to be near the top.

Perhaps not the most ringing endorsement but its an honest reply.

Wm