Best 30-30 loads?

bsaride · Post by **bsaride** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 8:54 pm

Picking up the Marlin 1893 in a few days and wondering what are the best loads, factory jacketed (will likely shoot this until April when new mold comes in from Ranch Dog) and cast loads too. Thinking might work up a reduced/lighter bullet load before then, 118-150gr.

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 9:37 pm

Just about any of the factory loads will get your deer for you.
150 or 170gr. your choice. Just get enough to sight in and have enough left over to hunt with.

BTW , I am in on that .30 cal mold group buy also. Ranch Dogs e-mail said Mar.1 you are probably right on for delivery date.

Scott64A · Post by **Scott64A** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 9:52 pm

I load 29.5gr of IMR3031 behind a Hornady 170grFN bulet and have fine results.
I worked up to and past that load with that particular powder, and it producd a 2 1/2" groups at 100 yds out of my Model 64A with a 28" barrel.

IDK if this helps you, since the barrel is different and all, and I'm not sure the rifling woould be the same.

Any of the reloading manuals will help; try Hornady.

They list MAX loads, so work up to them from a couple grains beow or so.
I have a box of 110gr hollow points I've been dying to load for squirrel in a plinker load, but with school, work and everything else I hardly even have time to hunt.
So it'll wait.

jdad · Post by **jdad** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 9:53 pm

How old is the 1893?

I think Marlinman93 will be along to confirm this, but if you're getting an older 1893 you may not want to use jacketed loads. He explained to me that the "older" barrel steel was softer than modern and jacketed loads, especially factory,would wear out the bore faster.

Mojo · Post by **Mojo** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 10:01 pm

I got in on the RD group buy too and was really glad when the subscription list hit 25. I'm betting it'll be April too. Did any of you get in on Catshooter's 113 gr. soupcan (designed by Junior) group buy? That is one sweet looking mould!

bsaride · Post by **bsaride** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 10:09 pm

jdad,

Got the date settled to around 1908.

I was thinking the same thing about the jacketed. Since i'm getting the
165gr mold next year thought I'd get some recommedations on a lighter
bullet.

Mojo,

Didn't want to wait on another mold at this time. I was thinking about a
plinker/small game/varmit load that I could buy bullets or a mold and get
on with it until the RD mold came in.

MikeNV · Post by **MikeNV** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 12:39 pm

While lead loads will prolong the barrel life (any barrel for that matter), the 30-30 has always been a jacketed style bullet from it was created. So I'm sure this 1893 has seen its share of jacketed bullets, but of course to make the barrel last a bit longer lead bullets would be a good choice.

WCF3030 · Post by **WCF3030** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 12:51 pm

170gr Rem cor-locs and 29grs of Imr 3031 was my standard load for years before switching to cast.

bsaride · Post by **bsaride** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 2:00 pm

WCF what are your cast loads?

I had a thought about selecting bullet molds.
Since I have the 165gr RD mold on order is
there a lighter bullet that I could theoretically
have shoot to same POI based on BC and Velocity,
or is this a crazy idea?

WCF3030 · Post by **WCF3030** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 2:53 pm

bsaride wrote:WCF what are your cast loads?

I had a thought about selecting bullet molds.
Since I have the 165gr RD mold on order is
there a lighter bullet that I could theoretically
have shoot to same POI based on BC and Velocity,
or is this a crazy idea?

Its been my experince that all bullets act differently in different rifles.

What I've done is bought the Lyman 311041 173gr die and cast with WW and load 9.5gr of Unique for small game and 25gr of Varget for larger game. Out to 100yds they both shoot within an inch of other.
In my Marlin this will be all I shoot for now on.
I like to keep things simple. I shoot alot and this is cheaper, it will also marry me to this load and rifle, which I'm already seeing the benifits of that.

I had considered the RD mold but did not want to wait. More then likely it should workout the same for you.

bsaride · Post by **bsaride** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 3:01 pm

Its been my experince that all bullets act differently in different rifles.

What I've done is bought the Lyman 311041 173gr die and cast with WW and load 9.5gr of Unique for small game and 25gr of Varget for larger game. Out to 100yds they both shoot within an inch of other.
In my Marlin this will be all I shoot for now on.
I like to keep things simple. I shoot alot and this is cheaper, it will also marry me to this load and rifle, which I'm already seeing the benifits of that.

I had considered the RD mold but did not want to wait. More then likely it should workout the same for you.

That would probably work.
How do you tell them apart?[/quote]

WCF3030 · Post by **WCF3030** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 3:19 pm

bsaride wrote:
That would probably work.
How do you tell them apart?

When I load I put the small game loads in a clear plastic shell holder and the other in a green plastic holder.

Works for me anyways.

txpete · Post by **txpete** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:29 pm

I color the primers with a "sharpie" pen.it doesn't rub off and it works for me.
pete

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 6:01 pm

My favored factory load is the 150gr Federal. I've hunted with this load for years. When I've done my job placing the bullet correctly, it has always produced 1-shot kills. Tthis has been with 4 different Winchester 94s.

For coyotes, I hand load the 125 Sierra HP over 29.5gr s. of RE-7.

My favorite target load is 27.5grs. of RE-7 under a 150GCFP out of a Saeco mold. NOTE: This is an overmax load and should be worked up to observing any signs of excessive pressure. I DO NOT recommend this load.

Post by **Old Savage** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 6:25 pm

My favored load is the Winchester PP 170 because it is the most accurate but, that may have a challenge. I have found that the 170 Federal is more powerful and almost as accurate. I will have to do more shooting to decide.

M336 · Post by **M336** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 6:28 pm

I've been using the Lee 150grFN GC mould and have had pretty good luck with these bullets at around 2000fps. A new 2 cavity mould is under $20.00 and should get you going until RD's moulds get here, I'm in on his buy also and am looking forward to it, should be a great bullet!