No real reason for this other than I just wanted to try it. I’ll be shooting them from a Marlin 336, single fed. Where is a good place to start regarding data? My Lyman manual has data for Contender pistol loads that use pointed bullets. I’ll start there unless someone has a better source.
Reloading 30-30 with Pointed Bullets
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Barbaroja
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Keep in mind a lot of pointed Bullets are not designed to expand at the lower velocities out of a 30-30 vs the intended 308,30-06 etc. I’ve heard good things about Bullets on the lighter end of the spectrum like the nosler 125gn ballistic tips. Good luck!
GeoDudeFlorida
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SSP data is the best place too start. Contender’s typically use a 10” or 14” barrel so can expect to get some higher velocities (depending on the powder) from a longer barrel. Also keep in mind the Contender data is for the Contender action - which runs TIGHT especially compared to the hogged-out chambers of Marlin lever-guns - so you may find some combinations don’t work out until you get to the high-end of data.
GeoDudeFlorida
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Single-Shot Pistol.
CoalCrackerAl
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I load 120 grain plated spire point for range play. I put 1 in the tube. Followed by some RN and one pointed in the chamber.
I'm leaning hard toward finding some match bullets and trying for accuracy. Maybe some 125-grain SMKs or something like that. Before I go through all this, I need to be sure my Williams peep sights will lower enough to zero for high velocity loads. I've been shooting cast mostly and haven't tried since I filed down my front sight and installed the Williams.
GeoDudeFlorida
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With the right powder/barrel combo, the Sierra MatchKing bullets can be real close-range tack-drivers in a .30-30 or .30-40. 180gr. GameKings in .30-40US is a real deer-dropper inside 200yds. My wife’s favorite load when she hunted. They don’t need to expand, you just need to put them through the pump house and let hydrodynamics do the work. Only problem is, most lifter and magazine assemblies won’t fit a heavy, long bullet like the SPBT-GK so you have to drop them in an open action and close it up. Some rifles have extractors that don’t react well to that kind of treatment so, be careful out there.
ArchAngelCD
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No reason for a single feed, you can chamber 1 and have 1 in the tube.
AJC1
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I'm going to do it with Speer 150s because I have no other use for that pack of bullets. Ironically they have almost exactly the same bc as the 160 ftx. I'll do what I always do and just use 150 data and work up. Understanding that due to profile I will get more pressure due to less case capacity. A spire will be longer for the same weight.
Now I was thinking the exact opposite and planning to go lighter to keep COAL and case capacity the same. I don’t have any projectiles to try with right now so I’m looking for some. Dropping down to 110 grain might be where I go, 125 for sure.
Hugger-4641
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I've loaded 125 and 165gr Spitzer with no problems. Even loaded some 110 hollow points. The 110 hp are a little risky as the points are hard, but the Spitzer and sp tips are not hard enough to cause any problems. The points don't actually center on the next rd in the tube anyway. The shape of the case causes them to slant in the tube, but you would be extra safe just putting one in the chamber and one in the mag.
AJC1
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That was absolutely my plan. Just to play for target shooting. Might even just single load.
W.E.G.
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Some people have loaded FMJ pointed bullets backwards.
https://www.theboxotruth.com/threads/the-box-o-truth-50-shooting-bullets-backwards.398/
https://www.theboxotruth.com/threads/the-box-o-truth-50-shooting-bullets-backwards.398/
W.E.G.
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Don't load anthing other than FMJ backward unless you check the bore after each shot to be sure you didn't just blow the lead core down the bore, and left the jacket in the IN the bore.
But it seems like honest-injun FMJ's are GTG for adequate-accuracy, and no risk of leaving a jacket behind, when loaded backwards.
But it seems like honest-injun FMJ's are GTG for adequate-accuracy, and no risk of leaving a jacket behind, when loaded backwards.
AJC1
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I can only imagine what happens as the bullet goes transonic, and the bc would be garbage.
There are no real-world advantages to using pointed bullets at 30-30 velocities. A 30-30 is at best a 200 yard rifle. Using pointed bullets doesn't change that. With a 100 yard zero both are going to drop significantly at 200 yards. An inch more or less doesn't matter. Pointed bullets will impact 100 fps or so faster at 200 than RN, but then pointed bullets need more speed to expand.
Lots of people look at the ballistic charts for Hornady Leverevolution ammo and are impressed with the stated 300 yard trajectories. But if you look closely at the data, they are using a 225 yard zero and compare the drop to RN bullets with a 100 yard zero. If you zero both at the same range, there isn't much difference
Lots of people look at the ballistic charts for Hornady Leverevolution ammo and are impressed with the stated 300 yard trajectories. But if you look closely at the data, they are using a 225 yard zero and compare the drop to RN bullets with a 100 yard zero. If you zero both at the same range, there isn't much difference
AJC1
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1. This sounds a lot like you shoot scoped so drop is just a spin of the dial, 2. That is also a very hunting perspective that may apply to that but not what I do most. Bc in real life is a flatter trajectory.
AJC1
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If they made the rams at 200 any smaller I'd be in real trouble. Now if that's because I wave like a pvc flagpole on a windy day while shooting off hand or my astigmatism I can't or won't confess...
I loaded 168 AMAX in a Marlin. It was very accurate. But I'm running a 2.5-10 scope. Not irons. I used 170 gr data for 4064. The jump to the lands is comical.
AJC1
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Have you tried the 170 subx. I was curious how those did at full power. I've never seen a box of Hornaday 30-30 on the shelf of any loading. There are a lot more bullet choices than just plain Jane.
high country
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My H&R single shot .30-30 likes .30 grain speer jacketed hollow points over CFE 223. Pretty gentle recoil, but quite accurate and that bullet should expand properly at the velocity within reasonable range.
WestKentucky
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I have loaded some 300blk bullets intended for a 30 carbine and used them in my 336. I wasn’t impressed with the accuracy, but they aren’t great bullets either. They work well in my contender though.
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