168 gr berger in 30-30 win
- Thread starter rbear1
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There was a guy on youtube that was loading 165 gr boat tail sptitzers in his 30-30 for longer distance shooting. I dont recall his name, and he used two different names on youtube. Searching long range 30-30 shooting may turn it up.
I doubt you would be able to get the cartridges short enough to cycle with a long pointy bullet, magazine detonations aside. Single loading is about all youre likely to be able to do. I may be mistaken about that, but if single loading anyway, theres no good reason to try to make them short and use up powder space, so long as the bullet doesnt crowd the rifling in the throat.
It would be fine for longer range shooting, but the Bergers may be a bit more cost/precision than you can really tell an improvement over a hunting grade spitzer bullet in most guns chambered in 30-30.
Despite many feeling the 30-30 suddenly hits a magical wall at some diatance and simply drops to the ground, they are used for distance shooting some. I've shot out to 600 yards, I've heard of others shooting out to about 1000 with cast bullets. Not match grade accuracy, more for fun, or shooting against guys with similar guns and load types.
I doubt you would be able to get the cartridges short enough to cycle with a long pointy bullet, magazine detonations aside. Single loading is about all youre likely to be able to do. I may be mistaken about that, but if single loading anyway, theres no good reason to try to make them short and use up powder space, so long as the bullet doesnt crowd the rifling in the throat.
It would be fine for longer range shooting, but the Bergers may be a bit more cost/precision than you can really tell an improvement over a hunting grade spitzer bullet in most guns chambered in 30-30.
Despite many feeling the 30-30 suddenly hits a magical wall at some diatance and simply drops to the ground, they are used for distance shooting some. I've shot out to 600 yards, I've heard of others shooting out to about 1000 with cast bullets. Not match grade accuracy, more for fun, or shooting against guys with similar guns and load types.
SwaneeSR
Member
gunboat57 here on THR has done some similar loading and testing. I think he is our local expert.
I have done three loads for my two .30-30's. I have a Win '94 and a Stevens 325b bolt action in .30-30.
I have loaded 150 and 175gr RN that work great. I purchased some Hornady FTX hard rubber tipped bullets and my initial test didn't go very well. Strangely, they did not feed well in the Stevens. I need to look at the feed ramp.
I also load .30-06, so I was thinking of trying some other bullets for fun. Thing is, in the end, the ballistics for the .30-30 are not going to get you out much past 300 yards even if you and your rifle can hold up your end of the deal. Granted, I do not have a 24" barrel where maybe you can wring more velocity out of the cartridge. My next batch I will put through my Chrony and see where I am at. My first attempt, the rifle range was packed with other shooters.
I have done three loads for my two .30-30's. I have a Win '94 and a Stevens 325b bolt action in .30-30.
I have loaded 150 and 175gr RN that work great. I purchased some Hornady FTX hard rubber tipped bullets and my initial test didn't go very well. Strangely, they did not feed well in the Stevens. I need to look at the feed ramp.
I also load .30-06, so I was thinking of trying some other bullets for fun. Thing is, in the end, the ballistics for the .30-30 are not going to get you out much past 300 yards even if you and your rifle can hold up your end of the deal. Granted, I do not have a 24" barrel where maybe you can wring more velocity out of the cartridge. My next batch I will put through my Chrony and see where I am at. My first attempt, the rifle range was packed with other shooters.
Hardtarget
Member
Years ago I loaded those pointed bullets for my .30-30. The C.O.L. worked fine and they fed well. Concern re: magazine detonation led me to turn my rifle into a "two shot" gun. I chambered one and had one up the tube. I soon went back to standard 170 gr flat nose type bullets. Deer die just fine with those. 
Mark
Mark
At 30-30 velocities you just don't gain much as far as trajectory goes with pointed bullets. Even at 30-06 speeds there isn't much difference until you start shooting beyond 300 yards. It'll have a little more speed out at 200-300 yards which may make it more effective on game. Now if you are talking about pushing a 30-30 to 500 yards or farther it may help some, I've not looked at numbers at those ranges.
If you look closely at the pointed 30-30 bullets made by Hornady you only gain 2-3" less drop at 300 yards with their pointed bullets vs RN. They cheat a bit on their drop charts by showing the RN bullets zeroed at 100 yards and their pointed bullets zeroed slightly high at 200. By doing this the pointed bullets look great at 300 yards, but if you zero the RN bullets at the same distance there just isn't that much difference.
If you look closely at the pointed 30-30 bullets made by Hornady you only gain 2-3" less drop at 300 yards with their pointed bullets vs RN. They cheat a bit on their drop charts by showing the RN bullets zeroed at 100 yards and their pointed bullets zeroed slightly high at 200. By doing this the pointed bullets look great at 300 yards, but if you zero the RN bullets at the same distance there just isn't that much difference.
^^^ This.
Also, look at the BC figures of various bullets. Hornady 170's are under 200 BC. Speer 170's are over 300 BC. I can tell a very noticeable difference in drop and holdover when plinking with both loads side by side at 300 + yards.
Also, look at the BC figures of various bullets. Hornady 170's are under 200 BC. Speer 170's are over 300 BC. I can tell a very noticeable difference in drop and holdover when plinking with both loads side by side at 300 + yards.
R.W.Dale
Member
All you gain by doing this is you trade a bullet with proven terminal performance for the cartridge for one that's an unknown.
If you'll look at the charts for high bc vs low within the velocity and accuracy window a 20" lever action 30-30 can exploit the gains are minuscule
If you'll look at the charts for high bc vs low within the velocity and accuracy window a 20" lever action 30-30 can exploit the gains are minuscule
gamestalker
member
Years back my BIL loaded up some PSPBT's for his lever gun. So some folks do it. But honestly, I don't recall any real improvement regarding accuracy or trajectory v.s. RN bullets.
GS
GS
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