Food for my .30-30

[Old Grumpy]

I went long range today, .30-30 Winchester that is (does that really qualify as long range?). A while back I had built some test rounds using Winchester 748 and got a real surprise. Using Lyman's 51st Edition data and using very close to their "best load" I used 29.5gr W748 (Lyman used 29.4gr), 160gr Hornady FTX bullets, Winchester Large Rifle Primers, with an OAL of 2.535" (actually a couple of mince came out closer to 2.538"). This load gave me 1940fps, an extreme spread of 63fps, and a standard deviation of 12.8fps. Fellows, for me that's just biscuits and gravy in the morning. They were very accurate out of my Winchester 94. Built 50 of them and plan on having a "Lever Gun Weekend" with my Rossi 92 in .44 Remington Magnum.

Grumpy

 

[eddiememphis]

Nice numbers but seems kinda slow. What length barrel?

Hornady claims 2400fps out of a 24".

 

[Chief TC]

Awesome. I tried 748 with 160gr FTX and couldn't get it to perform to my satisfaction. AA4064 is the ticket for me using 160gr FTX.

 

[Old Grumpy]

Nice numbers but seems kinda slow. What length barrel?

Hornady claims 2400fps out of a 24".

I'll measure to be sure, but mine is shorter than 24" for sure. I'll post it here when I get it measured.

Grumpy

 

[.45Coltguy]

Old Grumpy, Win 748 is a good powder for the 30-30. My load is 150gr Hornady RN and 34.0gr 748 with a mag primer. Very good accuracy. Same charge with 170gr Hornady FP.
Almost forgot; Win Mod 94, 20" barrel. Works.

 

[Chief TC]

Old Grumpy, Win 748 is a good powder for the 30-30. My load is 150gr Hornady RN and 34.0gr 748 with a mag primer. Very good accuracy. Same charge with 170gr Hornady FP.
Almost forgot; Win Mod 94, 20" barrel. Works.

i have a 20 inch and 1950ish with 160 FTX is about right but that is with AA4064 at 31gr. I think with 748, you need about 34ish to get upper end, so 29ish grains is a reduced load with a longer barrel.

 

[DMW1116]

I love shooting my old 336. I love it even more with a scope now. I may actually restore the factory iron sights and keep the fixed 4x32 scope I have. I haven’t had that much luck with the 160 grain FTX bullets but since I started shooting cast, it shoots more accurately, even if I’m giving up velocity. I’m pretty sure the 165 grain Whitetail 4 from MBC would do the trick in hunting deer but I won’t be trying it unless something dire happens.

 

[FROGO207]

I am finding that IMR 3031 and 170 grain bullets are the best performers in my different 30-30's. 4064 also worked well for me. I have hesitated trying the FTX bullets so far as most shots I can realistically take are 60 YDS or less due to local conditions. When I hunt over crops with longer distances I go to the 308 or 30-06. I am still amazed that you can get fair to excellent accuracy out of a 30-30 with handloads after trying factory ammo in the past.

 

[Chief TC]

I am finding that IMR 3031 and 170 grain bullets are the best performers in my different 30-30's. 4064 also worked well for me. I have hesitated trying the FTX bullets so far as most shots I can realistically take are 60 YDS or less due to local conditions. When I hunt over crops with longer distances I go to the 308 or 30-06. I am still amazed that you can get fair to excellent accuracy out of a 30-30 with handloads after trying factory ammo in the past.

3031 works best for me using 170gr cast bullets too.

 

[The Bushmaster]

As I have said before...32 grains of W-748 under a 170 grain JSP FN Speer Hot-core. 1 5/8" spread three shots at 100 yards from a 74 year old M-94 Winchester. 2000 fps +/- a few fps.

 

[Charlie98]

I used to use H322 for the .30-30... I don't really know why I picked that powder. I've since made the switch to IMR3031, although with cast bullets, I use IMR4198. I don't shoot a lot of jacketed in the .30-30 anymore.

 

[joneb]

Try some IMR XBR 8208 it has worked very well for me for 30-30 Win. with 150 and 170gr bullets.

 

[AJC1]

I throw a lot of 170 grain cast boolits down range with 26 grains of tac. Berry's 150s and blue dot is also fun. Looking at my 160 stash and tac today, haven't tried them yet. Western claims 2200 fps.

 

[Riomouse911]

I was a 3031 guy for a long time. I tried the LEVERevolution powder (35.5gr, should be roughly 2300 fps) and the 160 gr “Zombie” bullets (FTX with green tips) and both of my Win 94’s like the combo.



I’ve only shot them to 100 yds, so I don’t know how well they shoot beyond that distance.

Stay safe.

 

[Boom Vang]

Nice numbers but seems kinda slow. What length barrel?

Hornady claims 2400fps out of a 24".

His velocity numbers are right in line with Hodgdon data for that powder charge. If anything, they are very good for a 20" barrel.