Hand loaded Leverevolution powder and FTX. Ain't your papaw's .30-30!!!

[BluegrassDan]

This ain't your papaw's .30-30 anymore!!!

My loads were the Hornady FTX 160 grain bullet over 32, 33, 34, and 35 grains of Hodgdon's Leverevolution powder. Shooting my 1956 Winchester 94 with factory buckhorn sights at 50 yards.

32 and 33 grains measured 2.5"-3" groups. 34 grains at 1.89" and finally settled on 35 grains with this nice group:

Came home and loaded up 50 rounds. This is probably about as good as I'll ever need with this rifle.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

That's the same charge weight I settled upon for the FTX bullet. My Marlin likes it as much as your Winchester does. I'm glad Hodgdon is using their 30-30 powder blend for their canister LVR powder.

 

[ssyoumans]

I worked on the same loads in my 336 this weekend. Definitely concur, the loads tightened up as they got hotter. My best was at 35.5gr which was as high as I loaded. I'm curious if 36 would be even tighter? Hornady data differs from Hodgdon's and lists max at 37.0gr
I'll probably give them a try.
Velocity at 82 degrees out of my 20" 336:

33.0gr LVR, 2181fps, ES 19fps
33.5gr LVR, 2234 fps, ES 49 fps
34.0gr LVR, 2253 fps, ES 22 fps
34.5gr LVR, 2274 fps, ES 19 fps

Chrono was malfunctioning at 35.0 and 35.5gr due to the sunlight changing, but I would guess 35.5 should be around 2315 fps (which would exceeds my expectations). I get 2302 (46 deg) - 2346 (85 deg) fps using the Factory loads.

 

[Philippe]

Man those look mighty nice, makes me want to go pick up this nicely used marlin 336 i saw saturday. Heck i even have 250 brass ready to rock and roll for it, just no gun lol. Do you have problems with those tips making the rifle not want to cycle?

 

[BluegrassDan]

No problems cycling at all in either my Marlin 336 or my Win 94.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

impressive. with glass mounted that's 300yd capable.

 

[ssyoumans]

Finally got a break in the weather (a bit cooler) and went to the outdoor range to finish testing some handloads. See post #3 above for earlier #'s.
First the #'s:
Velocity at 80 degrees out of my 20" 336, 5 rounds

35.0gr LVR, 2268fps, ES 76fps (avg the same at my 34.5, reloading variation I suppose)
35.5gr LVR, 2292 fps, ES 38 fps
36.0gr LVR, 2319 fps, ES 53 fps

I stopped there, Hodgdon has 35.5 as max, but Hornady lists 37.0 as max, fairly large difference.

First of all, my Marlin 336 loves this bullet, it is very very accurate, more so than any of the 125's, & 150's, and I think, even better than the 170's (which were king in it). The king has been dethroned by the Hornady 160gr FTX. I was getting one large ragged hole at 60 yards with a 5 shot group. No fliers! Got it zero'd in at 40 yards, which put's it pretty +1.0" to -1.0" of line of sight from 20 to 150 yards. I'll take that.

My biggest concern was that I was having primers backing out. These were once fired Federal cases that I had set aside. Usually I associate backed out primers with low pressure, but these were definitely not low pressure loads (35 -36gr LVR). Not sure what to make of that. Eyeballing it, it only appears to be around .003"-.005". I really liked the groupings I got with 35.5 & 36.0gr and the velocity.

 

[Craigman]

I too was experiencing primer backing out in WW, R-P and FC brass. I loaded cheap 150gn Corelokt's to 2300fps with settling on 37gn of the LE powder. All loads from 33-38 looked, shot, and extracted about the same though.

Not sure what to think cause no other signs of pressure or anything.

 

[Strongbad]

Nicely done. I've been shooting the FTX's is a 336 with standard powders and the results have been better than most of the other bullets I've tried but still less than stellar. This gives me hope that it might do even better with the LE powder and the FTX bullets.

 

[ssyoumans]

I too was experiencing primer backing out in WW, R-P and FC brass. I loaded cheap 150gn Corelokt's to 2300fps with settling on 37gn of the LE powder. All loads from 33-38 looked, shot, and extracted about the same though.

Not sure what to think cause no other signs of pressure or anything.

Mine extracted fine too. No other signs of excessive pressure but then again the 30-30 isn't a high pressure round so you wouldn't see pierced primers. My primers weren't flattened either. Glad to hear I'm not the only one cause I really like the performance boost it gives. Can't wait till deer season.
Safe shooting.

 

[kelbro]

You guys with the primers backing out, are you full length sizing? My '94 has a 'generous' chamber in the shoulder area that works best if only partially full length sized.

 

[ssyoumans]

Yes, I am full length resizing mine. Cases go in and out smoothly. I haven't mic'd how much I am pushing the shoulder back though. The next time I load some up I'll record it. Probably be a while though.