Seeing this post reminded me when i got started reloading 30-30. That was 40 yrs ago. Now, don't shoot it much. Many of the boolits mentioned i used/have in abundance. Anyone interested, shoot me an email. I could part with some nice 135s, maybe 154s, and a whole bunch of 165s.
New to 30 30 win
- Thread starter Waterboy3313
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I bought a Marlin 30-30 about 30 years ago for $75. I got it for my kiddo who was about 12 and interest ed in hunting.
He hunted a couple years, shot a small forkhorn but only went a handful of times.
He grew up, moved away and that was that.
With a young family, he was looking for a home defense gun and asked me if he could have it.
I gave him the option of that rifle or an SKS. He chose the latter.
Now, with the 30-30, I had hundreds of cases that my BIL gave me so decided to reload.
Since I had plenty of IMR4350 and wanting to keep it simple, I started loading 170gr Speer flat nosed bullets with a full charge (34.5gr) of
4350. It wasnt the best combo but when I ran out of those bullets, I started using Speer's Deep Curl bullets in 170gr.
They stopped offering Deep curl in all calibers but .30 and .35.
A guy from Philly area sent me 80 or so he wasn't going to use and eventually, I got 500 from RMR bullets.
Now, Speer has load data for the 170gr Deep Curl which does not include my powder of choice.
I contacted them and was told not to use any powder not listed. Since I had 50 rounds loaded to the old data, i decided to do a water jug expansion test and came up withy this.
Left and bottom pic are 170 grain Deep Curls over 34.5 gr of IMR4350. The right bullet was a 10mm hardcast.
So, in my testeg, the deep curl expanded over twice the bullet diameter so I will continue to use it. The deer I shot with it didn't notice any difference in bullet speed.
Use established load data. Mine was done before I realized Speer had published their information.
Enjoy the 30-30.( and Happy belated birthday)
2020-07-30_09-59-09 by poofy27, on Flickr
2020-07-30_09-57-19 by poofy27, on Flickr
He hunted a couple years, shot a small forkhorn but only went a handful of times.
He grew up, moved away and that was that.
With a young family, he was looking for a home defense gun and asked me if he could have it.
I gave him the option of that rifle or an SKS. He chose the latter.
Now, with the 30-30, I had hundreds of cases that my BIL gave me so decided to reload.
Since I had plenty of IMR4350 and wanting to keep it simple, I started loading 170gr Speer flat nosed bullets with a full charge (34.5gr) of
4350. It wasnt the best combo but when I ran out of those bullets, I started using Speer's Deep Curl bullets in 170gr.
They stopped offering Deep curl in all calibers but .30 and .35.
A guy from Philly area sent me 80 or so he wasn't going to use and eventually, I got 500 from RMR bullets.
Now, Speer has load data for the 170gr Deep Curl which does not include my powder of choice.
I contacted them and was told not to use any powder not listed. Since I had 50 rounds loaded to the old data, i decided to do a water jug expansion test and came up withy this.
Left and bottom pic are 170 grain Deep Curls over 34.5 gr of IMR4350. The right bullet was a 10mm hardcast.
So, in my testeg, the deep curl expanded over twice the bullet diameter so I will continue to use it. The deer I shot with it didn't notice any difference in bullet speed.
Use established load data. Mine was done before I realized Speer had published their information.
Enjoy the 30-30.( and Happy belated birthday)
2020-07-30_09-59-09 by poofy27, on Flickr
2020-07-30_09-57-19 by poofy27, on Flickr
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Waterboy3313
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That's neat. With the lack or supplies I'm sure finding much of anything right now will be difficult and limited to the stuff people don't want if I can find anything at all. I will have to call the old man since he has seemed to forgot about me. Hopefully I will be able to get this thing and find a suitable load for it.
PonyKiller
Member
Congrats, like the folks above have said the 30/30 is easy to load,and quite forgiving. If your patient and load up a cart from midway or your favorite place, you can gather your supplies. I've picked up plenty of bullets for 30/30, 308 and 303 Brit and a varied supply of powders. All is not lost.
I'm pretty easy on my 94 winchester, and I've reloaded the brass at least 5 or 6 times with no case problems thus far. Mine likes 150 gr fn sierra or 150gr rn sierra for paper punching. With 33gr of the now discontinued norma 201 it clocks over the chrono at 2250fps. And is more accurate than my eyes
I'm pretty easy on my 94 winchester, and I've reloaded the brass at least 5 or 6 times with no case problems thus far. Mine likes 150 gr fn sierra or 150gr rn sierra for paper punching. With 33gr of the now discontinued norma 201 it clocks over the chrono at 2250fps. And is more accurate than my eyes
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Waterboy3313
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I'm going shopping this weekend at my local usual places. Last weekend I could not find one single component for reloading that I could use. Actually there was zero powder on the shelf and not even any plastic ammo boxes except for 50 BMG. I have a feeling it might be a while before the things I need might be on shelf. Oh well I guess at least I have enough supplies to load my usual loads. It's just a matter of time and things will be back.
stillquietvoice
Contributing Member
What are your usual loads?
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Waterboy3313
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My usual loads are mostly pistol rounds and I load .223 for my 15s. I load 9mm (and people laughed I was wasting time when it was on the shelf ) 38 special for those times your friends want to shoot your 357 mag, 357 mag and 45acp. I recently bought a 22 LR/mag revolver just to cut down on the time I spend reloading. I also plan on shooting more 22lr out of my rifles as well in a dedicated rifle and conversion kit through one of my 15s just because I don't want to burn more components and spend so much time at the bench.
In a typical range day I leave my house by 6:00-6:30 am depending on the time of sunrise. Home no later than 10:00 am at the latest. 5:00pm I'm generally still processing brass and reloading what I used up out of my brass collection that is ready to load. A day or two later after the recently fired brass has been cleaned and dry I start reloading for 2-3 days after work. Usually by the middle to end of the week I'm caught up.
I spend a lot of time on two single stage presses. I look at it as a hobby that supports my hobby. I probably spend too much time but everything I load I would consider to be much better than factory store bought stuff.
stillquietvoice
Contributing Member
Nice, thoughtvibsa you had another 40 cal you could substitute for the 3030
. I did use some spritzer type bullets in mine but only loaded 2 rounds do in the gun at a time.
I loaded for all of those pistol cartridges at one time plus 380 and 41 mag. Now it's just 9mm for the pistol. I load for 223,243win, 7mm08, and 3006, but only do 06 occasionally for my SIL.
When I did 3030 I had a 125 HP that was a good plinking load and dome small game, the HP had a large head flat meplat do the full tube could be loaded.
Catpop
Member
I’m hoping your grand dads 94 was a pre 64!
That would be awesome for you!
Please let us know and post pics!
I’m working with a Marlin 336 now using a 179 boolit over 2400. But I certainly haven’t got that one settled down at 100 yards yet!
I wish you success with your quest!
Please keep us informed!
That would be awesome for you!
Please let us know and post pics!
I’m working with a Marlin 336 now using a 179 boolit over 2400. But I certainly haven’t got that one settled down at 100 yards yet!
I wish you success with your quest!
Please keep us informed!
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Waterboy3313
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So this morning I picked up the rifle my dad was telling me about.
It turns out that it is actually a marlin 336. Not a winchester. My dad told me his dad bought it new sometime around 1965-1967. It looks pretty new still minus the dust collection from being in the closet for the last 30 or so years.
It turns out that it is actually a marlin 336. Not a winchester. My dad told me his dad bought it new sometime around 1965-1967. It looks pretty new still minus the dust collection from being in the closet for the last 30 or so years.
stillquietvoice
Contributing Member
That's pretty. Hope it shoots well for you.
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Waterboy3313
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I'm hoping to get some time this afternoon to clean it up and oil it. It appears to be in really good condition. If you look at the sling on the stock end you can the dust built up as it was propped up in the closet.
AJC1
Member
Now is a great time to learn how to take out the bolt for proper cleaning.
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Waterboy3313
Member
I was hoping to find a good youtube video or something. This thing is way different from what I know.
glockgod
Member
The 336 is easy to field strip for cleaning. Just be careful to not lose the ejector!
AJC1
Member
It's way different from my 39a or I would make you a video. My action has a takedown screw and comes in half
glockgod
Member
Plenty of YouTube vids on dissassembly and cleaning. Search for Cleaning a Marlin 336. Easy Peasy!
The Marlin is a much better rifle anyway.
I agree with the idea of watching a couple YouTube videos on disassembly.
I highly recommend putting a peep sight on it.
glockgod
Member
30 grains of IMR3031 and a 150 grain round or flat point has been a winning combination for me for a long time
AJC1
Member
I love my adjustable peep and front globe sight.
You're half a grain over my preferred charge. Funny how everyone likes somewhere between 29 and 30 grains of 3031. It makes me wonder if that's caused by burn rate variance.
glockgod
Member
Wouldn't surprise me!
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Waterboy3313
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Busy day yesterday so I never got a chance to do anything. I did spend very little time looking at sights and I did find a few different peep sights and some fiberoptic looking sights.
One of the local gun shops opens in an hour. I'm going to cross my fingers and see if I can find some ammo for it. Weather is supposed to not rain tomorrow and I would love to go run a few rounds through it after I clean it up today.
I also got a really old stevens 12 guage double barrel shotgun. I think I was the last one to shoot that one about 20 years ago. My dad told me he remembers my grandfather had it in mid 50s and it was kind of old back then. I don't have any plans on shooting it but it might get a round or two down each barrel one of these days.
The stock is not wood or plastic but it looks like plastic. I'm trying to remember what the material is called.
GeoDudeFlorida
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Tenite. It’s a kind of nylon if I recall. Stevens used it in the early 40’s up through the mid 50’s. They’re tough but you need to see about long term care. I had a Stevens in Tenite for a while but it was a long time ago. Merry Christmas!
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Waterboy3313
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Thanks for the info. Merry Christmas.
Struck out on finding any 30-30 ammo. I'm not surprised. I will see about getting some dies and supplies as I can find them. I don't load for anything with a large rifle primer so I'm sure that will be my most limiting factor at this point. Time to keep my eyes open now.
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