30-30 10 gr. 700X

[kjohn]

I tried out my old Savage Model 219 single shot today with 19 rounds. 10 gr. 700X under a Lee 150 gr. FN GC WW. It seemed to be accurate enough but maybe a wee bit too hot. There was a bit of flowback around the primer dent. Very nice load to shoot, with mild recoil. The old girl wouldn't fire unless I held the opening lever still with my thumb. Go figure. The shotgun barrel worked like a charm.

EDIT: Changed title to 30-30

 

[Otto V]

I assume your header (303-30) is just a typo and we're actually talking about 30-30. I have an older Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook (1973) and with a 150 grain cast bullet w/gas check, it lists 8 grains of 700-X as maximum, with a pressure of 36,400 cup.

 

[kjohn]

Otto V: Thanks for picking up the mistake in the title. Corrected. The load was too hot, for sure. Will reduce. Thanks for the info as well.

 

[kjohn]

Here's a pic of the primer. It actually looks worse than it is. Primer shows no sign of flattening. CCI LR primer, new Federal brass.

View attachment 19152

 

[Rocket Surgery]

What do you think of a 173g gc WW bullet with 9g unique in the 30-30? I was going to start at 8g and work a few up. I only have like 1000 of those bullets at home lol

 

[07blackwater]

I run berry's plated 150 with 10 gains unique.
The Lyman cast manual says 7-10.6 grains unique with a 175 cast bullet.

 

[LUTNIT]

Here's a pic of the primer. It actually looks worse than it is. Primer shows no sign of flattening. CCI LR primer, new Federal brass.

Cratering can also be caused by a too-large firing pin hole in the bolt face. In my experience that is usually the case when firing older rifles. It isn't necessarily a sign of pressure being too high. I have a couple old rifles that crater primers terribly using starting loads; just the nature of the rifles.

The issue with looking at primers for pressure is that any given primer will flatten at some pressure level that has nothing to do with the cartridge it happens to be in. Federal primers for example will flatten almost totally with normal 308 loads. CCI wont flatten much even in my 300WM loads and that cartridge is rated for above 60,000psi. If CCI primers are flattening in a 30-30 you are in very dangerous territory as you are probably pushing a 42,000psi rated case/rifle past 60,000psi. If a Federal primer flattened in a 30-30 case I wouldn't think anything of it.

The primer has no idea what the max rated pressure of the cartridge that it happens to be seated in is. It doesn't "know" to flatten at the max pressure for any given cartridge. And cratering is a mechanical effect based on various factors, only one of which is pressure.

 

[kjohn]

Thank you.

 

[zuke]

I've been playing with 5gr of 700X under everything, and it's fun!!

 

[mudgunner49]

I've been playing with 5gr of 700X under everything, and it's fun!!

Try 2.8 gr under a 500 gr cast RN in the .45-70 - less noise than a .22 short and blows thru 7 gal water jugs...

 

[zuke]

Try 2.8 gr under a 500 gr cast RN in the .45-70 - less noise than a .22 short and blows thru 7 gal water jugs...

That sound's like fun!

 

[mississaugagunnut]

I thought all the powders mentioned were strictly pistol powders? I guess I need to do some research.

 

[norland]

is it a must to put filler in cartridge with small amounts in large capacity brass?????

 

[kjohn]

is it a must to put filler in cartridge with small amounts in large capacity brass?????

FWIW, I've fired off hundreds of 5gr. 700X under a 93 gr. Lee WW in 30-30 without any filler. One pound of powder gives 1200 loads. The load isn't exactly for grizzly defence, but is good for shooting tin cans and balloons, etc..

 

[jethunter]

I thought all the powders mentioned were strictly pistol powders? I guess I need to do some research.

Yes, they are pistol powders - or maybe 700X is actually a shotgun powder.

Loaded correctly you can use pistol and shotgun powders in rifle cartridges for light, reduced loads. You need to have good data and you need to be careful because these powders can easily produce enough pressure to blow up any rifle action ever built if too much powder is used.

 

[Otto V]

is it a must to put filler in cartridge with small amounts in large capacity brass?????

I've also fired off hundreds of rounds of 30-30, using 6grs of 700-X with Lyman 311291 (170grs, no gas check) without using any filler. Nice low cost plinking load and reasonably accurate.

 

[mudgunner49]

is it a must to put filler in cartridge with small amounts in large capacity brass?????

I don't use any with 700x/Bullseye/Unique in the .30WCF, .308, 6.5x55, 7x57 or cases up to '06 in capacity, however I do in the .45-70 as the case is so huge in comparison to the powder charge and I'd like to keep it near the primer for the sake of consistency...

 

[Rocket Surgery]

Yes, they are pistol powders - or maybe 700X is actually a shotgun powder.

Loaded correctly you can use pistol and shotgun powders in rifle cartridges for light, reduced loads. You need to have good data and you need to be careful because these powders can easily produce enough pressure to blow up any rifle action ever built if too much powder is used.

I saw a guy on youtube put 55 grains of 2400 in a mosin and it didn't blow up, they couldnt open the bolt with a 4x4 post either lol

 

[nanuk]

for fast, fluffy, easy to ignite powders, filler isn't necessary, nor recommended any most experienced reloaders.

 

[hoytcanon]

I use 9 grains of TB under 165 hard cast, no gas checks