Some 30-30 AI Loads with a 170 gr Bullet

Andy

Andy

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Federal Brass
CCI200 primer
170 gr Hornady RN
2.550" OAL
24" barrel

1. Benchmark - 30.0 grs - 2000 fps
2. WC735 - 31.0 grs - 2050
3. H332 - 32.0 grs - 2175 fps
4. IMR3031 - 32.0 grs - 2150 fps
5. H4895 - 33.0 grs - 2050 fps
6. IMR8208 - 33.0 grs - 2100 fps
7. H335 - 33.0 grs - 2100 fps
8. Varget - 35.0 grs - 2150 fps
9. CFE223 - 37.5 grs - 2200 fps
10. Hybrid 100V - 38.0 grs - 2050 fps
11. H380 - 38.5 grs (full) - 2150 fps
12. BL-C(2) - 38.5 grs - 2225 fps
13. Leverevolution - 38.5 grs - 2325 fps

These are not 30-30 loads, but 30-30 AI which has about 3 grs more case capacity than the 30-30.
 
Sharps '63 said:
That's a lot of load testing! Any favourites emerge?
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It's too early to tell, but I like the CFE223, BL-C(2) and Leverevolution for MV and will likely work some more with them. I have lots of WC735 and might try a few loads up to about 33.0 grs with it as well.
 
I've never loaded 170 gr bullets in my .30-30 (regular chambering) so I don't know if the data in the Lyman #47 manual is correct or a misprint but the manual calls for a Max load of 36.5 grs of H335 in the regular chambering. For 2282 fps with a pressure of 37,700 CUP.

Have you tried more than the 33 grs of H335 with the 170 gr bullet?

I've loaded 38 grs of H335 with the 150 gr bullet with no pressure signs and very good performance. Manual says Max 39 grs.
 
Goldenlakepete said:
I've never loaded 170 gr bullets in my .30-30 (regular chambering) so I don't know if the data in the Lyman #47 manual is correct or a misprint but the manual calls for a Max load of 36.5 grs of H335 in the regular chambering. For 2282 fps with a pressure of 37,700 CUP.

Have you tried more than the 33 grs of H335 with the 170 gr bullet?

I've loaded 38 grs of H335 with the 150 gr bullet with no pressure signs and very good performance. Manual says Max 39 grs.
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The case capacity increase of the 30-30 AI is only about 3.0 grains over the 30-30 (~6% or 50 fps), and I already boldly went above the Hodgdon published maxes for the 30/30 by about that much:

IMR3031 - 29.2/32.0 - +2.8 grs
H335 - 30.5/33.0 - +2.5 grs
BL-C(2) - 36.0/38.5 - +2.5 grs

I didn't try IMR4064 (yet), but if I had I might have tried 31.7/33.5 +2.8 grs

This extract from an old article by "Don Roberts" goes well above what I thought would maintain approximately the same pressure as the 30/30, but even it only goes to 35.0 grs with H335:

30-30AILoadsDonRoberts_zps13392dbc.jpg
 
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30-30AI (Ackley Improved)

so I have a new project, Stevens 325 (Savage 340) bolt action mag fed and its been reamed out to 30-30 AI

anyone have any experience with loading for 30-30AI with pointy bullets :)

should make a dandy little truck gun for deer hunting
 
woodchopper said:
thanks

I used my mod powers to merge and bring that old thread back :)


just need to decide what pointy bullets to use, I may have increased my headspace a little when running the reamer but since I'm fire forming and neck sizing only I should be able to account for that.
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I remember when I rechambered mine, I cleaned up the chamber where the rim sits very well, and applied black marker to it. Knowing that the existing headspace was correct, the moment the reamer started to show the first signs of scuffing it, I stopped. All worked out well.

That said, you should be ok if you neck-size or partial full-length size, as you now have a shoulder on which to headspace. Pressures are low, so the brass should last a long time if not over-worked.

If you're concerned about your headspace, when fireforming, you could either employ an o-ring against the rim as some people do for the 303 Brit, or have the bullet jammed slightly into the rifling to keep the cartridge base firmly against the boltface. Doing so establishes headspace that will minimally work the brass on subsequent firings. I do neither and have been just fine, but I'd prefer the former, as with the latter method, if you need to extract the round without firing, you risk unseating the bullet and having a mess on your hands.

I have the Lee 30-30 Ackley Dies and they work well - I partial F/L size. I suspect that a 308 Win F/L die could be used for neck-sizing, but I have not yet tried it.
 
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I am not overly concerned with the headspace. I was trying to pay attention to the cutter of the savage makes seeing the barrel a little difficult.

I have 30-30 dies I may open-up, or just buy a set of Lee dies and get the necksizer, may also take a look at the 7.62x39 dies with a 308 expander, there are lots of options if you know what your looking for.

I have access to PO Ackleys books so I have an idea on starting loads :)
 
32gr of 3031 does 2144 with RP brass, 2176 with Win, and 2189 with FC in my 20" 30-30.

29.2gr seems really low for a max load.
 
woodchopper said:
I am not overly concerned with the headspace. I was trying to pay attention to the cutter of the savage makes seeing the barrel a little difficult.

I have 30-30 dies I may open-up, or just buy a set of Lee dies and get the necksizer, may also take a look at the 7.62x39 dies with a 308 expander, there are lots of options if you know what your looking for.

I have access to PO Ackleys books so I have an idea on starting loads :)
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When i reloaded 30-30 ackley, before i bought dies, i used .308 winchester dies as "neck size" dies.
 
I've played with pointed bullets in the regular 30-30, but was always concerned about expansion, as most were designed for a higher muzzle velocity. Perhaps there are better choices now, it's been a long time. Worth checking the optimum velocity range for the bullet you choose anyway.
 
snowshoe said:
WHAT do you mean. "Dandy little truck gun for deer hunting" ? Deer hunting is not done from a truck by hunters, only poachers.
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A truck gun is usually defined as an easily portable rifle that can be stored out of sight in a vehicle.
Many hunters keep their firearms in their vehicles during hunting season that doesn't mean you're breaking hunting regs and shooting from a vehicle or the road.
 
diananike said:
A truck gun is usually defined as an easily portable rifle that can be stored out of sight in a vehicle.
Many hunters keep their firearms in their vehicles during hunting season that doesn't mean you're breaking hunting regs and shooting from a vehicle or the road.
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now your taking the fun out of this. I'm waiting for snowshoe to come back and tell me I'm hunting all wrong and that its not ethical, bla bla bla and that real hunters only hunt of foot and use black powder rifles....
 
Sorry if I offended you woodchopper, but in my area there are a lot of lazy ass hats that drive around every slough,bluff , an across farmers fields. Then stick the gun out the window and let fly. To top it off if the animal doesn't fall right there they assume they missed it and carry on looking for their next victim. They make it very dangerous to be out there, piss farmers off and give hunters a bad name in general. It makes my blood boil, and yes I pretty much stick to black powder now so I am in the field before the general season opens.
 
snowshoe said:
Sorry if I offended you woodchopper, but in my area there are a lot of lazy ass hats that drive around every slough,bluff , an across farmers fields. Then stick the gun out the window and let fly. To top it off if the animal doesn't fall right there they assume they missed it and carry on looking for their next victim. They make it very dangerous to be out there, piss farmers off and give hunters a bad name in general. It makes my blood boil, and yes I pretty much stick to black powder now so I am in the field before the general season opens.
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we have some of those idiots out this way too. Not hunters, last case they were shooting from the road and just leaving the game where it fell, they didn't just shoot game animals, cows were shot too.
 
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