Single shot 30-30 light loads. 120-130gr

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southernman

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Ive just bought a #1 in 30-30,
wondering if anyone is shooting a lighter than 150gr in a strong single shot or bolt, and what accuracy and speed i can expect.
Off to the range sum time today, with 125gr Ballistic tips over 35gr 3031, to see how it shoots.
doesn't like the 170gr I tried, 150 are ok, but I'm after a lighter load, suitable for peep and Irons too 200m.
Nice to have a number one again, been missing my last (300H&H), but the 30-30 is more fun and don't beat up a guys shoulder.
 
I have had two of the No.1-A .30-30's... my best load after extensive testing was the Nosler Ballistic Tip 150 over LVR. I tried the 125 SST's but they were a tad squirrelly and with the trajectory on the 150 NBT there was no good reason to shoot them. I took several deer with those rifles and they did a great job... nice to shoot the spire points in the .30-30 case.
 
I've used 125gr Sierra spt's, 130gr Hornady sp's and Speer 110gr hollow points with IMR4198 out of a NEF handi rifle. Sierra 125 gr spt's grouped the best and shot pretty flat for a 30-30.
 
I was able to get several boxes of Speer #1835 - Large Hollow Point - 110 grain "Varmint" for a "plinker" load for my 30-30 Win 94. Speer manual #14 shows 5 powders with Start loads less than 2,000 fps and "full power" loads 2,250 fps on up to 2,700 fps - speeds apparently from their Win 94 with 20" barrel. I thought that would be a "hoot" in the gopher patch, instead of, or with, a rimfire. Taking fifty or sixty yard gophers or jack rabbits would make 125 yard deer pretty much a "gimme".

There is a "Note" for that bullet in the Speer manual - the cannelure is set to seat bullet appropriately for "older" 30-30 throating - their data calls for a COAL of 2.415" in the 30-30. Book was published in 2007 - says "in the last several decades much shorter throats than previously seen" so these bullets may not work, when seated deeply, in "newer" 30-30 repeaters. My Win 94 was made in 1955, and has no issues.
 
Potashminer said:
I was able to get several boxes of Speer #1835 - Large Hollow Point - 110 grain "Varmint" for a "plinker" load for my 30-30 Win 94. Speer manual #14 shows 5 powders with Start loads less than 2,000 fps and "full power" loads 2,250 fps on up to 2,700 fps - speeds apparently from their Win 94 with 20" barrel. I thought that would be a "hoot" in the gopher patch, instead of, or with, a rimfire. Taking fifty or sixty yard gophers or jack rabbits would make 125 yard deer pretty much a "gimme".

There is a "Note" for that bullet in the Speer manual - the cannelure is set to seat bullet appropriately for "older" 30-30 throating - their data calls for a COAL of 2.415" in the 30-30. Book was published in 2007 - says "in the last several decades much shorter throats than previously seen" so these bullets may not work, when seated deeply, in "newer" 30-30 repeaters. My Win 94 was made in 1955, and has no issues.
Click to expand...

Do those short 110 gr feed through the action or do you have to feed thru the top SS-style. I have a couple of lady friends who want to start using 30-30's in the lever gun sillywet game. I was going to load up some 170's as light as I could for them but if the 110's work I would make some up for them. These are all hanger targets that just need to be hit to count, we don't use the "stand-up & knock them down" targets so energy from the 170's not required.
 
I would lean toward 125 Sierras over 4198. No reason you shouldn't be able to achieve 2800 fps or so in a Number One.
 
From Ken Waters" Pet Loads"......110gr Sierra RN /most accurate 110gr load 27.2gr/IMR4198/...........................most accurate/125gr Win PSP/34gr/Win 748/2357fps exceptional.......................125gr Sierra/27.5gr/IMR4198/2321fps very accurate.
 
fingers284 said:
Do those short 110 gr feed through the action or do you have to feed thru the top SS-style. I have a couple of lady friends who want to start using 30-30's in the lever gun sillywet game. I was going to load up some 170's as light as I could for them but if the 110's work I would make some up for them. These are all hanger targets that just need to be hit to count, we don't use the "stand-up & knock them down" targets so energy from the 170's not required.
Click to expand...

My 1955 rifle works fine at the Speer COAL - feeds and fires fine. Their note in the manual goes on to say that "newer" chambers, with the "shorter" throat, are to be loaded to the upper canular on the bullet (actually a very faint line / ridge), and then loaded singly - I suspect that the cartridges become too short for mechanism to handle reliably, but I do not have a "new" rifle to try that in...
 
Well I gave it a run with what I had, 125 Ballistic tips and a few 125 gr SST, 2500 fps with the 125 Bt, 2460fps, with the 125 SST, loaded much longer than normal, 70mm.
1,1/4 group at 50 m with irons and the Ballistic tips, Pretty happy with that, better than factory std 30-30 loads,
I got a packet of 150 gr ballistic tips, I give them a go too.
I might step on it a bit hard with the 125 BT and see where we end up.
Going to get a set of skinner sights on order. the rear blade sight is kinda fuzzy, and difficult to be consistence with, dam eyes getting old.
 
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