.308 / 30.30 Question...

[rick'o'shea]

Quick newb question. Can a bullet for a 3030 work in a 308? I have some 150gr plated I bought for 3030 use
and was wondering if they can be used for 308 as well. 308 load tips for an M305 using 3031 powder would be
handy also...
Thanks

 

[Andy]

Yes, they'll work.

I'd work in the 40.0-42.0 gr range.

 

[rokoro]

Rick Bullets for the 30-30 measure .308" as do bullets for the 308 Win. So yes you can load them in your 308. A word of caution the jacket on a bullet designed for the 30-30 will be much thinner than a bullet intended for a 308 or 30-06. If fired at game the 30-30 bullet will likely act more like a varmit bullet ( expand violently and not penetrate). If you just intend them for plinking no problem. I would suggest you simply use a start load of 3031 for the weight of bullet you have. Hope that helps.

 

[superted]

Quick newb question. Can a bullet for a 3030 work in a 308? I have some 150gr plated I bought for 3030 use
and was wondering if they can be used for 308 as well. 308 load tips for an M305 using 3031 powder would be
handy also...
Thanks

First step in reloading is GETTING and READING and STUDYING a good reloading manual such as the Lyman hardcover book that not only gives loading data but also describes and illustrates the making of components AND describes with illustrations the reloading process!!!! It will also caution against using any spire point bullets in a tubular magazine rifle such as a Win 94...

 

[yomomma]

DO NOT LOAD UP A WHOLE BUNCH!

Although the bullets will work just fine in a 308. the M14 may not like them. The feed ramps are sharp and and the bullet may not feed freely. This will be your biggest problem

Load a couple mag full worth and try them out before you get too deep into it.

I would even go as far as to load a dozen dummies and cycle them through being very aggressive with the action

 

[yomomma]

First step in reloading is GETTING and READING and STUDYING a good reloading manual such as the Lyman hardcover book that not only gives loading data but also describes and illustrates the making of components AND describes with illustrations the reloading process!!!! It will also caution against using any spire point bullets in a tubular magazine rifle such as a Win 94...

This would not be covered in any manuals...plus there are spire points now for 30-30....time to brush up

 

[LUTNIT]

yomomma has very sound advice with making test batches for picky rifles. I once had to pull almost 200rnds of .308 after I found out they didn't work in my Norc M14/M1A/M305 and shot like absolute crap in my bolt rifle. Now it's small 10rnd test batches, then larger 50rnd test batches, then, if there's no hiccups, I'll load a couple hundred.

Seeing as they're plated and not jacketed, you may not be able to push them to full velocities in all rifles. Most of the time it'll be fine for plinking but I've had a couple rifles where plated had to be kept to around 2000fps or less to not tumble and keyhole on the paper. Other rifles will eat up plated at full speed no problem. It's a trial and error process.

The Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook gives reduced loads for cast 150gr bullets using IMR3031 of 27.0gr to 32.5gr yielding 1735fps to 2176fps.
My Norc M14 will cycle the action just fine down to 28.0gr of IMR3031 and a 160gr cast bullet. I didn't go lower since I found a good accurate load at 32.0gr (about 2-MoA; decent for cast bullets).
Cast data can be used for plated or even jacketed bullets as reduced loads. I've done it many times in many cartridges and many rifles.

 

[257Roberts]

I developed a good load for a 308 BLR and used 170 gr bullets for the 30-30.
Never got to use them on anything but they were accurate. I don't remember the data but I think I used IMR4895.

David

 

[bigedp51]

I developed a good load for a 308 BLR and used 170 gr bullets for the 30-30.
Never got to use them on anything but they were accurate. I don't remember the data but I think I used IMR4895.

David

I used the Hornady 170 grain flat point in my 03-A3 and M-1 Garand at approximately 2500, the recommended velocity range for this bullet is 2000 to 2500 fps. I used this bullet for deer hunting in my 03-A3 30-06 downloaded to 2500 fps and they worked fine on deer sized game. The main reason I used this bullet in my 30-06 rifles is they have a softer lead core and shoot well in old worn barrels. Meaning when fired these bullets will fill the worn bore and thus improve accuracy.

The above 30-30 bullet with its softer lead core was the most accurate in worn .308 bores and was deadly on deer when loaded within their designed velocity. These bullets are Hornady interlock and hold together and the lead core never separated from the jacket.

As far as plated bullets go you need to check the manufactures website for the velocity range the bullets are designed for.

 

[rick'o'shea]

Thanks for the tips... These will be just for paper punching so as long as they cycle the action
they're hot enough for me. I will put together some dummys to test the feeding, the bullits I
have do have the 3030 flat nose on them. I don't mind buying more but if I can use these up
why not....