First 30-30 M94 loads...?????

T

thepitchedlink

Regular
Super GunNutz
Rating - 100%
255   0   0
Location
Lumby Town!!
So I'm loading for my M94. First lever gun/crimping that I've done. Mostly load 270 and '06 before this. Seating my Sierra 170s to the canular gives me OAL of 2.520. Cases are WW, trimmed to 2.028, new. Using IMR 3031, most research shows guys are using 28-32g. I'm compressed at 28. WTF!! I crimped with a lee crimp die, kinda medium hard. I was going to start my testing at 28, but when it came out compressed I dropped to 27. Am I missing something here?
 
I generally use H4895, or W748, so Im not up to speed on how full a case should be with 3031. However, it's not that unusual for a starting load to result in a full case, particularly with a smallish case like the 30-30.
That said, have you checked your scale? Just weighing a commercial jacketed bullet will tell you if it's on.
 
Checked scale, right on for a 110g bullet. The 170g sierra does seem to fill lots of the case neck, my 30-06 is seated out quite a bit further, but the over all length still puts the crimp groove right at the neck.
 
TPL; I have used 30 grains of 3031 behind the 170 grain bullets in the 30-30 for as long as I can remember. It has always been a compressed load. Don't sweat it! This is a normal condition in that little case and will cause no trouble whatsoever. I've used this formula for 170 Sierras, Hornadys, Speers, Normas, and in Marlins, Winchesters, etc. Regards, Eagleye.
 
Thanks man

Thanks Eagle Eye, that's kinda what I though. Do you seat right to the cannular? Or leave that out of the case and crimp and the bullet body. What might be your COAL? thanks
 
thepitchedlink said:
Thanks Eagle Eye, that's kinda what I though. Do you seat right to the cannular? Or leave that out of the case and crimp and the bullet body. What might be your COAL? thanks
Click to expand...

TPL; I seat right to the crimping groove and then crimp in that groove. The length varies slightly depending on bullet manufacturer. ( Usually between 2.510" and 2.530") One needs to be careful if buying "bulk" bullets. I once acquired a whole bunch of bulk 150 grain bullets that were supposedly for the 30-30, but when they arrived, the cannelure was too far back to use because the COL of the assembled round was too long to work through the action of a M94 Winchester. I shot them away in a 300 Savage I owned at the time. Regards, Eagleye.
 
Be very careful on your COAL, and do not go longer than the recommended length. I made some a little too long once, and they fit in the tube magazine, but jammed when I cycled them into the chamber through the action. The solution, apart from pulling and reseating, was to load each round as a single shot and fire them off.
 
Well the chrony says 1930 fps with 27g of IMR 3031 so that is about right. I'll load a bunch now and see if I can stuff a bit more in a few and shoot for groups. 2000fps is all I want, I've got some 110g RN's that I bought for plinking and small game. They don't have a cannular so I guess I just seat 'em and put a little crimp on and that's it. Any adivce....

On a different note, I noticed right away with this gun that the first rounds of factory, super x 170's have a circular ring mark around the firing pin dent on the spent primers. Also the pirmers are pushed out a bit. They're not flat, still quite round, but pushed out. The factory rounds go about 2050fps, so they're not under pressured. I'm wondering if this is just the play in the lever action system and the fact that it's a 50 year old gun.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom