Found it!

[H4831]

I have written a few threads on reloading the 30-30 and I have stated that we used to load 170 grain bullets with the easy to remember formula, 33 grains of 3031. This load was right out of a reloading book, but when writing on CGN I could not find the loading book that gave this load.
Best I could find was in a Du Pont hand loading guide, marked, "New Edition," where they show 32 grains of 3031 with a 170 grain 30-30 bullet, for a velocity of 2120 fps.
Then, while looking for a load for Kamlooky's new 257 Ackley Improved, I went right to the horses mouth, Volume One, Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders, by P.O. Ackley.
And there was the 30-30 data I knew I had someplace, but couldn't find it. Here it is. The few words that came before I cut into it simply stated the 30-30 was usually considered inaccurate.

You may want to compare these loads with what your modern loading books show for 3031 powder in the 30-30 with a 170 grain bullet.
You have to admit there is a nice flow to my load, 33 of 3031!

 

[LUTNIT]

In a litigious society, the lawyers have the power.

 

[buckbrush]

H.V. Stent, a Canadian gunwriter , had a few articles in Gun Digest and Handloaders Digest in the 60's and 70's on loading for the 30-30. I think he lived in the East Kootenays.

 

[Spawn-Inc]

just checked hodgdon's website and it lists 29.2gr max for a 170gr bullet with 3031.

 

[hometownhero]

Nosler 7 says 30gr of 3031 and 2160fps.

 

[gosse]

Hornady 9th says:
30-30 Winchester - 170gr - IMR 3031 - 28.5gr - 2000FPS

 

[Boomer]

I still don't know if I'd want to stick a 33 grs of 3031 under a 170 in a lever gun, but in a M-54 or a M-70 Winchester, or in a Remington 788, I'd give it a go.

 

[kamlooky]

"it simply stated the 30-30 was usually considered inaccurate."


Could very well be they were chewt'in 94's and hadn't discovered the 336's yet?...........

Thanks for the thread there Mr. H.

Oh, me trigger finger gitt'in itself awl ittchie.

 

[Goldenlakepete]

In my old Lyman Ideal Handbook, #38 a load of 33.5 grs of 3031 is MAX for a 170 gr bullet. Velocity is 2300 fps.

 

[TargetAcquired]

"it simply stated the 30-30 was usually considered inaccurate."

Don't tell that to either of mine. In fact, I have what should be considered a global anomaly - an 1894 made AFTER 1964 that shoots handloads that are made on that crummy LEE equipment, and for some inexplicable reason, I hit things that I point it at.

 

[bigedp51]

Simple test regardless of the load listed in the manuals for your 30-30, if the primer is still protruding from the rear of your fired case the case is headspacing on the primer. Meaning the pressure wasn't great enough to cause the brass to stretch and meet the bolt face.

Below as an example is a higher pressure cartridge like the .308, first chamber pressure becomes high enough to push the primer out of the primer pocket. As the chamber pressure becomes higher it causes the brass to stretch and meet the bolt face. At this point maximum bolt thrust is applied to the the bolt face and bolt locking lugs lugs.

Bottom line, as long as your 30-30 cases have the primer protruding from the rear of the case the load on the bolt face is very little.

And P.O. Ackley did an experiment with a 30-30 at normal rated chamber pressure of 38,000 cup or 42,000 psi, he removed the locking lugs of the 30-30 and fired the rifle. The cartridge did not move to the rear in the chamber and the primer stopped moving to the rear when it contacted the bolt face.

 

[H4831]

I still don't know if I'd want to stick a 33 grs of 3031 under a 170 in a lever gun, but in a M-54 or a M-70 Winchester, or in a Remington 788, I'd give it a go.

I have shot quite a few of that load in both Win and Marlin levers. There is no indication in any shape or form, of excess pressure. It gives close to identical velocity of what is claimed for a 30-30, 2200 or sometimes 2220 fps.
I recently came across one factory cartridge of an old, CIL Dominion 30-30 with 170 grain round nose bullet. I fired it over a chronograph and it showed 2206!
Actually, the load right out of Hodgdon on line for their LVR powder and 170 grain bullet, 36.3 grains, chronographed for me at 2260. Considerable less than they claim, but far and away, the best load out of a modern loading chart for the 30-30.