Any suggestions about loads for .30-30 with a little less kick? My son is seven and has progressed from his Rascal to my BTVSS. I'm thinking the 464 with light loads might be a nice centerfire introduction for him - off bags for the time being. I've got brass, FTX 160's, RL 19, Ramshot Hunter, IMR4831 and Leverlution (Sp?) on hand. Ideas?
Thinking about reloading .30-30 as a plinker for my son...
- Thread starter walden
- Start date
Chuckbuster
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I loaded up some light loads for my nephew to practice with and be introduced to centrefires. I used 150 grain cast bullets and Unique. I can't remember the charge off the top of my head, but I'm sure it can be easily found in a reloading manual. If interested and you are unable to find it, PM me and I'll look it up.
Your idea is a good one. My kids started shooting at age 4 and rested the rifle on a sandbag, so they could learn to aim properly.
the 30-30 rifle tends to be fairly light, so has more kick than one would think.
If i was going to do it, I would load cast bullets or plated bullets and shoot them with around 10 gr of powder like Unique or 7625. Fast powders give the best results with light loads.
I bought 110 gr round nose plated bullets for the M1 Carbine From Budget Shooter Supply. They are cheap and seem to shoot well. I use them in my M1 and my Tokarev.
the 30-30 rifle tends to be fairly light, so has more kick than one would think.
If i was going to do it, I would load cast bullets or plated bullets and shoot them with around 10 gr of powder like Unique or 7625. Fast powders give the best results with light loads.
I bought 110 gr round nose plated bullets for the M1 Carbine From Budget Shooter Supply. They are cheap and seem to shoot well. I use them in my M1 and my Tokarev.
For plinking I use 165gr cast bullet gas checked with 9gr of trail boss. It barely kicks and makes a nice sound. The only problem is that the bullet hit the ground at 48 meters so I have to ajust my iron sight higher and it annoys me.
Cast bullets and fast powder are the answer. A flake powder will likely burn better, but someone will likely poo-poo the idea. I have used 93, 120, and 150 grain cast over mostly 700X powder. The little 93 grainers tend to flip up too easily, so care needs to be taken when levering in another round.
One of my favorites is 93 grain cast over 5 grains 700X. Approx, 1200 loads per pound of powder. Great for indoor shooting.
One of my favorites is 93 grain cast over 5 grains 700X. Approx, 1200 loads per pound of powder. Great for indoor shooting.
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periculumnexnecis
CGN Regular
- Location
- Kébecistan
never loaded for the 30.30, but i will share my experience with the 7.62x39 ( sks ), i load 6.5 grains of bullseye with a cheap lubed winchester 180 power point, enlarge firing hole ( 9/64 ) ,federal magnum large rifle primer,subsonic load + or - 950 fps, bolt does not cycle.
Almost no recoil, my small frame 12 years old son loves it negligeable muzzle report accurate at 50 yards.
Hope this help.
Almost no recoil, my small frame 12 years old son loves it negligeable muzzle report accurate at 50 yards.
Hope this help.
- Location
- Niagara Region, Ontario. For now
7-10 grains of Unique behind a Berry's Plated Flat Point.
I believe BudgetShooterSupply has em for ya.
I believe BudgetShooterSupply has em for ya.
Light load with cast bullets is the way to go. 3030 is very flexible with cast loads. It's possible to work up from light sub sonic loads to full power hunting equivalent loads using cast. When my son was young one of his favourite rifles to shoot was an FR7 (308) loaded with 120 gr cast and 12 grs of Unique. I've used the same bullet (RCBS RN designed for M1 Carbine) in my 94 with Trail Boss as well as Unique. Economical loads to put together as well.
You guys are amazing. Thanks for the feed back. It sounds like I will need to move into a faster powder. Most of my reloads go into overbore .25-06 and heavy .30-06. My powders are much slower than those suggested. I'll see what I can find... yikes!
TargetAcquired
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- S. Ontario
My 30-30 plinking load is 8 grains of Unique pushing a Bullet Barn 170 grain hard cast projectile.
I did the math in a different thread, but this load is very economical, lots of fun to shoot, and still has considerable hitting power.
I did the math in a different thread, but this load is very economical, lots of fun to shoot, and still has considerable hitting power.
Two of my favorite plinker /small game loads for the 30-30 is either the Lee 150 or 170 gr. RNFP with the gas check left off,two light coats of Alox tumble lube and shot as cast. I use 7.0 grs. of Alliant Red Dot.
My other favorite plinker/small game sub-sonic loads I shoot in all my 30 cal. rifle is the little Lee 32 cal. .314" tumble lube SWC. I cast the bullets for pure lead drops .315" from the mold,lightly tumble lube it once before and after sizing. For the SKS and Mosin I size it to .314" in all other US 30 cal. rifles like my 30-30.300 Sav. 30-06 and .308 I size the bullet to .311"
In the 7.62 x 39 I use 2.7 to 3.0 grs. Alliant Bullseye, In the Mosin and all other 30 cal cartridges I use 3.0 to 3.5 grs. Bullseye,no filler needed. These are not max. loads but leading can be a problem if you push them faster,MV averages between 850 to 1K fps. depending on charge weight used. The sweet spot is generally between the Min. and Max. loads I listed and accuracy is 2" usually less at 50 yds.
My other favorite plinker/small game sub-sonic loads I shoot in all my 30 cal. rifle is the little Lee 32 cal. .314" tumble lube SWC. I cast the bullets for pure lead drops .315" from the mold,lightly tumble lube it once before and after sizing. For the SKS and Mosin I size it to .314" in all other US 30 cal. rifles like my 30-30.300 Sav. 30-06 and .308 I size the bullet to .311"
In the 7.62 x 39 I use 2.7 to 3.0 grs. Alliant Bullseye, In the Mosin and all other 30 cal cartridges I use 3.0 to 3.5 grs. Bullseye,no filler needed. These are not max. loads but leading can be a problem if you push them faster,MV averages between 850 to 1K fps. depending on charge weight used. The sweet spot is generally between the Min. and Max. loads I listed and accuracy is 2" usually less at 50 yds.
From an earlier thread that I posted to:
My 30-30 cast 175 gr. loads, five with poly tufting, five without.
10 gr of AL5, a forgotten powder that is no longer available, gives 1335 fps average with the tufting, and surprisingly 1355 without the tufting. Not sub-sonic, but the velocity is very consistent: 1350 without tufting , SD 7, shoots into less than four inches at 100 yd with these tired old eyes, glasses, and factory iron sights.
The bullet easily penetrates 8" of green spruce. The more I think about this, the more I am tempted to give this load a try in the field. Basically, what we have here is a 22 Long Rifle with a bullet that is 50% wider, and more than four times the weight: a 30-30 LR!
Ted
Cast bullets in the 30-30 are a hoot, cost only pennies per round, and your son could learn to shoot very well using same. Almost any of the faster burning powders can be used to load cast. Think about 700 reloads per pound of powder!
Here's another thread you might enjoy reading: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/826283-Subsonic-30-30-Winchester?highlight=cast
Ted
My 30-30 cast 175 gr. loads, five with poly tufting, five without.
10 gr of AL5, a forgotten powder that is no longer available, gives 1335 fps average with the tufting, and surprisingly 1355 without the tufting. Not sub-sonic, but the velocity is very consistent: 1350 without tufting , SD 7, shoots into less than four inches at 100 yd with these tired old eyes, glasses, and factory iron sights.
The bullet easily penetrates 8" of green spruce. The more I think about this, the more I am tempted to give this load a try in the field. Basically, what we have here is a 22 Long Rifle with a bullet that is 50% wider, and more than four times the weight: a 30-30 LR!
Ted
Cast bullets in the 30-30 are a hoot, cost only pennies per round, and your son could learn to shoot very well using same. Almost any of the faster burning powders can be used to load cast. Think about 700 reloads per pound of powder!
Here's another thread you might enjoy reading: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/826283-Subsonic-30-30-Winchester?highlight=cast
Ted
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Henry Nierychlo
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Surrey, B.C.
My powder puff load for my wife is a M1 Carbine 110gr bullet with 28grains of IMR4895.
Runs that 110 gr. bullet around 2100 fps, so its about equivalent to an M1 Carbine load. Accuracy is satisfactory, and POI at 50 yards is about what full power loads are at 100 yards.
Also 8 gr Universal Clays or Unique and a 110 gr FMJ-RN M1 Carbine bullet works too.
Regards, Henry
Runs that 110 gr. bullet around 2100 fps, so its about equivalent to an M1 Carbine load. Accuracy is satisfactory, and POI at 50 yards is about what full power loads are at 100 yards.
Also 8 gr Universal Clays or Unique and a 110 gr FMJ-RN M1 Carbine bullet works too.
Regards, Henry
Silvertip13
Regular
- Location
- Fort McMurray
11grains of Trail boss pushing a 110grain round nose gives a 1" group at 25yards with 22lr noise and no recoil out of my 30-30's
