New 30-30 results

[Deerhunter#1]

well I took it to the range again today for the second time. Loaded 130 grain Hor sp with rel7 starting at 31 and stopping at 30 in .5 jumps. 31 had high pressure signs as it was the max load listed for this combo. started to group better once I hit 30 so will have to try going down from there. I also loaded the same bullet with hor leverlution powder. Called hodgan and they said they had no data so just go with 35.5 which is what is recommended for the 160 grain bullet they load in this ammo. wasnt any better. All over two inch or larger 3 shot groups. Has anyone had any success with these bullet and powder combinations before I have to invest in the sieera 125 and h4895 which people havev said they have had success with.

[BUGEYE]

used to reload a lot of 30-30  but used winchester 748 only.  most groups were 1.5" with almost any bullet/powder weight combo.

[av-doctor]

Always start low and work up! going in reverse is asking for trouble!
 
now to your question i haven't tried your combo. but i have used nosler 125bt's with h335 with good results.

[BBF]

Try 3031 if you have any...........and start low

[quickdtoo]

What av-doctor said!! The start load of RL7 for the 130gr Hornady is 24.4gr with a COL of 2.660", that's where you should start and work up, not at the max and work down!!!    The Hornady 8th lists Leverevolution as 27.7gr start and 37gr Max with the 160gr FTX @ 2.535".

Be smart, load safe. 

Tim

[Deerhunter#1]

I started high because was looking at getting the most speed as rel 7 would give me the highest velocity. The lower velocities as I see are probobly going to give me better accuracy. the only problem with that is the 130 and 125 grain bullets need to be pushed a minimum 1800 to expand properly. That is going to be ok at say 100 yards but at 200 it might be a little under. Will start at the bottom and work up and see what happens.

[quickdtoo]

The Nosler 125gr BT requires 1600fps impact velocity, I get 2445fps MV with H4895 in my 22" 30-30 Handi. The Nosler 8th BC chart shows 2400fps MV as 1760fps at 300yds, the 125gr NBT has a .336 BC, the Hornady bullet has a BC of .295.

Tim

http://www.noslerreloading.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1347

[av-doctor]

So many times we see this someone starts loading a new bullet or a completly new caliber and they get bit by the speed bug.
  When i start figuring a new load i think back to the movie Days of Thunder  when the crew chief tells Tom's character "speed is a byproduct of doing everything correctly" kinda like putting the horse before the cart it just don't make sense to worry about speed before accuracy.
  i personally love the 30-30 but it does have limitations 200yds is pushing its effective range with any load,if you truly need to shoot 200yds maybe 308 or 30-06 would be a better option
 

[cjrjck]

I have had really good results with the Barnes 130 grain TTSX. I use RL7. Start about 24 grains. My load is quite a bit more but I worked up carefully. Every gun is different but I have found the Barnes TSX bullets to be some of the most accurate made in all my rifles. Not cheap. No better bullet for hunting.

[Deerhunter#1]

I was caught by the speed bug due to the fact that i wanted to make sure the terminal performance of the bullet would be achieved. that being said i again contacted hornadtand was corrected as the min was 1650 that it needed to achieve. that being said I will be good past 200 with the minimal charge if need be. But I might get a 50 cal because I need all the energy and power one can handle to kill adeer. The 30-30 is probobly a little under gun so some think. thanks for the info. I will probobly never have to take a shot over 100 yards I just like to know if need be my ammo can perform. As long as I do my job.

[Dee]

So many times we see this someone starts loading a new bullet or a completly new caliber and they get bit by the speed bug.
  When i start figuring a new load i think back to the movie Days of Thunder  when the crew chief tells Tom's character "speed is a byproduct of doing everything correctly" kinda like putting the horse before the cart it just don't make sense to worry about speed before accuracy.
  i personally love the 30-30 but it does have limitations 200yds is pushing its effective range with any load,if you truly need to shoot 200yds maybe 308 or 30-06 would be a better option
 

I would agree with most everything said here, with the exception of range. I have been shooting the same 3030 for 53 years, and have used bullets from 125, to 170 grainers, all reloads, and there have been thousands. Years ago I settled on the 150 grain and have stuck with it a 2400fps. The 3030 is NOT pushing it's effective range at 200 yards, but will go well beyond that. Is it a 500 yard + gun? No! But it will go 300 or a little better.

[Spanky]

The 30-30 ain't a magnum it ain't a varmint gun it ain't a hot rod... don't try to make it into one. Load up some good 150gr. bullets and go kill deer.
It don't take a bazooka to kill deer either... I shoot 'em dead with 45gr. softpoints out of my 22 Hornet.
 
 
 
Spanky

[Dee]

The 30-30 ain't a magnum it ain't a varmint gun it ain't a hot rod... don't try to make it into one. Load up some good 150gr. bullets and go kill deer.
It don't take a bazooka to kill deer either... I shoot 'em dead with 45gr. softpoints out of my 22 Hornet.
 
 
 
Spanky

All true Spanky. As we were not there at the time. In 1895 the 3030 was hailed as the ultimate hot-rod long range rifle. Tom Horn used it rather effectively in his business, before he was put out of business. My but we have forgotton how little we really need.

[cwlongshot]

Like many guys here, I have been loading the 30-30 for a very long time. Long ago I found the best powder in my guns was WW748.
 
To this day its is the only powder I load in mine. I also far prefer the Hornady 170 Gr bullet. When Hornady came out with the FTX bulets I tried the 160 version. I loaded it with same powder, worked up and the same load was best for accuracy with it as well. I have shot two deer to date with it with good results. Its softer then the 170 SP so likely would be better for the longer shots.
My opinions on it as a long range caliber are the same as AV-DOC. My handi wears a scope but my levers have peeps. This greatly restricts range. Also even with fancy bullets and powders it simply runs outta steam at longer ranges. I admit new stream lined bullets will extend this range a bit. But open sites and blunt bullets make the 30-30 a short range proposition.
IMHO, A scope and spitzer's will gain some but but never make it a long range firearm. If over 200 Yards is needed, I'll take a bigger caliber.
 
CW

[av-doctor]

I'M SORRY,I'M SORRY, I REPEAT I'M SORRY
  but seriously a little sarcasm gets people in a twist, I'm 35, i didn't start hunting till i was 20 (not my fault my parents didn't like me much) so i have only been shooting 30-30 for 15yrs. most of those years i shot win 150gr pp, they were cheap and shoot great from my marlin 30as,i didn't even consider loading 30-30 till i bought an extra barrel for my nephew to use his first year.then i figured single shot ,150gr gamekings,1/2 can of imr 3031 hiding at the back of the powder shelf ,why not? loaded up some with 30grs seated .015 off the lands,they shot about 1 1/2 at 100 so i called it good.
  fast forward a few years i find myself in possession of a like new topper 158 in 30-30 and figured i give it a go.I have yet to find a long range combo,i have a few very accurate 100yd loads.
  300yds, really, wow i guess i have something to shoot for,no pun intended. my 22lr will shoot 1000yds if i aim 85ft high
  damn theres that sarcasm again, i apologise.
   My point to all this is, it got you slow down and rethink the load you want to make, sometimes we need to be questioned to notice the error of our ways.

[gcrank1]

T.R. thought the 30-30 a "fine, smallbore Express".
Dirty Harry said," A man's gotta know his limitations".

[carbineman]

I ended up at 2308 fps with the Sierra 170 grain flat nose bullet, following the loading data for LeverEvolution Hodgdon propellant listed at Hodgdons website. They also have data listed for the 150 grain flat nose Sierra and the 160 grain Flex Tip Hornady.
 
Like CW Longshot, I used W748 with good results for other loads with different pointed bullets before this load with LE became available.

[manatee1947]

I generally use 748 in mine also. Recent loadbooks are quite a bit lighter than older ones. They will do to 200 yards just fine though. Watch your overall length though, my 30/30 H&R barrel has a very short throat, I am just starting a load workup on mine as well. The cartridges that work fine in a 94 winchester or a contender are into the lands on the H&R.