Author Topic: why is the 30-30 a must have (Read 2637 times)

MOGLEY · « **on:** September 14, 2008, 03:50:26 PM »

I had been debating which new caliber to get next. Pelican had a 30-30 barrel for sale and I remembered a few threads on it being a must have caliber. So I got it. Now I am wondering why and what bullets everyone is having luck with to shoot groups. So far I have tried the 110 psp and it shot an 8inch group @100 yards. I figured this may not shoot so well but before I go thru a bunch of trial and error I thought to ask for advise.
Is this a 170 grain deer load or is everyone having fun shooting at the range long distance with cast bullets? Thanks

Kurt L · « **Reply #1 on:** September 14, 2008, 04:03:01 PM »

I use a 30-30 26" encore and I have had real good luck with Speer 125 TNT HP
and Hornady 150 SST bullets.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #2 on:** September 14, 2008, 04:09:09 PM »

I have two 30-30 Handis, one I hand reamed to Ackley improved, the 30-30 shoots the 150gr Rem factory real well, <1" at 100yds for a 3-shot group. The Ackley barrel shoots the Sierra 125gr PH SPT even better with a case full of powder.

Tim

sooter · « **Reply #3 on:** September 14, 2008, 04:12:33 PM »

I shoot the speer 130 grain hollow point for varmint and shoot speers 150 grain grand slam for deer. Both bullets shoot under an inch at 100 yards. My second nef 30-30 i had rechambered to the 30-30 ackley improved and it shoots the 155 grain hornady amax extremely well. Most all three shot groups at 100 yards have the bullet holes touching.

sooter

Spanky · « **Reply #4 on:** September 14, 2008, 04:23:01 PM »

150 grain Remington Core Lokt's
You can't beat 'em.

Spanky

LONGTOM · « **Reply #5 on:** September 14, 2008, 04:26:48 PM »

The 125 HPs shoot very well in my friends gun.
Hey tim was the 30-30AI a rechamber from some other cartridge?

LONGTOM

will36 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 14, 2008, 04:31:12 PM »

Not to sound like the tin foil hat guy , but in a SHTF situation there is plenty of 30/30 ammo everywhere. I cant tell you how much loose ammo I have gotten out of totaled out cars and trucks. (I live in Arkansas

) over 50% of it is 30/06 and 30/30. Also just about every mom and pop gas station has 22lr,12 gauge and 30/30 and 30/06.

It also makes a great deer round.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #7 on:** September 14, 2008, 05:07:33 PM »

Quote from: LONGTOM on September 14, 2008, 04:26:48 PM

Hey tim was the 30-30AI a rechamber from some other cartridge?

It was a 30-30, rented a reamer from GBO sponsor 4D and reamed it myself same time I did the 460S&W, would have done it sooner, but I had to wait for Fred to buy the 460 reamer.

Tim

LONGTOM · « **Reply #8 on:** September 14, 2008, 05:14:15 PM »

I thought you couldn't do an AI on a HANDY because you couldn't set the barrel back.

LONGTOM

quickdtoo · « **Reply #9 on:** September 14, 2008, 05:37:55 PM »

That would be true for rimless chamberings. Even on a rimmed round like the 30-30, shooting a round that isn't headspaced on the shoulder isn't good, I shot some of the factory Rems in it, they didn't shoot too good, but most importantly one of the 3 I shot split the neck. $:-\$ So I fire form using 375 Win brass after resizing in several dies to get there, it's considerably thicker than 30-30 brass.

Tim

LONGTOM · « **Reply #10 on:** September 14, 2008, 06:24:37 PM »

Now I got it!

Thanks
LONGTOM

aldar · « **Reply #11 on:** September 15, 2008, 01:53:02 AM »

I just love the 30-30. Its easy on the shoulder, you can reload it several times without any problems, it doesn't take a whole lot of powder making it economical to reload, it's accurate and can kill deer out to 150yds or better. Mine shoots 125gr HP to 1" at 100yds

Swampman · « **Reply #12 on:** September 15, 2008, 03:31:10 AM »

150 grain & 170 grain Remington Core Lokt's

You can't beat 'em.

The .30-30 is about the cheapest (to shoot)deer caliber that NEF makes.

If you want to rechamber the .30-30 barrel, the .30-40 Krag makes more sense than the .30-30AI IMO.

Few rifles shoot really light bullets well. I'm not suprised the 110 psp shoots poorly.

petemi · « **Reply #13 on:** September 15, 2008, 04:02:21 AM »

Swampman, I think you're right. I always seem to do better with longer, heavier bullets in most calibers. I use 170s in my .30-30 336 for everything. It's sighted in for them and I don't change.

canon6 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 15, 2008, 05:31:06 AM »

I have started to use a load ,from Paco Kelly.130gr Speer soft point,H322,CCI primers.
Both my Win 94 Trapper and my wifes NEF (16 1/2 barrel) are giving real good velocities and great groups. I also load 173 gr LBTGC on top of a healthy charge of RL15 .hth Doug

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 15, 2008, 07:31:49 AM »

I took one of my Handi 30/30's to Ok for a P-dog shoot using some of my loads with the little 90g JHP's that Hornady makes for the M1 carb. and was very pleased with the outcome .

The Handi 30/30 will shoot just about anything you feed it from 90g to over 180g , from mild to wild and everywere in between .

That and they are fun .

stimpy

tykempster · « **Reply #16 on:** September 15, 2008, 10:58:48 AM »

Quick how are you doing the 6mm AI on a Handi?

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #17 on:** September 15, 2008, 11:48:43 AM »

Have you gone to Tim's FAQ section? Some of his information may help you in getting your 30-30 to settle down and drive strait. Not trying to tell you what to do but I had similar problems with my 22 mag after I took off the tube to clean the thing and they helped.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #18 on:** September 15, 2008, 01:29:58 PM »

Quote from: tykempster on September 15, 2008, 10:58:48 AM

Quick how are you doing the 6mm AI on a Handi?

Wayne has the barrels and reamer, I expect it will be a few more weeks before he gets to them.

Tim

dpastordan · « **Reply #19 on:** September 15, 2008, 04:18:24 PM »

Love my .30-30 barrel. I get 1" to 1 1/2" groups with 150 gr Remington corelokts and 1 1/2" groups with Federal Noslers.

44 Man · « **Reply #20 on:** September 15, 2008, 04:35:36 PM »

Quick, I still haven't done my barrel over to AI yet. My 30-30 loves the 150 gr Remingtons also and the velocity is right at 2395 fps, just like the box says. The AI should be able to safely do 2550 fps and use pointed bullets. Quick, that's a good idea on using .375 Win brass, I have a good supply of that but no longer have a .375. Also thought about all that 7-30 waters brass out at the bench. That's heavier than the 30-30 brass also and should reform in a single pass in a 30-30AI die. Darn! I got to get off my duff and get my gun rechambered!!! 44 Man

quickdtoo · « **Reply #21 on:** September 15, 2008, 05:13:19 PM »

I get 2865fps with the Sierra 125gr Prohunter SPT and a case full of powder, cases eject fine and the primers look like that hadn't been fired except for the pin strike in them!

I wrecked a few cases trying to get it right, I ended up running the 375Win brass into a 35 Rem die, then a 338 Federal, then 32 Special, then into a Hornady 30-30 Improved die, they come out looking almost perfect except not quite filled out in the shoulder, then turn the neck as it's a little tight in the chamber with a bullet seated if I don't, you may or may not have to do that, depends on your chamber dimensions. It's an easy hand ream, got the reamer from Fred at 4D, just do it, you'll like it, I'm gonna try to kill a deer with it this year.

Tim

snmann · « **Reply #22 on:** September 16, 2008, 03:27:50 PM »

Took the 30-30 out for it's initial run. I couldn't be happier! I shot 170 gr. cheap Federal Blue box ammo at 100yards with a fixed 4x Nikon buckmaster scope off sand bags. I kind of laughed to myself when I saw the groups others were shooting with guns 5 times the cost. This is a must have gun in a Handi.

The pulled shot in the first photo was operator error, not gun error.

Spanky · « **Reply #23 on:** September 16, 2008, 03:43:27 PM »

That's the great thing about the 30-30 Handi's.
Every one of them shoots that good!!

You just can't beat 'em!!

Nice shooting!!

Spanky

quickdtoo · « **Reply #24 on:** September 16, 2008, 04:28:46 PM »

Quote from: snmann on September 16, 2008, 03:27:50 PM

Took the 30-30 out for it's initial run. I couldn't be happier! I shot 170 gr. cheap Federal Blue box ammo at 100yards with a fixed 4x Nikon buckmaster scope off sand bags. I kind of laughed to myself when I saw the groups others were shooting with guns 5 times the cost. This is a must have gun in a Handi.

Good shootin!!

Tim

MOGLEY · « **Reply #25 on:** September 17, 2008, 01:12:10 AM »

O.k I just ordered 150 gr SST from Midway. We'll see how they work out. Those groups look awesome especially considering fixed 4x. Anything under an inch I would be happy with. In fact I was thinking i have scopes on all my guns, I might try using the open sights on the barrel or get peep sights for it............ does anyone make a peep sight for Handis or is it a gunsmithing job??

quickdtoo · « **Reply #26 on:** September 17, 2008, 04:29:38 AM »

Please see Peep and Firesights in the FAQs.

Tim

ftlupton · « **Reply #27 on:** September 18, 2008, 03:43:38 AM »

You guys are gettin my in a heap of trouble at home. I have a 336, Savage 340 in 30-30 now looks like I gotta have NEF. I do handload using H335 and have 100 rds of Leverevolution too. Anything I should know before makin the plunge? How about cast 173 grainers?

rsl · « **Reply #28 on:** September 20, 2008, 05:43:14 PM »

I have a 30/30 handi that loves Wincherster 170 gr Power Point factory ammo.. It will shoot same hole at 100 yards with a Nikon 3-9 Pro Staff scope, factory mounts and Warne rings.. I did chuck the factory wood and installed a BC stock and forend.. Sweet.. Working on my pre 07 38/55 with not much luck..

Haywire Haywood · « **Reply #29 on:** September 21, 2008, 05:03:33 AM »

Quote from: aldar on September 15, 2008, 01:53:02 AM

I just love the 30-30. Its easy on the shoulder

I don't like the 30/30 for the opposite reason. Seems like the recoil is excessive for what you get out of it. Same with the 35 Remington. I'd much rather have a 308.

Ian