30-30 Handi...anyone use PSP's?

[demented]

 I'm buying a Handi in 30-30, would like to try some spitzers to see if I can add a few yards to its effective range.  Anyone have any pet loads?  As of now I have no bullets, have Varget and 748 powders, CCI LR primers

[Darreld Walton]

I started out down the same road, with a couple of 99 Savages chambered to .30-30, and with a couple of exceptions, was disappointed with the results.  Maybe you'll find that spitzers in the .30-30 are the cat's meow, for me, it was more like a cat screaching after the rocking chair rolled over it's tail......
748 and Varget work well, and your primers will ignite the powder just fine.  I like Varget more and more because it is doesn't seem to be affected by temperature as much as a lot of other powders, especially 748 that can give pressure spikes when it's hot.  Use data for the same weight flat or round nose bullet. 
.30-30 cases are the limiting factor, not the rifle, so trying to get "more" out of a .30-30 hits the point of diminishing returns rather quickly in the form of case failures.   
If you want more bullet speed, you'll have to go to a lighter bullet, which sheds velocity faster than the heavier slugs.  A 165 gr. boat tail would likely give about the best performance at extended range than anything else, and I've shot 'em using data for 170 gr. bullets, but only on paper and animals that I'm certain a .30 caliber hole will kill real quick, and don't count on expansion. 
Some of the fellas use bullets around 125 gr. weight, and report that they work well for them.  I've loaded the 130 gr. Speer hollow point and used it on rock chucks and coyotes, and it gives a "red mist" effect on those animals.  110's can be driven fast, but they didn't give me much in the way of accuracy, so stopped development with that weight early on.  On the big mulies and maybe an elk that I could find in the sights, I prefer a lot more bullet. 
In the end, if I find myself in the hunting field with a .30-30 in my hands, I just use 170 gr. Nosler Partition flat points intended for the .30-30.
If you want more than what a .30-30 will give, you most likely need a .308.

[thejanitor]

I shoot the 130 Hornady spire points and LOVE them in my Handi 30-30! Zero at 100 yds 7 inches low at 200 yds.  Not so bad, it isn't a Prairie dog gun, but gives it some some usable distance.
Have fun with that new Handi, you will like it a lot!
thejanitor

[demented]

 I'm not really wishing for more speed, typical 150 grain velocity is fine by me.  I was hoping to take advantage of the better BC offered by a pointed bullet, again hoping that it might open the range of the old 30-30 a bit.   I'd be happy being able to make clean kills on deer at 200 yards, this being about 50 yards farther than I'll try will round or flat nose bullets.  Another problem is finding a PSP that will open at 30-30 speeds.

[av-doctor]

most any soft point should open up,how much depends on speed at impact and placement.

[quickdtoo]

If I was looking to improve the 30-30 with spitzer bullets now, I'd be trying it with Hodgdon Leverevolution powder, 150gr at ~2500fps is pretty impressive considering I've only get 2450fps with 125gr Nosler BTs with a max load of H4895 in my 22" Handi! The 150gr NBT should work well with it's minimum impact velocity of 1600fps.  http://www.noslerreloading.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1347

Tim

http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/SuperLever.pdf

[jparedes]

Consider Paper Patch bullets.
At this time I'm considering them and they look tremendously promising.
Basically they are made with or almost pure lead, so they are very soft and will expand at very low speeds, but you can crank them up into the 2000 fpm speeds without leading of the barrel.
There is a section on Paper Patched bullets in this web site.  Check it out.

[35ISIT]

My son uses the 130 Hornady and H4895. Don't have a chronograph, but is deadly at 100ish yards on deer. My son shot one a few yeaers ago at that distance and it performed as well as any other normal deer caliber would.

[thejanitor]

The hornady 130gr spires I have say "pistol bullet" on the box  and I believe it is designed with a little less speed in mind. (little thinner jacket) Just so you know. But you can always contact the company and give them the speed your load should be going and ask advice, most companies want your business and will be happy to give you any data they have so you can buy what you need.  thejanitor

[Darreld Walton]

Reliable 200 yard performance in the .30-30 is available over the counter from all the major ammunition manufacturers.  Really.  Put some over the bag at 200 with a scope and tell me if I'm way out of line with my statement.  With typical velocities that've been developed by them over the last hundred plus years, even a 170 gr. flat point will work.  Not saying you wouldn't need to practice with it between zero yards and 200 to learn the trajectory, but you really need to do that with ANY rifle and load.
As Tim stated, the Nosler may be the best choice if you have to try spitzers.  Most Nosler partitions have a rather soft front end that will generally expand reliably even at reduced velocities.

[quickdtoo]

As you can see in the Nosler link I posted earlier, the partition requires a minimum of 1800fps for reliable expansion, compared to 1600fps for the BT, the BT would also hold velocity better due to the higher BC and being a boat tail. I've shot the 150gr partition in one of my 30-30s, accuracy wasn't near as good as the BT.

Tim

[demented]

I really would like to try the LVR powder but can't see this happening.  Here in the Podunk state, I have to make a 100 mile round trip to buy powder, God forbid they'd have anything new on their shelves.  Hazmat fees make ordering a pound or two out of my price range

[cjrjck]

For hunting big game, the 130 gr. Barnes Tipped TSX has been a real winner for me. WW 748 should work fine.

[dpe.ahoy]

Try some of the Hornady 160gr. Flex Tips.  Made to work at 30-30 speeds and not to bad of a BC.  The LE powder should be in most stores down the road, doesn't help ya now.  Good luck on your journey.  DP

[demented]

 Would I be best served with the 125 or 150 grain Ballistic Tips?   Perhaps I'm trying too hard to make the 30-30 into a 200 yard deer rifle, I'm  not wanting to shoot a deer and let it get away due to not having enough energy left for a solid hit. 

[quickdtoo]

I wouldn't worry about energy, the 160gr FTX has over 1000lbs at 300yds starting out at 2400fps, handloads will beat that, the 150gr NBT at 2500 has even more.

Tim

http://www.hornady.com/store/30-30-Win-160-gr-FTX-LEVERevolution/

 Gun / Ammunition : .30-30 Win. (SAAMI)
 Bullet           : .308, 150, Nosler BalTip 30150
 Bullet weight    : 150 grains or 9.72 Grams
 Muzzle velocity  : 2500 fps
 Crosswind speed  : 10 Mph
 Ballistic Coefficient(s) (G1):
 C1=0.435@V>0 fps;


 Table of Various Zero Ranges - Trajectory Path to LOS in inches
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Range               50 yd.  100 yd.  150 yd.  200 yd.  250 yd.  300 yd.  350 yd.  400 yd.  450 yd.  500 yd.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  50 yd. Zero           X       +0.5     -0.7     -3.7     -8.6    -15.4    -24.7    -36.7    -51.5    -69.4   
 100 yd. Zero          -0.2      X       -1.4     -4.6     -9.7    -16.8    -26.3    -38.5    -53.6    -71.7   
 150 yd. Zero          +0.2     +1.0      X       -2.7     -7.4    -13.9    -23.0    -34.7    -49.3    -66.9   
 200 yd. Zero          +0.9     +2.3     +2.1      X       -3.9     -9.8    -18.2    -29.2    -43.1    -60.1   
 250 yd. Zero          +1.7     +3.9     +4.4     +3.1      X       -5.1    -12.7    -22.9    -36.0    -52.2   
 300 yd. Zero          +2.6     +5.6     +7.0     +6.6     +4.3      X       -6.7    -16.1    -28.4    -43.7   
 350 yd. Zero          +3.5     +7.5     +9.8    +10.4     +9.0     +5.7      X       -8.5    -19.8    -34.1   
 400 yd. Zero          +4.6     +9.6    +13.0    +14.6    +14.3    +12.1     +7.4      X      -10.3    -23.5   
 450 yd. Zero          +5.7    +11.9    +16.4    +19.2    +20.0    +18.9    +15.4     +9.1      X      -12.1   
 500 yd. Zero          +6.9    +14.3    +20.1    +24.0    +26.1    +26.2    +23.9    +18.8    +10.9      X     
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 174 yd. PB Zero       +0.6     +1.6     +0.9     -1.5     -5.8    -12.1    -20.8    -32.2    -46.5    -63.8   
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Velocity       fps.  2401.3   2304.9   2210.7   2118.7   2028.7   1940.7   1855.2   1773.0   1693.8   1617.1   
Energy      ft.lbs.  1920.3   1769.3   1627.7   1495.1   1370.7   1254.4   1146.3   1047.0    955.4    870.9   
Deflection      in.     0.1      0.8      2.0      3.7      5.8      8.3     11.6     15.8     20.7     26.2   
Correction  MOA/mph   0.023    0.076    0.127    0.175    0.221    0.265    0.318    0.377    0.438    0.500   
Time            sec   0.061    0.125    0.191    0.261    0.333    0.407    0.486    0.570    0.657    0.749

[spooked]

That 150 yd. zero is the way to go in my book..1" high at 100, 0 at 150,coupla " low at 200, what more could a person want from a thirty-thirty..

[44 Man]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I have always assumed that the Noslet BT at 125 gr was aimed at being a whitetail bullet.  Again, I have thought that the 150 is designed more for the likes of mule deer, and the 180 for .308/30-06 velocities and Elk.  My Handi likes the Sierria Pro hunter 125 gr bullets.  I don't know the velocity with a max book load of H4895, but the reports I have heard of it's preformance on whitetails is good.  I do want to try the BT's in the future.  44 Man
 

[geezer56]

I loaded up a bunch of 150 gr Sierra's with 3 or 4 different powders.  Results were good to very good with all of them.  I killed 2 deer out of a group of 7 that came by my stand.  Ranges for the 2 shots were 147 and 185 yds.  Yep, I was hunting over a clearcut with a 30-30.  No, I didn't feel undergunned, it did anything a 270 would have done.  I think the 150 to 165 gr bullets are the most effective, my trials with 125-130 gr. bullets weren't all that impressive.  Accuracy suffered a bit on the lighter pills.  Long story short, try it.  You may be impressed.

[3leggedturtle]

I've used R-P 125gr PSP at 2400 fps at 200 yards they grouped nice out of a M94 and 22"Contender carbine.

[gcrank1]

T. Roosevelt thought the 30-30 a 'fine small bore express'; and that was before the improved HV loadings.
A 150gr. -0- at 150yd. will be fine, even with a RN for a tube magazine.
Make some comparable loads using the RN and pointy bullets and see how they do in your rifle.

[cwlongshot]

I have many powders dedicated to calibers because I have found they work so well with them. For me the 30-30 and the WW748 are a match made in heaven. Great velocities, excellent accuracy and great performance with MANY different bullets form many different firearms. Pistols and rifles.
Nosler 125 and 150 Gr Ballistic tips. Sierra 125 Gr spritzers. Hornady 150 and 170 Gr RN. Speer 170 Gr RN and lastly the Hornady 160 FTX PSP.  I have shot and killed deer at various ranges with all of them. many multiple kills. ALL using WW748 powder.
I do not like to post loads as mistakes happen. This powder has had many loadings thru the years. My own load was discovered over 25 years ago and is over max for current manuals. So diligent loading will produce some excellent loads.

Good luck,
 CW

[xhare]

If you ever have questions about particular bullets for handloading, go to Midwayusa.com and look them up.  This site has lots of customer reviews and can be quite helpful.  If you look up the 125 grain Nosler BT you will find that lots of folks use them for deer hunting with calibers larger than the 30-30.  It appears to be quite affective.

[demented]

 Thanks to all that have replied.  Advice and ideas are always very much appreciated!   I got lucky today, found a local guy thats getting a large gunpowder/primer order to go out next week, he's added a pound of the LVR powder to his list so it looks like I'll get to try this out after all.  If it works as planned I'll be sitting in my box stand with my 30-30 Handi-Rifle come this November

[petemi]

I've used 168 gr. Winchester Supreme Ballistic tips in my .308 for years with consistently clean kills.  I loaded a bunch of Hornady 165 gr. Boat-tail Ballistic tips for that rifle with excellent results, and will try them in the .30-30, but I think I'll end up using a lighter bullet.  I have used the Hornady LEs in the .30-30 with better performance than the old Winchester 170 gr. Silvertips, but have not made venison with that load.

Pete