Reloading the Handi .30/30 - Bullet Options?

[hoytcanon]

Reloading the Handi .30/30 - Bullet Options? I reload for most of my Handi caliber's... to date my .30/30 work has been with lever actions... with a Handi .30/30 barrel on the way, many new bullet options are available. What bullets have you folks tried in your Handi .30/30's... what has worked well for you? Has anyone tried the Hornady SST/A-Max type bullets and what was the performance like? Thanks for any and all comments.

[Ranger99]

i've aways had good luck
with


rem case
cci 200
150 gr sierra 30/30
32.5 aac 2520


of course, nowdays there are a
lot of premium-type bullets to
choose from, i've been most interested
in the barnes 150gr 30/30 tsx, but i've
not yet been able to work any loads up.
when i get those shooting good, i don't
think there's too many north american
game animals that could shrug off one of those.


good luck

[Deerhunter#1]

 Hornady 160 ftx with 1the grain under max load is hard to beat leverevolution powder Also 125 sierra pro hinter with max load h4895

[quickdtoo]

Lots of discussions on this topic lately, I think you'll find most 150gr spitzer bullets are too hard for reliable expansion at 30-30 velocities, the SST is one of them, per the Hornady 8th their recommended MV range for it is 2700-3600fps. The Hornady 160gr FTX would be one to try, specially with LVR powder as DH mentioned. Personally I stuck with the 125gr Sierra PH SPT in my 30-30Ackley Handi at 2865fps, Per Sierra it's got a good performance range from in 30-30 TC Contender pistols all the way to 300WM velocities, a friend uses it in his 308Win at 2950fps MV, he's killed several mulies with it.   

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,261176.msg1099547892.html#msg1099547892

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,260732.msg1099544422.html#msg1099544422

[cwlongshot]

Like many guys, I have been loading the 30WCF for many years...

Early on I discovered the accuracy of Winchesters 748 powder. I have used it in many guns, three different single shot actions, Contender, H&R and Savage 219.

In the beginning I shot Speer and Hornady 170g FP/RN bullets. Shot a pile of deer with them. Then the Contender came along and the 30-30 was now a pistol round... I loaded a 130 SSP and a 125 Nosler BT with the same WW748 powder. In my H&R and Savage I have shot a couple deer with the 150g Nosler BT bullet. Later still the 160FTX was avalible to loaders form Hornady. I have two deer with this bullet and the same load I used in the 170g bullets. As a rule I prefer heavy for caliber bullets, so if I had to have one, it would be the 170g Hornady RN bullet.


Almost all these bullets have shot this same load very well. (the 130/125 and 150BT used more powder. )I will not post the load, because altho, its proven 100% safe in my firearms, it is a couple grains over posted maximums. If you research this powder you will see that thru the years the suggested maximums have come way down...  If you go with this powder, PLEASE follow suggested loads listed in manuels, stopping when you get pressure signs, or the vel and accuracy suits your needs.

Good luck the 30-30 is a great caliber to load for for so many reasons!!
 CW

[hoytcanon]

Thanks for the reply's... I bought some of the Hornady 140 gr, MonoFlex bullets and the 160 gr. FTX... and will load these for now... but I was curious about some of the higher performance bullets when loaded for the .30/30. If anyone has experience with other bullets, I would be interested to hear about it...

[quickdtoo]

I've shot Nosler BTs in my H&R 30-30s, the 125gr were accurate, haven't got lucky enough to find a blacktail to test em on tho.  150gr NBTs have been reported to work good at 30-30 velocities, Nosler says they'll reliably expand at impact velocities of 1600-3000fps. I've also shot 150gr Nosler Partitions in my 30-30 Handi, they weren't as accurate as the NBTs, but velocities were sufficient for good expansion on game.

Tim

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

[Sourdough]

I don't own a Handi in 30-30, but I do own a Contender.  I use Speer 125 TNTs, with good results on things like Coyotes.  I also use 150gr Nosler Ballistic tips, for foxes and coyotes.  150gr Nosler Partitions for Caribou.  They may not open up good, but I get a nice hole through that shoulder which anchors it.   

[kynardsj]

When I shot a 30-30 Contender My favorite load ended up being a 125 gr Nosler BT over a dose of IMR 3031. Very accurate and very deadly on Alabama whitetails.

[twoshooter]

I use 125 gr PSP's, they are pretty light jacketed and expand even at low velocity. I use 37.5 gr of 748, it is extremely accurate for me, just over 1". My grandson has killed many deer with that load as have I. It also makes for long case life and no recoil .

[tturner53]

If you want to make your own bullets try cast bullets. The 30-30 is a great cartridge for cast bullets. Tons of info out there. If you're interested check out 'Ranch Dog Outdoors'. He sells molds designed around the 30-30. You can match factory ammo and then some, no leading if done right. My bullets cost me less than 5 cents apiece, now that I'm set up. Ranch Dog provides load data too for his bullets. If you just want to buy some there's a source listed on his site.