Author Topic: historic load for a 30-30 (Read 831 times)

willysjeep134 · « **on:** November 08, 2004, 12:09:16 PM »

I just had some fun at the range with my 30-30. I bought a box of those plinker half jacket bullets and made up some loads with 9 grains of Unique powder. They throw that 100 grain round nose at about 1500 FPS. I am told that this is balistically a lot like a 32-20, and also a lot like a load winchester used to make called the 30-6-100, which was a small game load in a 30-30 casing. Apparently they felt if somebody only thad the money for one rifle, it better be able to take moose and rabbits too.

With my gun sighted for maximum point blank range with 150 grain hunting loads these light ones shoot about 4 inches low at 25 yards. Mabey after deer season I'll mark on the step elevator where my gun is zeroed, then sight it in for the lighter bullets for rabbit season. That way I'd only have to put the sight back in the right notch for deer season and take a few shots to verify it. Might be sort of like what Winchester had in mind when they made the 30-6-100.

Snowshoe · « **Reply #1 on:** November 09, 2004, 03:36:55 PM »

That sounds like a fun load. I just used my model 94 to take a nice 3x4 buck, and finish off a wounded doe, using 170g slugs. our local gun show is coming up, so I will be looking for those 100g half jackets. I am really starting to like my new to me 94.

Malamute · « **Reply #2 on:** November 10, 2004, 04:55:29 AM »

I load 120 gr cast bullets in my 30-30 for small game loads. I load them to about 1100 to 1200 fps velocity. This about the factory speed for 32-20. I use Unique powder, tho don't recall the exact load. I've been fooling around with .310 round balls also. I lube the Hornaday balls with Lee liquid alox in a plastic butter tub, then load over about 3 grs Unique. About as much noise as a 22 LR hi speed load, and will penetrate about 3" or more of pine. Great fun!

Winter Hawk · « **Reply #3 on:** November 10, 2004, 03:06:23 PM »

Malamute,

Have you tried #1 buckshot? That is .30 cal also. A Navy buddy years ago told me about using these in .30-06 for squib loads. I never tried it, though it is intriguing. He claimed to use a very small charge of Bullseye, add tissue paper for filler. Spread the buckshot in a cake pan, pour melted wax over it. When the wax has cooled, invert the charged cases and cookie-cutter the balls out.

-WH-

Malamute · « **Reply #4 on:** November 10, 2004, 03:47:39 PM »

I asked about ordering some buck at a local shop, but they said I had to buy a big bag of it. The Hornady balls were in stock.

willysjeep134 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 11, 2004, 06:15:45 PM »

Those half jackets are pretty cheap off the shelf. Speer and Hornady sell them for about $8 per hundered. I ordered them from Midway USA. I also bought some Winchester 150 grain flatpoint bullets which were much cheaper than Speer or Hornady of the same weight. I reload these over IMR3031 or RE7, gives me a nice hunting load, a little slow by modern standards, but close to facotry.

Man, I chrony'd two of those older factory loaded Winchester Silvertip 150s and it scared me. 8 feet from the muzzle two of them went over 2550FPS! I load my home loads up to about 2300 Max! I even noticed the primer flow around the dent when i ejected those cartriges. Talk about a hot load! I think I might just shoot off these and keep using my mild home loads!

w30wcf · « **Reply #6 on:** November 12, 2004, 02:31:23 AM »

willysjeep134,

Nice load! Actually, you have closely replicated the .30-30 MINATURE Cartridge that was loaded by UMC. It used a 100 gr. full patch bullet at 1,500 f.p.s. which was 300 f.p.s. faster than the .30-30 "SHORT RANGE" (30-6-100) cartridge.

The .30-6-100 used a 100 gr. lead bullet over 6 grs. of powder in the .30-30 and my testing puts it in the 1,200 f.p.s. bracket which duplicated the standard .32-20 ballistics in the .30-30.

Have fun!
w30wcf