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Paul B. · July 23, 2014, 05:50 PM

"The 30-30 case is an old design with relatively thin walls. Attempting to load "hotter" would risk a dangerous case failure."

I will agree with that comment 100 percent. I shoot quite a few 30-30 rifles. Two M94's circa 1911 and 1981,two M64's circa 1938 and 1951, a straight stocked Marlin 336 and a bolt action Winchester M54. Killed my very first deer with that 1911 M94 thay belonged to my Great-grandfather. Started hand loading for it and a nedwer one I bought at a pawn shop in 1954. It went down the road a few years later but off and on throughout the years I've usually had a 30-30 of some kind hanging around. Early on due to limited finances I took up shooting cast bullets in my 30-30 and .38 Spl. revolver so did a few deer hunts with cast bullets. They worked just as well as jacketed and at speeds of 1950 to 2000 FPS. If memory serves I've taken 17 deer with the 30-30 and cast bullets. In much of the areas I've lived in lated shots were a bit too far for deer and besides being a bonified rifle loony there were too many others to play with.

I know some don't much care for some of what Ken Waters said but Ken was a very conservative handloader. I cannot call him wrong on that aspect. Me, and some others on here are a bit more adventurous when it come to handloading ammo. I'm experimenting with the 7x57 and .280 Remington these days, both cartidges not loaded to their full potential by the factories.
A full 200 FPS with a 140 gr. bullet over factory 7x57 ammo is I feel significant. I have one load for the .280 that is at 3010 FPS, a full 200 FPS over Remington ammo.
I do agree that even if one has a solid bolt action like my M54 Winchester, trong to hotrod the 30-30 is a big mistake.
Feel free to disagree. After all my body parts are safe. Are yours?
Paul B.

July 23, 2014, 05:50 PM	#21
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,802	"The 30-30 case is an old design with relatively thin walls. Attempting to load "hotter" would risk a dangerous case failure." I will agree with that comment 100 percent. I shoot quite a few 30-30 rifles. Two M94's circa 1911 and 1981,two M64's circa 1938 and 1951, a straight stocked Marlin 336 and a bolt action Winchester M54. Killed my very first deer with that 1911 M94 thay belonged to my Great-grandfather. Started hand loading for it and a nedwer one I bought at a pawn shop in 1954. It went down the road a few years later but off and on throughout the years I've usually had a 30-30 of some kind hanging around. Early on due to limited finances I took up shooting cast bullets in my 30-30 and .38 Spl. revolver so did a few deer hunts with cast bullets. They worked just as well as jacketed and at speeds of 1950 to 2000 FPS. If memory serves I've taken 17 deer with the 30-30 and cast bullets. In much of the areas I've lived in lated shots were a bit too far for deer and besides being a bonified rifle loony there were too many others to play with. I know some don't much care for some of what Ken Waters said but Ken was a very conservative handloader. I cannot call him wrong on that aspect. Me, and some others on here are a bit more adventurous when it come to handloading ammo. I'm experimenting with the 7x57 and .280 Remington these days, both cartidges not loaded to their full potential by the factories. A full 200 FPS with a 140 gr. bullet over factory 7x57 ammo is I feel significant. I have one load for the .280 that is at 3010 FPS, a full 200 FPS over Remington ammo. I do agree that even if one has a solid bolt action like my M54 Winchester, trong to hotrod the 30-30 is a big mistake. Feel free to disagree. After all my body parts are safe. Are yours? Paul B. __________________ COMPROMISE IS NOT AN OPTION!