new to reloading, have a question

aarona · October 13, 2012, 12:40 PM

Hi,
I'm new to reloading and have a question.

I am reloading 30-30 for a marlin 336. I purchased some winchester bullets to start reloading with. i had good luck with the factory rounds last year, so I went with their bulk ones to see how they work out. The bullets I bought are the winchester power point flat nose in 150 grain.the problem is, I cant find any reloading data on them. I did some looking around, and I found some data for remington core lokts, which seem pretty similar, and found data for sei flat nose as well. Should i just go with a general 150grain flat nose load, or can some one point me in a better direction?

also, I will be using imr 3031 for the powder, and winchester lr primers.

thanks!

Lost Sheep · October 13, 2012, 01:13 PM

Have you gone to Winchester's web site to see if they have loading data?

Most of the manufacturers of powder and bullets publish recipes for their products.

Good luck

Lost Sheep

edit: I checked Winchester and didn't find recipes right away. Oops. They either don't have them or they are buried deeper than I thought.

edit 2: Hodgdon makes Winchester gunpowder and they have some load data that might be helpful. http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

aarona · October 13, 2012, 01:30 PM

Thanks, the hodgdon site is where i found the sierra 150 load before. it lists a starting load for the sierra 150 flat nose, with imr 3031 as 28.7 grains. would it be sensible to use that as a starting load for the winchester 150 grain bullet?

gandog56 · October 13, 2012, 01:34 PM

My Lee modern reloading manual has 150 gr. jacketed with no specification of what kind of tip is on the bullet with that powder. It is 28.7-30.5 grains with a min OAL of 2.550"

My Hornady manual only has 150 grain R.N bullets in that weight, but they use 26.6-31.4 grains with a COL of 2.550".

My Hodgdon manual has a 150 grain Sierra F.N. load of 28.7-30.5 grains with a COL of 2.550" (see a pattern here?)

My Speer manual has a Speer 150 F.N. but nothing for that powder.

Hope these help.

RC20 · October 13, 2012, 01:43 PM

It can get pretty confusing.

Yes you can use similar bullets and their listed powders as long as you start at the low end.

Basically its safer.

Some powders act badly when too little used, so getting really low can be unsafe as well.

If you are at the bottom then average out several sources (3 at least)

If you look at all of them and start in the mid area you are ok, but use several sources to see what the average middle is.

For 3031 in the Hornady book its 28-29 grains.

mikld · October 13, 2012, 04:37 PM

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230171

I always tell new reloaders to get a manual first, then select a bullet/load, and then buy components. Much less questions and headaches trying to find an unlisted load...

steve4102 · October 13, 2012, 09:56 PM

It is simply not possible to match the components listed in your loading manuals exactly. That is why they all lists a "Start" charge and instruct the handloader to work up.

It is perfectly acceptable to use load data from "same weight" bullets of similar construction providing you start low and work up.

gandog56 · October 13, 2012, 10:31 PM

That's why I gave him the information I do have. But I NEVER start with anything approaching a max load!

aarona · October 14, 2012, 06:42 AM

Thanks for all the info.

I ended up loading 20 bullets last night with 28.9 grains of powder. I'm gonna try to get out to the range Monday after work and see how it does

aarona · October 15, 2012, 06:29 PM

Made it to the range today. My groups seemed to fit in a 3 to 4 inch circle at 100 yards.

I just made another batch. I added .3 grains to bump it up to 29.2

William T. Watts · October 15, 2012, 06:42 PM

I consider anything at or near 2" to be pretty darn good for a Marlin/Winchester lever gun in 30/30, a light crimp is desirable for rifles with tubular magizines. Someone has already mentioned a manual, I would suggest purchasing two before you go to far. It's essential you develope a vocabulary to understand the responses you will receive from your questions and understanding these forums too. You have to walk before you run! Good luck! William

aarona · October 15, 2012, 07:49 PM

I have a Hodgdon manual that came with my reloading kit. I've read through it a bit, and took out a few books from the library before I jumped into it.

Regarding the crimp, I have been using the lee factory crimp die.

Honestly, my reason for getting into the is is purely utilitarian. I'm not looking to make some crazy high power rounds. Just some consistent, cheap, and accurate hunting rounds

October 13, 2012, 12:40 PM	#1
aarona Junior Member Join Date: October 13, 2012 Posts: 5	new to reloading, have a question Hi, I'm new to reloading and have a question. I am reloading 30-30 for a marlin 336. I purchased some winchester bullets to start reloading with. i had good luck with the factory rounds last year, so I went with their bulk ones to see how they work out. The bullets I bought are the winchester power point flat nose in 150 grain.the problem is, I cant find any reloading data on them. I did some looking around, and I found some data for remington core lokts, which seem pretty similar, and found data for sei flat nose as well. Should i just go with a general 150grain flat nose load, or can some one point me in a better direction? also, I will be using imr 3031 for the powder, and winchester lr primers. thanks!

October 13, 2012, 01:13 PM	#2
Lost Sheep Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2009 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 3,341	Welcome to the forum and thanks for asking our advice Have you gone to Winchester's web site to see if they have loading data? Most of the manufacturers of powder and bullets publish recipes for their products. Good luck Lost Sheep edit: I checked Winchester and didn't find recipes right away. Oops. They either don't have them or they are buried deeper than I thought. edit 2: Hodgdon makes Winchester gunpowder and they have some load data that might be helpful. http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp Last edited by Lost Sheep; October 13, 2012 at 01:21 PM.

October 13, 2012, 01:34 PM	#4
gandog56 Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2006 Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 979	My Lee modern reloading manual has 150 gr. jacketed with no specification of what kind of tip is on the bullet with that powder. It is 28.7-30.5 grains with a min OAL of 2.550" My Hornady manual only has 150 grain R.N bullets in that weight, but they use 26.6-31.4 grains with a COL of 2.550". My Hodgdon manual has a 150 grain Sierra F.N. load of 28.7-30.5 grains with a COL of 2.550" (see a pattern here?) My Speer manual has a Speer 150 F.N. but nothing for that powder. Hope these help. __________________ Some people think I'm paranoid because I have guns. If I have guns, what do I have to be paranoid about?

October 13, 2012, 04:37 PM	#6
mikld Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2009 Location: Southern Oregon! Posts: 2,891	http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230171 I always tell new reloaders to get a manual first, then select a bullet/load, and then buy components. Much less questions and headaches trying to find an unlisted load... __________________ My Anchor is holding fast! I've learned how to stand on my own two knees...

October 13, 2012, 10:31 PM	#8
gandog56 Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2006 Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 979	That's why I gave him the information I do have. But I NEVER start with anything approaching a max load! __________________ Some people think I'm paranoid because I have guns. If I have guns, what do I have to be paranoid about?

October 13, 2012, 01:30 PM	#3
aarona Junior Member Join Date: October 13, 2012 Posts: 5	Thanks, the hodgdon site is where i found the sierra 150 load before. it lists a starting load for the sierra 150 flat nose, with imr 3031 as 28.7 grains. would it be sensible to use that as a starting load for the winchester 150 grain bullet?

October 13, 2012, 01:43 PM	#5
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	It can get pretty confusing. Yes you can use similar bullets and their listed powders as long as you start at the low end. Basically its safer. Some powders act badly when too little used, so getting really low can be unsafe as well. If you are at the bottom then average out several sources (3 at least) If you look at all of them and start in the mid area you are ok, but use several sources to see what the average middle is. For 3031 in the Hornady book its 28-29 grains.

October 13, 2012, 09:56 PM	#7
steve4102 Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,955	It is simply not possible to match the components listed in your loading manuals exactly. That is why they all lists a "Start" charge and instruct the handloader to work up. It is perfectly acceptable to use load data from "same weight" bullets of similar construction providing you start low and work up.

October 14, 2012, 06:42 AM	#9
aarona Junior Member Join Date: October 13, 2012 Posts: 5	Thanks for all the info. I ended up loading 20 bullets last night with 28.9 grains of powder. I'm gonna try to get out to the range Monday after work and see how it does

October 15, 2012, 06:29 PM	#10
aarona Junior Member Join Date: October 13, 2012 Posts: 5	Made it to the range today. My groups seemed to fit in a 3 to 4 inch circle at 100 yards. I just made another batch. I added .3 grains to bump it up to 29.2

October 15, 2012, 06:42 PM	#11
William T. Watts Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2010 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 1,074	I consider anything at or near 2" to be pretty darn good for a Marlin/Winchester lever gun in 30/30, a light crimp is desirable for rifles with tubular magizines. Someone has already mentioned a manual, I would suggest purchasing two before you go to far. It's essential you develope a vocabulary to understand the responses you will receive from your questions and understanding these forums too. You have to walk before you run! Good luck! William

October 15, 2012, 07:49 PM	#12
aarona Junior Member Join Date: October 13, 2012 Posts: 5	I have a Hodgdon manual that came with my reloading kit. I've read through it a bit, and took out a few books from the library before I jumped into it. Regarding the crimp, I have been using the lee factory crimp die. Honestly, my reason for getting into the is is purely utilitarian. I'm not looking to make some crazy high power rounds. Just some consistent, cheap, and accurate hunting rounds