July 22, 2005, 12:08 AM | #1 |
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Heavy 30-30 bullets?
Hi. I have recently become the proud owner of a used set of 30-30 dies and would like to ask a question regarding the utilization of heavy bullets for this caliber. If you would be so kind as to assist me, I would greatly appreciate it!
In particular, my reloading manual has no suggested loads for bullets in excess of 170 grains. I am looking to load 220 grain bullets (or there-abouts) . Can you suggest a load for this type of bullet? Thank you. Tom
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July 22, 2005, 03:49 AM | #2 |
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I think 220 grs would be a bit too heavy for the .30-30 as the use of jacketed bullets would possibly cause one to stick in the bore. If you want heavier than standard bullets, try 180 or 190 gr cast bullets and use the Lyman or RCBS cast bullet loading manuals.
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July 22, 2005, 08:44 AM | #3 |
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My Lyman 45 Edition list a 190 gr. Winchester Silver Tip designed for the .303 Savage. They loaded this bullet in the .30-30 case with 30 grs. of IMR 4350 for 29,400 CUP, 1791 fps. Also they list 28.5 grs. of Rx 11 for 39,000 CUP, 2102 fps. These loads are listed as "accuracy loads" and were tested in a M-94 Winchester, 26" barrel, 1-12 twist.
The commets state this bullet was fired in a standard M-94 carbine and open sight 5 shot groups of 1 1/4" at 50 yrds. were recorded. As a side note I use the RCBS 30-180-FN-GC bullet in my M-94 with 22 grs. of IMR 3031 for 1600 fps. Hope this helps. |
July 22, 2005, 11:57 AM | #4 |
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Feasibility depends on your rifle. I would doubt that you could seat a 220 grain bullet deep enough to work through a magazine. The ogival portion of such a heavy bullet is likely to be too long for the permissable exposed nose length. Might get it to work in a single shot.
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July 22, 2005, 12:29 PM | #5 |
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Somewhere over the years I saw 210-gr. bullets for the .30-30 offered for sale, along with loading information, but I have NO clue where.
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July 22, 2005, 02:15 PM | #6 |
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I have seen lead gas checked bullets for 30-30 over 200 grains, but not jacketed.
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July 22, 2005, 05:06 PM | #7 |
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Dog,
These were lead, I should have mentioned that. |
July 23, 2005, 10:44 PM | #8 |
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Thanks everybody for the help! Tom
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July 24, 2005, 03:58 PM | #9 |
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We actually tried some 220's in my 94 years ago, and just like someone mentioned, the OAL was too long for the action. Had to pull the bullets on all we loaded, and went back to standard 170gr loads. Not real sure why we tried it in the first place!
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July 29, 2005, 02:43 PM | #10 |
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Well, there is good news and there is bad news.
According to Sam Fadala in his book on the 30-30 Winchester, 29.0 gr. of IMR-4064 gave 1,987 FPS with the 190 gr. Winchester Silvertip bullet. The bad news is, you have to buy loaded .303 Savage ammo to get the bullets, as Winchester has never sold it as a component to reloaders. Mr. Fadala has stated that this was how he got to bullets to load them. The good news is, if you are a bullet caster, or know someone who is, the RCBS #30-180-FN will cast to 190 gr. in fairly cheap wheel weight metal. I load that bullet to 1950 FPS from a 20" barreled carbine. That 4064 load would probably work just as well with this bullet. Full load data is, the RCBS bullet, Winchester prass and Winchester WLR primer. Bullet is sized to .310". Accuracy runs from 1.75 to 2.5" depending on which rifle I shoot it from. Kills deer deader'n hell. One piece of advice though, stat away from heavy bone. it's not too kindly towards eating meat when it hits heavy bones. Paul B.
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July 29, 2005, 04:17 PM | #11 |
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I agree with Paul B. That's a good cast bullet.
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July 30, 2005, 01:40 PM | #12 |
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Those nice folks at Winchester, Remington, and Federal don't load any factory ammo with bullets heavier than 170 GR for the .30-30.
Is it possible that theres a good reason for that?
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August 1, 2005, 09:58 PM | #13 |
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Sure is cheygriz,
Speed sells and big bullets do not speed from a 30 WCF. It does not have the powder capacity to get impressive ballistics from much heavier than a 180 gr bullet, and most of the hunters and shooters out there want speed. Sam
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August 2, 2005, 11:56 PM | #14 |
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Cheygriz said, "Is it possible that theres a good reason for that?"
Actually no. There is no reason why you could not shoot a heavier bullet in the 30-30. For example, take the .303 Savage. This 30-30 class cartridge was loaded with a 190 gr. Silvertip bullet to an advertised velocity of 1950 FPS. Old timers that I knew said that the .303 Savage was a much better killer on game larger than deer than the 30-30. I agree. My cast bullet load duplicates the .303 Savage round and I guarantee, it is a killer on deer. I do believe that a 30-30 round loaded with the .303 Savage bullet would be quite effective on game up to elk size within 125 yards, give or take. It's just a matter of putting the bullet in the right place to begin with. Paul B.
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August 8, 2005, 08:20 PM | #15 |
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I have no actual experience loading heavy bullets in the 30-30, but I suspect that the rate of the rifling twist is too slow to stabilize bullets as long as some of the ones described.
The cast bullets might work ok, as they are probably shorter for their weight than the jacketed bullets. Their has been over a century of development gone into 30-30 bullets. The bullets available now should work quite well. Always room for a little bit of experimentation, however! |
August 8, 2005, 08:46 PM | #16 |
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Heavy bullets
I am using the Lee C309-200-R in my .303 Savage, I am getting 2000fps with wws,1% Tin, water dropped. No problems with cases or primers, extraction is fine, 20" barrel. I am using .30-30 cases converted to .303 Savage by adding a belt ahead of the rim.
In a Winchester or Marlin, you would have to single load, if the leade is long enough, no problem with the '99. A Handirifle in .30-30 would be a natural for long, heavy bullets. Factory ammo is not uniform , either, I shot WW 170s, 20" barrel, 2100fps, same rifle, same day, Federal 170s, 2250fps. The Remington 190gr in .303 Savage give 1870fps in my '99, Federal 190s give 1920fps. |
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