What 30-30 ammo do you like best?

[Hawg]

I'm looking for something that recoils less but cheaper than Hornady low recoil.

Seriously? A 30-30? A 30-30 doesn't have enough recoil to speak of.

[kcub]

Now I see you are contemplating 170gr factory loads...

Not sure logically how one can go with a 170gr factory load at 2200fps over a 150gr at 2100fps, and expect to lower 'recoil'...

I don't expect lower recoil going from 150 to 170.

But if I were to hunt I can put up with more recoil for one or a few shots. For plinking where I might burn up a box or more, yes I'd rather have something lighter.

[Paul B.]

Kcub. I noticed something in one of your comments that I think has bearing on the recoil factor. Your rifle has more drop in the stock than the post 1964 models. I have two pre-64 M94s, a 30-30 and a .32 Win. Spl. made in the 1950's. I also have a post 64 M94 30-30 and it has noticeably less drop to the stock and recoil does feel lighter. I'm thinking what you're feeling at the shot is the upchuck of the stock due to the drop hitting your cheek or jaw.
I can understand your reluctance to handled your own ammo. I've been reloading since 1954 and I can still remember what went through my mind when I fired my first reload. WOW! The gun is still in one piece. Rifle was an 1894 Winchester 30-30 made January 2, 1911. It belonged to my Great-grandfather and yes, I still have it. I still shoot it with rather mild hand loads in deference to it's age.
Gotta love the old 30-30. it still works.
Paul B.

[kcub]

A long time a go I used to hammer out some 357 reloads with one of those Lee Loaders. In seating a primer I must have hit it a little too hard or that particular primer was a little too soft and it went bam.

Correction, it went BAM!

I am leery less of it than of me. I'm sure there are many who are less clumsy and more diligent than me and it works fine for them.

Callahan's law: A man's got to know his limitations.

[Tom Matiska]

Longest string of clean single shot kills I know of belongs to Win 150 HP. Best balance of penetration vs expansion you can ask for.

[Pathfinder45]

As I already mentioned, I mostly shoot reloads. But for factory ammo, for a vintage Winchester like that, I find original vintage ammo most compelling, especially in the yellow box with blue and red graphics, maybe even a grizzly bear on the front; you know, Silvertips. I will even buy old partial boxes in bad condition just for the bullets and maybe the brass if it's recoverable, and rebuild it to period correct new condition. In my observations, aluminum Silvertips from the 1970's have ball powder, while the Nickle-silver Silvertips from the box with the Grizzly Bear on it contain an extruded powder that closely resembles IMR-4895. I believe these are more period-correct for the war-time manufactured model 94's. Full boxes of the original Grizzly-box ammo in good condition can be pretty expensive when it can be found. Rebuilding compromised remnants is often more affordable. "Trust your next hunt to Silvertips." I don't much load reduced loads. I have a little, with cast bullets. But even with Cast 170 grain bullets, I usually run them up to 2100 fps or so. The original sights are intended for regular loads.

[kcub]

Current Winchester silvertips, though the opposite of cheap, are still drop dead gorgeous in their own right. You can buy the ballistic silvertip bullets and reload those gorgeous nickel cases also.

[Will-j]

@ Kcub: Hmmm!
In reviewing Posts 6 & 29......Do I detect a bit of contradiction/controversy?
... "A long time ago I used to hammer out some .357 reloads with one of those Lee Loaders......" (post 29)
..."If I had somebody to show me how, I'd get into reloading....."(post 6)
No disrespect, but, care to explain?

WILL.

[kcub]

No idea what you mean.

[Will-j]

Kcub:
Reread your own posts (#6 & #29).
In post 6 you say (paraphrase) 'If you had someone to show you how, you'd get into reloading....But you don't.'
Then in post 29 you say....."A long time ago I used to hammer out some .357 loads with one of those Lee Loaders".

Contradictory at the least. Clear as day. As I asked before.....Which is it? Do you, or , do you not know how? Either you do or you don't.

WILL.

[kcub]

Do you know what a Lee loader is? I don't know if they still make them or not. It's just a small kit in a box and you use a mallet, pre-set powder scoop. Not the same complexity as a real reloading setup.

Maybe that's the confusion? Small Lee kit vs. full blown Lee bench setup?

aspects that concern me: powder measuring, primer seating, how far you screw the dies. level of force used to press everything, crimping

I wouldn't attempt it without experienced eyes coaching me every step.

Plus I don't have a workshop. I've got a Huntington hand press I bought during the last ammo crisis, haven't touched it.

[Will-j]

RE: Your question; I started at the bench 40 yrs. ago (Nov. 20th '75) with a set of Lee Loader dies in .30-30 for my 336 Marlin. I still have that set, plus a half-dozen more, in both pistol and rifle calibers. From those, I went to RCBS equipment (dies and press) because of the [neck-sizing] limitation of the L L sets, and from there to LEE's presses ( both C-type and [D and O] types). The latest (and biggest/strongest/HEAVIEST) press was from Midway's [Frankfort Press]-- bigger (to me) than RCBS's Rock Chucker.

I simply do not understand why you [claim] ignorance of reloading in one post while stating [that] you reloaded certain cartridges years ago, (regardless of the type equipment used) in another post in the same thread.

Perhaps it's just me. Either way...keep at it, but be careful. Sometimes, a little trepidation is good medicine to keep one on one's toes. Complacency will oftentimes beget/result in... tragic consequences.

WILL.

[shrewd]

Sounds like a great excuse to buy a lever .357 to me

[Pathfinder45]

More like this: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=520692873

[Pathfinder45]

And then there are these, though a bit expensive for my wallet: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=523171618
But hey, these cartridges surely make a good choice for Grizzly Bears in your 30-30.

[kcub]

That looks like King Kong with a bear's head. For $300 you ought to at least get a decent picture of a bear.

[Hawg]

My rifle likes Federal Power Shok. 150 grain 2,390 FPS.

[Blindstitch]

Kcub you can get a lee hand press for $50 and a lee scale for $25. That will get you started after picking up dies.

It's not hard to reload this way and yeah it can get expensive if you want the best but you will get 100% the ammo you want.

Yes they still make the lee loader and I have one in 30-30. I would never use it but I have one that was given to me.

[kcub]

I bought a Huntington hand press during the ammo shortage, I'm sceered of it. Maybe I'll pick up some 30-30 dies. But then I'd need components.

[Targa]

I know you wanted something cheaper than the Hornaday's but they are on sale through Sportsmans Guide for $16 a box. Doesn't get much better than that.

[kcub]

Unfortunately the range won't allow rifle over 223 in the bays where you can plink cans. I talked them into allowing 30-30 with cowboy loads. Looks like HSM is it.

[Sure Shot Mc Gee]

What 30-30 ammo do you like best?

In regards to recoil. All cartridges show some recoil. But.__ 150 gr Federal do bother the shoulder of this shooter. Especially when shot out the barrel of my model 94 carbine. I don't know why. But some of the worse shoulder battering I've encountered has come from a plain jane 94 30-30 Winchester. As far as bullet profile & brand. I don't have a preference in store bought cartridges. Although I'm slightly leaning towards Remington's 170 gr. F-P Core-Lokt. Frankly, the cheapest and best store bought ammo available. Is the brand and bullet weight you chose for your application.

[kcub]

The HSM cowboy loads are nice on the recoil. If only they were cheaper.

[Tripacer]

Since I started shooting and reading all the gun publications in the 1950's, the 170 grain was considered the best 30-30 bullet for deer. Most hardware stores that sold ammo, carried the 170 grain rounds. The 150's were harder to find.

[iraiam]

I always went with Federal 150 grain 30-30 ammo, it was always RN or FP for tube magazines. I haven't purchased a commercial 30-30 round in many years though.