The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - HP-38 in 30-30?

mgulino · November 11, 2018, 06:29 PM

I have a knock-off Mossberg M464 in 30-30 that I want to load light to introduce my grandson (8) to shooting a lever gun. I have several .308 caliber projectiles on hand: some 110 gr M1 Carbine round nose, 130 gr Speer HP, 150 gr Hornady RN, and 170 gr Speer FP.

I have used my books to load all of these using IMR 3031 and have gotten good results. 30 grains of 3031 gave me 2230 fps with the 110 gr RN, 30.5 grains of 3031 gave me 2220 fps with the 130 gr Speer. These were accurate and pleasant for me to shoot; but probably have too much recoil for my grandson. I’m still working up loads for the 150/170 grain bullets.

I have read several online forums about light loads of fast pistol powders (Unique, Red dot, HP-38, etc) in a 30-30 with 110 -130 grain bullets. Are these powders position sensitive in a 30-30 case (considerably more volume in the rifle case)? Does some sort of filling or wading become necessary (or even possible)? I have HP-38 on hand; what would be a good starting load for a 110gr RN?

November 11, 2018, 06:29 PM	#1
mgulino Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 2017 Posts: 198	HP-38 in 30-30? I have a knock-off Mossberg M464 in 30-30 that I want to load light to introduce my grandson (8) to shooting a lever gun. I have several .308 caliber projectiles on hand: some 110 gr M1 Carbine round nose, 130 gr Speer HP, 150 gr Hornady RN, and 170 gr Speer FP. I have used my books to load all of these using IMR 3031 and have gotten good results. 30 grains of 3031 gave me 2230 fps with the 110 gr RN, 30.5 grains of 3031 gave me 2220 fps with the 130 gr Speer. These were accurate and pleasant for me to shoot; but probably have too much recoil for my grandson. I’m still working up loads for the 150/170 grain bullets. I have read several online forums about light loads of fast pistol powders (Unique, Red dot, HP-38, etc) in a 30-30 with 110 -130 grain bullets. Are these powders position sensitive in a 30-30 case (considerably more volume in the rifle case)? Does some sort of filling or wading become necessary (or even possible)? I have HP-38 on hand; what would be a good starting load for a 110gr RN?