Looking for some .30-30 contender recipes

Vt.birdhunter · September 20, 2009, 02:48 PM

I just ordered a 14" stainless, ported .30-30 barrel for my contender and was looking for some whitetail hunting hand load recipes. I don't want to spend $1+ a round for Hornady Leverlution, but want a higher BC than is found with most flat-nose .30-30 ammo. I hear something like a 125 grain nosler ballistic tip may work well with whitetail sized game, curious if anyone had a load they are fond of.

Thanks in advance.

dbldblu · September 20, 2009, 07:01 PM

I have a 14" contender barrel. All the loads listed in the contender section of the Lyman manual have worked well. Win 748 with the Hornady 130 SSP is a very good combination. Nosler 125 ought to be about the same.

Vt.birdhunter · September 21, 2009, 05:13 PM

Ive been leaning towards the 130 grain, hornady's SSP sounds good. Have you hunted with any of the loads listed by Lyman?

darkgael · September 21, 2009, 06:00 PM

I like IMR 4198 (27 grains) with the Hornady 130 or the Sierra 125 gr. SPT.
Loud but accurate out of my ten inch.
Pete

Magnum Wheel Man · September 22, 2009, 07:30 AM

I have the Contender load book & the 30-30 section contains several loads specific to the shorter barreled Contenders

I've used 3031, 4227, & 4198, with spire point bullets in that weight range, but have been reloading so many other cartridges lately, that I don't remember any specific loads off the top of my head....

I've used my 10" Contender deer hunting several times, but have not been lucky enough to harvest one yet with that gun...

September 20, 2009, 02:48 PM	#1
Vt.birdhunter Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Posts: 637	Looking for some .30-30 contender recipes I just ordered a 14" stainless, ported .30-30 barrel for my contender and was looking for some whitetail hunting hand load recipes. I don't want to spend $1+ a round for Hornady Leverlution, but want a higher BC than is found with most flat-nose .30-30 ammo. I hear something like a 125 grain nosler ballistic tip may work well with whitetail sized game, curious if anyone had a load they are fond of. Thanks in advance.

September 20, 2009, 07:01 PM	#2
dbldblu Member Join Date: May 30, 2006 Posts: 95	30-30 contender I have a 14" contender barrel. All the loads listed in the contender section of the Lyman manual have worked well. Win 748 with the Hornady 130 SSP is a very good combination. Nosler 125 ought to be about the same.

September 21, 2009, 06:00 PM	#4
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	.30-30 I like IMR 4198 (27 grains) with the Hornady 130 or the Sierra 125 gr. SPT. Loud but accurate out of my ten inch. Pete __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member

September 22, 2009, 07:30 AM	#5
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	I have the Contender load book & the 30-30 section contains several loads specific to the shorter barreled Contenders I've used 3031, 4227, & 4198, with spire point bullets in that weight range, but have been reloading so many other cartridges lately, that I don't remember any specific loads off the top of my head.... I've used my 10" Contender deer hunting several times, but have not been lucky enough to harvest one yet with that gun... __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

September 21, 2009, 05:13 PM	#3
Vt.birdhunter Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Posts: 637	Ive been leaning towards the 130 grain, hornady's SSP sounds good. Have you hunted with any of the loads listed by Lyman?