My Wife bought me a nice old Savage 840 for Christmas, this being a magazine fed bolt action .30-30 I'm wanting to take advantage of the fact I don't have to use flat/round nose bullets, trouble is I can find no data in any of my manuals for this. Most 150g spire points are much longer than regular .30-30 bullets, thus more surface area drag, also I'm finding if that I'm limited in OACL by the magazine. This is going to result in bullet protusion into the available powder space.
I'm thinking that I will start near the bottom of listed data with these bullets and work up from there, checking head expansion and other, objective, pressure signs.
I'd really like to see what this cartridge will do with spire points and similar bullets. Has anyone else on this forum experimented along these lines? If so, any pointers would be welcome.
Thanks
Russ

__________________
Got a Phd from Hard Knocks U

My brother owned a little bolt action .30-30... made I believe by Savage. I will follow this thread with interest as I think it will allow me to produce some nice ammunition for him. Off the top of my head, I'd suggest you look at the Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets for use in your rifle. In my experience they have always been very accurate. As well, they open well even at lower velocities such as one might encounter at extended ranges. Given that the .30-30 is not a high velocity round, the NBT would likely give good results within the normal range of the cartridge. You might also want to look at a good cast lead bullet. There are a number of options available online. I've used the 165 gr. flat nosed bevel based bullet from Hunter's Supply with good success in several .30-06 rifles. There is no reason it would not also give good results in your rifle. HTH. Sincerely. brucev.

__________________
<><

Hornady also sells the tips from their leverlution ammo, the "ftx" is a boatail. They perform very well in everything I've tried them with and are designed for 30-30 COAL.

Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Bullets :: Rifle :: Choose by Bullet Type :: FTX®

I have a neat little Winchester Model 54 carbine from 1928, built on the bolt action predecessor model to the more famous Model 70. The rifle is a little honey and can handle any half way reasonable powder charge one could want to stuff into a .30-30. Despite being a bolt action though it doesn't shoot all that well with any spitzer or leverlution ammo. I've created handloads trying to seat bullets farther out to see if it makes a difference. It's good for 1 1/4-inch 5 shot groups with Sierra's 125 grain, 150 grain, or 170 grain flat nose .30-30 bullet but only good for 2 to 2 1/2-inch groups with any of Sierra's fine spitzer or spitzer boa ttail bullets.

Actually, in a levergun, with that bullet you have to trim the brass an additional .010". In that bolt gun you might not have to do the extra trim.

If I remember correctly the Sierra 150gr SBT GameKing Part #2125 is almost as short as the RN bullets that are usually used in a 30-30. You might not have a COAL problem with those bullets.

__________________
Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

Thanks all, I've looked at the Noslers and also the Sierra and those are my first choices, also I cast and have a 150g gc mould so will experiment with that as well, should be an interesting project.
So far one thing I've noticed is that 100 pieces of Winchester brass I have all measure to the bare minimum as to case length, most are right at 2.028/2.029 so I'm stymied there on a little excess neck length. I reckon if it wasn't a challenge tho' it wouldn't be near as fun.
I've always wanted a BA .30-30, my original idea was to have it eventually rebarreled to .219 Donaldson Wasp, but this one is so nice (and a gift from the Woman) that I may hold off on that.
She actually tricked me on this, I had looked at it at my LGS and told the owner to pull it from the rack and i'd be back in a day or so. About 10 minutes after I left the Wife came in and asked him what kind of guns I'd been looking at lately, She bought it and when I went back for it the owner told me it had already been listed and sold on Gun Broker and was mistakenly put on the shelf. I'd written it off untill Christmas Morning when my Wife brought it out for me.
I got lucky when I met her 32+ years ago, guys!
RD

__________________
Got a Phd from Hard Knocks U

My experience with my Savage is that the magazine length governs, to the lever OAL area.

I have used a Savage 340 for years and have had no trouble using the recommended loads in various mauals. My best results have been with 748, 3031, and RL-12. My piece has such a long throat that if a 165-gr spire point is set close to the lands, its butt will barely be in the case. Thus, no problem with OAL for most bullets. Check the length of your chamber and thoat. The long throat also means lower velocities with factory loads and handloads. I usually load for 2000-2100 fps with 165 grainers - that has given very good accuracy. The standard Sierra 150- and 170-grain flat points are also very accurate bullets. Here's a tip. My Savage just loves Sierra 155-grain Palma HPBTs. Don't know why, but it does.

No experience here myself, but look up 30-30 silhouette loads for the Thompson Center. They often list heavier loads with pointed bullets.

__________________
HIKayaker