Since I did a little horse trading last week or so I picked up a Winchester M-54 in that caliber. I have another Rem 788 in the caliber but haven't ever really shot it. Because of how I got it(and the 788 in 44) I consider it/them a collectible. But this old Winchester is actually in pretty good condition. It has had the top drilled and tapped for a scope. I also have an old Lyman peep for it if I want to use it. Wondering if anyone has ever loaded lighter or pointy bullets for the triente-triente, Many moons ago I tried in another bolt gun(Savage 340) using necked up 225s and got just under 300 Savage vels. Never again.....but since the 30-30 cases are so thin you can't get those pressures to work... Anybody have just regular 30-30 loads with spitzer bullets they like?. The fellow I got the rifle from gave me some loaded rounds with old Rem 150 gr Bronze points,,,but just a few. I used to like those bullets in the 270.

Never had a 30/30 bolt gun . If they were mine & bores were in good shape I'd find a cast load for both . Right GC cast wouldn't give up much if anything for hunting . Added plus is you won't shoot out them old barrels either . Good results fairly easy & tons of load data out there too , even for jacketed bullets too . FWIW I didn't have good luck with the 30 cal 150 BPt , I was pushing them in an '06 . Perhaps a different bullet at more sedate velocity . All that said color me green & have fun .

Hornady's Flex-Tip ammo is pretty impressive.

https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/r...erevolution#!/

The only pointed tip bullets that are safe for the tube feed M94
style rifles are made of soft "Poly" plastic materials.......
made by Hornady and Winchester, so far, that I know of.

Any bullet style will work as the 1st load in the chamber, however.

I did that for years to get minimum drop and energy from the first shot.........
and just hoped that I put the bullet in a good spot, since I knew that the next bullets dropped like rocks after 100 yards !

Data;
Winchester 150 gr BC .186 Fac: 2378fps 150yards 1024 ft/lbs.
150gr Ballistic tip BC .435 at 2378fps........ 150yds 1465 ft/lbs energy.

I contacted Hornady several years ago about reloading their A-Max for my Contender in 30-30. Got info of 29.0-34.0 gr of IMR 4895. Also Lyman 50th has pointy bullet 30-30 data...

If you go to the "Poly Tip" bullets, which really improve the 30-30, down range, even more with powder ment to be used with them..........

make sure you grab the RIGHT (correct) box of bullets.
Good loading.

I’ve used Ruger number 1’s a lot. So I Considered making my 94 a two shot with one in the chamber and one in the magazine.

Since you're talking about bolt-action rifles with box mags, the usual pointy-bullet cautions are, ummm, pointless.

.30-30 loads for spire-point bullets are the same as those for flat-or-round-tip bullets of the same weight. For example, a load for a spire-point 150 gr. bullet would be the same as for a flat-point. The only cautions would be to use the standard protocol of starting low and working up to the max, and making sure the overall length will fit in the mag and feed through the action.

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Pisgah

Nosler says their 170gn. 30-30 RN Partition data is safe for any of their 165gn. products.

I have fooled with spitzer bullets and light bullets in 30/30 for years. I have 16” lever action that I like to freak out the guys that bad mouth 30/30s. I always used 150gr to hunt with. Then I got to using 30/30 as Cruz’n piece to shoot groundhogs and other varmits. I had a Savage 219 also. I found that the Speer 130gr HP was a very accurate bullet out of both 30/30s. I was running Win powder 748 and I will have to look up the charge. I wouldn’t shoot my loads in 94 Win. I would have liked a 788 for a test gun.
With that you can run 30/30 to end of its scale. I shot a bunch of pulled GI FMJs out of 219 Savage with IMR-3031. Also the 100gr plinker 1/2 jackets
and 110-115 gr bullets intended for M1 carbine. My latest I haven’t got into yet, Hornady 90gr XTPs, .309”. They should be a bomb at anything over 2000fps.

I loaded for my father back in the 70's for my dad's 30-30 and 30-40 Krag.

W748, BL-C, 4895, was what I had at the time, that put meat on the table with medium loads.
However, I liked the heavier 170gr over the lighter 150gr loading.

If I had to load for that rifle today I would grab a bottle of Leverevolution powder.........
that gets top fps with doable pressures with a 170 from 2145 to 2332fps, per Hornady data.

With the "Poly-tip" the case needs to be trimed to 2.030" and the OAL set at 2.55".

For practice lead bullets can be used as an option but that is another story.

I had a Savage 340 in 30-30, I put a 4x12 scope on it and zeroed 55 grain accelerator at 150 yards. Killed a ew groundhogs and sold the gun, Still have 50 rounds of factory Accelerators, some day I'll use then in my Savage 24 30-30/20 gauge.

Ivan

My dad and I have loaded the Ballistic Tip in single shot feed with good results.

I’ve had success with 30.5 gr of BL-C(2) powder, CCI primers and 150 Winchester Spire Point bullets - 0.8”, 3 shot groups at 100 yards. Also, 33.0 gr of BL-C(2) powder, CCI primers and 130 gr Hornady Spire Point bullets.

Typical Spitzer (“pointed) type bullets are not made for slower 30-30 velocities. They are also not for tubular magazine 30-30s (Win 94, Marlin 336) due to possible ignition concerns. I would stick with time proven bullets made for the 30-30 and its velocities. However, Hornady should have a ballistically superior bullet “FTX” made specifically for 30-30 velocities...suggest you try that one.

I used to load for 30-30 in a Rem 788. I liked the idea of improved ballistics from better retained velocity, but it never really worked out. If you load to fit the magazine, powder capacity is reduced and the pointy bullets have a long jump to the rifling. The only thing I have in that caliber now is a Contender pistol. I've had good accuracy using spitzer bullets in it, but they were seated too long to use in the bolt gun.

I've got lead bullet loads for the cartridge. Will dust a deer at under a 100 yds. I had a Contender 30-30 many years ago and it shot 130 gr HPs just fine and some 110 gr flat point HPs...probably have a few left here somewhere. Lost all the data I used in a move I guess. I do know when I loaded for the Savage 340...I pushed the envelope with that bolt action....just a bit...One locking lug. I have more than adequate powders here..Even LeveRevolution. . Got to try other loads. I would prefer to not shorten cases for FTX bullets..No worries with a box mag. I tried some a friend gave me in my Winchester 64 and a new age Winchester long bbl'd 94. Not all that impressive...at least to me. Not a huge fan of the 30-30 but neat to have an old Winchester Bolt gun in the caliber again.. I did find about a box of old Hornady? 130 gr spitzers in the vault downstairs. Weren't in the original box. And a box of 50 150 gr Silvertips too(30-06 style)

I've loaded the Hornady 150 gr. Interlock for my Contender, using 27.5 gr. Reloder 7. Good accuracy, and no high-pressure signs.

My favorite for the Contender is the Speer 130 gr. HP w/ 29 gr. Reloder 7. I imagine that would be good in a bolt-action as well.

Tomorrow I'm going to try out a reduced velocity lead bullet in that pistol. It shot well in my 94, so I'm expecting good results.

the only objection i have to pointy hard nosed 30-30's is the possibility they find their way into the hands of someone who doesn't understand how dangerous they can be in a tubular magazine. quite a few years ago a fella put some pointed .348 Winchester ammo in his model 71 and it cost him his life.

Speer makes a 150 gr Gold Dot bullet made to expand at 300 Blk Out velocities. I load mine with 33.5 gr/ H4895 and a standard primer. I have tried LVR and can't get the accuracy I want. The velocity of this load is 2350 fps thru the chrono and it averages about an inch at 100 yds. I shoot these in an Encore pro hunter with a MGM 26" barrel.

I was just able to check notes and measure cartridges for OAL. For a base the Federal factory 170gr RN is 2.595” and Win factory 150gr power point RN is 2.545”. The GI pulled 150 FMJs were 2.70”, these were shot in the Savage 219 single shot. The Speer 130HP is 2.520” My accuracy load for this bullet is 36.0gr of Win 748. * I didn’t load these in tube mag because I didn’t crimp, so single loaded in Mar 336. Loading was geared for the Marlin.

The OAL of the cartridge that the box magazine will accept is the factor that puts a limit on what you do in the 788 & Win 54 in 30-30.
It also works that way when reloading for the Remington Model 8 especially in 30Remington. Just about the same cartridge and limitations. But the hunting rifle Model 8/81 beg for better 'hunting bullets' so reloaders often try to load the 150gr and 170 gr spire points in place of the usual flat point 30-30 bullets.

I've done that w/150gr. But they are loaded so deeply in the cases, they even look a bit odd.
I loaded w/ starting loads of 3031. They functioned the rifle just fine and no problems, were accurate, ect.

But I couldn't see anything better about them than using 150gr flatnose 30-30 bullets. At least I could have boosted the powder charge above min load if I wanted to w/o being a compressed load.
The simple fact is the bullet design(spire) makes the bullet longer for the same weight.
So either you have to seat it deeper in the case and give up powder space to be able to fit them in the box magazine. Or use a lighter weight spire point to maintain the needed powder space & the OAL.

The 30-30 is what it is. The design of the firearm it's chambered in can also limit what it can do.
L/Actions have an OAL to adhere to as well,,and then the flat point bullet.

Some have gone the Ackley Improved route to gain some velocity.
You are still restricted by the box magazine dimensions in the 788 and M54.

I don't recall,,but is the magazine of the Model 54 able to accept and fee 30-30 w/an OAL longer than what you might use in a L/A or the 788?

One rifle I do have that'll handle 30-30 of most any OAL and bullet shape is a Remington Lee Sporter.
In it's orig caliber of 30-30 Winchester, the Lee box magazine easily handles longer rounds.
The Sporters were made in 30-40 Krag, 35Winchester and others, so the magazine front to back depth is more than enough.
Another project in pieces right now!

The OAL on the 150 Bronze points are 2.720 inches and they fit the mag of the 54...and they chamber just fine. ...Look normal with no deep seated bullets. I was just looking in the vault and "found" the 23 inch Carbine bbl. Been looking for it and finally after two years found it. Was going to sell it and couldn't find the sucker. It's still in the package so don't know if the 150 Bpts will chamber. I loaded one in the chamber of the 94 new Age (plastic stock).. didn't close the action cause wasn't sure they would eject easily. Seemed to fit ok otherwise

Hi Skeet028;

I've got a Winchester Model 54 .30-30 and have shot handloaded concoctions in it for years.

The Model 54 here is a carbine that was given me by its original owner who originally purchased it in 1928. He said it was on clearance and he chose it from a rack of about 10 just like it. Purchase price was $30. He immediately placed a Redfield aperture sight on it.



I first shot the delightful little rifle years before I ever dreamed I'd own it and found it to be particularly accurate off the bench rest. Once it came into my possession I wanted to try spitzer bullets first thing.

The rifle is in excellent condition with a sparkling bore and really accurate with the Sierra line of flat nose bullets intended for .30-30. It's good for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch 5-shot groups off the bench at 100 yards when I'm in a shooting humor. I've shot at least five deer with it from 40 yards to 120 yards.

The effort to shoot spitzer bullets has been pretty much a bust and I'm surprised at this. I've tried Sierra's 125 grain flat base spitzer, 150 grain flat base spitzer, and 165 grain boat tail spitzer.

I've played with powders and more importantly seating depth. I have a hunch it has something to do with seating depth, but I've never completely unlocked the secret. The rifle's a little stinker for it returns outstanding accuracy with flat base bullets made for .30-30s and also does well with round nose bullets. Shame as spitzers are entirely acceptable for it because of its box magazine and could offer some decent retained velocity should one desire to shoot .30-30 at longer range. Spitzers are just underwhelming in my rifle though and I'm really unsure of why this is so.

The only spitzer bullet load that I could offer is the 125 grain Sierra spitzer over 34.8 grains of IMR 3031. Seat bullet out so as to nearly contact the rifling. This load gives 2428 fps and will group around 2 inches at 100 yards at best.

I had a friend that had a 220 Swift and he tried that Accelerator 55gr sabot on a deer, here in Nevada, just to see if it would work.
It did...... but
he had a lot of blood shot meat and area to cut out and toss away !!

Of course, he was sort of crazy, any way.

I might see a neck, spine shot, but a body shot with a little 55gr .22 on a deer !! I'll pass.

People that don’t understand this have problems loosing game.
A 30 caliber 150 grain bullet performs different in a 300 Savage than it does in a 300 wby.

A 30cal bullet doesn’t care what cartridge it is fired from. It’s the velocity that controls how the bullet will preform as to expansion.
To slow they do nothing, to fast and they fragment. More game is lost firing bullets at velocities over what they were intended for. They come apart instead of penetrating. So happens Speer 130gr HP will expand around 2500fps.

I tried the pointy bullets in the Savage 340. Had to go with the 130 grains, were the only ones that you could crimp along the bearing service and fit the magazine. Ended up going with flat nose so I could go heavier. Had the magazine been longer, the spire points would have worked well, but unless I want it as a single shot..

Rosewood

Predictable results from Swift.

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Predictable performance from Nosler Accubond.

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I am confused, a 220 swift is already a .224, so how could he have used a sabot on it? Or was it he use the .224 bullets that he typically used in his 220 swift in a larger caliber with a sabot?

Rosewood

Very nice model 54. $30.00 actually seems very HIGH in price for 1928.

Bob

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Sag Harbor & Manhattan, N.Y.

I shot the pointy bullets many years ago in the 340. They were too long for the mag. It was just an exercise in learning. Now as to the question of how the bullets act ...I do know my 150 gr 30-06 bullet still expands at the lower velocities they have out at say 400 yds that that bullet may have at say 50 yds from the 30-30...so I don't really think that argument is relevant. Yes I agree that there are bullets not suitable for loading in the 30-30 bolt gun. But I used to load the 30-30(and the 30 Herrett) in the contender and it still did fine for me. I even loaded some Remington 150 gr 35 caliber pointy rifle bullets in the 357 max in my Contender. expanded just fine in a 125 lb whitetail at about 125 yds. Just to let you know I do not intend to use these for hunting......maybe coyotes if the accuracy is there... And all the "fears" about them in the lever guns ? For the most part they won't feed through most lever gun actions. This is all an exercise for knowledge. I am amazed though that the very long 150 gr Bronze point loads fit the Win 54 magazine just fine and feed. I haven't shot any as I have been tied up with the doctor(and nurses) for the last four days.Cardiac issues. Darn docs won't even let me drive. I an going to try that thing out soon though. Then get serious loading the 38s I set the Dillon 750 up for

Sorry, I did not word that too well;

He has shot deer with his swift and decided to try the 55gr Sabot load out of his 30-06 rifle.

It is fast but not too accurate past 100 yards.

I still have one "Sabot" load in a 30-30 case, that is just for looking at.

Hope that helps you out.

I also think that the 60gr Nosler Partition is the minimum bullet that should be used on deer under 200 yards if possible, on body shots.

You knew exactly what you was trying to say...

Rosewood

c/o post #24;

spritzers, not too good ... 125gr at 2" at 100 yards.

Did by chance did you try the factory 30-30 170gr loads out for accuracy?

Some 30-30's are picky on the weight of bullets that they are feed.

Nice looking rifle, by the way. Only $30. Wow.

I have both a Model 54 and a 788 in 30/30 and both are very accurate with the Lyman 170 grain (311141) cast bullet at 1,800 fps.

I also have a two boxes of the Hornady flex tip spitzer for the 30/30 and 30 Remington as well as a pound of LeverEvolution powder as one of my summer projects. I'll get started on that as soon as I finish up a 32/20 rifle project.

I've always just shot cast through the 54 to keep it in pristine condition so I'll probably shoot the jacketed Flextips through the 788 Remington.

My Model 54 with its 1 in 12" twist usually out shoots the Remington with its 1 in 10" twist using cast bullets using the same powder charges. The Flextips should show no preference thinks I.

An 8 shot cast bullet 100 hundred yard group with the Model 54 and two 5 shot 100 yard groups with the 788 Remington, both using the Lyman 311141 bullet. I'm hoping for sub MOA groups with the flextip bullets at 2,300 fps or so.

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	Rem 788 30-30-800p.jpg (78.7 KB, 7 views)

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Keep your powder dry.