30/30 win 100gr reduced loads?

[sparky1]

I had the data someware and now I cant find it. I have some 100 gr. plinkers I want to make reduced loads for squirel hunting. I know it was with pistol powders. Any one have data handy? Thanks

[DJINCO]

You must have some big critters that need a 30 cal bullet. I would think that if you reduce the load too much it will reduce the accuracy also. You can only go so low in speed and then you have gravity taking over.

Just MHO and not worth too much.

[canoeguy]

I have tried reduced velocity, cast lead loads for both 30/30 and .308. My succesful 30/30 load was for a Marlin 336, bullet was a 155 grain lead flat point with 9.5 grains Unique. It shot to the same point of aim as factory 150 grain, full power loads at 50 yards and was fairly accurate. Unfortunately, I no longer have that rifle.

My best luck was with loading cast lead was for a .308 Ishapore bolt action rifle. The same 155 grain bullet with 9.5 grains Unique made a super accurate load, five rounds touching each other at 50 yards, dead on to point of aim. This load also shot to the same point of aim at 50 yards as surplus 150 grain FMJ ammo. Believe it or not, I don't own that rifle any more either, forum member Muley Gil has it along with all of my accurate cast lead rounds!

So, I now own a Winchester "Ranger" 30/30 that I am working up a cast lead load for. I wanted to duplicate the performance of my past rifles, find a mild, cast lead load that will hit the same POI/POA as 150 grain factory ammo. First tried a 165 grain cast lead bullet with 8.0 grains Trail Boss, point of impact was too low at 50 yards, like 4" below point of aim. Just recently bought some 135 grain cast lead bullets, loaded them with 6.5 grains Trail Boss, point of impact even lower, like 8" below point of aim. So, it looks like this rifle wants a heavier bullet to hit to point of aim, so I'll try to find some 180 grain cast lead bullets.

I tried Unique pwder with this rifle and couldn't find an accurate combination, very poor accuracy. The Trail Boss loads give good accuracy, like 1.5 inches at 50 yards, just low POI.

I guess if you just wanted to shoot cast lead only, you could find an accurate load and adjust the sights on the rifle for that load, but I want the flexibility of shooting both factory 150 grain cartridges and cast lead handloads, so the experiment continues...

For those who doubt the utility of a 30 caliber cast lead bullet, I found them to be very effective against varmints out to 50 yards, a 155 grain cast lead bullet at 1000 FPS will drop a fox or nutria in it's tracks, only quieter than a factory round while doing it. I also thought them to be much safer while shooting in marshes, as they will only travel so far, like a shotgun slug. You can shoot them without hearing protection, ladies and kids love shooting them, plus they are fun to experiment with!

[canoeguy]

IMPORTANT SAFETY TIP!

Don't try reduced velocity loads with jacketed bullets, they will stick in the bore and cause an obstruction!

I looked in my Speer manual, and they list loads for the 100 grain Plinker, all of them full power, high velocity loads like 2500-2700FPS, so that leads me to believe that is a jacketed bullet....

[Spotteddog]

And RE: Plinkers, the way they're constructed sometimes the 1/2 jacket and the core can separate leaving the copper portion in the bore at low speeds. I have ZERO low velocity jacketed 100-110 grain loading data. Nor does any info exist in any manuals I DO have, indicating use of anything except rifle powders with jacketed bullets in 30/30? And that is precisely for the reason I cited. NO velocity noted is BELOW 2100 FPS in 30/30 running 100/110 jacketed.
Cast bullet info up the wazoo in 150-175 grain weights with and W/O gas checks. Unique IS used in these loadings, but again these are for CAST bullets and in 150/165 weights. Velocities would be in the mid 1300 FPS's with both.
FWIW: Even the .30 M-1 Carbine chambered Blackhawk revolvers toss the 100 Plinkers at or above that 1300 FPS mark.
Be Careful!

[Bruce51]

I have to agree with the other posters who recommend not reducing loads for the plinker. I really don't know how slow they can be shot in a long barrel. They are fine in a M1 carbine in the 1800-2000fps range. I have also tried them at 1000fps in a Blackhawk.
Also it has been my experience that they are not accurate in a Microgroove Marlin barrel at full power loads.

If you want to have some fun try a .310 lead round ball. I have shot these in the 30-30 with just a primer. They will penetrate a 2x4 at close range. You might try a pinch of powder as well and work your way up.
Just press the ball into the case mouth flush and if you want some lube just put a little over the top. Makes a fun gallery load for your hunting rifle.

Bruce

[Paul5388]

I use 15.0-16.0 gr of Alliant 2400 with a 170 gr Lyman 311291. That gets the velocity to around 1600 fps, which is where a micro groove barrel will shoot cast bullets decently.

It seems like I've heard the 100 gr Plinker isn't noted for accuracy and for about the same money you can use a cast bullet.

Reduced loads for many calibers are posted at this site and are usually intended for cowboy action shooting.
Lever Gun Performance Studies

[LoboGunLeather]

I agree with the prior comments about reduced loads with jacketed bullets (other than FMJ). I have used cast bullets in .30 caliber rifles for many years, with velocity adjusted to intended purposes (like smaller game).

Another important point to keep in mind, if you pursue this project.

Greatly reduced loads in rifle cases can actually reduce case dimensions, both total length and in the shoulder area. Once used for reduced loads, the cases should NEVER be used for full power loads again.

Even though the .30-30 headspaces on the rim, significant gaps around the shoulder could result in powder gases blowing back with possible injury to the shooter.

[sparky1]

I dont want to be shooting in the trees at full power. They do have to come back down. I may just end up selling the bullets. . Thanks

[David Sinko]

Somebody recently gave me a very small quantity of that 100 gr. Plinker and I loaded them full power. I won't attempt reduced velocities with anything jacketed.

I am very fond of the 100 gr. cast SWC sized .312" and intended for the .32 H&R Magnum. I load them in the .30-30 and shoot them out of my Savage 24F combo gun. I think my load is 10 grs. of 231 for a velocity of 1600 FPS. Some lead is shaved when the bullet is seated but accuracy has always been good. It's an excellent small game load and I'm sure it would work on deer too with proper bullet placement.

Dave Sinko

[Paul5388]

Dave,

You can avoid lead shaving if you'll use a Lee Universal Expanding Die. Just a slight flare/bell to the case mouth is usually sufficient and the seating die or a Lee Factory Crimp Die will remove what flare remains.

Reduced loads for jacketed bullets that could be dangerous are usually what are considered to be "cat sneeze" loads. That's the very quiet ones that are much less than 1000 fps.

There are many jacketed bullets being shot in factory loads (think handguns) that are less than 1000 fps and they don't have any problems. The old Speer half jacketed bullets didn't have a problem at 1000 fps either, so I think some are "borrowing" a non-existent problem.

If one thought they might be a problem, it's a simple matter to coat them with Lee Liquid Alox. The lubrication will usually solve a potential sticking problem. Half jacketed bullets are just long gas checks and we usually lubricate gas checked bullets.

I shoot quite a few 3.0 gr Bullseye out of a 22" rifle without issues. I use lead bullets, but that's still very much a reduced load in a rifle.

[jimkim]

I load them with 8-10gr(I got this one from a tech at Sierra bullets back in the early nineties) of Unique. You can also try 9.0gr 800X (Handloader Issue #179 - January, 1996) for 1605fps and 6.2gr Bullseye(Rifle Issue #98 - March, 1985) for 1241fps. Both of these loads are with the Speer 100gr plinker. I have some other loads, but they aren't published.