.30 Carbine Load Data

[Zappa]

I'm looking for some load data for .30 Carbine to use in a Ruger Blackhawk. All the loads I find in the books use rifle powders such as 4227. This is fine for an 18" barrel, but wasteful in a 7" barrel because half the powder charge ends up as a fireball of muzzle flash after the bullet has left the tube. Anyone have anything closer to .357 mag type loads with a faster powder such as Blue Dot or AA5 ???

 

[Bruce51]

I have tried 8.5 grains of Bluedot with a 110 JSP in a Ruger Blackhawk.
This load is listed in a load sheet from Alliant and was safe in my gun.
However Bluedot still produces a rather large muzzle flash.
Velocities ran 1144, 1251, 1254, 1210 fps which was about 100 fps slower
than the factory load.

With Unique 5.5 grains and a 110 JSP velocities were 1058,956,1019,1022,1061 fps.

After scoping the gun it was found that most loads in my gun were not very accurate and was a waste of jacketed bullets to continue.









I tried cast bullets in the 110 grain range and found accurate loads to be with 4.5 to 5 grains of Unique.

Small rifle primers gave the smallest groups favoring Remingtons.
Small pistol primers can be used as well.

Beware of data with Unique that goes beyond 6 grains as pressure raises dramatically and is not safe to use.

As far as jacketed bullets the Speer 100 grain plinker with 6 grains of Unique was the most accurate load that was tried prior to switching to cast loads.

If you want to use AA powder and experiment AA 7 produces almost no flash in my .357 and would be a good choice in a .30 carbine Blackhawk load.

My only other experiment was with a 110 JSP and 14.5 grains of IMR 4198.
While velocity was low just under 1000 fps the target group was tight.

That's all I have. Seems my gun likes loads that run a little slower.

Save some money and shoot cast bullets in your Ruger.

If not then go with the plinker bullet from Speer.

Bruce

FWIW

The plinker bullet clocked at 1142 fps with 5.5 grains of Unique.

Apparently I only checked one round for velocity but it gives you some idea of its potential.

 

[perrazi]

i use a starting load of hs-6. it is listed in the hodgdon manual with sm rifle primers. not nearly as loud and accurate enough for 100 yds peanut cans.

 

[DWalt]

For light loads in .30 Carbine, I use 3.7 grains of Bullseye or 231 with 115 grain cast lead bullets. I don't like shooting full power GI loads - too much noise and muzzle blast.

 

[jepp2]

I have 2 different files that list various load for the 30 Carbine in the Blackhawk. PM me if you would like copies.

 

[Zappa]

Thanks to everyone for the replies.
You guys gave me the starting points I needed.
I'm going to try out some of these loads to see if I get the results I'm looking for.
Full power rifle loads just don't make sense from a pistol with a 7.5" barrel.
Muzzle flash may look cool on camera, but does little else than waste powder.

 

[Rule3]

Speer #14 has handgun data for the 30 carbine in the Ruger.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

I have tried 8.5 grains of Bluedot with a 110 JSP in a Ruger Blackhawk.
This load is listed in a load sheet from Alliant and was safe in my gun.
However Bluedot still produces a rather large muzzle flash.
Velocities ran 1144, 1251, 1254, 1210 fps which was about 100 fps slower
than the factory load.

With Unique 5.5 grains and a 110 JSP velocities were 1058,956,1019,1022,1061 fps.

After scoping the gun it was found that most loads in my gun were not very accurate and was a waste of jacketed bullets to continue.









I tried cast bullets in the 110 grain range and found accurate loads to be with 4.5 to 5 grains of Unique.

Small rifle primers gave the smallest groups favoring Remingtons.
Small pistol primers can be used as well.

Beware of data with Unique that goes beyond 6 grains as pressure raises dramatically and is not safe to use.

As far as jacketed bullets the Speer 100 grain plinker with 6 grains of Unique was the most accurate load that was tried prior to switching to cast loads.

If you want to use AA powder and experiment AA 7 produces almost no flash in my .357 and would be a good choice in a .30 carbine Blackhawk load.

My only other experiment was with a 110 JSP and 14.5 grains of IMR 4198.
While velocity was low just under 1000 fps the target group was tight.

That's all I have. Seems my gun likes loads that run a little slower.

Save some money and shoot cast bullets in your Ruger.

If not then go with the plinker bullet from Speer.

Bruce

FWIW

The plinker bullet clocked at 1142 fps with 5.5 grains of Unique.

Apparently I only checked one round for velocity but it gives you some idea of its potential.

BRUCE, THANKS!! I had planned to use FMJ bullets, but other than the 200 I have on hand there is none to be found. I had a load using 4227 & a 308 HP, but sold the carbine, so I am goin the lead route, cann resize the bullets so I need to figure out the best one available that I can use.

 

[Infidel_319]

I used 14.5 grains of 296 for my m1 carbine. Gave me 1900 fps 10' from the muzzle. Great load, for a carbine anyway. IDK how well it would do in a pistol. Check manuals as usual.