Good powder for 30/30

[Nevada Ed]

My old Hodgdon #23 has 100, 110 and 130gr bullet data but....
it is only with the "Old style" powders from H4198 to 4831.

It would be interesting to see if a little 110gr or 125gr would settle down and shoot well out of the old lever action.

The little 100gr "Plinker" has been used to "Bark" squirrels or do in a few rabbits in our parts.
Just that the 30/30 is not known to be a tack driver with iron sights.

 

[Model1567]

Apologies for resurrecting an older thread, but I noticed no one mentioned Trail Boss for a plinking load.
Nice thing about Trail Boss is that if you don't know of a specific load for it, you can create one, pretty easily.
According to IMR, what you do is figure out where the bottom of the bullet you plan to use sits in the case, when seated.
Mark that spot, then fill the case with Trail Boss to that spot and weigh that amount of powder.
This is going to be your max loading for that round (they note it is still a low pressure round and perfectly safe to shoot in guns in good condition).
You then calculate 70% of that charge weight (charge weight x .7) and use that as your starting load.
The idea is to work up loads, in an effort to determine the most accurate loading.
Interesting concept to powder development, to say the least.
As for a hunting load, I'm a fan of a heavier bullet (so in this case, the 170 gr. flat nose, although Hawk makes a 190 gr. bullet that works in the .30-30, as well).
Something that I noticed at a young age was that 30 grains of 3031 seemed to work well in a .30-30 (nice little mnemonic to help you remember).
My dad loaded some rounds with 27 gr. of IMR-3031 over 170 gr. Remington Core-Lokt's and it's a good, solid load.
Still have a bunch of those left, too.
I know 4064 is similar to 3031, as well and can make for a good substitute (or alternative).
4064 is a little slower, so if you ever want to build a "heavy" load, it might be a better choice, compared to 3031.

 

[DWalt]

Any of the faster pistol or shotgun powders work very well for reduced plinking loads with any bullet weight. Just use about 13 grains.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you want a reduced load try H4895 with Hodgdons 60% rule. They spell it out clearly on their site and they loads are all tested. I like using their reduced loads with H4895.

 

[dla]

Start a new thread about plinkers and I'll post CAS load info.

 

[Skeet 028]

I have used 11 gr of Unique with the 170 gr cast bullet . 100 yd max smaller deer shoter. For my serious hunting loads I am still using Hercules Hi Vel #2 from before the war. I'm down to 1/2 pound in the old original 3 lb keg...But these days 3031 is as good any

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have used 11 gr of Unique with the 170 gr cast bullet . 100 yd max smaller deer shoter. For my serious hunting loads I am still using Hercules Hi Vel #2 from before the war. I'm down to 1/2 pound in the old original 3 lb keg...But these days 3031 is as good any

It's hard to go wrong with a powder that was developed for that cartridge.

 

[DWalt]

Back in the 1960s when I started reloading, Hercules HV#2 was widely used, and was one of the early Hercules propellants. I still have a little of it left, maybe a half-pound in an original can. I will probably just keep it. HV#2 was replaced by one of the Hercules ReloadeR propellants in the 1960s, I don't remember which.

 

[smithman 10]

30-30 powder

All I have are Bullseye and Red Dot. Will they work?

 

[Skeet 028]

Back in the 1960s when I started reloading, Hercules HV#2 was widely used, and was one of the early Hercules propellants. I still have a little of it left, maybe a half-pound in an original can. I will probably just keep it. HV#2 was replaced by one of the Hercules ReloadeR propellants in the 1960s, I don't remember which.

I have a few more of the square cans of HV #2 still sealed. Replaced with Reloader 11? Have sealed cans of it too . The old can was colored brown and a 3? lb one. I removed the powder and sold the can. Was pre war. Old powder is something I seem to have a bit of. I even have a can of Dupont bulk smokeless and some D-#5. I also have many old cans and still have MT shotshells stored in the old Hercules 15 lb cardboard powder kegs

 

[zeke]

For a hunting load would consider a jsp and w748. While am using mag primers for most 748 loads, in 30-30 got better accuracy with a standard large rifle primer.

 

[DWalt]

All I have are Bullseye and Red Dot. Will they work?

.

Absolutely. Go around 13 grains

 

[dla]

.

Absolutely. Go around 13 grains

NO!
That is way too much for those fast pistol powders.
Please publish your data source.

 

[DWalt]

Look up "The Load" by Ed Harris. I have fired many hundreds of .30-30 and .303 Savage rounds with up to 15 grains, No problems.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

This is my go to powder for the 30-30.

Mine too. can't go wrong with IMR#3031

 

[dla]

Look up "The Load" by Ed Harris. I have fired many hundreds of .30-30 and .303 Savage rounds with up to 15 grains, No problems.

So I looked up your "source" and it is NOT for the 30-30 and it is ONLY for red dot. And you have no idea the pressure.
Do what you want but expect to be challenged if you post unsubstantiated and potentially dangerous load data.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Apologies for resurrecting an older thread, but I noticed no one mentioned Trail Boss for a plinking load.
Nice thing about Trail Boss is that if you don't know of a specific load for it, you can create one, pretty easil

Trail Boss was mentioned in post #33 . No apologies needed , old post revival is a specialty practiced by many around here.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

All I have are Bullseye and Red Dot. Will they work?

Red Dot will work .

 

[STORMINORMAN]

A lot can depend on what type bullet you are using: I bought 500# of the Xtreme plated FP 150gr and starting below the "normal"(?) rifle powder minimums and working up is only one way to go because of some supposed limit on velocity.

I have recently tried 10.0gr Unique & 17.0gr IMR 4227 as well: they all did go Bang! and put holes in the paper, but a scant 18.0gr of IMR 4198 almost registers a group as well as some factory Winchester 150gr soft points I used as a baseline. Just a bit lower (2-3") on the target. No indication of any lead/copper problem in the barrel: clean as a whistle. This is in a (gasp!) Mossberg 464 I inherited from a friend, BTW.

Probably much easier to just adjust the scope and call it good after I shoot a couple dozen more? I (luckily) have a few boxes of 30/30 factory ammo appropriate for any hunting activities. This reloading is just for fun at the range.

CHEERS!

P.S. Anyone with a program to estimate the approximate velocity for a 150gr plated bullet using that 18.0gr of IMR 4198?

 

[Sigma40sw]

My all around 30-30 load is 150gr Hornady SP bullet #3035 with 38gr of WW748. I load all my rounds on a Dillon 550. Works great in all my Marlin 336's.