using 150 and 170 grain bullets. These loads will be used for white tail hunting in Texas.

Thanks!

Update 12/12/02
Thanks for the feedback Y'all. Believe it or not, I am smart enough to have figured out to look in some reloader manuals for recommendations on powders. However, I was actually looking for YOUR recommendations as to YOUR favorite powders/bullets from personal experience. In Ken Waters' Pet Loads he recommends Reloader #7 as one of the best powders, but I have yet to see anyone else recommend it. As far as the long Texas shots go, I usually use my .270 or .30-06 for Deer in Texas. However I have aquired a pre 64 Model 94 that I thought would be neat to take a deer with. I would not take a shot farther than about 150 yards with it probably. Please keep the recommendations coming! Thanks!

[ 12-12-2002, 20:59: Message edited by: Shark Bait ]

Open any reloading manual...

The 150 and 170 have been standard bullet weights for the .30-30 since factories first started chambering for it. (Except for possibly the first blackpowder loads which used 160 grain bullets.)

[ 12-12-2002, 01:34: Message edited by: ricciardelli ]

Recent editions of Guns magazine (John Taffin) and Handloader (Brian Pearce) have had 30-30 load articles. Most powders from H322 on the fast side to RL15 on the slow side will work.

When I next load for my 30-30, it will be with 170 grain bullets and whatever medium speed powder comes to hand. Most load data books have abundant choices listed.

I have small amounts of W748 and RL15 left in their cans, and a most of a pound of AA2520. Any of them will work. Come to think of it, I have 2/3 of a can of H322 and some 4320 as well. Guess I'll burn up some leftovers so I can throw the cans away.

[ 12-12-2002, 04:53: Message edited by: BigIron ]

How about these ones?

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0000690368

Id venture to guess that this one was made with the 30-30 in mind.

Im going to give the 180s a try in my 300 S. I just got enough wheelweight today for 5 bucks to keep me in bullets the rest of my life. Cant hardly go wrong on the price of the Lee molds either.

Do a search for WinLoad. I downloaded it recently, and it will give you a recommendation based on diameter, length and weight of bullet. Real handy for reloaders to have around.

Most 30-30 factory ammo is loaded with 150 or 170 flat nose bullets for use in lever action rifles. If you own a bolt action 30-30 rifle you can use the same selection of bullets any 30 caliber rifle would shoot. The lever action rifle can only be loaded with the flat nose bullet because of the magazine loading system. Three powders compatable with the 30-30 cartridge are IMR 4064, WW-748, IMR 3031, REL- 12 also works well but has been discontinued and is no longer available.

I find the 150 grain flat nose bullet is my choice in the 30-30 lever action rifle. If your shooting a bolt action 30-30 rifle I like the 125 or 130 grain bullet. The lighter weight bullet shoots flatter at 150 yards by virtue of it's pointed bullet shape. Deer being thin skinned animals and the Texas strain are lighter in body weight than it's northern cousin are easy to bring down. The scope sighted fast handleing 30-30 rifle is better suited for heavy cover and wood lots. For longer shots the 30-30 is not the best choice for deer. Those long sendaro's deer cross in Texas are long and may cause you to take longer shots than your 30-30 can handle.

I'm with Reloader66 on this. In a tube mag, you can't improve on the standard 170 grain bullet. In anything else, you go to 125 or 130 grain spitzers 'cause they shoot flatter and still expand.

Add H335 to the powders; it's just 748 with a different label.

My favorite 30-30 load for my east Texas wandering is the 150 grain sierra flat nose on top of 32.5 grains of 3031, this load has worked fine in all manner of 30-30 rifles except an old model 36 Marlin with a well worn action. The sierra bullet expands quickly and takes deer down quick. I expect this load to be giving 2300 fps from a 20 inch barrel.

Update 12/12/02
Thanks for the feedback Y'all. Believe it or not, I am smart enough to have figured out to look in some reloader manuals for recommendations on powders. However, I was actually looking for YOUR recommendations as to YOUR favorite powders/bullets from personal experience. In Ken Waters' Pet Loads he recommends Reloader #7 as one of the best powders, but I have yet to see anyone else recommend it. As far as the long Texas shots go, I usually use my .270 or .30-06 for Deer in Texas. However I have aquired a pre 64 Model 94 that I thought would be neat to take a deer with. I would not take a shot farther than about 150 yards with it probably. Please keep the recommendations coming! Thanks!

My Model 94 is sub moa with 35gr's of H-335 and a 150gr Speer, that's a max load in the manual, but doesn't seem like a hot load in my rifle.

W-748 works best with any 170 in my 20" 94 -- I think I go a grain below book max and get 2130 fps. Nosler Partitions or Sierras seem to be best by a small margin.

With the 30-30 you should be able to load a gas cheked hard cast bullet to the rifles full potential and you have the benefits of being able to custom taylor the bullets to YOUR EXACT bore diameter. The benefits are inhanced accuracy and possibly even better velocity due to less resistance, also less barrel wear. I dont know but Im guessing that a pre 64 would have ballard rifling (??) which is also a plus with cast loads. Just some more food for thought.

Enjoy your classic Winny SB!

I have a 21" bbl for my contender, being single shot it has the advantage of using pointed bullets and 35gr of RL15 with a 150gr Horn SP or a 130gr Horn. SSSP work the best for me with WLR primers.
And tho 170gr factory loads are good if one doesnt reload, I have yet to find 165gr bullet that would work worth beans.

For me the 30-30 is just about perfect for the 'paper work' I do, it's cheap and easy to load for, accurate out to 200 yds and light recoiling to boot.

I enjoy the 38-55 and the 25-35 too if anyone has some pet loads for these rounds I'd be intrested in seeing them

Wes