.30-30 velocities

24 January 2002, 07:53

John Frazer

.30-30 velocities

What kind of velocity do you expect from a .30-30 with 170-gr. bullets from a 20" barrel?

My new Model 94 gets almost exactly 2200 fps with a maximum load of W-748 or RL-15. Both group horrendously at that pressure level.

With one grain less, the W-748 makes about 1.25" for 3 shots at 100 yds. (The RL-15 is still horrendous.) Velocity at this sub-max level is about 2130 fps. Is that about what you are getting?

How many fps would you expect to gain in a 22" or 24" barrel?

24 January 2002, 08:38

ricciardelli

First of all, the .30-30 is a close range, brush cartridge. It is not a far-away flat shooter.

Secondly you fail to mention what rifle you are using...if it is a lever gun, they aren't made for sub-MOA accuracy either.

Limit the gun and cartridge to their intended useage, in this case, deer sized animals at lest than 75 yards...and performance will be satisfactory.

You also failed to mention what factory ammo does in your gun...factory ammo is a good baseline to start working from...

24 January 2002, 08:40

Paul B

John. Looks like you're right in thee ball park.
I haven't done any testing with longer barrels yet, at least with 170 gr. bullets. Just haven't had time. With 150s though, a 20" Mod 94 gave 2350 FPS, a 24" Mod. 54 gave 2410 FPS and a 26" Mod. 94 2460 FPS. All loads were max, using W-748.
FWIW, I have gotten 2200 FPS with a 190 gr. cast bullet using W-748. Load is hot, but appears safe. Accuracy is fair. Drop to about 1950 FPS though and it's an accurate load.
Paul B.

24 January 2002, 09:36

R-WEST

John -
The 30-30, at least the ones I've worked with, all lever actions, show their dislike for higher than normal pressure by refusing to group properly. This was also noted by Ken Waters in his Pet Loads data on the 30-30. 2200 FPS with 170's from a 20" barrel is probably pretty warm.

With a low intensity round like the 30-30, you're probably going to gain or lose 25 - 30 FPS per inch.

With that RL-15 load that's not grouping properly, have you tried F210Match primers? I had a similar situation with a Marlin that was giving good, consistent velocities, using WLR primers, but wouldn't group well. A change to F210M's made a big difference.

R-WEST

quote:
Secondly you fail to mention what rifle you are using...if it is a lever gun, they aren't made for sub-MOA accuracy either.

Uhh - Steve, M-94 = lever action. Time for new glasses, bud

24 January 2002, 09:42

Atkinson

Sounds like you have your answer with that 2130 FPS load at 1.25....thats as good a killer as 2200 and thats about all you can expect from a 30-30....

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

24 January 2002, 09:55

sxr6

Don't put that much faith in fps from chronys. My older chrony & my bud's recalibrated read 100fps slower than neibourghs new one???

25 January 2002, 00:36

John Y Cannuck

Since your looking for accuracy, try single loading a spire point. (you can also put ONE only in the tube mag)
I was wondering, if it might be more stable, and less likely to deform in the barrel than the lightly constructed 30-30 FP.

Also, try Rel 7, H 4895, and Rel 12. Although most manuals I have read agree that W748 is most consistent.
My M94 isn't that finicky, shoots most anything into the 2" range. (Or did, when I was not half as old as I am now)

25 January 2002, 02:27

Major Caliber

My M94 loves the 150 Speer over 35gr's of H-335, 5 shot's under 1" at 100yds, with open sight's! Don't know what the velocity is, never chrone'd it. Maybe 2200 to 2300 fps.

25 January 2002, 08:01

John Frazer

quote:
Originally posted by ricciardelli:
First of all, the .30-30 is a close range, brush cartridge. It is not a far-away flat shooter.
Secondly you fail to mention what rifle you are using...if it is a lever gun, they aren't made for sub-MOA accuracy either.
Limit the gun and cartridge to their intended useage, in this case, deer sized animals at lest than 75 yards...and performance will be satisfactory.
You also failed to mention what factory ammo does in your gun...factory ammo is a good baseline to start working from...

1. I didn't say it was intended to be used at long range.

2. I was using a new Winchester 94AE Ranger. [Won in a drawing at a diner for buying the $5.95 "Hunter's Breakfast." ] I didn't say I was looking for MOA accuracy.

3. Factory Remington 170 Core-Lokt did about 2050 fps and Winchester 170 Power Points did about 1950--both comparable to my starting loads 10% down from max. Both went to the same POI at 100 yds.

I did get about a 1" three-shot group with the Remingtons but it was obvious that was at an extreme end of the statistical curve with 2"+ being more typical. I am not at all unhappy with the accuracy of this rifle.

25 January 2002, 08:11

John Frazer

quote:
Originally posted by John Y Cannuck:
Since your looking for accuracy, try single loading a spire point.

Just to be clear, I'm looking for reasonable accuracy in a hunting load. To me, that means a load I can grab a fistful of and shove in the magazine the way God and US Repeating Arms intended.

My 22" barrel is a Remington Model 14A in .30 Remington (uses the same load data) that supposedly can use pointed bullets. However, I'm not sure I'm interested in bothering since most of the pointed bullets aren't designed to work at such low velocities.

I think I'll try the W-748 load with a few other brands of bullets and see what shoots best.

John

25 January 2002, 13:11

Aquavit

I wish that I had a picture to post. The 94AE is quite capable of sub MOA performance. I use a 170 Hornady with 31 grains of IMR 4064. Realistically I'm getting 1870+/- FPS (I have not chrono'd b/c I don't care). It's capable of under 1/2" @ 100. I can hand it off to someone else, and they'll shoot the same group.

The accuracy could be due to the fact that I'm not pushing any limits, but I wouldn't be overly concerned with velocity as the performance of this combination is more than adequate for deer sized game up to a little over 100yds. Just recently, a friend of mine KO'd a woodchuck (3 tries) at an estimated 250yds with this gun.

I would say to use a big fat bullet and fuggedaboutit.

26 January 2002, 06:48

<Dave>

FWIW, I get the best groups with my 94 @ 33.8 gr of RE 15 and CCI BR2. With a Speer 170 ~MOA. With Hornady 170, just slightly larger. I am experimenting now with W748. With a CCI BR2, not too good. Will try Fed 210 GM next. From what I know about it, IMR 4064 would be the next choice though I don't have any experience there yet.

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Davis Chase