Mainly because of the nostalgia around the chambering, (according to what I've read it was sorta the first wildcat hunting cartridge designed around a 10" Contender barrel back in '73') I picked up a unfired, engraved Herret Comemrative factory TC 10" Contender barrel this weekend along with a RCBS FL die set and a trim die.

By looking at the small cost of Winch. 30.30 brass and then my labor involved to make and trim the cases, I believe I'll take the lazy mans way out and order, from E.A. Brown, 100 already formed cases for $30.00......seems like a pretty good way to go.

Anyone ever harvest any game with a 10" Herret ?

I've not decided on a powder yet but I do have a partial box of Hornady # 3021 130gr SSP's that I thought I'd try first.....good choice ?

Thanks gents.

I've taken several deer with the .30 Herrett in a 10" barrel over the last few years, including an 11-point buck that currently resides in my study. It's a great round, not bad on recoil, very efficient, and easy to form cases for.

I'm using IMR 4198 and a Sierra 135 gr. SSP bullet. My load is a bit hotter than the Sierra manual shows, but it was worked up very carefully and in my particular barrel is perfectly safe.

As for forming cases, it's really quite easy. NO forming dies are needed! Take your full lengh resizing die, remove the expander/de-capper assembly, screw it all the way down until it touches the shell holder with the ram all the way up, then run your cases through it. Next trim the sized case to it's proper length. Finally, put the expander/de-capper assembly back in place and full length re-size your case once again, then simply load it as you normally would.

It isn't a bad idea to anneal the case necks, but isn't absolutely neccessary. If you've got any more questions about this cartridge please feel free to drop me an e-mail.

Robert
paradude54@earthlink.net

What Paradude says on the case forming is perfectly correct. Not a hard job.
I have taken several head of deer with a 10" 30 Herrett. My preferred load is a 110gr. RN soft point bullet of any make over a load of 3031. I tried them first at the recommendation of Bob Milek. That 110gr. bullet was designed for the 30 carbine, but is perfect for the 30 Herrett on deer. Some people say one manufacturer makes their bullets a little tougher than another, but I've not found much difference.
I like the cartridge so well, I had an 18" Bullberry carbine barrel made up for it.
It would be hard to find a better deer round for a 10" barrel. Maybe impossible.
T.D.
PS: Once you start forming cases from the 30-30 it's hard to stop! I also form and load 219 Zipper, 219 Zipper Imp., 6mm Bullberry Imp., 219 Donaldson Wasp, and 357 Herrett. All made from the humble 30-30, but I don't even own a 30-30!

The .30 Herrett was a godsend when it was introduced and is still a viable number today, although many seem to want something bigger, louder and with more recoil. Yet out to 150 yards or so, those super-magnum Encores won't kill a deer any deader than a Contender paired with the mild .30 Herrett.

My favorite bullet in the Herrett is the 125 grain Ballistic Tip. Superb accuracy, reliable expansion and more than sufficient penetration (exits on almost any broadside shot) make it work wonders on deer. But as TD noted, the 110 RNSP will do the trick as well.

I have become a bit lazy as I get older, and I have to admit that the ready-to-load eabco.com brass makes life much easier. I've formed & trimmed a ton of 30-30 brass over the years, but it was never something I really enjoyed.

[ 12-23-2002, 23:14: Message edited by: Bobby Tomek ]

Howdy, I'm really fond of my 10" TC in .30 Herrett. Took 2 does this season so far.
Using Hornady 110sp over I4227. One of them bucked and expired, the other folded like a cheap card table. About 45 & 70 yds. No boolit recovery!
They never knew what hit em. Not bad for a 30 year old wildcat.

Laters.

TD, by having all those 30-30 based calibers, do you ever feel you have "missed out" by not having calibers based on the 225 Win case? And...what is your favorite. Merry Christmas

Verno-
I doubt TD feels he has "missed out". In a good chamber (that means other than a factory TC chamber), the 30-30 based wildcats do extremely well. I have a 7mm Bullberry (20" carbine barrel) that will shoot half-inch groups on a bad day, and case life ...well...let's jst say I don't know since I have yet to discard one. Yes, the .225 case may be more stoutly built, but considering the pressures which the Contender is limited to, that is hardly relevant.

Thanks for all the replies fellas.

I called EABCO early yesterday morning and I've got 100 formed Herret cases headed this way. I glanced at the new Widners catalog I got in the mail yesterday and they want $20.00 for 100 Winch. 30.30 cases so Eben is basically only charging $10.00 to form and trim the 100 pieces of 30 Herret brass above what I'd have to give for just the brass alone.....sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

I know from past experience that there is no noticeable downrange difference when I use my pet load, in my Contender barrels chambered in 7TCU and 7 Super Mag to fireform brass, how about the 30 Herret ?

Can I work up and determine my pet loads while fireforming the brass or do I need to fireform them first and then work up my pet load ?

Thanks again fellas.

IKE Several years ago my buddy and I shot some Antelope in Wyoming with his Contender in 30 Herrett. I used a 110RN, and he used a 125 spz, both Sierra's I think. Our shots were around 100 to 150 yards. All were broad side shots, the 110gr seemed to open up more and put them down quicker. He also shot an Antelope [we bought extra doe tags] with his 357 Herrett bbl. It worked well also.

I see some of you fellas like the accuracy of the 110gr bullets in the 30 Herret but to my knowledge there is no "Single Shot Pistol" bullet in a 110gr.....feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on that.

Are the regular 110gr bullets (non-SSP's) expanding / mushrooming properly for you on game at 10" barrel velocities ?

Thanks.

Have any of you used any of the Speer 125 HP TNT bullets in the Herrett?

Seems like it could be interesting if, . . . IF it didn't open too fast.

LouisB

I have had good success using the 123 grain .310 dia. 7.62X39 bullet in the Herrett. I have experienced no problem with the bullet dia. .002 larger than bore dia. Careful loading and workup are a given of course but the bullets are really cheap and the accuracy is more than acceptable. They make great plinkers and silhouette practice loads. Regards

Well i bought my 30 herrett around the first of the year and have not found a load it likes yet.I also have the 357 herrett and it shoots great but the 30 is giving me hell.I have not took it out of the safe in a while got to playing with 6.5 and 357-44 barrels.The best i remember AA1680 was the better powder i tried in the 30 herrett.I will try again after holidays maybe.The herrett is a good round by everything you read.

The correct sizing of the case is EVERYTHING concerning accuracy in the Herrets, either 30 or 357. I suspect that you may be pushing the shoulder back a touch too far or leaving it overlong. You have only about .004 to play with in the acceptable headspace range. The pistol should not close tight but the shoulder must not be set back overly much. Keep playing with it and I am sure you will be rewarded. Your use of 1680 is a great place to start. Keep the bullets in the 100 to 125 gn range and perhaps try some Accurate 2015, IMR4198 or H4227. Best of luck. Regards

OK Rich Jake

I am gonna buy a passel of the 125 TNTs ( Mid South has a 500 pack) and start working on a load for next year. That will give me time to work over tests for expansion also.

LouisB