30-30 load

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MOTO VITA
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30-30 load

Post by MOTO VITA »

I've just got an older Marlin 336A to shoot Rifle caliber, been shooting odds and ends loads to get a feel for it. Now I'm ready to start loading specifically for the rifle/sport. I've bought some Varget powder and 130 gr Speer bullets, for a CPT load I'm thinking of starting at 32 grains, does that sound high, low, or about right? Right now I'm shooting factory load 170 gr at rams but I think I could use the same powder charge with a 170 gr when the time comes. What do you guys think?
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Re: 30-30 load

Post by CamP »

I know one of our best shooter uses a 150gr sierra over 31gr of varget on all animals.

I tried that but I'm shooting better with a 130gr Speer over various loads of H4895 for each animal so i never change sight settings.

I'm pretty much a beginner so take that into consideration.
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Re: 30-30 load

Post by Another Dang 9 »

Both H322 and 748 work well with the 130 gr. Speer. Load development is up to your gun. Try them all.
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Re: 30-30 load

Post by cedestech »

I've had a couple 336 rifles and several 26" Winchester 1894's in 30-30 (current rifle). All shot well with 125-170gr jacketed bullets from Speer or Sierra and with middle of the road powder charges using RL7, Benchmark, and 748 (current powder).

Trim your cases evenly, crimp evenly. The 94's are a little COL sensitive but shoot 4-6" using iron sights at 200 yards. The 336's were roughly the same.

I was trying different loads for different animals but got tired of it and just shoot one load all the way across....

I'm lazy. :)
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Re: 30-30 load

Post by 44 mag »

30 of Varget works good with a 125 for CPT. 32 to 33.5 of Varget with a 170 works real good for rams. If your barrel is 24 inch you may want the 33.5 of varget for rams.
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Re: 30-30 load

Post by ppkny »

Here's some tried and true loads for the 30-30. No need to adjust sights for the animals with these loads.

Chickens/Pigs - 150 gr FN Sierra 2000 w/30.0 gr Varget
Turkeys - 150 gr FN Sierra 2000 w/33.0 gr Varget
Rams - 170 gr FN Sierra 2010 w/32.0 gr Varget

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Re: 30-30 load

Post by MOTO VITA »

Thanks guys, based on your input I'll start at a lower charge than I was thinking, I'd just as soon use the lightest load that will do the job. And yes my barrel is 24". Right now I want to see if I can work up a single, satisfactory, load for CPT.
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Re: 30-30 load

Post by cslcAl »

ppkny wrote: Mon Mar 26, 2018 5:44 am Here's some tried and true loads for the 30-30. No need to adjust sights for the animals with these loads.

Chickens/Pigs - 150 gr FN Sierra 2000 w/30.0 gr Varget
Turkeys - 150 gr FN Sierra 2000 w/33.0 gr Varget
Rams - 170 gr FN Sierra 2010 w/32.0 gr Varget

ppkny
Hmmm, those loads look familiar. They work, but I switched to 125 Gr FN Sierra’s w/ 30.0 0f Varget for C-P-T
170 Gr FN Sierra for Rams with 32.0 of Varget.

If it is real windy I use my ram loads at turkeys.

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Re: 30-30 load

Post by snaketail2 »

I shoot the same load across the board. 26.5gr of 3031. Speer 110gr for Chickens, Speer 130gr for Pigs and Turkeys and Sierra 170gr for Rams. For serious matches I replace the 110gr with 130s.
I've taken rams with the 130s, and I've lost rams with the 170s (don't shoot Raton rams in the neck!)

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Re: 30-30 load

Post by dscak1 »

I use 31.0 grains of Varget with Sierra 125s for c & p. 32.5 grains of Varget with Sierra 150s for turkeys and rams (use the 150s for turkeys simply because it shot quite a bit better in my Winchester 94 than the 125s). Only place I ever had any issue(s) with the 150s taking rams was at Pala. I have a couple boxes of 170s loaded just in case but haven't used them in 2 years. I do not crimp, but single load from the magazine. As always, use caution when developing loads using another's data.
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Re: 30-30 load

Post by edgehit »

31gr Varget works well with all bullet weights but is optimal for the 150. I found 32gr tightens up the 130 Group just a bit.
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Re: 30-30 load

Post by Tlee »

edgehit wrote: Tue Mar 27, 2018 11:22 am 31gr Varget works well with all bullet weights but is optimal for the 150. I found 32gr tightens up the 130 Group just a bit.
Agreed... although accuracy is VERY acceptable at the 31gr level, this is exactly the same thing I found with the Varget loads, and even more so with the 110gr chicken/varmint load I use in the 336XLR my son shoots. With the 110g projectile I was also finding some unburned Varget granules in the 336XLR Action after shooting, that miraculously went away when I stepped it up to 32g. Interestingly, with the 110g projectile I found zero unburned granules with an even lower load of Varget in my 336A. Both it and the XLR have Ballard rifling, but the 336A has fewer lands/grooves... maybe related?

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Re: 30-30 load

Post by emmettva »

I tried ppkny's one sight setting fits all loads from an older post of his in my 26" win 94 commemorative thinking i had it made!! no confusion as to what setting am i on
despite it weighing 8 1/4 pounds the muzzle blast and recoil was a bit much
anyone having that problem--or am i just recoil sensitive?
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Re: 30-30 load

Post by MOTO VITA »

emmettva wrote: Tue Apr 17, 2018 10:52 am I tried ppkny's one sight setting fits all loads from an older post of his in my 26" win 94 commemorative thinking i had it made!! no confusion as to what setting am i on
despite it weighing 8 1/4 pounds the muzzle blast and recoil was a bit much
anyone having that problem--or am i just recoil sensitive?
What load are you comparing it to?
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Re: 30-30 load

Post by ppkny »

I went from factory loads when I first started to the loads that I've mentioned so I have no reference as to any recoil comparison. Also, I don't want to take credit for working up these loads they where graciously given to me my some shooters from the CSLC club a long time ago.
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