Favorite 30-30 Pointed bullet loads?

[TCBrian]

I just scoped an Old Rem 788 30-30 for my father. I am going to work up some accurate and potent handloads for him to use it with this coming year. He has many guns, but really like his old bolt 30-30 so I thought I would do this for him, since his eyesight doesn't allow the use of the old iron sights like he used to. Since the gun is a detachable magazine, I thought I might as well go with a pointed bullet as well. I plan on starting with a 125 NBT and H4895 and Varget. Any other suggestions.

Thanks,
Brian

[Dave in WV]

You might try Sierra 135gr single shot pistol (SSP) bullets. I loaded some .243 85gr SSP bullets for a friend's son and they worked great in his Handi rifle.

[tn_junk]

I shot a .30-30 Handi for years and used a 125 grain PSP Remington. Very accurate and deadly on the Tennessee dear.
Cranked up at a near full load of H4895, it was cloverleaf accurate at 50 yards and I never had a deer go more than a few yards after being hit.

alan

p.s. I really miss that little rifle.

[carbineman]

You might try Sierra 135gr single shot pistol (SSP) bullets. I loaded some .243 85gr SSP bullets for a friend's son and they worked great in his Handi rifle.

Does Sierra still offer this bullet? I know Hornady discontinued the 130 grain SSSP bullet. I use the 130 grain Hornady SSSP for practice rounds and the Barnes 130 grain XBT (also discontinued) for hunting rounds. With a magazine to feed from, you might be in trouble with OAL with a Barnes bullet though.

Looks like you might need to go with what you now have. W748 was the best propellant for me with the 30-30 and 125-135 grain  bullets.

[Dave in WV]

I got it off of Sierra's site.

[carbineman]

Thanks I'll check it out. Used to use those in the 80's and got away from them when I could not find them locally.

[Snowshoe]

I did a lot of reloading for several bolt action and single shot .30-30's. I found that the 125g bullet could be pushed to 2700 fps using H335, the 110g bullet would do 2800 fps using IMR4198, and a Winchester 150g PSP power point would go  just over 2400 fps with no pressure signs in any of the rifles used. I liked using Remington 125g pointed bullets the best.

[TCBrian]

That is good to here. A 125grain bullet at anywhere near 2700FPS should be potent on deer and a lot of fun to shoot. Thank you everybody for the info. I am looking forward to loading the good old 30-30. It is still a great round in many ways. I don't think my father has shot his old 788 for at least 10 years, so it should be a treat for him. He is currently recovering from a serious motorcycle accident, so getting out and doing anything will actually be a treat.

Good Shooting,
Brian

[myronman3]

i used 150 grain nosler ballistic tips with varget and got great results in my contender pistol.   look up the load from noslers manuel,  i could shoot inch groups at 100 yards off a rest with that load. 

[myronman3]

oh, and while i am at it,  best wishes to your dad and may he have a speedy recovery.   i hate to see a brother down.