Loading for a short barreled .30-30

[Joel W.]

I recently traded for a Winchester model '94 Trapper.  It is a pre-safety model, and is chambered for .30 WCF.  I have dies and oodles of brass.  I just don't know where to start as far as bullets are concerned. Will the 170 grain pill be pushed fast enough to expand, or should I be thinking more in terms of the 130 grain bullets?  

What powders work best in barrels this short?  I would like to get all I can from the rifle, but I am not interested in hot rodding.  Just interested in putting together the most efficient loads for my little rifle.

Thanks for any help. :-)

[C A Plater]

You loose very little velocity with a 16' vs 20"  barrel and the bullets all expand just fine even from 10" contender barrrels.  The 150's and 170's are the most popular with the heavier 170 penetrating better.  I have loaded the 130's but never used them on deer.  They did shoot as well as the others from my 94.  There are lots of good usable powders for the .30-30.  I consume lots of IMR3031 and have also used H4198, H322, BallC(2), H4895, Re7 and WW748 in my carbine and contender barrel.  There are several other and lately I've been using the WW748 for 170 grain bullets.  Re7 did best with the 130 grain Speer FP and 150's favored 3031.   If you haven't already, consider getting a RCBS X-die for the .30.  It has saved me many hours of neck trimming.   I also like the Lee crimp die for gettig a good crimp for the lever action magazine.

Good shooting.

Courtney

[Graycg]

There are lots of us out here shooting the 30-30 out of 10 and 14 inch contender barrels and while the 10 loses quite a bit more, the 14 gives up very little over a 20 inch carbine, if you look in your loading manuals, you'll see what velocities are coming out of a 14 inch barrel to compare with the 20 inchers.  You should do just fine with the traditional 30-30 bullets that you sugguest.  If you want to use it as a single shot or two shooter, you could go to lighter pointed bullets, but that would be if you were comfortable with that idea.

love those carbines,
 regards,
 Gene