speer 130 grain FN

[scotsman]

I've been thinking about loading some varmit/plinking rounds for the old 30 30. I noticed that Speer makes a Hot-Core 130 grain FN that ought to be about right for what I had in mind. I already have a good supply of Win 748, it may not be the best but I should be able to get about 2200 feet per second according to Speer #13. Anyone ever load these or other lighter bullets for 30 30? What kind of accuracy can I expect?

[Bob A]

I have found that some 30-30s really like long/heavy bullets - like 170s - and won't give really good accuracy with lighter bullets. I have one like that now.  I also have a Marlin/Glenfield 30-30 that will shoot anything from 110 to 170 better than I can. I use the Speer 130 FN in the second rifle with Reloader 7. I get consistenly under an inch  and a half at 100 yards at close to 2400 fps.  I think its a great bullet for the 30-30.
I suspect you will get very good results with 748.

Bob A

[cwlongshot]

 Years back, I used to load a bunch of Sierra 125HP's for a friend while his son was growing up. Shot well enough and he even collested a couple deer with it. I had some lefty and shot them in a couple different rifles, accuracy was in the 2-3" range at 100.
 I agree with Bob A, my 30-30's like longer bullets better, my pet loading is a 170 Hornady and a max load of W748 sparked by a CCI LR primer.

CW

[Dand]

I like them and just picked up 2 boxes from the GB reloading classifieds. They shoot as well as any other bullets in my 1968 vintage 94 win. I like them for the same uses as you suggest as well as being a little less in the kick dept while I teach my 11 yr old to shoot centerfires. I've had good luck with Hot cores of other designs or sizes too - I think they are good bullets.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

Scotsman, I too have had good luck with them are varmits. I shot one whitetail with it, and decided to use a 150 from that point on, but they are accurate enough. I have also shot single shot Rem. 125 gr. spire pts. and Speer 110 grain spire pt. They are all accurate but must be loaded single shot.

[cwlongshot]

I forgot all about shooting the Nosler 125 BT's in my contender barrels many moons ago!!  NICE bullet @ 30-30 velocities!!!

CW

[Larry Gibson]

I've not had any problems with lighter wieght bullets in my M94 30-30s with their 12" twists.  I run the Speer 130 at 2400 fps out of my 20" M94 with 1.5" accuracy at 100 yards.   It has a 1.5 scout scope on it.  The same load runs faster aout of my 24" M94AE with close to moa accuracy with a 4x scope on it.  As nice as that bullet shoots I do not use it as a varmint bullet as it was designed for deer sized game and does very well on those.  However, if brere coyote wanders by I'll shoot him with the Speer bullet anyways and it will kill him nicely.  If you want an excellent varmint bullet for the 30-30 in lever action form let me suggest the 125 gr Sierra FP.  It is quite destructive on all varmints at 2650 fps out of a 24" barrel.  I use H335 in my 30-30s for such loads and would suggest you take a look at Lymans Reloading handbook for the loads.  Work them up in your rifles, don't just assume the "max" load is safe.  I have worked them up in my M94AE while pressure testing them with an Oehler M43.  Both the Speer and Sierra 130 and 125 gr bullets when teamed up with H335 in the the 30-30 make for awesome deer and varmint loads.

Larry Gibson