30-30 Topper still a winner!

[44 Man]

I'm a happy man!  I took the old Topper to the range today.  I love this gun!  Even with the missfire problem I had (which seems to be working fine at this time) with it, it is still my favorite.  If I could only own one gun, this would be the one.  I installed a Bushnell Banner 1x4 (not show in photo) and took her to the range.  I wanted to dial in the scope and also make sure the missfire problem was fixed.  It still was not 100% with Rem factory, I think it needs just a couple more file strokes off the hammer nose, but my reloads were totally reliable.  I'm not a big fan of this scope with it's 'circle X reticule' but boy, does this gun is shooting under an inch at 100 yds.  This is with Quick's favorite 125 gr Seirra bullets over a load of H4895.  This was my first Handi, bought for $125 and is still my favorite.  The older profile barrel is light and she handles sweet.  It also now wears my old Buffalo Classic stock that was shortened to 13 1/2" length of pull.  This is why you can never find a used 30-30, no one in their right mind would give one of these up!  44 Man

[quickdtoo]

Nice shooting!! 

Tim

[Daman]

Beautiful rifle! I have one of those and cannot wait for Numrich to deliver my new front sight so I can get back to shooting it! Bought some 170gr Corelokts on clearance at Wallyworld so I have new once fired brass after I go through cheap fodder!!!

Daman

[gcrank1]

Yep.....thats what its all about!

[zoner]

I still say the 30-30 is one of the best,most versatile Handis....especially if you reload ammo....you can do most anything with it

[PawPaw]

I got mine last week, a newer model with an Ilion roll mark.  I've also got a box of 125 Sierra's and I'm about to begin load development with it.  I've also got some IMR 3031, some IMR 4895 and a couple of pounds of RL15.

Before I begin load development, in an attempt not to "reinvent the wheel", do you guys have any loads you'd like to share?

I understand all the common disclaimers, and the need to start low and work up, but do you guys have any accumulated experience with these powders and this caliber?  Thanks in advance.

[Daman]

All 3 of my 30-30's like my favorite load:

150 grain Winchester Silver Tips (the old school ones)
A load of IMR 3031 that Greybeard would have a talk with me about if I posted
CCI primers

I am getting ready to cast .311 or .309 170 FN over Unique.

Daman

[gcrank1]

Cast lead bullets from 150-180 gr. Lyman 31141 and 311291 work well.
IMR4227: 12-15gr.
Unique   : 8-11gr.

[Airsporter]

I do love 'blue steel and walnut'  

P.S. suggest 1/2 minute right windage - haha

[44 Man]

The load that shoots so well in my Topper is right out of the Hodgdon book.  Max load for 125 bullets with H4895.  Should be similar with IMR4895.  I forget the OAL, as all of my info is back in Michigan, (and calipers).  But those bullets were loaded to a depth of a full caliber into the neck, with what ever OAL that gives.  I know many people try to get the ogive just off the rifling but I didn't try that as I wanted a good grip on the bullet.  I'm sure you could load the longer BT out to do that, but those are a much more expense bullet and I don't believe they would work any better on game than these Seirra's.  Good luck.  44 Man

[gcrank1]

For good all round use that is a pretty good rule of thumb to use a min. of 1 caliber dia. seating depth unless the ogive is into the rifling, then go more. It has worked well enough for me for years.
I see a lot of people post about their OAL being particular to match the reloading manual, but that is mostly for repeaters where action length or magazine limitations preclude going 'long'. Single shots just dont have that problem. I dont crimp either. If the case neck tension is enough to keep the bullet from falling out (only a couple of 'thou. less that bullet dia. is needed) I dont disturb that bullet O.D.

[LaOtto222]

I have a newer 30-30 barrel. I found the throat rather short. If I seat bulets out very far, I am into the rifling. I have a few other barrels and the 30-30 has one of the shorter throats. Nice rifle BTW

[PawPaw]

Thanks, 44 Man.  I'll do all the smart things we've learned to do while reloading, but I'm going to work up a load using IMR 4895, cause I've got a bunch of it, and when I get a new rifle I always work up a load for that powder.   I'm always amazed at the versatility of 4895.  It's like Unique for bottleneck cases.

I played with dummy cartridges and OAL yesterday and I've got that nailed.  It seems my Handi has a short throat and when the bullet is seated just off the rifling, I've got way more than one caliber in the neck.  More like a caliber-and-a-half.  And no, I'm not going to crimp for the single shot.  There's no magazine, so no danger of recoil affecting bullet length.

I may try some 3031, too.  It's an old standard powder for the .30-30 and I've got some 168 military HPBT that might be fun to explore.

[Daman]

Thanks, 44 Man.  I'll do all the smart things we've learned to do while reloading, but I'm going to work up a load using IMR 4895, cause I've got a bunch of it, and when I get a new rifle I always work up a load for that powder.   I'm always amazed at the versatility of 4895.  It's like Unique for bottleneck cases.

I played with dummy cartridges and OAL yesterday and I've got that nailed.  It seems my Handi has a short throat and when the bullet is seated just off the rifling, I've got way more than one caliber in the neck.  More like a caliber-and-a-half.  And no, I'm not going to crimp for the single shot.  There's no magazine, so no danger of recoil affecting bullet length.

I may try some 3031, too.  It's an old standard powder for the .30-30 and I've got some 168 military HPBT that might be fun to explore.

I will have to try the 4895 also. All I have ever used is a load of the 3031 that was passed along to me from an older gentleman who swore by the 3031. It shot so good out of anything I shot it in I never bothered playing with others. It is tough on the shoulder fro a 30-30 though. That is one reason for wanting to shoot cast and Unique.

Daman

[carbineman]

Can never have two many Toppers. woodchukhntr picked up a Topper barrel and posted about what barrel is this? I took mine out and was looking at them and took a pic of the three amigos and posted it on his thread. http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,204350.0.html

I wouldn't part with any of mine and plan to hand them on down to the grand youngin's. We shoot ours with a load of WC846 or W748 and 130 grain Hornady SSSP bullets I purchased in bulk before they were discontinued. Not much recoil with that bullet. For a hunting load we substitute with a 130 grain Barnes X bullet. I think I have five boxes of the old style X left yet. Plenty to take lots of critters in my lifetime and that of my offspring.

[alan in ga]

I've enjoyed 'finding', owning and tinkering with several Handi's, Toppers, and "Mustangs" [a neat
version of the Topper] over the years. I had a Handi in 30/30, reamed it to Ackley Improved [please, no arguing of whether or not it "is" an AI.. ] . I've shot a few deer with them, in fact a 'double', or what was my first "2 deer inside of 30" seconds-something I wondered about when considering hunting with a 'single shot'.
Anyway I also set up a non hunting friend of mine's son when he went to Montana [Bozeman] to college and wanted an 'affordable' deer rifle. I found a Topper for $50, scoped it with an inexpensive fixed 4X, and gave it to him for 'cost' [$95 I think]. Well, he used it to shoot deer and ELK! He still has it and now lives in a mountain home at 10,000' just west of Denver, Col. Mule deer are daily visitors, bobcat, and bear occasional visitors, and he has a beautiful picture of a Mt. lion that was 'down the road' at a rock outcropping near his home. He has to walk in to his home the last hundred yards or so.
Anyway, the 30/30 single shot is a fine rifle. The one that I had in 30/30AI would group the first 3 shots touching, and then sling #4 and #5 shots way out as the tightly fit barrel/block would expand from the heat of firing the first shots. I think I still have the targets and will scan them if I can find them.

[gstewart44]

Hey 44 Man,
That's a nice looking rig!.      I am curious - how much does the package weigh with scope?   Also what velocity are you getting with the 125 Sierras?   thanks for sharing the pic of that beautiful 3030.   

[PawPaw]

That is one reason for wanting to shoot cast and Unique.

If you want to shoot cast, you've got to try 4895 in this caliber.  I use the Lyman 311041 bullet, crimped at the crimp groove, over 27.5 grains of 4895.  Hodgdon says that any load that uses 4895 can be used for reduced loads following the 60% rule (Use 60% for reduced loads).  It works great.  I lube that 311041 in Lee Liquid Alox, let it dry and apply a gas check.  Tumble lube it again, then load it.  Out of my 94 Winchester it gives me 1850 fps with no leading. 

Or, get a 115 grain 32-20 bullet and try that over light charges of Unique or Blue Dot.   My last batch used a 0.7 cc dipper of Blue Dot.  That comes to about 8 grains of Blue Dot.  It's a fun little load, useful for plinking, and short range work.  I can't wait to try cast loads in the Handi.

[gcrank1]

+1 on that about 32-20 equivelent loads in the 30-30. With that and my 130 cast and 150 jacketed it about covers my needs (but not my wants) past .22RFs.