Low-velocity plinking load for .30-30 NOT using cast bullets

[Acer Ace]

I'm tempted to buy a Marlin 336 in .30-30 Win. as my first deer rifle for next fall.  However, I'd also want to shoot it year-round for target practice and plinking around the farm to hone my shooting skills.  I've found that lower velocity loads are ideal for target practice with my .223 Rem (40-gr bullets at 2800 fps instead of 3600 fps), so I wanted to work up something similar in .30-30.

What I'd like is a load firing a 100-125 gr bullet at 1800-2000 fps.  I want to use normal jacketed bullets rather than cast bullets, as I have no experience using cast lead.  This velocity should be ideal for target practice and varmint hunting out to 125 yds, maybe further.  Does anyone have powder and bullet recommendations for obtaining this target velocity?  Thanks.

[Arrroman]

Try IMR-4831:
100grainbullet-IMR4831 38grains 1880FPS  40grains 2091FPS

125grainbullet-IMR-4831 36grains 1954FPS 38grains 2069FPS

170grainbullet-IMR-4831 35grains 1800FPS 37grains 1956FPS

I like this powder!

Good luck hunting!  >>>------------>

[Haywire Haywood]

I have no experience using cast lead.

Sounds like an excellent opportunity to get cast bullet experience.  :wink: The 30/30 is a good base for plinking as well as hunting with cast.

Ian

[Swamp Yankee]

Sierra doesen't list anything under 2100 for their 125hp fn.  31.1gr of IMR 4064 gives you 2100. their accuracy load is 34.7 of 4064 for 2400fps. I use this load and find the recoil to be  mild. This is what my 14 year old daughter shoots. The IMR 3031 works well too.
Hornaday's lowest posted velocity is 2200 with their 100 &110 gr bullets
I checked Speer too their 100 gr  was not listed below 2100. Cast bullets are another story.
Data taken from Loadbooks USA single caliber reloading manual for the 30-30. Hope this was of some help.........Jim

[Acer Ace]

I've read of people using Unique and Blue Dot for reduced loads in the .30-30; has anyone here tried these?

[jgalar]

I have used Unique and reddot with jacketed bullets, but there isn't any published data so I won't repeat anything that I have used.

You have to buy bullets anyway so why not try buying some lead bullets. You can then find and use low powered lead bullet load data. I cast my own so I don't know if anyone makes lead bullets for the 30-30 that have gas checks.

Here are some lead bullets that are available from Midway...

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=959561

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=127056

You can also safely reduce H4198 and H4895 in the 30-30, but again there isn't any data in print that I am aware of...You can always contact the powder company for suggestions also.

[Arrroman]

IMR-4831 should provide similar ballistics for both plinking and hunting loads. Its very accurate powder too. The pressures are lower with IMR-4831 as well.

You can of course try to work with 8-10 grains of Red Dot shotgun powder but the pressure spikes will occur and it just doesn't sound right when the gun goes off.

I'd rather work with a single can of powder for the gun that can accomplish both an accurate plinking load with lighter bullets and a good deer load.

Good luck hunting!  >>>------------>

[Leftoverdj]

Pulldown .30 carbine bullets are cheap, but I don't think I would run them through a tube mag. One in the chamber and one in the mag would be safe enough. Marlins run big enough so I would shoot .311 bullets intended for .32 pistols, too.

I'd cheerfully put 10 grains of Unique behind a carbine 110 RN or the Speer plinker in the .30-30 case. That's 1.4 grains under Lyman's load for 115 cast which is plenty of allowance for the increased friction. 15 grains of 2400 would be about right, too.

Your target velocity is high enough so you need not worry much about sticking a bullet in the bore. That becomes a concern when you get down around 1000 fps.

[qajaq59]

I use Unique at it's starter load all the time for light loads with 165 gr cast FN bullet. The noise level is low and there is virtually no recoil. I certainly wouldn't hunt with it, but when I go to the range I like to shoot 75 to 100 rounds in my 30-30 and I'm too old to beat myself to death with a heavy load. Plus that paper target dies real easy...............

[stimpylu32]

IMR and Alliant both list Cowboy loads for the 30/30 .

These are around 1000 to 1500 FPS loads .

http://recipes.alliantpowder.com/rg.taf?_function=cowboy&step=2&bulletID=6&cartridgeID=1007&caliber=30%2D30&cartridgedescr=&bulletdescr=165%20FP

http://www.imrpowder.com/data/rifle/30-30win.php

These are a good place to start . Hope it helps  

[Leftoverdj]

http://www.hodgdon.com/data/youth/3030win_y.php