Author Topic: 30-30 varmint loads (Read 3971 times)

Muskie Hunter · « **on:** March 03, 2007, 01:56:35 AM »

Anybody havea good varmint load for the 30-30 winchester?I have a Marlin lever that I want to double for a varmint rifle.I see in the Midway online catalog,Sierra has bullets for reloading and lists the Sierra 110 gr. hollow point and was wondering if it would work in the tubular magazine.
Do any of you have any suggestins for a good varmint bullet for the 30-30?

shaner · « **Reply #1 on:** March 03, 2007, 02:33:39 AM »

well i wouldnt use them just for safety sakes,?? but loading them single as we do alot of they work great i have used the serria 125 holoowpoint in 3030 alot the varminter id a 125 rn flat pointed hollow for tube mags if yu must carry a tube full but if yur sittin shootin piggies pointed bullets loaded single are great in the marlins,

Muskie Hunter · « **Reply #2 on:** March 03, 2007, 03:46:51 AM »

Thanks Shaner,
I'll have to give those babies a try and see if the coytes agree with them.

LEO · « **Reply #3 on:** March 03, 2007, 04:43:30 AM »

They work well, you don't get the dynamic expansion of say a 30-06 but it is much greater than with a standard big game bullet. Like has been said though for safetys sake you must load your rifle as a two shooter, one in the chamber and one in the magazine. The 125 grain ballistic tips work well also.

Muskie Hunter · « **Reply #4 on:** March 03, 2007, 05:37:53 AM »

Thanks Leo,
I was wondering about the ballistic tips as well,thinking that they would be pretty accurate.I'm anxious to find out.

EdinCT · « **Reply #5 on:** March 03, 2007, 03:32:55 PM »

Try Speer 110 gr varminter Hp. they are flat points with a crimping grove in the right place and will expand. I think youcan drive them 2500 fps with no problems but they expand at 2000.

qajaq59 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 03, 2007, 11:36:37 PM »

Speer makes a nice 130 gr hollow point that I loaded a while back. I haven't had a chance to hunt with it yet, but it's accurate on the targets.

Dee · « **Reply #7 on:** March 04, 2007, 06:29:05 AM »

If yer wantin to save the pelts fergit it but, I have been loading a 150 grain jacketed round nose at 2400fps, since 1972. I am zeroed at 2 inches high at 50 yards 3 1/2" high at 100yds, 3" high at 150 yds, zero at 200 yds, and 6 1/2" low at 250 yds. This is out of a 50 year old Winchester Model 3030 bought new in 1957. I pratice on 1 gallon jugs of water at 270 yards, and don't miss very often. And yes, they blow up at that range even with the old 150 grain round nose. I am sure it would disappoint all the gun magazine writers to hear that.

OLDHandgunner · « **Reply #8 on:** March 04, 2007, 10:40:50 AM »

I wouldn't use any pointed bullet in a tube magazine. If you want a deadly bullet for varmints try the Sierra 125 flat nose HP.

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 04, 2007, 10:53:41 AM »

I have a new load that i am in the process of working up right now for my 30/30 Handi rifle , i am using the 90 gr. Hornady XTP/HP with 31 gr. of H-4895 and a CCI 200 LRP .

The bullet was designed for the 30 Carbine and should work well at lower 30/30 speeds , the powder charge is the start load for the 100 gr. bullet per Hodgdon's web site .

Plan to test them in the morning , will keep everyone updated .

stimpy

tanoose · « **Reply #10 on:** March 07, 2007, 10:30:40 AM »

How many shots do you need? one in the chamber and one in the tube, load up those pointed bullets and have some fun.

Bob A · « **Reply #11 on:** March 08, 2007, 07:39:18 AM »

I've been loading the Sierra 110 HP for the last year. Its the most accurate light bullet I have found for my Marlin 336 30-30. I only load one in the tube and one in the chamber. Muzzle velocity is 2700 with pretty tight distribution.
My load is 33.6 gr Reloader 7 in Win cases and CCI large rifle primers. I seat to 2.50 overall length.
BC of this bullet is only .188 at this velocity but it is accurate and really drops coyotes on the spot.
I tried some pointy bullets with better BCs but never got an accurate load. Tried the Hornady and Speer 110 SPs and the Hornady 110 Vmax. They just woundn't group for me and I did a lot of load development. The Sierra 110 HP has given me the best groups of any bullet, or factory load including the Hornady LE 160.
If you want the pelts, you probably need another bullet but if you want to reach out and really smack a critter it might be just what you need.

Good luck

Bob A

Muskie Hunter · « **Reply #12 on:** March 09, 2007, 11:50:56 PM »

Thankyou gentlemen for all the replies.You offer some good stuff and I am looking forward to extending a purpose to the old work horse lever action.

w30wcf · « **Reply #13 on:** March 27, 2007, 04:23:08 PM »

Historically speaking, 110 gr. hollow pointed .30-30 cartridges were manufactured by Winchester and Rem-Umc from the early 1920's to about 1950. Velocity was listed at 2,720 f.p.s.

The Sierra 110 gr. h.p. is an excellent .30-30 varmint bullet as some of you have discovered. It is similar in profile to the early factory loaded 110 gr. h.p. bullet. Also they are safe to use in a tubular magazine, because in the .30-30, the bullet nose does not rest directly on the primer. I have loaded and shot 5 rounds from the magazine with no issues whatsoever. If there was any safety issue with that, neither Winchester nor Remington would have offered the 110 gr. h.p. bullet in a factory cartridge.

Have fun!
w30wcf

Bob A · « **Reply #14 on:** March 27, 2007, 05:00:35 PM »

w30wcf posts that he successfully loads the Sierra 110 HP and fills the mag tube safely. I am looking at a batch that I loaded last night and agree that the bullet has a flatter nose than many holllow point bullets and it may well be safe to load up the mag tube BUT I am not going to do it and would never advise anyone to try. Why push your luck? I am a huge fan of this bullet but I find that two at a time is just fine. How many shots do you think you'll get at a coyote? BTW, these bullets open very nicely, not explosively like if you shot it out of a 30-06 or 308 but I get about 2700 fps from the 30-30 and it tears a hole the size of a quarter out the back side of the coyote.

Also, you have to watch out for some pointed bullets, like the Nosler 125 Ballistic Tip. Its a great bullet but it is far too long for a Marlin 336. You can load them one at a time directly into the chamber but you can't load them in the tube through the loading gate. You also can't unload an unfired cartridge without prying it out of the extractor with your pocket knife (I've tried it). Make sure your selected bullet will fit.
I have also tried the 110 Vmax, doesn't fit (can't unload an unfired round). The Hornady 110 SP does fit but I get much better accuracy from the Sierra 110 HP.

Bob A

Aardvark · « **Reply #15 on:** March 27, 2007, 05:19:34 PM »

Remington 30-30 Accelerator 55gr .22 cal...3500fps.

Bob A · « **Reply #16 on:** March 27, 2007, 05:55:10 PM »

Aardvark,

Good thought about the Rem Accelerators. Have you shot them? I wonder about accuracy.

Bob A

Aardvark · « **Reply #17 on:** March 27, 2007, 07:26:19 PM »

I shoot mine from a marlin 336 microgroove at 100 yds off sandbag I get 1 moa groups..They are spendy so I don't shoot a lot though I have seen Sabots for sale at http://www.maadigriffin.com/sabots.htm

w30wcf · « **Reply #18 on:** March 28, 2007, 03:44:35 PM »

Bob A,
I agree. One certainly should go with what he is comfortable with. When I compared the tip of the factory loaded .30-30 110 gr. h.p. bullet to that of the 110 gr. Sierra, they were pretty much the same.

Then I found that .30-30 cartridges when in the magazine are not positioned with the full bullet nose directly on the primer. If you take two .30-30 cartridges and lay them on a table, with one bullet nose touching the back of the other cartridge, you will see how they stack up in the magazine (in the magazine they alternate from left to right).

From 1896 to about the mid 1960's, one could purchase full metal patched round nose .30-30 factory cartridges. If any factory loaded .30-30 cartridge would be capable of being unsafe in a tubular magazine, I would put that one at the top of the list. The factories did load them for many years though because they knew they were safe because of the position of the bullet nose in relation to the cartridge ahead of it in a tubular magazine.

cartridge images from the John Witzel Collection
http://www.armorypub.com/Witzel/3030/3030.htm

w30wcf

Bob A · « **Reply #19 on:** March 28, 2007, 06:46:16 PM »

w30wcf
I did as you suggested and lined up two 30-30 cartridges on the table. I see your point, they don't lie flat and straight. They tilt a little because of the rim. The cases loaded with the Sierra 110 HP do not line up with the tip on the primer. I pushed a 110 Vmax into a case and it lines up with the point on the primer, but just barely.
Live and learn,

Bob A

w30wcf · « **Reply #20 on:** April 01, 2007, 01:15:32 AM »

Bob A,
Yes, life is a learning process. I really enjoy shooting NRA Cowboy Silhouette. Lots of FUN!

My two favorite ram bullets are cast bullets ...... a 168 gr. LBT and a 205 gr. Old West. (for the tough ones). Both of these bullets have a small flat nose that are about the same diameter as the 110 Sierra H.P. & 110 GR. .30-30 factory cartridge. Based on the knowledge of how .30-30 cartridges stack up in the magazine (right, left, right, left, etc.) I have used both bullets with complete success for the past 4 years or so.

w30wcf