reload 30-30?

[sledgehammer331]

Hey i just got a 12" 30-30 barrel for contender. It has muzzle tammer dont know if thats inportent or not. Was thinking about loading up some ammo. Was woundering what loads worked the best for u guys. Will b used for hunting whitetail deer in kansas thanks for input

[chiefs50]

I have a 14", .30-30 barrel that I use for Whitetails in Upper Michigan.  I usually shoot cast in this barrel but have used both Remington, 150 grain CoreLockts and my own handloads, using 4064 and 135 grain, Sierra Single Shot Pistol bullets.  Here is a link you might be interested in: http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt3030ss.htm
Mike
 

[shot1]

Use a 125 gr Nosler ballistic tip and work up toward 30 grs IMR 4198. You should find what you are looking for between 29 and 30 grs. The 125 ballistic tip is a great deer killing bullet. I use it in my 14" 30-30AI Contender at 2670 fps and in two rifles a 30X47 HBR at 2850 fps and a 308 Win at 3000 fps. Waaaaaay back many years ago the first Contender I ever had was a 10" 30-30Win and it was before they made the Nosler ballistic tip. I used the 125 Sierra and 29.1 grs IMR 4198 for 2100 fps and the Hornady 150 gr RNSP and 27.2 grs IMR 4198 and it was awesomely accurate but never did get to shoot a deer with it back then.These are the suggested hunting loads out of the old Sierra manual for Contenders.

[30063030223357]

I load the 125 gr. ballistic tip with (reloader 7). Getting 2000 fps with a 10" contender and it is VERY accurate. Shot a doe at 70 yds. this past season with very good results.

[sledgehammer331]

Thanks for the replys. What kind of grouping do u guys git with the 125 g tips

[shot1]

This is from my 14" Contender 30-30AI from 100 yards with the 125 ballistic tip. 5 shot group with one called pulled out to the left. Any one of them even the pulled one would have been a dead deer out to 200 or so yards.

[kynardsj]

I agree with the other guys on the Nosler 125gr BT's. Although I shot mine over a load of IMR3031, the BT turns a 30-30 single shot into a whole new animal. In my experience, a BT bullet performs best at a slower speed than hot rodding it in a magnum rifle cartridge.

[Hopalong7]

      I shoot 30-30AI in a 14" tube and 30-30Win in a 16".  Like the others 125BT is THE deal and I've had excellent results with both Rel7 and IMR3031 , but, if I was shootin' a 12" braked barrel I would probably give the IMR4198 a try in order to reduce the muzzle blast just a bit.  Good Shootin' to ya!
Walt