A BEGINERS QUESTION .308 AND 30.30

[Hunter_Smurf]

OK this may be explained in a hand loading book but i don't have one yet ...

.308 bullet

.308 ( 30.30 ) bullet

whats the diference? 

will the .308  bullet load in a 30.30 brass? or do i have to load just the ones marked (30.30)examples....



Hornady InterLock Bullets 30-30 Winchester (308 Diameter) 150 Grain Round Nose Box of 100     Product #: 382697
Hornady InterLock Bullets 30-30 Winchester (308 Diameter) 170 Grain Flat Nose Box of 100         Product #: 414059

Barnes Triple-Shock X-Bullets 30 Caliber (308 Diameter) 150 Grain Flat Nose Box of 50                  Product #: 388970
Hornady InterLock Bullets 30 Caliber (308 Diameter) 150 Grain Spire Point Box of 100                  Product #: 235800



the above examples say 30-30 Winchester on the top 2 , but not on the bottom 2 , but there all .308 diameter so can i use any of them in my 30.30 brass or do i have to stick to the few that are specified for 30-30 ?

again this may be a foolish question. but i would rather ask and learn , than take a chance on it hurting someone ..  thanks in advance.

PS. i do plan on getting a reloaders book before i load a single shell...

[John Traveler]

Almost all .308" .30 caliber bullets will load into any .30 cartridge case.  The limitations are overall length, crimping groove location, and bullet weight, each of which must be suitable for that cartridge and rifle action.  Bullet nose shape is important too.  Only RN or FN bullets should be used in your typical .30-30 tubular magazine carbine to prevent detonation of rounds in the tube.

The biggest single difference between .308" bullets intended for other .30 caliber rifles and those intended for use in .30-30 is jacket thickness.  The .30-30 case is modest sized, and can only give modest bullet velocities, and requires a relatively thin jacketed bullet to open up at the modest .30-30 game hunting distances.  You do not want to use the heavier .30 jacketed bullets in a .30-30, nor do you want to use .30-30 bullets in a higher velocity cartridge that can cause blowups on game.

[njanear]

Almost all .308" .30 caliber bullets will load into any .30 cartridge case.  The limitations are overall length, crimping groove location, and bullet weight, each of which must be suitable for that cartridge and rifle action.  Bullet nose shape is important too.  Only RN or FN bullets should be used in your typical .30-30 tubular magazine carbine to prevent detonation of rounds in the tube.

The biggest single difference between .308" bullets intended for other .30 caliber rifles and those intended for use in .30-30 is jacket thickness.  The .30-30 case is modest sized, and can only give modest bullet velocities, and requires a relatively thin jacketed bullet to open up at the modest .30-30 game hunting distances.  You do not want to use the heavier .30 jacketed bullets in a .30-30, nor do you want to use .30-30 bullets in a higher velocity cartridge that can cause blowups on game.

+1.  Excellent response! 

About the the only thing to add is that if you are working up a fur-friendly round for the .30/30 (which based on your listed choices, isn't your initial direction), some people do recommend that you use the heavier-jacketed .308 bullets (like those made for the .308, '06, etc.) to reduce the chance of expansion in the animal.  .308 hole in and hopefully a small hole out.      Of course, most that are serious about keeping the fur recommend that you don't go over the .224 caliber (with .172 and .204 being better) in the first place. 

[Kurt L]

Very good info above,some one asked similar to this before and I showed a couple bullets shot in sand from
a 30-30 that are for 308, 30-06 etc heavier jacket as posted.
this is a photo sample.just click on it to enlarge.

[Kurt L]

I forgot top mention that I have not tried any but I have read that some members
are having good luck with the expansion on nosler 125,150,165 ballistic tips in the 30-30.
this may be of interest to you if you are looking for pointed bullet loads.

[Hunter_Smurf]

THANKS GUYS... SOME GOOD INFO.. WHAT A GREAT SITE....

I AM LOOKING TO LOAD FOR HUNTING MORE THAN TARGET..

I JUST GRABBED THE EXAMPLES OF THE SITE I WAS LOOKING AT FOR BULLETS...


I UNDERSTAND THE LENGTH AND THE NON POINTED IN A TUBE ,

I JUST WASN'T SURE IF A .308 NON 30.30 BULLET WOULD FIT IN A 30.30 BRASS, SAFELY

OR IF I SHOULD STICK WITH THE ONES CLEARLY MARKED 30.30

[BullyDawg19]

Just FYI - i started loading 150 gr. BT's for my 336 Marlin and found that you could not load them short enough to eject. they shot fine when loaded out to full length but it would not eject a loaded round due to the extra length.