30-30's and PSP bullets

[aldar]

anyone reload for a 30-30 using PSP bullets? I have a Handi rifle and tried loading one round with a PSP bullet. The bullets are longer than what you normally use in a 30-30 and this compacted the powder. Is that some thing I should be worried about? does that raise pressures? I was using a mid range load of 33grs of H4895. I also heard that using PSP bullets might not expand on an animal given the slower velocity and  thicker jacket. anyone ever use them when hunting?

[jhalcott]

  Yes compacting the powder can raise pressure. Are you talking about Remington pointed Soft Points? When ever you start to load a new bullet (or any new component) you SHOULD START LOW AND WORK UP. using an empty ,unprimed case, start the bullet just into the case. Try it in the chamber, then adjust the seater a little at a time till you can just close the action with out forcing it.Then you can make a final adjustment to get the SEATED bullet about 0.030" from the rifling. Using a bullet held against the neck, you can see how far into the case the base of the seated bullet is. The Handi rifle is NOT held to the same over all length as the lever and bolt guns are. It is not a very strong action, so be carefull of using over pressured ammo.  I am wondering where you got "MID RANGE" loads for a 180 grain bullet in the 30-30!!

[aldar]

I kind of figured it would raise pressure but wasn't sure. The bullets are 150gr PSP and I was using the load for the 150gr 30-30 bullet which is much shorter and fatter. I think I'll just stick with the bullets designed for the 30-30. thanks for the reply

[oneshotonekill]

I use the hornady 130 psp and 125 nbt in my 30-30 handi.  I haven't run into powder compression yet but I'm using AA2230-c or 2460 in those loads.

[quickdtoo]

I've shot the 150gr Nosler Partition molys with BL-C2 using Hodgdon data for the 150gr Sierra FN in my 30-30 Handi and a COL of 2.703", velocity was 2300fps+ but accuracy wasn't as good as I get with the Rem 150gr factory ammo which is well under 1", so I gained nothing, just wasted powder and bullets. The bullets were only $5 a box, so thought I'd try em just for the heck of it, but they didn't shoot good enough for any 200-300yd testing which was my intent.

Tim

[Steve P]

Try the Nosler 125 Ballistic tips with a load of WW748 or AA5744.  Great bullet for coyote, deer, chucks, etc.  As stated before, get your OAL setting before you start loading the ammo.  I always set up a dummy round for my die sets with each of the bullets I may use.  It costs me a few cents to have a round I can stick in the press and screw my seater stem down on.  Enjoy the Handi and leave the FN bullets for the lever actions.

Steve 

[jhalcott]

  My reply just proves that you should NEVER assume any thing. The only PSP's I've used were the 180 grain design and that was some years ago.

[Snowshoe]

Pointed soft points work great in a single shot .30-30, you just have to pick ones that work. The bulk 150g Winchester pointed power points work great in several .30-30's that I have loaded for. A good shot of H335, or IMR4064 will send them on their way at around the 2400 fps. The 125g bullets can be driven at 2500 to 2600 fps, and the 110's can reach 2800 fps with no problem.
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[Brithunter]

Hi there,

     The limit to velocity in the 30-30 is the action strength that the gun has. In my custom bolt action I used 130 grain Hornady Spire Points and a charge of H-335 and get superb accuracy at around 2800 fps. However as I said it's the action which determine if loading to these pressures and not as is often thought the case. I used data from an old Petersens Rifle shooter article and found that their data using H-335 prooved accuracy that would be hard to beat so I stayed with it. Due to the magazine length I cannot use bullets heavier than 135 grain as they have to be seated too deeply to fit in the magazine. No I did not have the rifle built otherwise the magazine would be longer allowing the use of longer bullets.

     In my rifle I found that factory Winchester 150 grain loads prooved to be inaccurate producing groups of 3 1/2" at 100 yards whilst the handloads produce groups of around 5/8". Having tried both Silver Tips and Hp's neither grouped well enough to be usable for deer stalking at more than 75 yards. The handloads have been on the fired factory Winchester brass but for some reason that I cannot explain I seem to n=have neglected to note how many loads have been done using each piece of brass however as yet I have not seen one failure nor had to reject nay cases through stress. Having a tightly chambered rifle helps in this as it lilimts case expansion and therfore case working when reloading.