.30/30 and the 130 grain bullet!

[jpshaw]

I'm just curious about the manuals on this weight.  While the 110 is the fastest (as it should be) and 170 is the least velocity, why does the 130 grain list as the same as the 150 gr and actually usually slower?  It seems pointless to even have this weight if it cannot exceed the 150 in velocity.

[shaner]

was the 130 by chance a lead bullet load , meaning a cast lead?

[jpshaw]

was the 130 by chance a lead bullet load , meaning a cast lead?

Not at all.  Both were JSP.  In one manual they were both Speer JSP.

[stimpylu32]

The only reason that I can think of is maybe the 130's were desighed to work at the slower speed of the 30/30 (  thinner jacket or inturnal diffrences ) while the 150's were made for the 308 and 30/06's higher speed .

stimpy

[jpshaw]

The only reason that I can think of is maybe the 130's were desighed to work at the slower speed of the 30/30 (  thinner jacket or inturnal diffrences ) while the 150's were made for the 308 and 30/06's higher speed .

One from the internet, both jacketed flat point (30/30).  Highest 150 was 2450 with 36 grains of RE15 which sounds kinda hot to me.  The highest 130 was 2323 with 31.5 grains of 3031.  I found a Sierra 125 at 2630 with 30 grains of RE7 but that bullet was designed for higher velocity.

[Kurt L]

i use 125 speer tnt bullets in my 26" encore barrel with 30.5 reloader 7 and i get 2580 fps over my chroney at 12-15 feet from the muzzle  of the gun.

[blpenn66502]

None of the manuals I have support 150gr bullets being faster than the 130grs in the 30-30.

I suspect that the reason you are finding higher reported velocities for the 150 is that it is a much more common weight for the 30-30 and more people load/overload it.

My Speer Manual (#13) shows their 130gr at about 150 fps faster than their 150 gr and the max load for the 150 with Re15 is 34.0 gr and this is a compressed load - Hornady shows the same 34.0 gr for their 150 as well so 36 is well above max.

The Hogdgon site shows a velocity of almost 2500 fps with Varget in the 130 Speer and about 150 fps slower with Varget and a Sierra 150 with the 130 loading being a slightly lower pressure.  You'll also see that IMR 3031 comes in the bottom 50% of their measured velocities so there are better choices for the 130 grain for maximum velocities.

[jpshaw]

I suspect that the reason you are finding higher reported velocities for the 150 is that it is a much more common weight for the 30-30 and more people load/overload it.

I think this is what I am running into and will just pick up some 130 gr loads from you guys.

Yes blpenn I wouldn't load that 36 grains of Re15 behind that 150 gr bullet either.  It sounded too hot for me.

[coyotejoe]

I load the 30/30 for a singleshot Savage M-219 with bullets seated out well above the cannelure. Thus seated I have run the 130 Speer up to 38 grains RL-15 for 2539 fps from the 26" barrel and no signs of excessive pressure in-my-rifle! I have also loaded the same bullet to 2729 fps over 33 grains of RL-7, no problems, although another Savage with oversize firing pin hole showed cratered primers with 30 grains of RL-7 at 2548 fps. I've also gotten the 130 grain Hornady up to 2503 fps with 42 grains of H-414. Now bear in mind that all of those loads were with the bullet seated out quite long and I'm sure pressures would be much higher if the bullet were seated to crimp in the cannelure. Also consider that maximum loads vary quite a bit from one rifle to the next and that, for whatever reason, listed loading data from different sources for the 30/30 seems to vary more than for most other calibers. Certainly one should begin with listed starting loads and work upward cautiously but I think you'll find that the 130 grain can beat the 150 grain by at least 150 fps in your rifle. Whether or not that is enough reason to choose the 130 is up to you. Personally, I do like the 130 grain for deer but I'll admit than any advantage over the 150 grain is slim. I don't take running shots, don't take rear end shots and don't shoot at all unless I am sure I can put it in the kill zone. Thus used, the 130 Speer or Hornady bullets have done fine for me on several mule deer and on the two elk I have taken with it.
 My main reason for prefering the 130 over the 150 is that 150 spire points can't be trusted to expand well at 30/30 speeds, whereas the Hornady 130 SSP is reliable at 30/30 velocities and shoots quite a bit flatter than a 150 roundnose.