Author Topic: Handy Rifle / NEF 30-30 Questions? (Read 3110 times)

RWH24 · « **on:** December 18, 2002, 03:07:27 PM »

Okay, On a single shot 30-30 there is no need to use flat or round nose bullets. Is there benefits in performance with a spire/spitzer bullet in the 30-30?
Does anybody have one and do you handload?
How does she shoot?
Looking forward to feedback and stories.

Thanks,
Randy
:-D

dboutdoors · « **Reply #1 on:** December 18, 2002, 03:21:16 PM »

You can load 30-30 bullets alot hotter when using single shot rifles. In my hornady reloading manual there is section for handgun loads and the the 30-30 loaded with pointed bullets is pretty impressive.

southern utah · « **Reply #2 on:** December 18, 2002, 07:00:47 PM »

The only thing I have heard is the 30-30 flatnose bullets are made to work ( expand ) at the 30-30 velocity were the spitzer was designed for 308 and faster. I am trying a 125-130 grain in 30-30 contender carbine but haven't any results yet.

Joel · « **Reply #3 on:** December 19, 2002, 03:40:00 AM »

My old Speer #10 lists their 150 gr spitzer/hollow point bullets along with their roundnose/flatpoint bullets for the 30-30, saying they don't recommend spitzers over 150 gr for the 30-30. Seems most of the folks at the NEF sites that are shooting spitzers in their 30-30's are using 125-150's with excellent results. SAAMI limits for the 30-30 are 38,000 CUP, mainly cause of the older Marlin's an' Winchester's out there. In the NEF, you're limited more by the case strength than pressure. Actually the whole thing kinda puzzles me, 'cause when you read about these dead-eye magazine writers shootin' that 97 point buck at 400 some yards
with their trusty(brand new you gotta go out an' buy one) 30 WhizBang, seems like the velocity at that range is down to around what a modern loaded 30-30 does out to maybe 150 yds, an' those folks don't have any problems with the bullets expandin' WAY out there. I've shot a couple of deer with my old 30-40 Krag loaded with 150 Speers at around 2500 fps, an ' the bullets expanded just fine. The shots were at 100 yds or less. Then there's this thing about 30-30's having weaker brass, until someone converts over to 30-30 AI, Then theey're shooting 150's at close to 2800 fps.
'Course the increased case capacity changes the internal volume some which affects the pressure, but still the ones using the AI that I've read about recently are still pushin' around 45K CUP. Apparently with no case problems ta speak of. Makes me wonder sometimes. Makes me wonder. :?

Tom W. · « **Reply #4 on:** December 31, 2002, 02:31:22 PM »

Well, I've got a box that I made up some years back to shoot in my Handi-Rifle.I have a load of 38 gr. IMR 4831, 150 gr. Sierra SPBT, and CCI 200 primers. I loaded the bullets a bit longer than specs, as it is a single shot and I can do that. There is no trouble chambering, and the bullets do not touch the lands. It's been some time since I've fired these, but I did get respectable groups @100 yards. I'm not going to boast sub- MOA, but it is , where I hunt, going to go where I point it.

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #5 on:** December 31, 2002, 03:29:22 PM »

How about the 135 grain SSP. Made to expand at 30/30 velocities in the Contender. I have a bunch loaded up for mine. There is also a 125 HP out there.

Also, "I am not possitive", can't you use 7-30 brass necked up and have stronger brass for the 30/30??? Any comments on this? :roll:

Graybeard · « **Reply #6 on:** December 31, 2002, 06:29:30 PM »

Nope don't think the 7-30 is any stronger case than the .30-30. BUT the .375 Win. case is generally accepted as being stronger.

GB

Kodiakhuntmaster · « **Reply #7 on:** January 15, 2003, 02:51:36 AM »

If you handload the 30-30 with a hot load and 135 grain bullet, you got a 200 yard deer gun.

I've used it on many occations, so do a few of my friends.

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #8 on:** January 15, 2003, 05:58:33 AM »

I got to this problem from a different direction. Had a friend with bad arthritis and a Howa in .30-06. He could no longer take the recoil so we went looking for a load he could take. 125 grain Rem bulk packed at 2500 fps was just the ticket and he happily killed deer with it. In a rifle with a hi tech recoil pad and a field weight of well over ten pounds, recoil is neglible.

2500 fps is 2500 fps no matter how you get there. You can certainly get that safely out of a .30-30 case and a 22" barrel. Might get 2600 fps but I would stop there.

Btw, Handi Rifles have what I regard as a built in safety measure. When ejection gets sticky, it's time to back off a grain or two. This will happen well before you get into serious trouble.