Author Topic: 30-30 velocity? (Read 1031 times)

Mitch in MI · « **on:** July 31, 2004, 02:34:18 PM »

Has anybody shot factory ammo over a chrono from a 30-30 Handi?
I've been loading up some test ammo with Remington 150gr over A2230, would like to have an idea when I get it to factory performance.

JPH45 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 31, 2004, 02:59:40 PM »

I have been working from two boxes of Remington green box I bought in the mid ninties, plain jane 150 grain round nose. Stuff clocks 2350-2400 from my Handi. The bullets have horrible BC though. Don't know what bullet you are using but I have been working with the Hornady SST 150 grain. Using WC 846 I am getting 2360 fps. Works out that I have a trajectory of +2" at 100 and -2" at 200 yards. Perfect. Don't recall all the stats and such but I'm well pleased with the load. Good luck, the Handi breathes a whole new life into the 30-30.

Big Blue · « **Reply #2 on:** July 31, 2004, 03:42:50 PM »

I've been playing with 30/30 loads using BL-C(2). It can achieve great velocity with very low pressure. 150 gr. Sierra FN at 2358 FPS with only 33,900 CUP. With a 38,000-40,000 CUP pressure ceiling I should be able to bump up these loads to 2500 FPS, while still maintaining a much lower than max. pressure. The 170 gr. Sierra FP, are at 2227 FPS with only 34,700 CUP! I should easily be able to get 2400 FPS from these 170 gr. bullets. BL-C(2) and the 30/30 seem to be made for each other.
Don

Mitch in MI · « **Reply #3 on:** July 31, 2004, 04:26:47 PM »

I got a box of Remington PSP 150gr so I'd have something cheap to play with. Better BC than the flat points, but not comparable to an SST. I was going to grab some $7 Sierra 180gr spitzers at Midway, but they are sold out already. (advertised in the August flyer)

JPH45 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 01, 2004, 04:34:37 AM »

That Sierra bullet will probably work, depends on how thick the jacket is at the nose. All of Sierras bullets are simple cup and core, and are pretty soft, should expand at 30-30 velocities. Perhaps a better bullet to look at is the Speer 180 Mag Tip. It is has a very soft nose and is touted for it's low velocity expansion. I have read several writers over the years who were trying to duplicate the old Winchester SilverTip 303 Savage loading, a 190 grain bullet at 1950 fps. The SilverTip not being available anymore, the 180 Mag Tip is suggested as a replacement. I've got some Nosler 180 Partitions that I have yet to try, but I believe they will work the same, the Partition is famous for a soft nose that readily expands

Big Blue, be careful, you are at the velocity ceiling of SAMMI standards for 30-30. Ammunition is manufactured to one of two criteria, pressure or velocity. Accordingly, a load can reach a certail velocity level and still be under SAAMI standands or reach a pressure level and still be within the standard. A load can reach both the velocity and the pressure but neither can exceed the parameter. I have no question that the Handi will stand the pressure, but seeing that you have a 4000-6000 cup pressure window doesn't nessicarily equal a margin that you can load into. I'm not saying don't, I'm saying you are at the edge. A simple component change can take you over. I would very carefully work up a load string in .5 grain increments and document the velocity rise/powder charge curve. The moment that your velocity exceeds the normal curve, you have reached the point that pressure is affecting the burn characteristic of the powder. BL-C2 is designed to operate at 50,000 cup or better so it has a known burning characteristics well beyond the pressure range you will operate at and should behave. In other words, you shouldn't see any pressure spikes and when you do you know you are well beyond the 30-30 envelope Some have suggested resizing 375 Win. cases for high pressure 30-30 loads. I don't think it is particularly nessicary. Neck size only to keep the brass streach to a minimum and know that you are probably not going to get great case life.

John Taffin on speaking of a very hot 357 load (fired in a Freedom Arms revolver at pressures of 60,000 PSI :shock: ) only uses new brass once at that pressure level using it for plinking (read mild loads) afterward and has a strict brass control regimen he follws to keep loads and brass seperated. One of those loads fired in a K frame Smith or a Python would disintegrate it.

You aren't in new territory, just know the rules a bit different. Yes, I do think 2500 fps is safely achievable with the 30-30 using 150 grain bullets in the Handi. Be sure none of those loads can find their way into a lever gun. Be interested in knowing how it turns for you, JP

Longcruise · « **Reply #5 on:** August 01, 2004, 03:12:39 PM »

Here are some results that surprised me :shock:

This the average of five shots.

Rem Brass
165 SST
28.2 IMR 4895 (my do-all powder :grin: )
WLR Primer
Velocity 2307

IMR lists 31.5 of 4895 under a 170 grainer for 2130 fps :?

JPH45 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 02, 2004, 12:53:46 PM »

longcruise, I think the 30-30 is one of those cases that gain a lot from being fired in a longer tube. it is wierd, it doesn't have the case capacity that would make one think this, but comparng 20 " barrels to 24" barrels show nearly 200 fps gain. I've been thinking about 165 grainers myself. Every other 30 cal I ever had with 1-10 twist barrels shot their best with 165's.

Big Blue · « **Reply #7 on:** August 02, 2004, 02:26:26 PM »

JPH45,
I know my .308 always shot best with 165 or 168 gr. bullets, but the big difference is that it does it at a much higher velocity than the 30/30 is capable of achieving. I've tried spitzer bullets in my 30/30, thinking I could get better long range performance, but they aren't designed to be fired at the 30/30 velocities, and ended up with worse performance than the FN bullets designed for the 30/30. I've read an article over on Leverguns, by Paco Kelly, that described using 130 or 150 gr. bullets for the best performance from the 30/30. He was also the advocate of using the Hodgdon BL-C(2) powder at higher than listed loads, while still maintaining the below spec. pressures, in order to get better velocity/performance from the 30/30. The 130 gr.bullets are on my to buy list. I'll keep playing with it.
Don

JPH45 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 02, 2004, 03:17:58 PM »

Big Blue, I think the 30-30 is one of the most underrated cartridges available (My opinion and dollar will get you a cup of coffee :wink: ) It has proven to be a reliable killer in good hands, it has mild recoil, for a good many deer hunting situations it is plenty powerful. Where i hunt, plenty of times I am within 150 yards of someones house, (including my own) One thing I like abut the 30-30 is even hotloaded, it ain't going to blow thru a deer and keep traveling to the next county. A great little cartridge.

JPH45 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 02, 2004, 03:58:17 PM »

Go down to the Marlin Centerfire Lever Action Forum and check out the 30-30 Winchester Ammo thread/link. Seems they are making a 150 load, the Supreme Power Point that is clocking 2480 fps :shock: Wow!