30-30 Bullet Selection

[J.Johnson]

I am just starting to reload 30-30 shells for my Marlin. I have been shooting factory loaded Winchester 170 grain Power Points out of it. I was wondering if that bullet is available as a component to purchase any where? At one time I found it on the Winchester website, but today I can't seem to locate it.

Also, does anybody have any opinions on the Hornady 170 grain interlock flat point?

Let me know what you use and thanks in advance!

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Winchester makes a 150gr bullet and Remington makes 150gr and 170gr bullets about the same. I prefer the Sierra flat point bullets in all weights. They seem to shoot more accurately in my Marlin.
I don't see hardly anything in stock at Midway but you can look and see what they normally carry.

http://www.midwayusa.com/find?sortby=1&itemsperpage=24&newcategorydimensionid=20694

That Hornady 170gr Interlock should be a good bullet but I have had trouble with that round nose shape chambering and had to be very careful that a similar bullet didn't touch the lands in the barrel. Keep the case trimmed and test how they chamber before crimping. Don't make a big batch and find you can't close the lever.

 

[mcoe74]

I've shot very good groups with my 336 using factory Federal 150gr and 170gr bullets.

With hand loading, I've used and had real good groups with these:

- Hornady Interlock 150gr (#3035) Round Nose, Hodgon H335 powder @31.0 grains, WLR primer, and Winchester case
- Hornady FTX (Leverevolution) 160gr (#30395), Hodgon H335 powder @28.5 grains, WLR primer, and Winchester case.

Agree with Jimbo357mag on checking out Midway and his advice (check Over All Length for best results). Lately, the biggest issue I have with hand loading is finding components.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Also, does anybody have any opinions on the Hornady 170 grain interlock flat point?

Let me know what you use and thanks in advance!

Hi,

The Marlin 336 living here right now does quite well with Remington's 150 gr Core-Lokt SP for .30-30 over Win 748. Last week we were out in the desert worrying a rock at a measured 410 yds with that load. Bambi would have been quite safe at that range, but at normal .30-30 distance of maybe 150 yds, would have been in trouble. That rock was worried, though! Rock soup, anyone?

OTOH, that rifle's not happy with my 170 gr FP cast bullets (Lee mold.) I took a couple of boxes of them with us that work well with the Model 94 I'd originally loaded them for. First one in didn't chamber right. I pulled the lever a little harder, and it still didn't seat, so I tried to eject it. Bullet was firmly stuck in the rifling and pulled out of the case (Lee FCD notwithstanding.) My buddy was happy to empty those cases for me in his 94 Ranger!

One of the Marlin forums had some discussion of lead bullets in the Micro-groove rifling. The Lee 150 gr FP was reported to work well, so I'll have one of those molds on order this coming week to try soon.

My BIL likes Sierra 170 gr FNs in his Model 94 (ProHunter #2010?)--maybe I can talk him into letting me try to chamber one in the 336. As Jimbo warns, I think the 336s may be just a bit touchy about some bullets. Short throats? Just load a few at first!

Rick C

 

[mr surveyor]

I've only been re-loading .30-30 for a bit over a year, but started with the Sierra 170 gr Pro Hunter bullets. My old 1973 model 336 always shot the Rem Core-Lokt 150s the best, but when I started my .30-30 bullet hunt in Dec of 2012, they were more scarce than Unicorn pills. Surprisingly, I have worked up loads with IMR 4320 and the 170 gr Sierra PH bullets that "almost" match the factory 150 Core-Lokts the old 336 likes so much. Last September at our annual dove hunt, a hunting buddy admitted to having a box of 500 of the 150 Rem C/Ls and sold me a hundred to pacify me. I'm loading them with Leverevolution and exceeding factory velocities, and "almost" getting the moa accuracy of the old favorite factory loads. I'm liking both bullets


JD

 

[J.Johnson]

Thanks for all the advice. I will agree on the availability!!! Hard to find stuff right now. I will try out some of the stuff you guys mentioned. Now to just keep an eye out for it!

 

[Bucks Owin]

I'm not familiar with the 170 ROUND NOSE Interlock Hornady. Is the round nose made of that rubbery stuff? :?

(If not they don't belong in a tube magazine... :? )

 

[Paul B]

I only shoot cast bullets in my 30-30 rifles. I size them to .310" and they work just fine in Winchesters and Marlins. I use them for deer hunting and they work just fine. My preference is for the Lyman #311291. Very accurate in my rifles. The Lyman #31141/311041, sa,e bullet except the zero was added to make their computer happy is said to be a good bullet but I have two molds with that number and an NEI clone and none of them shoot worth spit for me. Other say they work just fine. Guess my guns just don't like that bullet.
Paul B.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

I'm not familiar with the 170 ROUND NOSE Interlock Hornady. Is the round nose made of that rubbery stuff? :?

(If not they don't belong in a tube magazine... :? )

Round nose lead bullets are fine.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/241599/

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/540255/

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/196417

 

[Rick Courtright]

I'm not familiar with the 170 ROUND NOSE Interlock Hornady. Is the round nose made of that rubbery stuff? :?

(If not they don't belong in a tube magazine... :? )

Hi, Bucks

This is the 150 gr version of the Remington Core-Lokt the 336 residing here really likes: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1601157469/remington-core-lokt-bullets-30-30-winchester-308-diameter-150-grain-soft-point

There's also a 170 gr version, and I believe Remington loads factory ammo with both.

Hornady's version in their Interlock line looks pretty close in this picture: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/414059/hornady-interlock-bullets-30-30-winchester-308-diameter-170-grain-flat-nose-box-of-100

I believe they also load factory ammo with it. In their cartridge drawing it looks more like a FP than a RN. In real life the Remington's closer to a FP as well.

Rick C

 

[Boxhead]

I would head over the Nosler's Pro-Shop and buy the 170 gr Partition "overuns" they are are selling for $20 a box. Probably the finest bullet made for the 30-30 and at a greatly reduced price.

 

[Bucks Owin]

That is a good deal Boxhead...
Thanks for info Rick....

Personally, I've been gearing up to shoot cast in my '94. Not settled on weight or design yet. Hopefully a plainbase at 1800+ fps...Then make a LOT of them for the "cowboy azz-halt rifle"! 8)

Have a stock of 110 gr Speer spitzers that I may see how fast they can be pushed for single shot "varmiting" ... :lol: Seems I recall :shock: Paco Kelly getting around 2700 with them...

 

[Rick Courtright]

Personally, I've been gearing up to shoot cast in my '94. Not settled on weight or design yet. Hopefully a plainbase at 1800+ fps...Then make a LOT of them for the "cowboy azz-halt rifle"! 8)

Hi,

Used ta was one could cast bullets and stick a gas check on pretty cheaply. Today, the cost of gas checks has gotten to where sometimes your lead/gc combo's approaching jacketed for price... ouch!

That being said, the 170gr I've used is a gas check design from Lee. It shoots quite nicely using a load calculated from Mr. Lee's book using 748, and a calculated (not chrono'd yet) target velocity around 1750 fps. That bullet fed well and was quite accurate in the 1976 built '94 that lived here for a while. It shoots just as well, but is a bit persnickety about feeding in my buddy's '94 Ranger purchased near the end of the '94's run in New Haven. But it stuck solid in the rifling of the 336 that took the place of that older '94 here (that one's from 1981-82.)

So a flat base 170 might work well for you, Bucks. Just remember what Paul B reports and don't be surprised that you might end up going thru a couple of bullets to find the one your '94 likes best...

 

[Jimbo357mag]

110 grain round nose bullets (30 Carbine) can also be used in the 30-30 for plinking or varmits. Read the comments.
Pointed bullets can be loaded two at a time in a lever-action, if they feed ok, one in the chamber and one in the tube.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/584609/

 

[6gun]

Seeing how 30-30 is a Winchester cartridge I use nothing but Winchester component's, 150 grain Winchester bullet's, W748 powder, Winchester primers and brass.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Seeing how 30-30 is a Winchester cartridge I use nothing but Winchester component's, 150 grain Winchester bullet's, W748 powder, Winchester primers and brass.

Hi,

So whatdya put in .38 S&W Special? Or a .444 Marlin? Or maybe even a .204 Ruger?

Rick C

 

[Bucks Owin]

Seeing how 30-30 is a Winchester cartridge I use nothing but Winchester component's, 150 grain Winchester bullet's, W748 powder, Winchester primers and brass.

Hi,

So whatdya put in .38 S&W Special? Or a .444 Marlin? Or maybe even a .204 Ruger?

Rick C

Well, certainly not SR-4759 :wink:

Jimbo: Many thanks for the wisdom pearls! :shock:

 

[6gun]

Seeing how 30-30 is a Winchester cartridge I use nothing but Winchester component's, 150 grain Winchester bullet's, W748 powder, Winchester primers and brass.

Hi,

So whatdya put in .38 S&W Special? Or a .444 Marlin? Or maybe even a .204 Ruger?

Rick C

the subject is 30-30 Winchester not 38 or 444 or even 204 :roll:

 

[6gun]

Seeing how 30-30 is a Winchester cartridge I use nothing but Winchester component's, 150 grain Winchester bullet's, W748 powder, Winchester primers and brass.

Hi,

So whatdya put in .38 S&W Special? Or a .444 Marlin? Or maybe even a .204 Ruger?

Rick C

the subject is 30-30 Winchester not 38 or 444 or even 204 :roll: I'll let you know if I ever comment on those cals. :wink:

 

[Cary]

Love the old 30-30 cartridge. If you cast your own I found the Lee 113 grain RF nose bullet to be a nice plinking bullet in my 336C. I size it to .311 with one of the Lee sizing dies and add the gas check. I use WW alloy around 15 BHN with AA5744 as the powder. With this combo I don't even shoot rimfire anymore.
Cary