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I've never reloaded for my 30-30, but when I bought a used reloading setup from a guy recently it came with 30-30 dies and 220 grain hornady round nose bullets. Will those bullets even fit in the case? Only other 30 cal bullets were 180 grain spitzer's that I assume were for the 300 savage dies.

Never heard of any 220gr bullets being loaded in the 30-30. Don't even think there is any load data for them. Bullets for the 30-30 have to be round nosed or flat nosed. They also cannot be overly long as when seated to meet the maximmum OAL they should not extend too far into the powder area of the case.

The 220s, won't expand at .30-30 speeds, unless you're talking about basically muzzle velocity impacts. They are designed for 30-06+ cartridges, and velocities from those rounds.

Thats what I figured, wonder what those bullets were in there for.

'06, would be my guess.... just leftovers.

Trade them out for some 170 gr. FNs, or (if you're very lucky) some 150 or 170 gr. JHPs..... Like the 170 gr. Core-Lokt HPs; friggin' magic in the .30-30.

They ain't the FN Barnes X, but outside of that, they are as good as they get.

savage offered a 190-grain load in its defunct close copy of the .30-30 ...

but hey, a good 170-grain bullet that shoots well in your gun? at 2,300 fps? no more grains needed ...

Nosler makes a 165gr Partition that is strictly for the 30WCF It is a bang/flop bullet on whitetails up to 150+yds.

Somewhere I read an article on pulling the 190's from the Savage round, and loading them in a 30-30. Sorry, don't remember the details...Have also read where people were "hoarding" the Barns 170's that used to be produced.
Virgil B.

vb, it probably was in sam fadala's book on the model 94. oodles of good .30-30 handloads in that book ...

Fish,
Actually, I think it was an article by Sam,(on the 30-30) in an old Gun Digest!
Thanks for jarring my memory!
Virgil B.

i imagine he published that data in many guises, being the free-lancer he is.
he's a good one.

Ditto on above comments; plus the 'twist' in your .30-30 is more
than likely marginal for a 220Gr. In a single shot rifle or a
contender you might be able to seat it out further, however you
would have to work up a load VERY CAREFULLY and use slower
burning powder so your pressures don't cause any 'blowups'.
Be carefull if you try to shoot those torpedoes!!!

The Speer 170 FP has worked well for me as a heavy bullet

If one wants to load heavy bullets in a 94,30-30 the best way to do it is re-bore to 38-55. I had one done. It turned out GREAT!
Am thinking it was $145.
Can now shoot 250 grain Hornadys. Works for me!
Virgil B.

Unless you shoot a single shot, you must seat the heavy bullets too deep and that takes up all the powder space in a 30-30 case..so its not very practical...

The 30-30 has been tested, tested and retested and the results we have today are the cream that rose to the top..The 150 and the 170 are the best, and I lean to the 170 in the low velocity caliber..It is a proven killer for sure and I have shot a lot of big game with it.

170 sierra works well

Sorry, but the 30-30 came out about 4 months after the 303 Save buddy, and hey, if that 190 works so well in the 303, there is no reason it won't work in a 30-30. the water grain capacity is well within tolerances. they are less than .5 a grain apart.

i use 170 hndy
and some 180 cast