Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 600 yard 30-30

I agree. I got some phenomenal speeds from a 30-30 Ackley Mod 336 carbine. I ran right on the heels of the 300 Savage, but back off a tad just to be safe. I never had a case failure, brass lasted a long, long time, and this is from a Marlin! I can only imagine what a good strong action would produce! Love to hear a follow up though! I "cut my teeth" on a Mod 94 Classic ( I bought it myself at 16) I could have killed 98% of all the game animals I've taken since with a good 30-30! Well, maybe 75%!

Nothing really new here, but exceedingly interesting nonetheless. .30-30 in a strong bolt gun or single shot has been a well kept secret among target shooters for generations. Seek out a M54 Winchester .30-30 sometime and give it a whirl. I've been working with two successive ones for 35 years now.

In my younger years I hotrodded the bejapers out of it and the brass held up wonderfully. Nowadays my interest runs strictly with cast bullets in the .30-30, seeking the accuracy boundaries of same in the bolt gun. I would embarrass myself to publish the tiny groups that old girl turns in (while wearing a 12x Fecker scope). Take the scope off and it reverts to being a jim dandy whitetail woods rifle. If money were no option I would install a bull barrel and heavy stock and really go to town.

Cast bullet cognoscenti have long held that the .30-30 case represents nearly ideal case volume for this kind of work. No surprise to me that someone is taking it a step farther, with good streamlined bullets for long range work. Its only limitation that I can see would be at extremely long range when the bullet crosses the super/sub sonic barrier.

I submit that the .30-30 is a whale of a lot more versatile than considered by most, due to them not ever having considered it beyond lever gun use.

If I had to relegate myself to just one rifle cartridge to experiment with for the rest of my days I would be quite happy if it were the lowly .30-30.

QuickLoad says 1843fps at 600 and 1320 at 1000.
I believe that is still supersonic.

The brass is thinner, but it will survive. A tight action makes stretch less of a problem, but it still happens. I would be interested in hearing about the brass. I shoot a 30-30 Contender. The chamber isn't as tight as a comp gun, but it is better than a lever.

It's always fun to test limits, develop new techniques or use new component designs. That's what makes the newer cartridges better. They aren't magic, but are the result of advances.

Keep us posted plse.

Gotcha. But what if, say, best accuracy sweet spot with that cartridge/bullet was better at significantly lower velocity than that? Would he forge ahead sacrificing a little accuracy for better long range ballistics?

That project is taking tinkering to a whole ‘nother Level.... just sayin’

As the motorheads say, "Ain't no substitute for cubic inches except more of them".

The 30/30 does have more capacity than those century-old lever gun loadings would suggest.

I think the main thing they are looking for at the present is velocity and the least extreme spread. When the bolt rifle is complete they will have a base line to start. The round will have to stay super sonic to the target for the best accuracy. They will be able to play with the loads after the rifle is complete, but they needed the velocity readings.

Unless the object of the exercise is to test this new 30-30 brass. Is it just a new brand, or is there something special about its makeup that makes it of interest? Or it simply might be because he wants to.

Re: the earlier comment regarding .375 brass. I used to use that brass necked down to .30-30 for breech seating in a .30-30 single shot. I considered it to be virtually "Everlasting" brass. With its thick neck it also worked a treat for thumb seating .310" cast bullets when loading at the range for the bolt gun. One case was all I would take to the range, with powder, primers, and bullets when shooting either rifle. I think I still have half of that box of virgin .375 brass kicking around here someplace.

I still don't get the why of this.

Because he can, most probably...

Would like to know, myself, too.

Why not?

I can't speak about shooting 30-30 from a comp gun, but from a Contender, it's a hoot. Pointy bullets and cheap brass. What's not to like?

The bullets are Lapua FMJs, 123 gr. 308 dia.

Why not! A fun project with probably the most knowledgeable 30-30 competition shooter-smith. Maybe to stick a needle into the guys rolling their eyes.

Good enough reason for me...

Hodgdon's LeverEvolution powder will get very near to 300 Savage velocity in a 30-30 and is 10,000-12,000 CUP less in pressure. With my eyes and a peep sight I am getting consistent ~1.5" groups at 100 yards with it.

Misconceptions, Old Wive's Tales, and narrow-mindedness abound in our sport as much as anywhere else. Maybe more so after reading some posts on the 'Fire over the years.

Interesting project for sure!