Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .30/30 case life

Bought a 336C on a whim because never owned one. Although I reload all my centerfire rifles, I don't shoot a 30-30 enough to purchase dies and bullets. Maybe when I shoot up all my factory ammo, I may reload.

I have cases that's been reloaded since forever and can't remember wearing one out. I've never reloaded a jacketed bullet in my .30-30 and use RCBS .30-180FN in mine running close to 2000 fps utilizing H-414 powder. That is my most accurate load in every Marlin, Winchester, and Savage (.303) lever I've tried. I also use a Lee NSD and haven't needed to FLR but, keep cases segregated by rifle. It's the little Ace as TR once remarked!

Speaking of 30-30 brass, I was about to list some in the free classifieds. Winchester and Federal headstamps, at least 100 of each, once fired factory loads.
PM me if you want a first crack at it before I list it.

Cheers,
Rex

No thanks. I have 60 loaded coming tomorrow and another three or four boxes coming as part of the trade.

Thanks anyway. Good luck with the sale, though I doubt you’ll need it.

160gr FTX here...
https://www.bluecollarreloading.com...0395?_pos=1&_sid=8b26da87d&_ss=r

As stated----partial size the case (read--don't push the shoulder back) and anneal the case necks on a regular basis, the brass will last a long time.
I have brass that I have reloaded 20+times using that method.

No Brag----Just Fact!

Hip

I'm a 30/30 fan.. but like Bolt actions more than lever actions..

My Unicorn Rifle is a Model 54 in 30/30, or a Model 30S in 30 Remington...

But I've loaded 30/30 case twenty times or more...

annealing, not doing max loads, not over working the brass...

I'm guilty of loading a lot of hunting loads to be in the velocity range of the 30/30 to 300 Savage...

That is all I really need for deer 250 yds and closer...

You will like the cartridge....unassuming and gets the job done at moderate velocity. I had 0 .30 WCF rifles and in one package deal with a Winchester collector getting out of the game, bought 3 model 94's!

All commemorative models, but the 16" trapper model was the main prize for a woods rambling rifle. I bought several boxes of Speer Hot Cor 170's awhile back, but I also load my own cast lead bullets for Penetrators in Bear country.

Good luck!


Frog----OUT!

I think you should be able to get 10+ loadings on 3030 brass if you keep it SAAMI pressures.

I load my .30-30 hunting ammo with 28gr. 3031 and a 190gr. soft cast bullet. Velocity is right at 2000fps out of my Winchester M54 with 24" barrel. (With a 10x Unertl mounted on it for bench work it'll consistently do 3/4MOA with that bullet, more like 1 1/2MOA when using its Lyman 48 receiver sight.) Case life is great because I don't full length size, and the gun exhibits minimal headspace (nor do I crimp because the rounds won't have to take a beating in a tube magazine, but that's neither here nor there).

Okay, I’m in. Fiocchi ammo landed yesterday, dies and trimmer pilot on the way. Waiting to see how the Interlocks shoot before I try other bullets, but I saw some interesting load data for cast in my books.

Thanks again to all.

Depends, as others have stated/implied, on whether your Marlin has Micro-groove or Ballard rifling, Pappy, whether or not cast bullets in it can be an exercise in frustration. If it has Micro-grooves, there's a pretty narrow band of hardness, bullet shape, and velocity that'll work in it. If Ballard-style rifling then the sky's the limit. Been down that road, got the T-shirt which is now used to wax the car.

Oh it’s a Micro-Groove for certain. Cast would probably be for practice and general fun. Might try some coated ones or LC, which are harder than woodpecker lips and haven’t leaded anything of mine yet.

This one will have to get in line for the woods anyway. There’s quite a few ahead of it, although I might just grab any ol’ thing on any ol’ day.

33 grains of Unique, case life, one shot...

action life, ZERO....... AFTER one shot from 33 grains of Unique...