Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Good 30-30 Loads.....

It's the only one I haven't loaded for, it's winter, and I'm bored. Don't mind being on the light side as this rifle tends to beat the schit outta me. Rifle is a 70's Win 94 w/peep, I think it's had a total of 2 boxes of ammo through it......

Warm load in newer 26" barreled M-94:

35.5 grs. RL-15
170 gr Partition
velocity 2400 fps

Medium load for my older 20" barreled M-94's:

32.0 grs. RL-15
170 gr Hornady FNSP
Velocity 2100 fps

Both loads kill very well on deer sized game and much better than the numbers will have you believe.

Gunner

I ran into this one accidentally.I had some old VV N135 left from my 6mmBR days. Thought I would try 29grs with some 150gr. Core Lokts.Seems to be a fairly mild load and very accurate in my 94.

Just over 2100 fps and very accurate in my M94.

Winchester case
CCI 200 primer
29.5 grains IMR-3031
Hornady 170 FP

170gr. Hornady FP
33gr RL-15
R-P brass
WLR primers

shoots 1" or less in two Marlin 336s

32.5 grs. Varget, Winchester brass, 170 gr. Sierra and CCI 200 primers = 2136 ft/sec. or so. Shoots 1.5-2 inches at 100 yards with Williams Foolproof receiver sights on a Marlin 336.

I had good luck this summer with Reloder 7 in the 32 Spl. Not exactly 30-30 data but close enough to offer it as a suggestion.

Dale

I'm using Hodgdons data for LeverEvolution loads in the 30-30. All of them were impressive and according to the data were lower pressure rounds with the exception being 160 grain FTX which is still under SAAMI specs.

Use a WW case and WLR primer.
38.5 grains LE with a 150 grain Sierra FN
35.5 grains with a Hornady 160 grain FTX
36.3 grains with a Sierra 170 grain FN (my favorite)

Anyway Hodgdon has the data on it's website.

I use Winchester cases, CCI 200 primers, 30.0 gr. IMR 3031 and any 170 grain bullet I have on hand, but the gun prefers the old Silvertips, or the Nosler Partition. All shoot well and kill stuff.

With jacketed bullets, 28 gr. 3031 and 170's, 30 gr. and 150's. Moderate loads that kill stuff as well as .30/30's have been doing it for 100++ years. Don't even get me started on cast bullet loads...

well heck...if you want to reduce the recoil some.. got this off the old cast bullet shooting guys and IMR's old brown sheet reloading data....

try 15 to 20 grains of SR 4759, with bullets from 110 grain RNs to regular 150 grain bullets...

this will make even an old inaccurate 30/30 shoot pretty darn good...

I load the 110 grain RNs for the kids to shoot, and they love them...

This is my prescription, too. I loaded a bunch of Speer 100gr "Plinkers" over 16gr SR-4769 last week for my Grandsons to shoot. It works great in my Marlin 336 Texan.

Ed

Mod 94, 20" barrel: 34.0gr RL#15, 170gr Hornady FP, Fed210 primers and Win. cases. 2100 MV over the screens. Oh, and accurate.

The 30 gr of 3031 and the 170 gr jacketed flat point has been the std for 30-30 about like the 60 gr 4831 and 130 gr bullet for the 270 for years. It can probably be bettered, but is sure is a good starting point.

32 grains Winchester 748. + Speer 170 grain, flash hole uniformed brass ( same head stamp), standard rifle primer, 1976 vintage Marlin 336a (24” barrel, micro-groove rifling), 4x scope ( now 2.5x) .

5-shot, WELL under 1.5” at 100 yards, 1 to 1.25” inch groups at 100 yards is honestly closer to the norm. Estimated MV is 2100 FPS. No chrono.

RP Brass
CCI200
30grs - 3031
170 Hornady FP

Hey; that's MY .30-30 170 gr. load except I use a 170 gr. Speer......

32.5 grains of 3031 and the 150 grain Speer bullet has worked for me.

Don't forget the OP was asking initially about mild loads for a little M94 carbine. Everybody is publishing favorite recipes for full strength stuff.

I second the recommendation for midrange loads built with SR-4759, but since that powder is discontinued it may be a moot point. I have a lifetime supply of 4759 but I jealously horde it for cast bullet work and don't waste it on jacketed loads. Were it me wanting to concoct a mild .30-30 target load with jacketed bullets I would look seriously to RL-7, 4198, and others of that ilk. 1600-1800fps out of a M94 tames that little shoulder whacker into a pleasurable all day target shooter.

Try loading a 150 grain lead bullet over around 6 grains of Bullseye. A sackful of them will have you smiling on the drive home from the range. (Do not however try that trick with 150 grain jacketed bullets. The chance of sticking one halfway down the bore is very real. Ask me how I know.)

I used 32.5 gr's of 3031 with 150 gr. Hornady RN or 150 Sierra FN for years. Very accurate and effective out of my Win. and Marlin carbines.

16bore, you have any interest in cast bullets? The Lyman 311041 don't suck and it's fun in the 1700-1900 fps range. They shoot good.

Have an early vintage Trapper that knock the snot out of due to poor fit. My cheek said "fug this!", I wasn't inclined to give up. Put a pad on the butt and we've happy since.

16bore.....you still out there? If you want to try some lead....burp. Or something.



On the 50 yard butt:

Anyone notice that this was a 5 year old thread, revitalized?

just thought I'd point out it was started in 2013...

Did not. Phuoc mei. Guess I'll have to find someone else that wants some bullets.

May be old but still being looked at

Dan,

I've never shot cast in anything, but those loads look good. I've got a 94 that looks just like yours, maybe I should try some in it.

I bought me a mold from Greybeard and put it away somewhere. Need to start an expedition and find it a # 311041.

Now you've done it and I an old 311291 mold that the nose cast a bit too wide for my old Winchester, maybe it will fit my Marlin or my 3030AI Contender carbine barrel. Just what I needed another project. Cool.

My go-to full snort load is 29gr. 3031 + 190 grain flat nosed cast bullet. 2050fps out of the 24" barrel M54 Winchester.

Over the years I’ve had awesome results from 150 GR power points, 34 GR RL15, WLR & WW brass has done great by me.

I've used 32 grains of IMR 4064 and the 150 grain Hornaday round nose for many years.