I'm getting consistant 1" groups at 100 yards with my Marlin 336 with a Speer 170 grain bullet over top 32 grains of IMR 3031 with no pressure signs. I do not have access to a chrony currently and was wondering what that bullet might be clocking at out of my 20" barrel?

You are not going to have traditional pressure signs at the pressure range that the .30-30 operates at.

I ran that load in QuickLoad, and it says it is excessive, going about 53 kpsi with the cases I have. You will not show excessive pressure at 53 kpsi, but for the .30-30, it is.

It will also shorten the life of your rifle.

I would, were it me, reconsider it's use.

Drop down to 30 grains and see what that does.

That load, especially with a 150 grain bullet, has worked for years, kills 'em dead.

I'm using 29.5 grains of 3031 with a 170 grain Hornady, getting mucho small groups, about 2130 fps, and deer are just a'dying. That load also runs under 38 kpsi. I like to limit my levers to 38.5 kpsi.

Thank you for the replies. I shoot 30 grains of IMR 3031 and a 170 grain bullet out of my .303 Savage and its fairly accurate. I will drop down to 30 grains for the Marlin as well and see what happens.

I shoot 33 gr. H4895 behind a 170 Sierra FN in my 1968 336RC .30-30 at 2192 fps avg, which should be a similar load.

In Quikload, the Speers produce much higher pressure than the Sierras for whatever reason. 32 gr. 3031 with a 170 Sierra is 43 kpsi instead of 50 kpsi for the 170 Speer with my cases.

My load with H4895 is 52 kpsi with the Speer and 44 kpsi with the Sierra. What seems odd to me is that 32 gr. IMR 3031 is 107.2% filled with the 170 Speer, and I think you'd probably notice heavy compression when loading. With the Sierra 170 and 32 gr. 3031 it's 99.4% filled. I wonder if Quikload is accurate with the 170 Speer? Just doesn't seem like there would be that much difference between bullets, but I could be wrong.

It's been my experience that loads that are too hot in the .30-30 will have sticking cases on extraction and case-head separation signs after 3-4 firings. If your case life is good, and cases aren't sticking you're probably okay. The only way to really tell is to get a chronograph - they are an invaluable tool and aren't all that expensive. If you aren't comfortable with your load, try some 170 Sierra FN. They'll be more accurate too.

JW

I reload for my son's 336 using 150 HNDY RN and 30 grains of IMR3031. Nice close groups and clocks on average 2400 fps.

30 grains of IMR3031 over a 170 is a little too much (29.5 max) according to IMR. It's a great load for 150gr.

30 grains of IMR 4064 does well with a 170gr bullet.

And I use Trail Boss with my cast loads.

I use 30 gr. with the 170's, and it's been a good load in my rifles. I get close to MOA for three shots and get about 2100 fps. My Dad used that load for years and killed several deer with it.

I have used 32.5 grains of 3031 under many different 150 grain bullets and consistantly getting around 2250 fps from my 20 inch barrel. I have also used the 170 gr. hornady many times on top of 30.0 grs. of the same powder. If I up the charges with either bullet as little as one grain groups open up a lot.

Geeze I guess they musta lowered the amount of 3031 you can load in a .30-30 over the years ? I used 33 grs. under a 150 gr. core lokt for years in my old 94 Winchester with never an issue.

I think the powder itself may have changed some. Way back in the 70's I loaded 34.0 grains under a 150 grain bullet but that is too hot now.

I shoot 30 grains under most any cup and core bullet for about 2100 fps and tiny groups in my Dad's old Marlin. I use the 170 Remington or Hornady bullets for paper and the partition for deer. nothing special about the partition, I just lucked into a bunch cheap a while back. I also use the 170 silvertip when I can find them as components, they shoot really well. 30.5 is max in my rifle. I also use 31 grains with 150's in my model 64 for about 2200 fps. Not the fastest, but they are acurate.