. 30-30 breakthrough
- Thread starter Thumbcocker
- Start date
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
It would be very difficult to fault IMR-3031 as a fuel for the 30/30 WCF, jacketed or cast. That stuff is tough to find around here, even in non-shortage times.
Due to this difficulty, I gravitated years ago toward WW-748 as my 30/30 powder. It works well in 223 and 308, and does good work in the 30/30 with J-words--34.5 grains under the Sierra 150 grain FN, and 32.0 grains behind the 170 grain Sierra FN. There wasn't much to choose from accuracy-wise between the two bullet weights, they both ran about 1.5" to 1.7" at 100 yards using the aperture sight on my Marlin 2/3 magazine 336 variant (from the 1950s, as best I can discern). The 150s clock about 2100 FPS, the 170s run about 1950 FPS.
Of course, I couldn't leave well-enough alone. I got out some Lyman #311291s and #311041s, and prepped 100 cases for a cast bullet 30/30 banquet. One very nice trait I have noticed with my previous 30/30 leverguns--cast bullets can be run near or at the same speeds imparted to their red-coated understudies without much accuracy fall-off. With the Win 94 sold to a friend, this Marlin I bought from Cobb Mtn. Mac (RIP) was in need of a wring-out. Mac showed me some impressive targets he fired with this rifle at 100 yards using his castings.
I loaded 30 rounds each with #311291 and #311041, W-W cases, WLR primers, stair-stepped powder weights of 28.0/29.0/30.0 grains of WW-748. 6 loads/10 rounds each. I couldn't quite match Mac's grouping ability, which was about 1.25 MOA. I did come very close to the rifle's j-word performance, though--average grouping ran 1.8 MOA for the "291", and right around 2.0 MOA for the "041". It was a good day of shooting, much needed by yours truly. I LOVE THIS MARLIN!
Due to this difficulty, I gravitated years ago toward WW-748 as my 30/30 powder. It works well in 223 and 308, and does good work in the 30/30 with J-words--34.5 grains under the Sierra 150 grain FN, and 32.0 grains behind the 170 grain Sierra FN. There wasn't much to choose from accuracy-wise between the two bullet weights, they both ran about 1.5" to 1.7" at 100 yards using the aperture sight on my Marlin 2/3 magazine 336 variant (from the 1950s, as best I can discern). The 150s clock about 2100 FPS, the 170s run about 1950 FPS.
Of course, I couldn't leave well-enough alone. I got out some Lyman #311291s and #311041s, and prepped 100 cases for a cast bullet 30/30 banquet. One very nice trait I have noticed with my previous 30/30 leverguns--cast bullets can be run near or at the same speeds imparted to their red-coated understudies without much accuracy fall-off. With the Win 94 sold to a friend, this Marlin I bought from Cobb Mtn. Mac (RIP) was in need of a wring-out. Mac showed me some impressive targets he fired with this rifle at 100 yards using his castings.
I loaded 30 rounds each with #311291 and #311041, W-W cases, WLR primers, stair-stepped powder weights of 28.0/29.0/30.0 grains of WW-748. 6 loads/10 rounds each. I couldn't quite match Mac's grouping ability, which was about 1.25 MOA. I did come very close to the rifle's j-word performance, though--average grouping ran 1.8 MOA for the "291", and right around 2.0 MOA for the "041". It was a good day of shooting, much needed by yours truly. I LOVE THIS MARLIN!
Thumbcocker
Active Member
Thumbcocker
Active Member
The NOE version of the Ranch Dog 165 (170 fully dressed) has been a winner in .30-30, .308, and .30-06. It has suprised me.
waco
Springfield, Oregon
I have an open one pounder on the shelf and an eight pound jug I've been sitting on for about five years. It's my go to 45-70 powder. I just don't shoot it that much.
Ian
Notorious member
This NOE bullet has turned in many groups from my 336 Texan that have gotten me called names on the interwebs. 34.5 grains of WW748 in a Winchester case with WLR primers and a Sierra 150-grain FN hollow point is pretty much "The proverbial 30-30 load" at my house. Substitute a 170-grain RF gas checked cast bullet and either 24.5 grains of Reloder 7, 30 grains of 3031, or 32.5 grains of WW748 and Remington or Federal brass, CCI 200 primers (except for the 748 load) are also standards.
One of the only two bullets I shoot in my 30/30, but from a LEE mould, from when Michael was still doing moulds.
I have yet to chronograph any load from it, but I hope to this summer.
This bullet in my 30/30 makes me feel like I still know how to shoot.
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
All of my 30/30 WCF rifles have been leverguns, no bolters or single shots (so far). I am pretty excited about this Marlin's grouping ability so far, most of mine have been 2.5"-3.0" rifles @ 100 yards--which is just fine for the uses I give them. In my youth as an orange grove kid, 30/30s were literally everywhere. They were (and still are) the perfect deer, coyote, and black bear rifle.
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
Like minds I guess.... 748 is my 30/30 jacketed powder since I discovered it some time in the early 1980's. I have hundreds of them loaded with 170g Hornadys on top of 31g 748. Shoots real well.
My Savage 24 is a match rifle with 33g under a Nosler 150 BT @ 2450 from its 24" bbl. Awesome preformance on deer with that one!!!!
I have now tried it with a 220g Speer in the 358 Win. Real good accuracy from formed LC cases.
A good friend swears its the best 223/556 powder. I swear by H332 myself.
4198/2400 are my go to cast powders.
CW
My Savage 24 is a match rifle with 33g under a Nosler 150 BT @ 2450 from its 24" bbl. Awesome preformance on deer with that one!!!!
I have now tried it with a 220g Speer in the 358 Win. Real good accuracy from formed LC cases.
A good friend swears its the best 223/556 powder. I swear by H332 myself.
4198/2400 are my go to cast powders.
CW
oscarflytyer
Well-Known Member
Ian
Notorious member
I think it is, I've been trying to remember who bought it from me and kept coming up blank. I even asked CW if it was he. It's actually a Lee group buy mould from Ranch Dog (copied by NOE identically), back when Michael was just doing the group buy thing. Whoever it was was an avid RD collector who solicited me after a comment and was warned I couldn't get it to shoot well in MY rifles.
oscarflytyer
Well-Known Member
^^^ yeah... think its mine now!