Thread: 30/30 reloading

Hey guys, I thought I’d get the 30/30 round going while everyone has plenty of time to post advice.
I’ve got a Marlin stainless 30/30 20” barrel, I bought it for the cowboy looks and never really used it much.
Got plenty of PPU shells and die set.

I wondered what everyone used in terms of powder and projectiles.
I think the factory rebounds are 150 grain Flatnose soft points.

Thanks.

I was using Hodgdon H335 with Sierra 125gr TMK (in my Contender single shot so I can load ballistic tips). I was going to try ADI 2207 and the Nosler 125gr BT next though, see how that goes.

AR2208 mainly, trying Leverevolution recently. Trailboss and 151gr cast bullets for subsonic.
Sierra 125 FNHP and 150gr Prohunter FN.
Hornady 150 and 170 interlock FN.
Tried the 160 FTX but not that impressed with accuracy, but they go okay in my 308 (mild load to keep to 30-30ish velocity)

Originally Posted by Cigar

AR2208 mainly, trying Leverevolution recently. Trailboss and 151gr cast bullets for subsonic.
Sierra 125 FNHP and 150gr Prohunter FN.
Hornady 150 and 170 interlock FN.
Tried the 160 FTX but not that impressed with accuracy, but they go okay in my 308 (mild load to keep to 30-30ish velocity)

What are those cast subsonics like? I've thought about cast bullets for my 30-30 but the suppressor I have for it (ODL) reccomends against using them in an Ocrania can..

Originally Posted by 308mate

What are those cast subsonics like? I've thought about cast bullets for my 30-30 but the suppressor I have for it (ODL) reccomends against using them in an Ocrania can..

I haven’t put one in an animal yet.
They are very accurate at 50m so should do the job if I do my part. Need to keep in mind they only have roughly 4x the energy of a 22lr sub so need to pick my shots.

Originally Posted by 308mate

What are those cast subsonics like? I've thought about cast bullets for my 30-30 but the suppressor I have for it (ODL) reccomends against using them in an Oceania can..

@308mate I have a ODL suppressor now on my 30-30, I emailed Bert about this subject but haven't heard back. What's the reason to not use casts, because you can't clean? Do lead casts leave a heap of residue in the suppressor? I used casts when I had my DPT, didn't notice any residue but then I didn't shoot a lot of them before getting ODL suppressor.

Originally Posted by joelhenton

@308mate I have a ODL suppressor now on my 30-30, I emailed Bert about this subject but haven't heard back. What's the reason to not use casts, because you can't clean? Do lead casts leave a heap of residue in the suppressor? I used casts when I had my DPT, didn't notice any residue but then I didn't shoot a lot of them before getting ODL suppressor.

So he has or had a comment on the ODL site not to use them which I am assuming you saw too - when I contacted him he told me some people were casting very soft lead bullets that sheared off the rifling. He tested a few and could hear them singing as they went down the can and they hit the target sideways.

I take it from that you could make them work with 'hard' cast bullets but I think you would have to make sure you made them hard enough (I don't know anything about metallurgy) or trust that the ones you are buying are hard enough. I don't want to risk that for a $1200 can.

Is your ODL a QD one or direct thread on? What sort of 30-30 do you have?

@ODL may be able respond directly

Originally Posted by 308mate

So he has or had a comment on the ODL site not to use them which I am assuming you saw too - when I contacted him he told me some people were casting very soft lead bullets that sheared off the rifling. He tested a few and could hear them singing as they went down the can and they hit the target sideways.

I take it from that you could make them work with 'hard' cast bullets but I think you would have to make sure you made them hard enough (I don't know anything about metallurgy) or trust that the ones you are buying are hard enough. I don't want to risk that for a $1200 can.

Is your ODL a QD one or direct thread on? What sort of 30-30 do you have?

I've got an Alpine Hunter, rather than a QD. I hadn't seen that comment on the website. I've been planning on casting, borrowed all the gear to do so. I guess the question might be how hard would be safe. Was going to be using wheel weights, thought I've heard they're around 90/10 lead and tin. Someone might give comment on hardness. Using a Thompson Contender single shot in 30-30, 1-10 twist. I guess if Hornady offer the Sub-X 175gr bullets for handloaders that could solve it. But there's an appeal to the casts, I found them really effective, massive blood trails. But got the pup now, so finding animals is easy.

Originally Posted by Cigar

AR2208 mainly, trying Leverevolution recently. Trailboss and 151gr cast bullets for subsonic.
Sierra 125 FNHP and 150gr Prohunter FN.
Hornady 150 and 170 interlock FN.
Tried the 160 FTX but not that impressed with accuracy, but they go okay in my 308 (mild load to keep to 30-30ish velocity)

I find Leverevolution 160gr FTX could cause keyholing with my Marlin 336 Dark 16.25'' barrel. Do you have similar issue as well?

Originally Posted by eamars

I find Leverevolution 160gr FTX could cause keyholing with my Marlin 336 Dark 16.25'' barrel. Do you have similar issue as well?

No keyholing, just very average grouping at 100m, which was not great when i was looking at using them for longer range shots. My rifle is a Win M94 Trapper with 16" barrel. I was using FTX reloads, only doing 1820fps so they might group better with more speed.
The fallow weaner I shot front-on in the throat at 20m reckoned they worked okay...

Originally Posted by lee308

Hey guys, I thought I’d get the 30/30 round going while everyone has plenty of time to post advice.
I’ve got a Marlin stainless 30/30 20” barrel, I bought it for the cowboy looks and never really used it much.
Got plenty of PPU shells and die set.

I wondered what everyone used in terms of powder and projectiles.
I think the factory rebounds are 150 grain Flatnose soft points.

Thanks.

What year is that Marlin mate? My 336 Dark will not reliably extract PPU brass and I know I'm not alone in that problem as far as the 336 Dark is concerned.

A shame for me as PPU brass is good stuff.

It’s a stainless 336, 4 years old. and no problem extracting. I’ve shot 60 rounds through my one. Hasn’t had a problem.

Originally Posted by 308mate

What year is that Marlin mate? My 336 Dark will not reliably extract PPU brass and I know I'm not alone in that problem as far as the 336 Dark is concerned.

A shame for me as PPU brass is good stuff.

Originally Posted by 308mate

What year is that Marlin mate? My 336 Dark will not reliably extract PPU brass and I know I'm not alone in that problem as far as the 336 Dark is concerned.

A shame for me as PPU brass is good stuff.

My Marlin 30-30 dark shoots PPU factory ammo fine but a bit harder to extract comparing to Hornady and FC. The reloaded PPU brass doesn't suffer from the extraction at all though.

Originally Posted by eamars

My Marlin 30-30 dark shoots PPU factory ammo fine but a bit harder to extract comparing to Hornady and FC. The reloaded PPU brass doesn't suffer from the extraction at all though.

Yeah my issue was the extraction I actually had to stuff a cleaning rod down to get the empty cases out a couple of times. No issues with any other brand.

Interesting about the reloads working fine.