30-30 contender and Hammers?

[jimmybrost]

Greetings from Az, friends!
I have a Contender Super 14 30-30, looking for any advice from anybody that's loaded for it, particularly with Hammer Bullets. I was so impressed with them in my 358 Norma that I can't hardly steer away from them. Ive got Varget, H4350, H4831, cfr223, and probably others on my shelf to start with. Ive loaded light plinkers with Trailboss but looking for something to send towards a Missouri Whitetail this winter.

 

[Bob Wright]

@Jesse09 maybe of help to you on this site.

 

[jimmybrost]

Also have Leverevolution and Superformance powder !

 

[just_jon]

Which bullet are you considering? I can run some QL data for you.

 

[jimmybrost]

Most likely the 130gr shock hammer or the 143g lever hammer. The heaviest bullets they recommend for a 14" twist. Funny because I don't own a lever 30-30.

 

[biednick]

While I don't have experience with 30-30 in a handgun, I've found Leverevolution works great in my 15" 338 Federal. The extra bit of velocity goes a long way towards overcoming the habdicap of shorter barrels. I'd start there.

Based on my experience, you should be on the right track with bullet selection. Heavy copper solids that are short enough to stabilize are my preference for long range handgun hunting.

 

[K.E.C. Darkside]

While I don't have experience with 30-30 in a handgun, I've found Leverevolution works great in my 15" 338 Federal. The extra bit of velocity goes a long way towards overcoming the habdicap of shorter barrels. I'd start there.

Based on my experience, you should be on the right track with bullet selection. Heavy copper solids that are short enough to stabilize are my preference for long range handgun hunting.

Howdy, I do not want to side track your post. But I just finished a 338 fed. build on a Savage action 20" barrel and very interested in Leverevolution load data.

 

[just_jon]

Here what I came up with. QL does not have the 143 lever hammer so I used the 143 hammer hunter. It also does not list Superformance.

Looks like Varget and CFE223 are going to be your best choices as the others require substantially compressed loads to get anywhere near max pressure.

 

[jimmybrost]

Wow, that is impressive. Thank you very much! Time to get to work!

 

[WYO300RUM]

I use Varget with 125 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips in a 21 in. Contender barrel.

 

[yorke-1]

Just a suggestion, but you may want to think about using a lighter bullet if you want to use a solid copper style. Most of them need at least an 1800 fps impact velocity to perform consistently. Something like the 101gr HH or the 120 Lever Hammer might work better, to keep the velocity up.

If you want a heavier bullet, the 161gr Haymaker from Apex Outdoors will expand down to 1000 fps. It was specifically designed for the 300 BLK and other low velocity 30's like pistols. I've tested the Haymaker quite a bit out of a 300 BLK and a 300 Savage Encore barrel and it's worked great in both cases.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

Greetings from Az, friends!
I have a Contender Super 14 30-30, looking for any advice from anybody that's loaded for it, particularly with Hammer Bullets. I was so impressed with them in my 358 Norma that I can't hardly steer away from them. Ive got Varget, H4350, H4831, cfr223, and probably others on my shelf to start with. Ive loaded light plinkers with Trailboss but looking for something to send towards a Missouri Whitetail this winter.

What is your hunting range with this rig?

 

[jimmybrost]

Well, we'll see what it looks like through a chrono and how far it carries some energy, but I'm hoping for 200 yds or so on deer.

 

[BAKPAKR]

I am betting you should go with a lighter bullet to maximize velocity if you are going with Hammers (or just about any other brand in a 14" barrel). If I recall correctly, I was getting about 2150 fps with 125 gr Ballistic Tips in my 10" T/C 30-30. They didn't appear to open up to well at a little over 150 yards on a mountain goat. For deer, I ended up going with 125 gr Hornady TNTs.

Right or wrong, in short barrels, I favor fast powders over the slower ones that work for a cartridge. I use RL7 in my 10" 30/30.