30-30 loading 180 grain

[Steelflight]

Ok now that I have your attention. I have a stevens/savage 325 bolt action 30-30. A mag is used for this rifle not a tube. So it has allowed me some great fun in reloading. However I was considering trying a 180 grain pill. Not trying to blow up my beloved rifle. But think its possible. Ill be using spears grandslam for 200 yard max hunting.
Your thoughts or chastisements? Lol

 

[bigedp51]

30-30 bullets are designed for lower velocities and the 180 grain bullets may act like a armor piercing bullet and not expand.

I would use the Hornady FTX bullets below designed for 1800 to 2600 fps or the FTX bullet designed for the Marlin Express with a higher BC and a slightly higher velocity range of 2000 to 2800 fps.

30 Cal .308 160 gr FTX® (30-30 Win)
https://www.hornady.com/bullets/rifle/30-cal-308-160-gr-ftx-30-30-win#!/

Below the .308 FTX 160 grain made for the Marlin Express with the higher BC.

The Hornady bullets are Interlock with a softer lead core and hold together like a Nosler partition.

 

[Steelflight]

I do actually with much success.

 

[jjmp]

Congrat's on you 30/30 Bolt rifle ,its a great rifle & Cartridge combo, the 180's will work have fun , but do try the lighter 30 cal bullets by Speer, Sierra Barnes ,Nosler & Hornady , 125's threw 150's , lots of untapped fun there also, Cheers and enjoy that Bolt!!!

 

[JMW67]

Ok now that I have your attention. I have a stevens/savage 325 bolt action 30-30. A mag is used for this rifle not a tube. So it has allowed me some great fun in reloading. However I was considering trying a 180 grain pill. Not trying to blow up my beloved rifle. But think its possible. Ill be using spears grandslam for 200 yard max hunting.
Your thoughts or chastisements? Lol

I think you may be better served by a 150gr bullet more velocity and better on game performance and less recoil if it means anything have fun and good luck should be a cool rifle to hunt with

 

[Steelflight]

Thanks for the feed back. The fTX is already a round I use on the press. Appreciate the thoughts

 

[HARPERC]

Bolt actions open the possibilities in the .30-30. Like others I think there are lighter bullets, that offer better trajectory, and terminal performance to the range your looking at.

 

[RT2506]

If you want to SMOKE deer size game with the 30-30 load you up some 125 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips with (work up to it) 32.5 grs H322 . Sight in 1 to 1 1/2" high at 100 yards and you will be dead on at 200 yards. I use this bullet in all my 30 cal weapons for deer. I use it in my 30-30AI TC Contender 14" barrel pistol with IMR 4198 pushing it to 2670 fps on average. It SMOKES deer.

 

[Mustang72]

Tuned in.-- Getting ready to bed mine and start playing with it again. Been loading mostly 130 s for mine,but why not a heavy weight also.

 

[HARPERC]

.....Tuned in.-- Getting ready to bed mine and start playing with it again. Been loading mostly 130 s for mine,but why not a heavy weight also.....

Preference in the range mentioned. A bit more velocity for trajectory and expansion.

Put up for discussion, and just what others have thought or experienced.

 

[Steelflight]

Just to put out there. Going heavier can also lead to failure. This was another thought I was wondering on. If the back pressure on the bullet could lead to catastrophic failure.

 

[HARPERC]

What kind of failure?

 

[Steelflight]

Just the usual would anyone suspect a sudden bolt in your face? Im very cautious with these experiments. I don't believe the reloading manuals exclude sizes just because none asked.

 

[wv270wsm]

I've shot the 165 ballistic tips out of mine pretty frequently. They shoot good and I'd say at 200 they'd still open enough on deer sized game if put into the shoulder. I've made hits on deer out to 150 with them and they seem to do just fine. Haven't played with it much since I got my 7 mm08 barrel though so don't remember what powder and charge weight without looking .
I'd say the 180 would possibly be a little to tough maybe . Try shooting them into wet newspaper at the desired range and see how they penetrate and open up