[IDShooter]

Hi John and anyone else who might be able to help,
       I am looking for a low velocity 30-30 load, in the neighborhood of 1100-1200 fps. I have 170 gr GC bullets . The powders I have are IMR 4198 and XMP5744, as well as AA#2 Imp pistol powder. Do you know of such a load with any of these powders?  
                                     Thanks,   ID

 

[John Kort]

Hi IDShooter,

Of the three powders you have, I would opt for XMP5744.  My loading notes show that in the .30-30 I tried 14 grs. sparked by a WLR primer which pushed  a 175 gr. cast bullet to 1,340 f.p.s. with good accuracy.

Based on that, 12 grains / XMP 5744 should put you in the 1100-1200 f.p.s. range. 13 grs. of 4198 should put you in the same ballpark.

5 or 6 years ago when I was experimenting with subsonic loads, I tried 10.8 grs. of 5744 under a 200 gr. cast bullet in the .30-30.  This load produced an average of 1063 f.p.s.  

I do not have any experience with AA2,  but I have shot over a thousand  of 6.8 grs. / 231 under a 155 gr. plain based bullet (311041 with the gas check shank removed).  This load clocks just over 1200 f.p.s. and has produced m.o.a. groups at 100 yards if I do my part. It works great on the 200 meter steel NRA chickens.

Good luck!
John

 

[IDShooter]

Thanks a lot John! Your reply sparked a question- how did you remove the gas check shank? The bullets I have are commercial but I'm pretty sure they were cast in the Lyman 311041 mold, they appear to be an exact duplicate of the ones a friend of mine casts using that mold.         Thanks!! ID

 

[John Kort]

Dear IDShooter,

To remove the gas check shank,  I machined off the back of the mold up to the base of the back driving band. I call it my 311041-155.

Sincerely,
John

 

[Bill Lester]

If John hasn't done it, it can't be done in the .30-30!

:wink:

 

[IDShooter]

Hi John,
      I tried several loads yesterday and this morning. The xmp5744 gave the velocities I needed and is quite uniform, but accuracy was so-so (about 2" at 50 yds).
The best results with the 170 gr cast bullet so far has been with AA#2 Imp! I tried 6 gr. and got a 1" 5-shot group in the Model '94 and in a Marlin 336A that I just picked up! That's the best I've done so far in the lever actions. The velocity was 1059, ES 22 and the standard deviation was 8, so it was surprisingly uniform for such a dinky amount of powder. Thanks for the help, and I will continue experimenting!  Take care,   ID

 

[IDShooter]

Hi John,
      I tried several loads yesterday and this morning. The xmp5744 gave the velocities I needed and is quite uniform, but accuracy was so-so (about 2" at 50 yds).
The best results with the 170 gr cast bullet so far has been with AA#2 Imp! I tried 6 gr. and got a 1" 5-shot group in the Model '94 and in a Marlin 336A that I just picked up! That's the best I've done so far in the lever actions. The velocity was 1059, ES 22 and the standard deviation was 8, so it was surprisingly uniform for such a dinky amount of powder. Thanks for the help, and I will continue experimenting!  Take care,   ID

 

[John Kort]

Dear IDShooter,

Thanks for the update on your progress.  Looks like you have found a great low velocity load with the 170 gr. bullet in the good ole' .30-30.  

Keep up the good work,

John