.30-30 powder?

I've got a ton of .30-30 brass and a set of die so I figure I might as well buy some bullets and load it all up. Whats a good powder choice? Its an old JM stamped Marlin 336 that belonged to my great grandfather.

Thinking I'm either going to load the Hornady FTX bullet but maybe any of the round nose lead bullets. Saw a deal on some page for some 170gr Partitions that were pulled bullets so might go that way.

Leverotution or however you spell it is now the go to powder for 30-30. It's gets higher velocity than others

Sweet. I didn't even think about that.

If you just want to have some fun shooting, X-treme has plated .308 cal FN bullets.

http://www.xtremebullets.com/308-s/48051.htm

Enjoy!

While I agree the Leverevolution is the better powder speed-wise, Varget is also a great stand-by which would allow me to keep fewer types of powders on the bench.

IMR 3031 has been the benchmark for 30-30 for years. There are other maybe better choice nowadays but it works.

And 3031 is readily available pretty much everywhere, and that is a big plus in today's vexing market of maddening component shortages. Try saying that with Varget, Re-15, and WW-748, which are also excellent in the old .30 WCF.....but often unavailable.

One pound of 3031 will load a lot of .30-30 rounds.

X2

I've got nearly 2 pounds of varget. If I can use that, I will. I just don't have any loading data for it in my Lyman manual.

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle

Win 748 is good on a 30-30.

A while back someone discovered winchester 150grn factory ammo power points used win 748 powder. I dont remember the amount of powder used.

I use Leverevolution when im loading 30-30 for my dad. I load it with the Hornady FTX bullets and he loves it.

3031, 4895, 4064, 322

AA2520 and W748 have given me my
best 30/30 accuracy which is infinitely
more important than velocity. i've
got some lever powder, but haven't
used enough to pass judgement yet.
the others, H4895 and RL15 were ok
and definitely useable, but not as
accurate as 748 and 2520 in my guns.
i've never tried BLC-2. it may be
a great 30/30 powder as well.

BL-C(2) has been my choice, I've used it a very long time. If you have Varget, that would be what I would use if you really are not going to be doing a lot of shooting with the rifle. Might as well use what you have on hand.

THIS:
(with the FTX bullet) - and it's cheap & more readily available these days


I've also had good performance/accuracy with H4895 (better than 3031 & blc2) with the FTX bullet.

.

Also, for fun plinking, try 10 gr of Unique in the 30-30. Really mild load, somewhere around 1800 fps. Just be careful not to double charge the case.

Leverevolution or 3031.

I load 8 grains of titegroup over either a 71 grain fmj or 110grain lead. Makes a fun load for plinking and varmints.

H-4895 has,always worked for me.

If you want to reload for fun, then do it by all means. Even though I'm a committed reloader, I can't help but recognize that factory .30-30 ammo, is some of the very best and cheapest of factory ammunition. Reload the .30-30 for fun, but not for economy or performance.

Very good point.

MAXIMUM when you used 4895 what were the results, that you disliked?

not really disliked as much as had better results in my firearm
with other powders. i've had great results with larger capacity
rounds such as .308 and 30/06 with the H4895 that i've used.
the firearm in question is a 1950 vintage marlin with
the regular (some call ballard) non-microgroove rifling.
really just like any other firearm that may or may not work
with loads that will do great in an identical firearm.

I agree. I'm just looking into it because I have probably 2-300 pieces of brass and a set of dies. Will give me something to do when I have some down time.

I hardly ever shoot my .30-30 but would be cool to take a few pigs or a deer with it. Its a family heirloom gun so kinda fun to shoot.

I used to load for my 30-30 but once I came to reality that I only shoot a box of ammo out of it once out of 5 years, I just buy factory ammo now for it. I only reload ammo for guns I shoot a lot.