30-30 Loads for Bolt gun

[Russ otten]

I have a Revelation 30-30 bolt asction rifle in very good condition, with a clip feed. Does anyone have some slightly hotter loadings, and also some loads using spitzer bullets? Just about all listed loads hold psi down to 36,000-37,000 range, I guess because of being used in lever actions. American Hunter a while back listed some slightly heavier loadings for the TC Contender, but most were for light bullets for varmenting, I guess. I don't have any equipment for checking pressure or velocity but I thought someone on this board might be able to help. Thanks in advance.

raotten@netscape.net

[PaulS]

Russ,
The Speer manuals (latest one) uses the SAAMI standard maximum of 38000 CUP for all the 30-30 loads whether it is for the Contender or the Ol' 94.
They do have loads listed with spitzer bullets in the Contender section and a 14 inch barrel loses less than 100 fps over the 20 inch lever carbine. If you are expecting more than 2300 fps you may be disappointed. If you want to push pressures do yourself a favor and contact the rifle maker. Ask them for recommendations for maximum loads - give your bullet maker (or Sierra) a call and see if they have recommendations for the stronger bolt action.
In the end you will find that nobody will want to exceed the SAAMI specs. (Fear of corporate litigation and liability)

PaulS

Think safety, act safely, live long enough to enjoy it

[Vapodog]

Savage made a bolt action .30-30 years ago. The action wasn't the type I'd press for the normal 50,000 PSI typical of most bolt actions today. As I recall the Savage bolt used the bolt handle (typical of many bolt action shotguns) as a locking lug and in some cases with shotguns the ONLY locking lug.

I'm not familiar with the Revelation you have but, just because it's a bolt action don't mean it can hold ".308" pressures.

The .30-30 is a fine cartridge....using it "as-is" is not a bad decision. I wouldn't hesitate to substitute spitzer bullets of equal weight for loading data for the 150 grain bullet and I'd not hesitate to substitute a 165 grain spitzer for loading data for the 170 grain flat points.

Unless you know that that action is as strong as a Remington 700, I'd not experiment with increased powder charges however.

[Russ otten]

Thanks, fellows for the input. And I was not going to up the pressures without some views on it. The Revelation bolt action was made by Savage to be sold by Western Auto through it's chain. So the rifle compares very closely the the Savage bolt action. In using the 150gr. spitzer, I have seen in the one deer I shot that it went through the boiler room without expanding any. Never touched a bone. The deer never knew he was hit; trotted along without a twitch for 75 yards before running out of gas. So I feel that this is a situation for a balistic tip. Max loads for the levers will still get the job done.
Again, thanks for the info.