any of you guys reload a hotter round for a 30-30? I want to get a 30-30 and i wanna load some hotter rounds for it. I just wanna use it for brush hunting but i'd little a little more punch.

Look through the reloading manuals. What's listed in there is all that should be loaded in any .30-30 IMO. If you want more punch than a .30-30, don't get a .30-30. Skip all the bull ---- and get a 45-70.

Well said Charlie.....hot loading the .30-30 lever guns is just not a good idea.

I aint gonna go past what a book says is safe........ I guess maybe i shouldn't of said hot loads....... I want a 30-30 i'd just like to get the most i can out of it, which i wanna do the same for my 30-06 too.

Amen brother!!! but if he just wants a tad more heat then what 30-30 can give, he should go for the ever favored 35 remington.

I have a 30-30 it was my first deer rifle, its a great little gun but sometimes it lacks in certain areas if I was to do it all over again My first deer gun would have been a 35 remington instead.

get ya an alliant powder load data book they list the highest velocities for there loads next to others load data. For me consistancy is more important then velocity so asfar as my rifle loads go im stickin with IMR or Hodgdon

Just because the load is in a "book" doesn't mean it won't be too hotfor your rifle. You still need to work up a load and STOP when you see pressure signs in YOUR rifle!!

Most guns shoot best and for sure will last longest when they "aren't" hot rodded!!

Drilling Man

Ya know, If you havent bought this gun just yet, you might just look at gettin a 444 or a 450 marlin. These are both excellent brush guns for elk and deer. A 45-70 is a good idea as well, but hotter loads are harder to come by from the factory. For my money, a 444. EJ

well, most of my reasoning is for old school........ 30-30 been around forever, its killed millions of deer. But a .444 is pretty old school as well, so that wouldn't be all that bad. But i'm keep iron sights and gotta be lever action.

When anybody loads ammo for a lever action,pump,and semi-auto one has to follow the guidelines stated.For these actiions cannot withstand the higher pressures such as a bolt actiion can.So it realy limits one to a point whom reloads.The only advantage is difference in bullet weights and varieties.But preety much have to stay with factory guidlines. One gun can,t do it all like your wanting it too,and even a bigger caliber bullet will be deflected by brush.even a 50cal machine gun can be deflected by a small branch.And in closing a brush shot is not a wise practice while hunting. vangunsmith