30-30 loads.
 

I was just asked/tasked by one of my MC brothers to load up some thuty thuty loads for some hogs and deer. He is shooting a Marlin lever gun with glass. I have pulled several of my load books out and see they recommend 748 and 296 powders as a regular common powder. I have both as well as several others. I will be loading round nose and Flex-tip projectiles. What ya'll spittn out your leverguns? Thanks.

I was skeptical when they first came out, but I'm a big proponent of the Hornady FTX pills. Other than some special "fun loads" like heavy weight hard cast or super-light pills that I rarely load, all of my leverguns are spitting FTX bullets.

Coupled with that, I scored a 24lbs of Leverevolution powder a few years ago, and for most cartridges, it ends up with a 100fps+ faster max velocity than the fastest of other powders, so I've done my tuning to get it to shoot well - which it does.

Before that, 748 was my go to for 30-30. Once I find a load that works, I don't tend to wander unless something new comes out, so it's been years since I've done development work in 30-30 - BUT, I also only write down loads in the back of my books that were accurate for me, and the back of my Speer book has 2520, 748, Varget, and IMR & H4895 loads written down. There's a star by the 2520 load with a 170grn partition - I'd assume that means it shot very well for me, but it's marked 1997, so I know that would have been in a Glenfield/Marlin of my late-great-uncle's, but I don't recall shooting it, or why I moved onto 748 after that - probably just because I wanted more velocity of a 150grn pill.

What loading book have you found loads of 296,pistol powder, for a 30-30?

I have loaded 150 grain JFP (Speer Jacketed Flat Point) bullets for many years over IMR 3031 powder @ 2200 FPS.

:D Al

I use 150 grain flat points over IMR 3031, as well. Have yet to find anything that works better.

Not being at home to check the charge but I also use IMR3031 under a 170 gr FP Hornady Interlock.

WW748 is the go to for the 30 30.

To get 2200FPS with a 30-30 you use less powder with IMR 3031 than WW748.

:D Al

I used IMR 3031 back when I was loading for Marlin 30/30, actual amount dependent on bullet selection.

36.3 grains, maximum of LVR, with Sierra # 2010, 170 grain Pro Hunter.

The 30-30 is remarkably forgiving and almost any powder between Reloader7 and IMR 4350 can be used. I tend to use 170- grain bullets because they are not popular here in central Texas and I have been able to pick up a bunch at low cost from going-out-of-business retailers ( along with a couple thousand highly effective but decidedly un-sexy .270 150 gr round-noses), and they may, in fact, be slightly more accurate that 150 gr FP's in most of my 30-30's. That said, I prefer 150 gr FP's for our smallish deer and 170 gr Nosler Partitions for hogs.

The Sierra 125 gr HP really does a number on deer from a 30-30ai!

My thought exactly, I can't imagine any loading manual specifying 296 for a full power load in a .30-30.

when I had a 30-30 I loaded it with 150 gr bullets and used 3031 powder also. grouped well.