3031 Load for Lever Action .30-30

2afreedom

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I just picked up some 150 grain round nose bullets for the old thuty thuty. When looking at load data for 3031, I am seeing a lot of differences in max loads. Hogdon shows 30.5 grains as a top load, other pages I have found go as high as 34 grains. 30 grains was worth about 2100 fps out of my gun but I would like to push the bullets a little faster. I am not trying to turn my Marlin into a .308 or use anything overpressure. Anybody have a favorite load or 3031 using the 150 grain bullets?
 
I've never loaded for the 30-30, but in 30 caliber short barrels the 150 grain and 3031 is a winning combination. I think the reason for the somewhat low velocity in 30-30 is the inherent weakness of the actions that fire it, mainly lever actions.
If you're dead set on increasing velocity consider dropping back to the Speer 130 grain Hot Core. It comes in a flat point which would work with the tubular magazines and the velocities run in the 23/2400 fps range. I doubt a deer is going to feel the difference but it will flatten the trajectory a little......
 
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Thanks Bailey. From doing a little research, it appears that the current load data has been watered down from previous years. Chuck Hawks lists the max load as somewhere around 34 grains from the 26th edition manual. I will take a look at the 130s once I use up my 150 grain bullets. My typical shot is somewhere between 50 and 75 yards, so the trajectory is normally not an issue.
 
Trajectory may not be an issue at that range but terminal velocity could become one. You'll have to check some ballistic tables but the 130 grain at that yardage and increased velocity could have more downrange energy than the slower 150 grain. I don't know how that will work out but let us know......
 
Dads Winchester likes 29 gr and my Marlin liked 27.8 gr for accuracy, NOT velocity. We'd rather go slower to get accuracy, when we loaded over 30 gr accuracy suffered and we'd rather kill a deer at 400 yds than go flatter with a larger group. YES, we did practice at longer ranges...gota know your limits.
We tried the 135 gr Nosler FP but it didn't stabilize well.
 
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