Should I Load for 30-30?

[Hschweers]

Hey all,

Recently bought a lever 30-30 - live in the SE, prefer to hunt woods, and most shots will be in the 50-75y range. Just got tired of lugging around my 308 and felt I didn’t need that much gun.

I love the nosler partition and the Barnes TTSX. My plan before buying this gun was either hand loading the 170 partition or 150 TSX over 3031, varget, or leverevolution (depending on book data and results).

However, federal loads the 170 (discontinued but available now and on sale for $37/box. Buy 5 or so boxes and last me decades of whitetail shooting), and Barnes and federal load the 150. I assume I can get one of these 3 factory offerings to shoot sub 2” 100y groups - plenty of accuracy for 50-100y shots.

Is there any gain to handloads here that I’m missing? My primary focus to loading for any cartridge is accuracy. I don’t care if I save any money - hell, I don’t care if it costs more (as long as I gain accuracy over factory). I just don’t think accuracy matters much for a 30-30, it’s distances, and what I plan to use it for. I don’t think I’m gonna get 1/2” groups out of a lever no matter what I do, and I don’t think it matters if I do or not! Anyone think differently?

 

[Jakeb]

If 5 boxes will last you decades, no chance I would bother reloading for it.

 

[Snowwolfe]

My choice is always to use ammo I loaded myself, because I loaded it myself. I’m 72 and have never used factory ammo to kill a big game animal in my life and don’t intend to change now. It’s just how I roll.

 

[Wolfshead]

My model 94 likes my handloaded 160 grain Hornady FTX bullets and Leverevolution powder.
It can shoot pie plate sized groups out to 200 yds, but don’t think I’d shoot that far on a deer.
I use mine for the thick stuff, still hunting, in similar distances as you.
I have a couple boxes of 170s, I believe Hornady’s interlocks, but haven’t loaded any of those yet as the FTXs work real well for me.

 

[bbassi]

It's hard to justify loading a 30-30 IMO unless you shoot a lot or are looking to shoot a specific bullet. There's just so many good choices out there for that cartridge and none of them are outrageously expensive.

 

[doverpack12]

I spent a bunch of time trying to load for a 30-30 and gain accuracy. Finally just decided it wasn’t worth it and bought some factory, grouped about like the best loads I had come up with.
For whatever reason this is the first rifle in close to 20 years that hasn’t significantly improved with loads I develop. I tried 125/130 up through 170’s.

 

[Hschweers]

It's hard to justify loading a 30-30 IMO unless you shoot a lot or are looking to shoot a specific bullet. There's just so many good choices out there for that cartridge and none of them are outrageously expensive.

This is my thought. The two bullets I’d like to hunt with are available in factory offerings (albeit one is discontinued). I started reloading cause the 6.5 PRC didn’t have factory offerings for the bullets I wanted to hunt with - and now it’s turned into accuracy quests in all my rifles. Just doesn’t seem like either of those things are an issue/will be improved upon with handloads

 

[Hschweers]

I spent a bunch of time trying to load for a 30-30 and gain accuracy. Finally just decided it wasn’t worth it and bought some factory, grouped about like the best loads I had come up with.
For whatever reason this is the first rifle in close to 20 years that hasn’t significantly improved with loads I develop. I tried 125/130 up through 170’s.

This is my first lever gun, but from what I’ve read they’re not going to be your one hole shooter. 1.5-2” 100y groups is about what to expect. That’s fine by me, I bought it for <100y shots

 

[Hschweers]

If 5 boxes will last you decades, no chance I would bother reloading for it.

5 boxes of hunting rounds would. I don’t shoot partitions as my range plinkers. But for range ammo I can buy cheap federal/win/rem (whatever groups best) for just over $1/shot and doubt I can do much better than that reloading. Maybe marginally, but not worth my time (single stage press. Weight every charge. Measure every bullet depth. I do it the slooowwww way lol)

 

[Sinistram]

As others have mentioned, it depends on how much you want to shoot the rifle. If it's the kind that only comes out during hunting season for a few sight-in shots and maybe something at a deer, factory is fine. You'd have too much invested in components to justify the cost/time. HOWEVER, I reload for my 30-30 because a) I like shooting it in general, and b) I want a very specific combination of components and performance. My 170gr Partition and LeverEvolution load is about as good as it gets out of a Model 94.

Also - reloading is fun.

 

[KenLee]

If you want to hunt a 30-30, buy some $20 a box 150 gr Hornady Whitetail and go kill stuff.

 

[TaperPin]

Reloading is like fly tying, if you enjoy it there’s usually not a question of buying a new fly pattern or whipping them up yourself.

 

[Hschweers]

Reloading is like fly tying, if you enjoy it there’s usually not a question of buying a new fly pattern or whipping them up yourself.

Only difference is a new pattern doesn’t require dies, brass, powder, and projectiles. Prolly already have all the materials needed for that new pattern
Agree - aside from cost lol

 

[deadwolf]

I like reloading, and have all the goodies for my 30-30s. But it came down to the juice wasn’t worth the squeeze. Instead I buy 30-30 ammo when I see it on sale and just go shooting.


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[juju]

Some of the old 30/30 levers are sub-inch guns. You should try the Speer 130gr. Use Speer data for CFE223. Really helps with blood trails.