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Guns & Loads

reloading 30-30

. Uploaded on February 12, 2009

I have a bolt action 30-30 (one of the few i think). I was wondering if you could load and .30 caliber bullet with a .308 dia? It is a bolt action like i mentioned earlier so I wont have to worry about needing a flat nose.

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from tyler1991 wrote 1 year 2 weeks ago

If it's a .30-30 cal bore than I wouldn't try a .308. That just dosen't sound safe either..The way I look at it if it's a .30-30 than only shoot .30-30 out of it.

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from sucngas wrote 1 year 2 weeks ago

Whoa tyler, the 30-30 uses .308" diameter bullets for reloading. The problem you might run into is some of the bullets are designed to expand at scorching velocities out of the big belted mags. If you use them in the 30-30 you might not get the expansion you want. If your gun is tube fed, like most lever guns (I'd expect yours isn't), you must use flat point or round nose bullets so recoil doesn't set off a chain reaction similar to the Fourth of July fireworks display. The only exception to this rule is the new Leverevolution ammo from Hornady. I would recommend the more violently expanding bullets for the 30-30. Speer, Sierra, Nosler Ballistic Tip etc.

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from tyler1991 wrote 1 year 1 week ago

Well atleast you set him straight and I learned something new. I never knew that a .30-30 had a .308 diameter, but I don't ever reload bullets.

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from rugerman wrote 30 weeks 2 days ago

Yea it's sort of like the guy that goes into a gun shop to get a pistol and looks at at .357 and says that he wants something a little bigger like a 38. Ammo nomenclature can be confusing.

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from taylor1 wrote 24 weeks 2 days ago

i would load the .308 diameter sierra game kings 150 grains with 30 grains of powder

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from Kody wrote 21 weeks 3 days ago

You need to exercise some care in reloading the 30-30. It is not a particularly strong case design so pressures need to be kept down. While your bolt action is likely better able to handle a heavier load the case will suffer if you push the loads too much. Cases upon firing pretty much go molten for an instant, this is why they fire form into the chamber. There is always a degree of stretching of the case. While trimming can maintain the proper overall length there can be a thinning of the case from within that can cause separation ... the case can split allowing the gases to find the path of least resistance.. not good! I guess what I am saying is inexperienced reloaders need to be doubly cautious when loading cases that are not as forgiving as more modern stronger cases. A .308 loaded with conservative charges may get a dozen reloads from the same brass case... not very likely with the great old 30-30.

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from sucngas wrote 1 year 2 weeks ago

Whoa tyler, the 30-30 uses .308" diameter bullets for reloading. The problem you might run into is some of the bullets are designed to expand at scorching velocities out of the big belted mags. If you use them in the 30-30 you might not get the expansion you want. If your gun is tube fed, like most lever guns (I'd expect yours isn't), you must use flat point or round nose bullets so recoil doesn't set off a chain reaction similar to the Fourth of July fireworks display. The only exception to this rule is the new Leverevolution ammo from Hornady. I would recommend the more violently expanding bullets for the 30-30. Speer, Sierra, Nosler Ballistic Tip etc.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from tyler1991 wrote 1 year 1 week ago

Well atleast you set him straight and I learned something new. I never knew that a .30-30 had a .308 diameter, but I don't ever reload bullets.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from rugerman wrote 30 weeks 2 days ago

Yea it's sort of like the guy that goes into a gun shop to get a pistol and looks at at .357 and says that he wants something a little bigger like a 38. Ammo nomenclature can be confusing.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from taylor1 wrote 24 weeks 2 days ago

i would load the .308 diameter sierra game kings 150 grains with 30 grains of powder

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Kody wrote 21 weeks 3 days ago

You need to exercise some care in reloading the 30-30. It is not a particularly strong case design so pressures need to be kept down. While your bolt action is likely better able to handle a heavier load the case will suffer if you push the loads too much. Cases upon firing pretty much go molten for an instant, this is why they fire form into the chamber. There is always a degree of stretching of the case. While trimming can maintain the proper overall length there can be a thinning of the case from within that can cause separation ... the case can split allowing the gases to find the path of least resistance.. not good! I guess what I am saying is inexperienced reloaders need to be doubly cautious when loading cases that are not as forgiving as more modern stronger cases. A .308 loaded with conservative charges may get a dozen reloads from the same brass case... not very likely with the great old 30-30.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from tyler1991 wrote 1 year 2 weeks ago

If it's a .30-30 cal bore than I wouldn't try a .308. That just dosen't sound safe either..The way I look at it if it's a .30-30 than only shoot .30-30 out of it.

-2 Good Comment? | | Report

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