Low velocity centerfire loads

[mitch_mckee]

Anyone tried reloading, say, a 30-30 or .30 with a .310 ball using pistol powder?

This is an olden times method of using one rifle for both big and small game.

[samuel]

When making reduced loads in bottleneck casings like .30-30 you better have your duckies lined up.If you put pistol powder in without a wad you may find more pressure than you dreamed possible.It can be done but you better get a book on it.Dont just put a small amount of pistol powder in loose or you can blow your gun up. sam.

[mitch_mckee]

Originally Posted by samuel

When making reduced loads in bottleneck casings like .30-30 you better have your duckies lined up.If you put pistol powder in without a wad you may find more pressure than you dreamed possible.It can be done but you better get a book on it.Dont just put a small amount of pistol powder in loose or you can blow your gun up. sam.

Indeed!

I put in just a pinch of polyester over the powder to hold it in place against the primer. Haven't had a problem yet after testing about 75 in .308 and .30-30, both with small amounts of Unique driving a .310 lead ball. I get about the same performance as with a .22 Magnum. Accuracy is very good out to at least 25 yards.

I think in the old days they used kapok or some such over the powder.

[big boomer]

I have used powder specially for reduced loads, but info on these loads is hard to find. Haven't tried pistol powder they build pressure to fast for my liking. The loads Mitch talks about with filler some fillers left rings in the barrel I think Kapok was one of those.

[mitch_mckee]

Originally Posted by big boomer

I have used powder specially for reduced loads, but info on these loads is hard to find. Haven't tried pistol powder they build pressure to fast for my liking. The loads Mitch talks about with filler some fillers left rings in the barrel I think Kapok was one of those.

I've not seen any barrel damage but the powder charges are low, low, low. 2.5 to 4.5 grains of Unique.

That poly does leave residue in the barrel but it comes out easy.

[DWFan]

You might look into using Trail Boss as a powder. It's very bulky and should give a better case fill than other powders.

[jimkim]

I used to load the hornady 110 grain bullet with 9 grains of unique I would call and verify with customer service though. I know Ive read of .32 cal pistol bullets being used in every thing from .30-30 to .30-06

I didnt use filler.

[Rex in OTZ]

I had a replica remington rolling block that hadent shot so well useing the Federal 350gr hollow points I had they were shooting a foot high and 5 inches to the left so I had the kids this winter load up those Federal cases for my 45-70 useing some sweet looking hollowpoint all lead slugs "buffalow bullet" for some sort of muzzle loader 350gr slugs they were were measuring .458 and we even had some .458 Hornaday swaged lead round ball's from My cap & ball revolver "EMF 1860" all loads useing Pyrodex ctg powder dropped out a muzzleloader powder measure (60gr on the hollow points and 30 on the ball's) they all shot spot on! I think that rolling block wasent happy with those High velocity Federal loades .

[just_a_car]

Since the .30-30 is compared to the 7.62x39 so much, you may want to look at this page, I plan on doing some of these when I actually get a reloading setup: VC HomePage

[BPierce]

Years ago, I developed a reduced load for my 30/06. I used 168gr bullets I cast myself with a gascheck. I used Red Dot powder and for top accuracy I would point the muzzle up then lower it to a shooting position prior to every shot. Ballisticly they were the same as a 30/30 and fun to shoot as I got MOA accuracy and a mild recoil.