Yes, Bobby, there Really Is a 30-30 Winchester Cartridge Part 2

The quest, since the advent of the M16 and AR15, has been to give these rifles the approximate power of the 30-30 Winchester. The 7.62x39mm, 300 Blackout, 30 Remington AR all do just about that, so please don’t mock my theory. My thought is why not just skip the whole Lego rifle thing and start with a better solution, like a slick walnut and blued steel lever action 30-30 WCF carbine? While the AR smacks of ever changing trends and just built yesterday freshness, the carbine looks and feels like the history of America. I’ve told the story of this rifle before, several times in fact, so I won’t do it again, but I will say we will celebrate the 58th anniversary of our collaboration this Christmas.

Ammunition was assembled using an RCBS full length resizing die set and Lee Precision factory crimp die. Full length resizing was done because the 30-30 Winchester case is relatively flimsy and stretches quite a bit and because I also use my 30-30 WCF ammo in my single shot T/C pistol. All bullets have cannelures and the cannelures were used to set seating depth. All loads cleared rifling and all cycled and fired without incidence. Pressures were held to CIP standards, or 46,412 psi.

Cartridge: 30-30 Winchester  Firearm: Marlin Model 336 COL: 2.550″  Bullet Diameter: 0.308″ – 0.309″  Primer: CCI 200  Barrel: 20.0″  Reloading Dies: RCBS + Lee Crimp  Max case length: 2.040″  Groups: 100 Yards 3 Shots Max Loads, back off 5% and work up as needed and safe

COL and Capacity   Load Data & Performance Bullet Type Bullet Weight C.O.L. Inches Case Grains Water   Powder Charge Grains Muzzle Velocity FPS Muzzle Energy Ft/Lbs 100 Yard Group Inches Barnes X HP 150 2.475 33.2   Win 748 32.0 2127 1507 1.5 Barnes X HP 150 2.475 33.2   IMR 3031 30.0 2177 1579 1.6 Speer FNSP 150 2.550 37.3   Win 748 35.5 2300 1762 1.3 Speer FNSP 150 2.550 37.3   IMR 3031 33.5 2424 1958 1.4 Hornady FTX 160 2.550 33.7   Win 748 33.0 2248 1796 1.2 Hornady FTX 160 2.550 33.7   IMR 3031 31.0 2235 1775 1.0 Oregon Trail 170 2.540 36.0   Win 748 33.8 2228 1874 1.4 Oregon Trail 170 2.540 36.0   IMR 3031 32.0 2320 2032 1.2 Sierra FN 170 2.530 35.2   Win 748 33.0 2107 1676 1.3 Sierra FN 170 2.530 35.2   IMR 3031 31.5 2218 1857 1.0

For folks used to seeing 1/4″ groups out of every rifle making an appearance on the Internet, accuracy may not look that great, but this is about as good as it and rifles like it actually shoot and this one has seen a great deal of use. Accuracy is more than sufficient for deer, bear and hogs.

The powder selection was easy; these work and have for a long time. Newer powders were also tried, but none demonstrated a level of performance to displace the two noted here. Most of the newer powders I’ve tried recently tend to run higher in pressure without a comparable increase in velocity.