Hello handloaders,
I'm relatively new to the 30-30 hand loading, although I've hand loaded for 30+ years. I bought a 30-30 last April and began a quest to find a good accurate load for it. I tried several bullet weights and powders. I didn't find anything outstanding. Most of my groups were 3 to 4 inches at 100 yards. I settled on the 160 ftx over 30 grs of IMR 4895. Groups usually ran about 2.5 to 3 inches. I even managed to harvest 2 deer with that load but I wanted a little better accuracy. A little frustrated with the lack of accuracy I sent the gun to Mic McPherson. It came back a shooter. I can now get groups around 1 inch and under using just about anything I load. On Mic's suggestion I got some 130 gr Speers. I also found a can of Hornady's new powder. There is no published data for that weight bullet using that powder that I have found with the exception of some guys test he did using it. I also contacted Hornady and they said they had no data.
I loaded up a few rounds at 2.5 under the max load I saw. Right out of the gate I got at least 1 inch groups using 40 grs of LVR. Interesting thing on the day I shot it I also tried two other powders with the 130. I used a max load of Varget 36 grs and IMR 4064 35.5 grs. They both grouped under an inch. However, the LVR load point of impact was a full 2 inches higher than the IMR and Varget with the same POI. To me this may be a substantial increase in velocity. I decided to clock the LVR load. On the first attempt it was a bright sunny day and I got quite a few errors. When it did register it was over 2500 fps. I didn't believe it so I discounted the info thinking my chrony was on the blink considering the errors. I tried again with a dozen rounds on a later date on a slightly overcast day and did not get the first error. All recorded rounds were between 2559 and 2540 fps. Yahoo, now I've loaded a ladder to find the node that will give me the best accuracy and the best velocity. I now regardless of the ladder test have a legitimate 200 yd deer rifle in the 30-30 caliber. Anything over that distance I have other guns to shoot. It has been the journey that has been fun.
If any of you guys have any info on the lvr powder with the 130 gr bullet weight please post them. I would appreciate it. I will share any future data that I find also.
Thanks,
Cliff
I'm relatively new to the 30-30 hand loading, although I've hand loaded for 30+ years. I bought a 30-30 last April and began a quest to find a good accurate load for it. I tried several bullet weights and powders. I didn't find anything outstanding. Most of my groups were 3 to 4 inches at 100 yards. I settled on the 160 ftx over 30 grs of IMR 4895. Groups usually ran about 2.5 to 3 inches. I even managed to harvest 2 deer with that load but I wanted a little better accuracy. A little frustrated with the lack of accuracy I sent the gun to Mic McPherson. It came back a shooter. I can now get groups around 1 inch and under using just about anything I load. On Mic's suggestion I got some 130 gr Speers. I also found a can of Hornady's new powder. There is no published data for that weight bullet using that powder that I have found with the exception of some guys test he did using it. I also contacted Hornady and they said they had no data.
I loaded up a few rounds at 2.5 under the max load I saw. Right out of the gate I got at least 1 inch groups using 40 grs of LVR. Interesting thing on the day I shot it I also tried two other powders with the 130. I used a max load of Varget 36 grs and IMR 4064 35.5 grs. They both grouped under an inch. However, the LVR load point of impact was a full 2 inches higher than the IMR and Varget with the same POI. To me this may be a substantial increase in velocity. I decided to clock the LVR load. On the first attempt it was a bright sunny day and I got quite a few errors. When it did register it was over 2500 fps. I didn't believe it so I discounted the info thinking my chrony was on the blink considering the errors. I tried again with a dozen rounds on a later date on a slightly overcast day and did not get the first error. All recorded rounds were between 2559 and 2540 fps. Yahoo, now I've loaded a ladder to find the node that will give me the best accuracy and the best velocity. I now regardless of the ladder test have a legitimate 200 yd deer rifle in the 30-30 caliber. Anything over that distance I have other guns to shoot. It has been the journey that has been fun.
If any of you guys have any info on the lvr powder with the 130 gr bullet weight please post them. I would appreciate it. I will share any future data that I find also.
Thanks,
Cliff