Interesting question!

 

I'd probably just stick with using the 170gr that always grouped best out of my 30-30... assuming it still did if I chopped it etc. I don't think I'd be too worried about a little loss in velocity myself to make much difference.
Good luck to you.

 

I shoot the 30-30 in a 14" Contender pistol barrel and velocity is very similar to what you get in a 20" carbine barrel. Not enough velocity loss to need to drop down in bullet weight, though I do like 130 grain single shot spire pointed bullets in the Contender for accuracy and ballistics. Here's an interesting article on the 30-30 that compared the Contender to a Marlin with a 20" barrel. Guessing your 16" will do fine, too, with standard 30-30 loads.

 

Whichever shoots the best from your shorty is the one to go with...but since you are a handloader, I bet you can get 170s to work. I'll NEVER shoot anything lighter than 170gr in my shorty.

 

The velocity drop is so minimal, its hardly noticeable. I personally like the 170 but shoot what your gun likes.

FWIW, when I chopped my 35, my groups got better.

 

Velocity gains are mostly seen from pistol length barrels to about 16",... from 16" to 20" very little change happens.

 

My Shorty Likes the Lee 170gr LRNFP w/ Copper GC over 28gr 3031.
Just Recently Reamed it Out to .30-30 AI & Need to See If she Still Does.
Was Also Thinkin 'bout goin to the Speer 130gr for Coyotes.
UncleSarge58

 

Mine and my wife's 18.5" barrel Texans do very well with max loaded 150's. They run over 2450fps. One must determine why you are concerned with greater velocity. Lighter bullets in the 30-30 offer more speed and slightly flatter trajectory to a point. Even 170's are pretty flat to almost 200 yards. At that distance the lighter bullets (125-130) shed speed at a greater rate than 150's and 170's. It is kind of a catch 22 of sorts. The difference in trajectory for lighter to heavier bullets shows up more for higher velocity rounds like the 270 Win and 30-06.

For the majority of us the lighter bullets offer an advantage more for reduction of hide damage and recoil.

For conventional bullets designed for tube magazines the 150's tend to be the flattest out at the longer ranges. The 170's hit a bit harder. Especially under 200yds they may be the optimum choice.

It is hard to find revolutionary performance previously undiscovered in a 120 year old cartridge. Personally, if I am hunting medium game with that rifle it would be a tough choice between a good flat point 150 or 170 with a near max charge that gives me the smallest groups. I would save the lighter bullets for youth shooters or handguns.

Your mileage may vary.

 

In my opinion, the primary concern is accuracy. Shoot a blunt tip soft tip into the animal's chest organs and its all over quickly. All conventional soft tips designed for 30-30 velocities seem to kill well due to optimal energy transfer and penetration through the vitals.

TR

 

Hello Marlin nation, just a quick question, what would YOUR preference be for a 16 inch rifle? Either 150 grain flat points, or 130 grain flat points?

I guess what I am asking, would I be better served with the heavy bullets and more penetration, or the lighter bullets and slightly more velocity? Since I'm already losing some velocity would it be wise to go with the 130's? Oh, I should mention, it's a 16 inch 336 in 30/30. These will be handloaded into R/P and WIN brass, with around 30gr. of H4895 powder. Id like to brew up 200-300 of these to be my hunting/utility/put-away ammo stash.

I did read through the "lighter bullets in 30/30 sticky" but not much reference was made to short barrel rifles, I apologize if this has been asked previously. Any input would be appreciated, thanks folks.

Hey mate just brought 30 30 but the end where it comes out is a lot smaller than the bullets is that normal

 

If you mean you can't get a bullet to fit in the muzzle that is normal. Your bullet in a 30-30 is .308 inch in diameter. The grooves diameter is .308. Not sure what a micro BORE diameter is but it will be somewhere near .300 give or take a few thou.

That allows the grooves to engage the bullet to give it spin for stabilization.

If the barrel stamping says 30-30 and the case head says 30-30 you are good to go.

Welcome to Marlin Owners.

 

I’ve seen them 125 hollow points blow straight through mule deer out to 120 yards +/-. However if you went with 150s or even 170s, it not like we buy a 30/30 for it’s laser beam trajectory or it’s blistering speeds. It’s that slow moving locomotive that works. Shoot what’s most accurate is what I vote for.

 

Yep...bore diameter is .303-.304 with groove diameter .3085-.3090. If loading jacketed bullets the the .308 diameter will work fine in your microgroove barrel and if loading cast the a .309-.310 cast is called for. Personally I would stay with 150-170 grain loads as I don't think your velocity loss will be much if any at all depending on powder you use. Might try a little faster powder than H4895 such as IMR4064.

 

I think I would try different powders and work up a load tell you get the velocity and accuracy that you want. I worked up a load of 130grn Speer HC at 2600fps from a 20" barrel 336 and put a few through my Uberti 26" barrel that clocked almost 2900fps. That matches the old saying of 50fps per inch of barrel. As stated above you might try a slightly faster powder like CFE223, BL-C2, Lvr or W748. If the 50fps rule holds true out of a 16" barrel you should be able to get 2400fpr with a 130grn bullet and 2200fps with a 150grn bullet which is about what you can expect with factory rounds from a 20" barrel. There are a lot of variables that will affect that though. Let us know how it works out.

 

We have revived a thread from 2015!

It's worth noting that Hodgdon has 14" pistol data for the 30-30 with 130, 150 and 170 grain bullets. Just go to their online data center, and check the pistol area, not the rifle area for those loads. I'd imagine that they chose 14" because of the 14" barreled TC Contender single shot pistol.

Regards, Guy

 

"...would I be better served with the heavy bullets and more penetration, or the lighter bullets and slightly more velocity? "


It's what I would call a distinction without a difference. Performance differences, trajectory-wise and in their effect on animals, will be pretty much undetectable in real life. Choose the one that gives the best accuracy in your rifle.

 

Hello Marlin nation, just a quick question, what would YOUR preference be for a 16 inch rifle? Either 150 grain flat points, or 130 grain flat points?

I guess what I am asking, would I be better served with the heavy bullets and more penetration, or the lighter bullets and slightly more velocity? Since I'm already losing some velocity would it be wise to go with the 130's? Oh, I should mention, it's a 16 inch 336 in 30/30. These will be handloaded into R/P and WIN brass, with around 30gr. of H4895 powder. Id like to brew up 200-300 of these to be my hunting/utility/put-away ammo stash.

I did read through the "lighter bullets in 30/30 sticky" but not much reference was made to short barrel rifles, I apologize if this has been asked previously. Any input would be appreciated, thanks folks.

Very good question. I guess it would boil down too, what are you going to hunt with that caliber. When I had a Savage 340 in 30 30, I reloaded some Hornady 130 grain spire points to hunt deer. I chose this weight to get higher velocities. The idea was to shoot deer at longer ranges. I loaded these at the maximum charge weight using H4895. I no longer have that rifle, but I do have two 30 30 lever rifles, a Marlin 336 and a Winchester 94. I no longer load anything less than a 150-grain bullet. I don't see the need for it. Your 16" barrel is only losing about 120 fps +/- velocity to my 20-inch barrel. Just a guess. IMO, most hunters that use a 30 30 are not going to take game past 150 to 200 yards. That is still within the capabilities of your 16" barreled rifle. I prefer the 170-grain bullet myself, and there really isn't much difference in significant drop from the 170 and 150 grain bullet at the shorter range this caliber is used for. Really, it is going to be your personal preference. What your rifle shoots best and what is best for your needs. That is something only you know. Good luck.