.30/30: cast bullets and IMR 4320

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Just curious....does anyone have a load for the .30/30 Winchester using 170-173 grain cast FP bullets (with gas check) and IMR 4320 powder? None of my data lists this powder. If so, what would be a good jumping off point? Thanks in advance.

[Rocky Raab]

I haven't yet, but that's an interesting idea. IMR 4320 is a titch slower than 4895, so you could use 4895 loads as a starting point (and there are plenty of books that list such loads).

I'd use it only with gas checked bullets, though. Slower powders have the reputation of burning/melting the base of the bullet worse than fast powders. That destroys accuracy and causes massive leading in the barrel, as you might suppose.

As an example out of my own experiments with cast bullets in the 30-30, I use plain base bullets with 7.0 grains of 700X or RedDot for 1200 fps and great accuracy.

But when I nudge the velocities up by going to 4198 or 3031 or such, the accuracy goes to heck and the barrel fills with lead. Simply switching to gas check bullets cures both problems.

[Catfish]

In the older Layman loading manuals they list a fair amount of data for cast bullets. They do not list any powders nearly as slow as 4320. I have a burn rate chart that list 4320 as number 109 on it. The slowest powder that the Layman Manual list for the 173 grn. gas checked bullet is 4756, and they have that powder listed at number 45. The fastest load they list is 11.5 grns. of Hero at 1538 fps. Starting load for Hero is 9 grns. Layman manual no.45 has data for 700X, PB.. SR-7625, SR-4756,Red Dot, Unique, Green Dot, and Herco. Velosity ranges from abt. 1,100 fps to 1,568 fps. If you can`t find data any where drop me a PM and I`ll PM what I have to you.

[BlueMoon]

I have used the 4320 with a 30/30 just like you, with 173grn lead gc'd bullets. The data is just about the same as 4064 or 4895 with 30.0-32.0 grns giving around 2000fps. Even down to 28.0grns for a little less velocity. My rifle likes the hard cast bullets around 2000fps for accuracy.

Bill