More is not always better

[8X56MS]

I am continuing to work on my 30-30 loads. My little 336Y Marlin with the 16 inch barrel is still happy with the factory Remington 150 grain Core-Lokt ammo. These group between 1.5 and 2 inches at 100 yards.
I wanted to try the load I worked up for the Savage Model 170 pump, in the short barreled lever gun.
I first tried the original load, which was 34.5 grains of IMR4320 pushing a Speer 170 grain flat point jacketed bullet. This gave a group much like the 150 grain Remington factory load.
Then I tried the second loading, which is 34 grains of the same powder, with the same bullets.
Group size dropped down to between 1 and 1.5 inches. Going back to the 34.5 grain load, the group size went back to the bigger spread.
I tried switching several times, with consistant results. The load with 34 grains of 4320 is just more accurate in the Marlin.

In the Savage 170, the difference could not be seen, but with the lever gun, it was dramatic.

[270man]

8X56,

I, too, am a Marlin lever fan. My 30-30 is a model 336CS with 20" barrel. I didn't get your excellent groups with mine but they were pretty good and I tried once with a scope sight. For regular carry, the Marlin wears a Lyman peep sight. Some comments and questions: (1) How is the muzzle blast with that short barrel? (2) Do you have any application for the 170gr bullet as opposed to the 150gr? I get almost identical accuracy with the two and see no need for the slower 170gr bullet. If I ever use the Marlin for big game hunting it will be for deer and the 150gr bullet is more than adequate. Friend of mine in Alaska has shot several moose with his 30-30 but I don't know what bullet weight he used. Might be a good case for the 170gr there. (3) I like your choice of powder and would suggest you could use Hodgdon Varget with no change in charge weights. Hodgdon once sold H4320 but I never used any, having always loaded with IMR4320 in my 6mm varmint loads. When I ran out of IMR4320 and got a good deal on Varget, I found that they seem to be identical. In fact, the loading manuals list identical Varget charge weights for several of my old favorite IMR 4320 loads.

Just my 2-cents,

270man

[earschplitinloudenboomer]

...good common sense guns... good common sense loads... what the hell's wrong with you guys!!!! (Could it be common sense?)

[8X56MS]

270man, the intended use for this Marlin is hog hunting. I prefer the heavier bullets in a 30-30 for hogs. As to your question about muzzle blast, I don't notice any difference between that 16 inch carbine, and the 20 inch Savage 170 Pump I was also shooting that day.
At the range Saturday, I was shooting down at the end where the County SWAT guys shoot. Their spotter watched my shooting, as said that he was pretty amazed that a 'darn 30-30' was that accurate. Frankly, so was I.

[Rapier]

Hey 8x56,
I used the 170 FP Speer in my 30-30 Merill on a boar. Shot him over near Perry, they have a lot of hogs in that area. The bullet traveled 18 - 24 inches in the hog and dropped him with one shot, stone dead. Recovered bullet was 69 caliber and weighed 154 grains. Bullet entered below the horizontal eye plane, slightly to the left of center and traveled the full length of the neck, just behind the left leg bone and ending up behind the left shoulder against the plate. Darn good bullet for hogs in a 30-30.
Ed

[8X56MS]

Rapier,

I know the Perry area well.
Thanks for the heads up on the Speer performance. I was hoping it would be a good bullet for hogs. What you report is better performance than I have gotten with the Remington factory Core-Lokt 150 grain.
The next hog hunt up in SW Georgia is scheduled for the 29th of July. I am ready!!

[Lone Star]

Speer HotCore bullets typically give deeper penetration than conventional bullets like the Sierra, Hornady and Remington. They expand into smaller mushrooms and maintain their weight without jacket separation, but still make good wound channels for quick kills. I use them a lot and find them a great alternative to some of the new "premium" bullets if that last little bit of performance isn't needed (at the much high premium price).

[duckndawg]

try 32-35 grains of H380 and a 150 gr. bullet. It is a good combination.

"duckndawg"

[Rocky Raab]

Welcome to Hunt Chat, duckndawg.

It's heartwarming when a new member's first post GIVES something rather than asks for it!

You'll fit in well here, I wager.

[duckndawg]

don't wanna piss anyone off but it felt good for a first post.


"duckndawg"