Your favorite powder for 30 WCF?

KentuckyLevrgunr · Post by **KentuckyLevrgunr** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 12:15 am

I've finally got my dies, primers, cases and 170 grain Hornady InterLocks, but I haven't decided on a powder. I really don't get much range time to experiment with several different powders, so what do yall think I should start out with for the best accuracy? I'll be shooting a '79 Winchester 94 30-30 with a 20" barrel. The rifle will mostly be used for punching paper, knocking over bowling pins at 100 yards or so, and maybe killing a zombie here and there, so high velocity is not really a must (the zombies around here are on the scrawney side).

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 12:26 am

IMR 3031

Sarge · Post by **Sarge** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 1:13 am

H4895 has given me the best combination of factory velocity & excellent accuracy, among the numerous rifle powders I've tried in this cartridge.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 1:28 am

Another vote for 3031.

piller · Post by **piller** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 2:17 am

IMR3031 works well for me. It doesn't give the fastest velocity, but it is good enough, and the accuracy is what makes it really shine.

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 7:30 am

Reloader 15 or H335.

huntershooter · Post by **huntershooter** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 7:38 am

RL15.

Swampman · Post by **Swampman** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 7:40 am

Varget

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 7:54 am

The 4895 has worked great for me, but it is the only powder I've used. I shoot lead 170 grain cast.

jdad · Post by **jdad** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 8:21 am

30 grains of W748

txpete · Post by **txpete** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 8:28 am

AA2520

Terry Murbach · Post by **Terry Murbach** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 8:28 am

W-W 748...

IMR3031....

NOT TO EVEN MENTION....WELL I WON'T MENTION IT I GUESS...

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 8:37 am

I think U should mention it Terry

Old Time Hunter · Post by **Old Time Hunter** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 8:44 am

Sarge wrote:H4895 has given me the best combination of factory velocity & excellent accuracy, among the numerous rifle powders I've tried in this cartridge.

Ditto!

jlchucker · Post by **jlchucker** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 8:47 am

You can't go wrong with 3031 or 748. I started my loading years ago with these two powders and they are still my favorites.

Swampman · Post by **Swampman** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:06 am

The reason I like Varget is that it works well in many levergun calibers.

Post by **Hobie** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:08 am

IMR3031

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:32 am

rl15 for 170's , ww748 for 150's and 5744 for cast of anyweight.

CEMENTHEAD · Post by **CEMENTHEAD** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:34 am

IMR 3031 or RL 15..........................maybe VARGET in a pinch.

SoftwarePro · Post by **SoftwarePro** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:50 am

I don't have a favorite yet as I'm still learning. Has anyone tried H322? I've seen that recommended for CLAS and am thinking about trying it out.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:14 am

My favorite powder for the 30-30 is Winchester 748.
Specifically 34.5grs of 748 under a 150gr jacketed bullet of the rifles choice, sparked by a Winchester WLR primer.
I've used this load for over 30 years and have had excellent results from it in every 30-30 I've shot it through.

Joe

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:18 am

I like Varget. Good velocity for less pressure.
It does like to run "near max" loads though.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:25 am

Preference: Reloader 7
Second pref: IMR 3031

Warhawk · Post by **Warhawk** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 12:11 pm

I use a lot of H-335, and have found that it works well in the 30-30. Also use it in .223 and .45-70 loads.

It's a ball powder and meters extremely well, I learned a long time ago that thrown charges of H-335 were just as accurate for me as weighed charges. I no longer weigh them all with this powder.

I've also used Varget, another very versatile powder.

BigSky56 · Post by **BigSky56** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 1:14 pm

R15 and 5744. danny

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 1:24 pm

No body mentioned h322, I did ok with it and h4895 oh and then there was BL-C2 and blue dot with cast slugs. Then there was the time I used up the last of my h4350 and some reloader 12.

It'll use quite a range.

Nath.

Modoc ED · Post by **Modoc ED** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 1:56 pm

IMR-3031

Leverdude · Post by **Leverdude** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 3:25 pm

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 3:34 pm

I shoot a LOT of silhouette with my .30-30. 25 grains of 3031 and a 170 grain cast gaschecked bullet. Works for me.

Machado · Post by **Machado** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 3:48 pm

jnyork wrote:I shoot a LOT of silhouette with my .30-30. 25 grains of 3031 and a 170 grain cast gaschecked bullet. Works for me.

Ditto. My load exactly for Big-Bore Silhouette. I shoot a 10" Contender.
Antonio

Old Time Hunter · Post by **Old Time Hunter** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:54 pm

How can you guys still shoot that IMR stuff? In this day and age would it not be better to use the Hodgdon's Extreme powders to elliminate the ambient temperature variances? I get a 200fps difference between -20* F and +90*F with the IMR vs. maybe 20-25 fps from the equivalent Hodgdon's.

iceman · Post by **iceman** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:23 pm

How can I still use that IMR stuff? 'cause it works.

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:37 pm

Old Time Hunter wrote:How can you guys still shoot that IMR stuff? In this day and age would it not be better to use the Hodgdon's Extreme powders to elliminate the ambient temperature variances? I get a 200fps difference between -20* F and +90*F with the IMR vs. maybe 20-25 fps from the equivalent Hodgdon's.

Dude!!

How can you guys still live in a climate like that?

I only have to worry about the difference between 60 degrees and 85 degrees. IMR work great!

pokey · Post by **pokey** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:54 pm

AJMD429 wrote:The 4895 has worked great for me, but it is the only powder I've used. I shoot lead 170 grain cast.

"imr4895"

me too.

salvo · Post by **salvo** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 11:24 pm

20cows · Post by **20cows** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 11:31 pm

WW 748 in a trapper.

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 6:24 am

Old Time Hunter wrote:How can you guys still shoot that IMR stuff? In this day and age would it not be better to use the Hodgdon's Extreme powders to elliminate the ambient temperature variances? I get a 200fps difference between -20* F and +90*F with the IMR vs. maybe 20-25 fps from the equivalent Hodgdon's.

Me n't gun stay in at -20f and 90f OTHunter

N

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 9:02 am

I used Reloder 12 (not available now unfortunately) with 165gr Sierras in my 14" Contender with great success in silhouette.
Also used 748 and reloder 7.

Based on all the replies here I am going to try 3031

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 9:53 am

Borregos if you liked rl12 , you'll really like rl15.

jlchucker · Post by **jlchucker** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 10:53 am

Old Time Hunter wrote:How can you guys still shoot that IMR stuff? In this day and age would it not be better to use the Hodgdon's Extreme powders to elliminate the ambient temperature variances? I get a 200fps difference between -20* F and +90*F with the IMR vs. maybe 20-25 fps from the equivalent Hodgdon's.

I never worried about ambient temperature variances. Was I supposed to? Where I live, 20 below is not unusual in the winter, and in the summer there are some days in the 90's. I guess I didn't read the gunmag that says that I should worry about these variances. I just started using 3031 in my 30-30 loads back in 1972 and have been hitting my targets (hard) ever since. I don't even have to re-zero my rifles when I use a box of ammo that I've loaded with 748.

KentuckyLevrgunr · Post by **KentuckyLevrgunr** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 1:31 pm

So what kind of 100 yard groups are yall getting with your preferred powders? Roughly what should I expect of my rifle?

Boreman · Post by **Boreman** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 1:38 pm

A vote for IMR 3031 and Re-7.

Sarge · Post by **Sarge** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 1:53 pm

KentuckyLevrgunr wrote:So what kind of 100 yard groups are yall getting with your preferred powders? Roughly what should I expect of my rifle?

I don't shoot much at 100 yards these days unless I'm trying to improve my offhand shooting. I'm locky to be able to test loads at a tad over 200 yards and never leave the place to do it. H4895 gave by far the best accuracy in this 94AE. I'll admit the group pictured is the best one I fired; those three 'felt' perfect when they broke. Routine groups at this range ran just over 3-4 inches for 3 shots (rested shooting) so the load & rifle were plenty accurate.

2X22 · Post by **2X22** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 3:54 pm

IMR3031

2x22

shooter · Post by **shooter** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 4:42 pm

Just picked up some IMR 3031 and Reloader 7 today after reading this thread. I chose those two because of the good reviews on here, and because there are some good loads for the 45-70 with those two powders.

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 5:24 pm

Last trip to the range with my Marlin 336XLR I fired two five shot groups with each of two bullets. The 150 gr. Sierra FP and the 150gr. Winchester FP bullets over 34.5 gr. (max. load)
of Varget Gave me 1" groups @100yd. as the best with each bullet. The 2-7X Leupold is a great help here.

The other two groups had at least one flier but the wind was gusty, blowing my target frame over three times during the day.

1894cfan · Post by **1894cfan** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:56 pm

9.0gr Trail Boss with Hornady 86gr JSP. For 150/170gr either BLC-2, 748 or IMR3031, in that order. HTH

woods-walker · Post by **woods-walker** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 9:48 pm

It depends......W748, Varget, IMR 3031 and Unique are all very useful propellents for the .30 wcf

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 10:14 pm

Reloder 7. Have tried 3031, 4320, both IMR & H4895, it's always been back to the RL-7. Hodgdon's BL-C(2) is next on the list to try. Not that I'm dissatisfied with RL-7, just that you never know where you'll find the next best thing since sliced bread.

KSRtrd · Post by **KSRtrd** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 11:20 pm

3031 and unique