I just purchased a new Contender 14in 30-30 barrel and need to break it in. After some reasearch on low-horsepower loads, I came across a load in an old Winchester powder manual. (18.7gr of 296 & 110gr roundnose SP) Since I have 3lbs of 296 this sounds interesting, however I have never loaded any thing with this low of a load density. Has anybody out there tried anything similar, and what were your results. Any other suggestions? Thanks in advance...
Jim

On my contender I shoot the 170 gn bullets (Beginning load in the RCBS book 11) and found them very accurate. The recoil is much lighter than a 240 grain 44 magnum. After shooting it, clean it out with a good copper solvent and have no fear!

Just shoot it. Forget barrel break-in, unless you are going to shoot a bunch of lead bullets and need a real smooth bore.

It's not a bench rest gun, by any stretch of the imagination (although Contenders can be quite accurate), and even the bench rest shooters can't agree on barrel break-in.

Isn't a lot of published data using 296 in low volume loads...kind of suspicious of that. WW always did print warnings, but I guess people ignore them. Have found a few poublished loads using H110 in reduced amounts...and H-110 is about as close to 296 as it's possible to get, so at least one manual saw fit to print the loads. Unfortuatly, the data is for 175 and 180gr. cast bullets (RCBS Cast Bullet Manual).

Just a little concerned that the other manuals pretty much ignore 296 for use in reduced loads...may be that the WW warnings have a basis in fact.

As to why the reduced loads...why not? Cars have acceleartors to allow varible speeds to suit your needs, why not rifles?

After my original post I found a similar load in the Speer #10 (16 to 18gr 296 and the same for H110 w/ 110gr bullets) however they used Mag primers. They show 1570 to 1780fps from a 10in barrel. The load in my original post (from a Winchester pamphlet) was with a standard primer. By the way, what is generally recommended for a Contender Pistol or Rifle primers? I`ve always heard T/Cs have rough barrels thats why I was going to do the shoot/clean, shoot/clean, ect. thing. Thanks again for your response.
Jim

After my original post I found a similar load in the Speer #10 (16 to 18gr 296 and the same for H110 w/ 110gr bullets) however they used Mag primers. They show 1570 to 1780fps from a 10in barrel. The load in my original post (from a Winchester pamphlet) was with a standard primer. By the way, what is generally recommended for a Contender Pistol or Rifle primers? I`ve always heard T/Cs have rough barrels thats why I was going to do the shoot/clean, shoot/clean, ect. thing. Thanks again for your response.
Jim

You found a WW load using 296 in this application? Have you found any recent data other than the old #10 Speer?

Would use Speer's recommendation for a mag. primer. While not as hard to light off as some rifle powders, in the handgun loads it normally used in, mag. primers are recommended...can't see where loading it to lower density would help it ignite.

Let the barrel tell you what it needs. A quick colvent patch will remove the powder fouling and with a bore light (or light refected off a patch placed 1" down the bore) will show the metal fouling.

One idea that does seem to work for "break in loads" is a heavier bullet...more bearing area, more bore contact, faster results.