I just attempted to load my first batch of 30-30 ammo for my newly acquired Marlin 336 Cowboy. I am trying to load Speer 110 grain JHPs for general plinking/varmint conrol, however, when I tried to test fit them in my 336, they seem to be too long. I am loading them to an OAL of 2.440" which is the suggested length in two of my manuals. I get a little nervous seating bullets deaper than reccomended due to possible pressure issues. The powder charge I'm trying to use is 34 gr. of AA2230. This is two grains below the max load of 36 grains. Anyone with experience loading these bullets, or with any information that might help me is encouraged to respond to this post.

Thank You,
HRF

The Speer number 13 manual has a cautionary note about these bullets and the short throats in some of the newer 30-30s. They list C.O.L of 2.415 and the note says they might not work at this length.

I will also tell you that this particular Speer manual lists the start load of AA2230 at 27 grains and the max load at 31 grains with this bullet.

I just attempted to load my first batch of 30-30 ammo for my newly acquired Marlin 336 Cowboy. I am trying to load Speer 110 grain JHPs for general plinking/varmint conrol, however, when I tried to test fit them in my 336, they seem to be too long. I am loading them to an OAL of 2.440" which is the suggested length in two of my manuals. I get a little nervous seating bullets deaper than reccomended due to possible pressure issues. The powder charge I'm trying to use is 34 gr. of AA2230. This is two grains below the max load of 36 grains. Anyone with experience loading these bullets, or with any information that might help me is encouraged to respond to this post.

Thank You,
HRF

OPDRRifleman
My Speer manual#12(1994)lists COL 2.415 with their 110 grain bullet.
I shoot,in my Winchester "94,a cast bullet with a meplat similar to that bullet.My max COL is 2.550,though.
The max charge with AA2230 with the 110 grain bullet is 31 grains with a Velocity of 2296 PS.(in Speer #12)
Double check your loading data,it may be outdated.
Frank

SPEER says
"Since the last Speer manual was released, several makes of 30-30 rifles appeared with much shorter throats than previously seen. Although within industry specs, these short throats preclude loading the 110 grain Varminter HP to the listed length. Before loading this bullet for your rifle, make A dummy round to test for throat interferance."
This round won't fit in my Winchester either.
I had to seat the bullets back to the grove farther twards the front of the bullet.

One way to look at this is that your pressure will probably be a little bit LESS seated that tiny amunt deeper than it would be with the bullet jammed up tight against the lands.

That bullet is pretty good about coming apaert at short range...and a varmint bullet probably should do that. Will expand well down to about 1300-1400fps, which is a pretty good distance out there when started at 2600-2700fps.

24 inc bbl on the CB, I'll say it one more time. Light 110 gn to 125 gn bullets, 30-30 BLC#2 is a marriage with no divorce. Once you go this route you'll love it for life. Start at 36gns and work up it shoots very flat and is devastating.

Well, I finally got the cartridge to chamber. OAL ended up at 2.355". That put it right about to the second (forward) groove on the bullet. I called Speer and talked to one of their techs about the situation. He advised me that this particular bullet works OK in older 30-30 chambered rifles, but the newer ones have shorter throats; thus my problem. A warning on the box would have been helpful. I have a Speer #11 manual that is about 20 years old. It doesn't have the note on OAL published in the newer ones. The most puzzling thing about all this is the charge weight for AA2230. Both my AA manual, and my brand new Lee manual, list charge weights from about 32.5 to 36 grains for 110 grain bullets. According to the Speer tech, and the responses above, the max charge for 2230 is 31 grains. I suppose this might be the data specifically for the Speer 110 grain seated deep in the case, whereas my manuals are for a "generic" 110 grain bullet. Still I'm surprised that the difference is so great. I thought I was erring on the side of safety with my starting load, now I see it was over the reccomeded max! Oh, well. Live and learn.

HRF

OPDRifleman,
As you indicated, the AA #2 manual lists 36 grs. of 2230 as max with a 110 gr. bullet in the .30-30. A max of 31.6 grs is shown....... but with a heavier 150 gr. bullet.

I would suggest backing off 10% and load 2 cartridges @ 32.5 grs., 2 @ 34.0 and 2 @ 35.0 and 2 @ 36 grs.
Shoot them in that order and stop if you encounter any problems.

Personally, I shoot the 110 Sierra HP in the .30-30 using H335 which is close to 2230. I can get 2,800 f.p.s. in a 26" barrel.

Good luck. PLease let us know how your testing goes.

John

Checking my notes I see that I had better than expected results loading 110 gr. Remington bullets over 33 1/2 gr. of 4895, seated to a OAL of 2.46".
I loaded these before I had a digital camera so I do not have a picture of any groups shot. Nor were they chronographed, just the notation that they shot better than I expected they would in a M94 Trapper.