1894 30wcf Winchester.....

[cmh]

Picked up a nice old 1894 winchester rifle today chambered in 30wcf. Since I was a kid I have always wanted a 94 with a octagonal barrel. Found this one for a real deal and I knew it was old .... but not sure how old. Made in 1910.... the year my Grandfather was born. Funny thing is I picked up three hundred rounds of brass in this caliber and didnt own anything to use it in.... now I do 😉

[awp101]

Sounds like you've done well. What's the barrel length?

[cmh]

To be honest I havent taken a tape to it yet... Picked it up on the way to the plant. Its a rifle and not a carbine and look forward to shooting it. Have already scoped ouy Mr Quinns gunblast article using the 150 Barnes..... would like to find a good 'yote bullet/load as well 😉

[cherokeetracker]

Sounds like a great find. Badman bullets usually has some 135 grain cast for the 30 cal. I think they are out. Acme has some 115 grain that will work for your coyote loads. If you ever need,remember you can size down some 32-20 bullets to .309 or .311 whatever your gun slugs. Magnus makes some bullets as well. Paco Kelly has some good reading on the 30-30 Varmint rifle to give you more ideas. Unique or 2400 in small amounts like 6-10 grains usually take the task of the Varmint Loads in stride.

[Rimfire69]

Your 100 + year old rifle sounds like a fine candidate for mild loads and cast bullets, mine is 40 yrs newer and is reserved for cast only.
I have current 30-30s that get full power and jacketed bullets, I'm just old school I guess, I cant make terms like 30 WCF and Barnes work in the same sentence ( except for this ).
Let us know what you come up with when you start shooting it.

[cherokeetracker]

I have shot both kinds of bullets from my Old Winchester, and will not debate on this. I got back on here to say that I found the 30-30 to be a lot of fun, and handloading for it opened up a new (barn door wide) door for it. I have recently chosen to go with both sets of dies for it. I am using the RCBS tapered crimp die and the "Cowboy die" for the cast bullets. Even though the intended crimp dies are great, I have found that the tapered crimp dies can be used and actually are better suited for some of the different bullets.
The cast boolits forum has lots on the Varmint loads for the 30-30
The Marlin rifles are the ones that can be used for a hot rod and the Winchester should be kept at or under Sammi specs. IMHO
When loaded correct they will take a lot of game, and are a barrel of fun.

[Fowler]

Yea I have really enjoyed my 30/30 with the RCBS 30-180-FNGC bullet, drops about 190gr but is very accurate and over the old Jim Taylor load of 26gr gr of W335 goes right at 1800fps and is a fine everyday working load that I wouldnt hesitate to hunt with. Heck I have shot lots of 150 or 180gr cast bullets over 7gr of Red Dot for a "plinker" load that still goes 1300fps Id guess. My oldest son started shooting that load at 8 years old and enjoyed it a lot.

[magnumwheelman]

I have one as well... came from my FIL's collection... not sure how old it is... likely much newer ( round barrel ) still marked 30 WCF though, so not too new

[cmh]

Has a 26" barrel.... would like and appreciate any of your good shootin oet loads. Not looking for rocks and dynamite and would be interested in your powder/s of choice and your cast bullets as well as the mold number. Thanks, Craig

[cherokeetracker]

I don't shoot rocks and dynamite loads with my Winchesters. For full power loads I have found H335 good and have even used RE7. I am also trying the Leverevolution. If you attempt to duplicate the Hornady loads, and word of caution. You will need to shorten your brass if you want to use the 160 gr FTX Bullets. If you choose not to shorten the brass and still want to use the FTX bullet, then I suggest using a taper crimp die. The bullets have to be seated a little deeper than the Factory crimp if the brass is not trimmed. Otherwise they do not work in the lever rifles.
Remington Cor-Lokt is still a good jacketed bullet. Winchester made some excellent 175gr silver tip but have discontinued them. who knows you might find some.
Lead bullets I have had good success with 160-165 grain Ranch Dog 311-165-RF and the 170-175 I have loaded up some from the Lee 309-170f mold. They dropped closer to 180 grs instead of 170 All summer long I tried to get to the range when the wind would not blow my chronograph over, but no success. I did shoot a few just to see which was more accurate. The LVR won out with RE7 a close second. Two people I know use the same bullet and same alloy with 30.5 grains of IMR 4064 But they shoot Marlins. You can drop down a little and work slow. Although I don't think this would be too hot for a winny.
Milder loads use Varget, or IMR 4198 Remember that 1800-2000 FPS is really good for the 30-30 1700 to 1750 FPS works too And for Varmint you can use several different powders. Red Dot, Bullseye, Unique, Trailboss, Titegroup and H4227. If you like the Varmint loads then Speer makes a jacketed bullet 110 grains that is good 1855 Hot Core. Clip the nose off so it will be safe in the feeding Tube. You will not loose any accuracy at 100 yds. I have done it with Hornady 130 grain but load them with 2400 or IMR 4227. Lee makes a mold for a 90-SWC TL314-90-SWC great little soup can SWC that can be loaded with like 6.0 grains of Bullseye. It is accurate to 50 yds. You need to use a pistol primer on the light loads. Squirrel loads are a Lee 311 round ball over 3.0 grains of a fast pistol powder Titegroup or Bullseye, roll the ball in alox and use it in an unsized case. dropped halfway into the neck with a little taper crimp. You have a 30-30 22...
Get a 110-130 grain cast bullet (Lyman 31108) with 85% capacity of Trailboss, and you can use it past 100 yards.
But Best for last,,, Slug your gun barrel to see if it is .309 or if it is .311 You can get a Lee .309 Sizing die and it will let you use 32 caliber bullets, sized down.
Softer alloys work great in the 30-30 with it running 1700 to 1800 FPS.