loading for a 1896 model 94 chambered in 30 WCF

[five.five-six]

A friend of mine just received a 94 in 30-30 from his F.I.L. We brought it to a trusted gunsmith who is taking it down and giving it the once over, but rifling looks good and my buddy wants to shoot it. The gunsmith says that it may be risky to fire modern 30-30 in it, I was thinking I could load up some light trail-boss loads for him, but in all honesty, I have no idea what I am talking about. Suggestions for loads for this old gun would be much appreciated.

[noylj]

It is a few years old and steel has improved. However, as far as I know, all .30-30 ammunition is loaded to be suitable for ALL .30-30 (.30WCF) in good working condition with proper head space.
You may want to be sure the barrel is completely clean as it could have quite a build up of copper and lead over years of shooting.
Finally, for all we know, it may be more valuable as a collector's item than as a shooter.

[five.five-six]

The barrel has more lint buildup than anything. In it's condition (60%) it values about $3k. he just wants me to make some lite loads for it...

[CSACANNONEER]

It was designed for 30 grains of black powder so, using the equivilent in a smokeless powder should work great. If you want a low recoil, fun plinking load, try 6.9 grain of Red Dot under a 150 grain hardcast bullet. It's almost like shooting a .22lr.

BTW, I shoot standard 30-30 loads in my 1899 vintage '94.

[John Browning]

What does the barrel say?

[wtkaiser]

What??? The .30-30 was ALWAYS designed for smokeless powder! That's why Winchester waited until 1895 to make sure they got the improved steel to use it. I have never read anything, anywhere that makes any differentiation at all regarding which .30-30 loads in what barrel years. It is true that the specifications of the loads have changed, but that's to be expected with improved powders and bullet jackets. To paraphrase Will Shakepeare, "A .30-30 is a .30-30 is a .30-30"

What you might have heard was that you had to reload the really old ones with BP, but that was because of other reasons, not pressure or steels. I think it was the primers available to reloaders at the time that caused brittle cases. But those days are long gone. Shoot them and enjoy them, say I.

[Fjold]

[foesgth]

I shoot my Greatgrandfather's 94 Winchester, made in 1904, with full loads with no problems. But if you want a Trailboss load. Use 8 gr. of Trailboss with a 150 gr. Berry plated bullet. You will think you are shooting a .22. My grandson who is 8 loves the load. He is the 6th generation to shoot that 94! They run through the crony at 1000fps.

[RandyD]

I too, have my grandfather's 1894 Winchester and it was manufactured in 1894, serial # in the 120K's. I have shot this rifle using modern ammo for over 40 years with no problems. Given the age of your friend's rifle, I think it is a good idea to have a qualified gunsmith look over the rifle before shooting it.

BTW, thanks to those of you who posted reduced loads. I really only want to shoot my grandfather's rifle for fun, so a reduced load would work just as well.

[five.five-six]

What does the barrel say?

30 WCF

8 grains of trailboss behind a 150 sounds like a good time. Can I use round nose or do I need flat nosed bullets?

[noylj]

[Kokopelli]

My suggestion for the old Winnie is the "Remington Managed-Recoil Ammunition 30-30 Winchester 125 Grain Core-Lokt Soft Point" factory ammo. Looks to be a light load and should be fine in that old gun.

Just throwing this out.

[CSACANNONEER]

Well, I was wrong about the BP thing. I stand corrected and, I learned a lot from my mistake.