.30-30 low & slow

[Mistral]

Ladies and gents,

I've landed a batch of VV N-32C powder and I'm looking to load some subsonic .30–30 rounds with it.

I know it can be done, because I was chatting to a guy at the range a few months back that was using it in a moderated Henry and it worked a dream.

Unfortunately, the guy was on holiday, so I’ve not been able to contact him to glean the load from him.

I’ve got a stainless Ruger No.1 that has been re-barrelled with a screw-cut stainless .30-30 barrel and am looking to use subsonic 150 & 160-grain bullets for 50-75 yard small game shooting in a noise sensitive area with houses close by.

I understand that folks will say “why not just use a .22LR, 300 Blackout or suchlike”, but it’s more than just popping off pesky critters…it’s now an itch that I need to scratch, because I’ve seen the loads being used in the flesh and want to do it myself now.

On their website VV market the powder as VV N-32C / Tin star, but obviously don't want to suggest "non-standard" loads and as I’ve landed over 5Kg / 11lb of the stuff, I wondered if anyone out there has some load data that they wouldnt mind sharing with me for loads that produce less than 1050 ft./s using a 150-160 grain projectile.

I'm not looking to use any other powders or advice from well intended shooters regarding Trail Boss etc as it’s unavailable here in the UK and like I say, I’ve got a lot of VV N-32C.

Many thanks in advance,

Lee.

 

[Dimner]

If you don't get any luck here .. try looking at a cowboy action shooting forum. Tin Star is about all they use. I use trail boss for my sub 30wcf loads, so I'm not much help. But I can tell ya that you have one of the best powders to do it.

 

[Mistral]

If you don't get any luck here .. try looking at a cowboy action shooting forum. Tin Star is about all they use. I use trail boss for my sub 30wcf loads, so I'm not much help. But I can tell ya that you have one of the best powders to do it.

Thanks Dimner. That's much appreciatd. I fell in love with Trail Boss some years ago for close up and personal sound moderated loads and as soon as I developed my loads, the UK / EU banned it in the UK! N-32C is clearly going to be my only option over here, so I'm glad that I've landed a ton of the stuff...just got to know how to use it now!

 

[Dimner]

Thanks Dimner. That's much appreciatd. I fell in love with Trail Boss some years ago for close up and personal sound moderated loads and as soon as I developed my loads, the UK / EU banned it in the UK! N-32C is clearly going to be my only option over here, so I'm glad that I've landed a ton of the stuff...just got to know how to use it now!

I bet if you email VV they will be very helpful with information.

Trail boss had this rule of thumb that they told the masses. In any cartridge, it was a safe load as long as the powder was not compressed by the bullet. Hopefully Tin Star has something similar.

I found this old thread that has a some testing in it.... Might be a little help

Anyone tried Vihtavuori"s Tin Star (N32C)?

Anyone tried Vihtavuori"s Tin Star (N32C)? From their advertisements, it looks like they've developed it to compete with Hodgdon's Trail Boss for Cowboy Action Shooting. It shows to be high in bulk density and a low pressure/low velocity powder primarily for cast bullets (similar to the claims...

www.marlinowners.com

 

[Mistral]

I bet if you email VV they will be very helpful with information.

Trail boss had this rule of thumb that they told the masses. In any cartridge, it was a safe load as long as the powder was not compressed by the bullet. Hopefully Tin Star has something similar.

I found this old thread that has a some testing in it.... Might be a little help

Anyone tried Vihtavuori"s Tin Star (N32C)?

Anyone tried Vihtavuori"s Tin Star (N32C)? From their advertisements, it looks like they've developed it to compete with Hodgdon's Trail Boss for Cowboy Action Shooting. It shows to be high in bulk density and a low pressure/low velocity powder primarily for cast bullets (similar to the claims...

www.marlinowners.com

So I contacted VV and they were as helpful as knife in a gunfight! Just a straight reply of "We don't provide load data that's not on our website"...and guess what?...load data for .30-30 using VV N32C isnt on their website...Yeah, great. Thanks for the help VV!

 

[M60A3TTS]

You can't put enough N32c in the case to be dangerous. However 17 grains does about 80% or so case fill, in .308 and around 1900 FPS. Dunno about subsonic though.

 

[Dimner]

So I contacted VV and they were as helpful as knife in a gunfight! Just a straight reply of "We don't provide load data that's not on our website"...and guess what?...load data for .30-30 using VV N32C isnt on their website...Yeah, great. Thanks for the help VV!

That sucks man. I thought they would support their own products a bit more than that.

 

[dellet]

Tin Star and Trail boss will have reasonably close numbers grain for grain, this is where a loading program is helpful. Simply because you can easily get in trouble using trail boss idea of a case full can’t hurt you.

Tin Star has about time and a half the density of Trailboss. If a cartridge will hold 10 grains Trail Boss, it will hold 15 of Tin Star.

random load With Quickload, I don’t shoot 30-30, but enough others to have an idea of how they compare.

30-30 Win. Speer 150 grain soft point. 2.550” COL. 24” barrel.

Trail Boss
6 Grains
57% load density
1066 fps
13325 psi


Tin Star
6 grains
38% load density
1071 fps
14431 psi

Trail Boss 100% load density
10.63 grains
1440 fps
30,300 psi

Tin Star same by weight
10.63 grains
1441 fps
31,900 psi

Tin Star 100% density
15.75 grains
1766 fps
57,000 psi.

I have found this to hold true for 6-8 different cartridges. Load data by weight seems close enough to use for starting loads. I’m not sure I would work up loads an a lever action, but a Ruger #1 is very strong.

hope that’s some help

 

[Mistral]

Thanks dellet...very helpful.