Decided to dabble in short range benchrest and picked up a used rifle that has a low round count 30 Major barrel on it. After doing a ton of research I have decided the best available powders to start with either N 120 or LT 32 powder. I have both of those on hand along with some H322 and N133. Using 115 gn Bergers. What would be a good initial start point for any of those powders?
30 Major - looking for a starting load for N120, LT 32, N 133, or H322
- Thread starter JimSC
- Start date
Yes. @gunsandgunsmithing is a good bet. @R.Morehouse can also assist.
Tim Singleton
Gold $$ Contributor
I have dabbled with a 30 Stewart which is close
I think LT32 H322 and N133 are all a little to slow
I think LT32 H322 and N133 are all a little to slow
the reason I mentioned the LT32 was this old thread
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/30-major-with-lt-32.3814036/
apparently the OP found a node around 34.5 using LT 32. The N120 looks to be my best onhand powder and will be my first attempts. The others are for backup. Most seemed to prefer h4198 but that stuff is scarce these days
thanks to all for the replies
I was thinking of starting at 30.0 and working up to 32.5 or so in .2 increments using a Berger 115 FB, does that sound reasonable ?
R.Morehouse
Gold $$ Contributor
My 30 Major likes 30.6 of N-120 with 118 Hillbillies. LT-32 will work, if you have some there, give it a try if you don't and are buying powder just get the N-120.
Regards
Rick
Regards
Rick
thanks for the reply, will stick with the N 120 and order more
30.8 N-120 is getting towards the “hot” side in my barrel. Norma 200 will work but it is dirty
I would start at 29.5 N-120
and work up.
Might try 112gr. Bullets also.
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Shooter13
Gold $$ Contributor
What was your charge on the LT32? Just getting ready to FF
R.Morehouse
Gold $$ Contributor
I played around with it starting at 30.5 and worked up from there. N-120 is my "go-to". I use lot #3 lt-32 in my ppc's and used lot #10 in the Major always with 118's.
Regards
Rick
Regards
Rick
Mine likes 30.5 grains of 2014 year N120. That is about max in warm weather in my gun.
Presuming 100yd, pretty finicky - those seem to be LARGE "blow-ups" for 0.2gr intervals!
Perhaps these were at 200yd, or, more??RG
Perhaps these were at 200yd, or, more??RG
What Randy says was this at a hundred? Did you try other powders? The last group has a lower velocity. How's that?
it was at 100 yards. First real test of this rifle barrel
On the velocity it could have been one of several things.
recoil management possibly. I was experimenting between a firm hold and free recoil or sometimes I have seen velocity drops when approaching max psi for that powder/case/load. I have theorized it was due to case expansion and used it as a sign to back off a bit. Possibly it could be that this barrel was still in the first 100 rounds. My seating depth could have been off on that series, doubtful since I was using a Wilson non micrometer but things happen. There is also a possibility there was a chrono error or I transcribed the number wrong or even some combo of all the above
I ended up going with 29.6. Never shot it it in competition yet, still deciding on how I feel about this BR stuff. Fun to mess with though. I have put another 100 rounds down it since this target, I need to go back and revisit the load and seating depth now that the barrel is broke in.
2020 was my first year with a .30 Major. Shot 2 matches, free recoil. The rear bag was kicking out from torque, used up all the windage in the top. Had to slide the rear bag over to get back on target. Shots out the right side like your 30.2 and 30.4 and not returning to point of aim. Added 15 ounces of heavy sand in the rear bag. Wet the bench under the doe nut with water to stick it in place and had to run the front bag ears tighter than the 6ppc. Basically it took from February to September to learn how to shoot it. The gun weighs 13.5 pounds. Its working good now.
I am used to 18 pound 6BR rifles, the 30 Major surprised the heck out of me the first time I shot it. It is not a easy rifle to tame for sure, the only way I can manage it is with a firm hold
At 100yd, tuning a small thirty Cal. cartridge should look something like the center column, followed by confirmation.The difference in chrage weight between the bottom and top about 2.6 grains! That was a "rush" tune, in the early AM, prior to a tournament, and was only 3-shot grpups during the increments.
The sighter was 5-shot, plus one on the left hand S, and 5 for verification on the records.
I opted to go with what would be about 31.7gr of the Tu-2000, which shot well enough that it won the event via a "clean sweep", on what became a very windy day. A few days later, for verification prior to the next tournament, the red target was shot. RG
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