.30 Herrett Shooters

Gentlemen, I am looking for input from .30 Herrett shooters on your experiences with different powders. I bought my first barrel (of three) in 1976 and I used the 110-grain Speer RN and H4227 like Milek said to do. I also tried 2400 and W296 - all powders gave low velocities that were well below what Milek and Hornady published; they indicated too-high pressure signs too. My velocities were pretty close to Lyman's data, about 2200 fps max. Accuracy was 2-3 moa for 5 shot groups. I hunted with the barrel and took a number of Kodiak Island deer. I later switched to the 110 Hornady V-Max, velocities were still around 2200 fps in the 10" tube with 2.5 moa accuracy.

I recently loaded up 40 cases with the Hornady bullet atop various charges of H110 and Lil'Gun. The H110 gave the same mediocre accuracy I expected - 2.5-3 moa - but the Lil'Gun grouped much tighter, averaging 1.5 moa. No chrono readings, and since Lil'Gun doesn't track H110 well at all (it's faster or slower depending on the case) I don't know what the velocity is. I'll eventually get out the chrono, but I was wondering if anyone had expereince with powders other than the "traditional" ones for this little case. Thanks guys.




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Recently, in the last year or so, I tried RX-7. I don't know what the velocity is (no chrono) but the groups have tightened up considerably. I used 25.5 grains as a fireform load under a Sierra 125 SPT and had 5 shots nearly touching at 30 yards. Much better than anything I could do with 4227 or 2400. This is not a max load in my 14" barrel but start lower and work up to make sure the pressure doesn't spike in your barrel. Dan Bowers, on here, has a lot of experience with this round in his 10" barrel and can give better input than I. Hope this helps.

John

John is correct. I use Reloader 7 in my 10" .30 Herrett w/ 130gr Hornady SP (not SSPB) bullets. The exact load slips my mind, but it's in the 26-27gr range. Accuracy is flat out awesome...sub-1" groups are the norm w/ 4X optics. Velocity is a dead even 2000fps. This combo has taken several deer, including one dandy 13pt'er, at ranges from 60 to 110yds and bullet performance was perfect.

I stumbled on this load in (I think) an old Lyman manual. Since I had a good stash of the RL-7 I gave it a try...and will likely NOT change until my supply runs out.

I have a .30 Merrill, which is very close to the Herrett in case capacity. With bullet weights in the 125-150 range, H-322 will shoot as well or better than anything else. It should do fine in the Herrett.

I shot a lot of 40x40s in IHMSA competition with 150-grain bullets over H322 in a 14" .30 Herrett. Very accurate and reasonably mild-recoiling. I never shot max loads in any IHMSA competition, and I rang few rams.


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30 Herrett – 10”
Load Data & POA/POI Info
10-06 - updated
Big Bore Pistol Silhouette

Standard loads for chicken, pigs and turkeys:

21.5 296 WW 125 gr. Nosler BT, CCI 200 primer, Case Length: 1.600, OAL: 2.440

Consistent 1.00” groups @ 100 yds. and 4” @ 200 Yds

POI = 1.00” low @ 50 yds
POI = POA @ 100 yds
POI =1.5” high @ 150 yds
POI = 9.00” Low @ 200 yds

Ram Loads - TBA

Aiming Points Big Bore:

Chicken = Center of Chicken
Pig = Center of Animal
Turkey = Put crosshair on top of back behind Neck
#1 Ram = Top of back in line with Front Leg

Personal best with this loading on 8-02 in standing pistol silhouette (different bbl), a 27 w/ 9 rams. Need to develop a Ram load.

09-05

147 Gr. FMJ: Mil., 24.5 PSA, CCI 200
Case: WW / OAL: 1.608 / OAL: 2.440
When sighted with above load – hits 4” high @ 100 yds directly in line vertically. 2.25” group.

168 Nosler J-4 Competition: 24.5 PSA, CCI 200, OAL: 2.440 / Case: WW / Case: 1.600

When sighted in the 125 Nosler BT’s this load hits 7” high @ 100yds directly in line vertically. .75” group.

Hunting Load (used in WY 2005):
Sighted in w/ this 10-06
125 Nosler BT
28.0 IMR4198
CCI 200
OAL:
Case length:

50 yards – 2.25” High / 3/4’ group
100 yards – 3” high / 1” group
150 yards – 3.50 high 2” groups
200 yards – 1” low / 3” groups / 2” left

Bill in OR

I had about the same accuracy as you did with H4227 in my 10" barrel. I found a load that shoots with as much velocity and accuracy was much, much better. I have been using 29.5 grains of VV- N130 and a 125 nosler ballistic tip. This is by far the best results that I was able to obtain after working with AA 1680, IMR4198, lil gun and both 4227's. dave