My .30-30 reduced load for hunting is Lyman #311576HP, alloy a little harder than #2, 112 gns gas checked and lubed, with 12 gns Unique. Velocity in a 24” barrel is 1930 fps.
The load was arrived at by a ladder type process to achieve a useful 50 m POI with the rifle zeroed for full power hunting loads, originally with jacketed bullets.
My current .30-30 hunting load is a 175 gn hard cast HP at 2200 fps. With the rifle zeroed for 150 m with this load, the lighter load is about ½” low at 50 meters and groups 1”-2” for five shots.
I use this load, without the need for sight adjustment, for rabbits, finishing off pigs, for small hogs, and for situations requiring less noise. It is actually quite effective on body shots on immature pigs, with the base of the bullet frequently passing right through the animal. Also very good on dogs. The hollow extends only to the top of the first grease groove, leaving the base intact and free to penetrate.
The same bullet and load in .308 shoots 1875 fps and groups a little better. POI is bang on at 50 m with the rifle zeroed with 165 gn jacketed bullets for 200 m. Same application, but more incentive to use the cast loads, with Sierra bullets costing $1 each.
