ARP TAC30/30 Herrett AR Data and Information
This information was skimmed from the 68forums, developed by forum members. ALL LOADS ARE MAXIMUM listed unless noted, use at your own and your rifles risk. If the poster/loader said "too hot for me" etc, I did not list it. ALWAYS back off 10% and re-work up in your rifle. Different brass and primers can cause changes in pressure. Please practice good reloading technique.
Cut-n-paste intro from Constructor, Post 1, “30 Herrett AR” thread in the Alternative Calibers subforum:
“Many of us have been talking about this cat for years. I decided to go ahead with it since many like the 30 cal bullets and it's based on the 6.8SPC case. This cat will be very close to Marty Terweem's 30HRT. Both use available 30 Herrett dies. The only difference is in the freebore length and the trim to length of the case. 1.580 is the length to the wall, 1.570 is trim to length. The shoulder is 30 degrees. The shorter case length I use allows all of the 125 and 130gr bullets to be used correctly positioned in the freebore of the chamber. The barrels have the same 1 in 11.25 twist 5R rifling that the 308 barrels have. For plinking or volume loading the 147gr FMJs will be cheap. The 30HRT and 30 Herrett AR will push bullets apx 200 fps faster than the 300 BLK for those intending to hunt deer and hogs. IMO this is easier to tune loads and find accuracy than the 6.8 however, this is not the best cartridge for someone just learning to reload. Best results will be seen when the case neck is turned to a consistent thickness from mouth to shoulder(especially with SSA brass)[added by greentick: some members have found neck turning was not necessary]. The brass shoulder needs to be sized close to the chamber size, do not just screw the resize die down to the shell holder. The brass does not have to be fireformed but maybe a good idea when loading near max charges.”
Brass prep: using 6.8spc brass or Starline 6.8 basic brass the “trim then size” or “size then trim” techniques seem to be successful. Annealing before (and possibly after) the sizing step seemed to help some folks having issues with split necks. Recommended trim size for the initial conversion is 1.573” as the brass will shrink about 0.003” upon first firing. After that the max case length is 1.580” and the trim-to length is 1.570.”
If you use a Dillon 550/650/750 the “AK” powder funnel (#13015).
The TAC30 headspaces on the shoulder. Folks have used the 0.350 insert to set shoulder at 1.310-1.314” in posts 316 and 318. Harrison mentioned using the 0.375 insert and setting shoulder at 1.283-1.293” in post 321.
Some max COALs are posted throughout the thread. BE AWARE THAT SOME MAX COALs ARE SHORTER THAN “MAG LENGTH.” While we can usually use “mag length” as a guide you should make a dummy round or max COAL widget to verify your chamber/projo combo. Check the COAL in your chamber before you load up a pile.
Homebrewer put up some case capacities (post 606):
FC 35.2grain
“Old” SSA 35.98grain
S&B 35.78grain
There’s some Quickload info for 125/130gr projos in post #777. USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON!
A clarification post by Constructor (post 795): Just to clarify this whole thread full of mass confusion. This chamber is the same as a 30 Herrett pistol from the early 80s except for the freebore. It was a wildcat, it is still a wildcat. Every brand of dies that were made in the 80s were not the same because it was a wildcat. Until I had headspace gauges made a few years ago there was no way to set all chambers the same in a rimless barrel because the 30 herrett was a rimmed cartridge and headspaced on the rim.
The die set I use is an RCBS set from 1982 I believe. I screw it down to the shell holder and size my brass because that is what I used to determine the headspace dimension to have the headspace gauges made.
ALL DIES made from 1980 until now ARE NOT the same but they should be close. If you are using 2-3-10 steps to size brass you are making it harder than it needs to be.
This cat is about as simple as a wildcat can possibly be. Trim the brass and size it in one step using 30 Herrett dies. IF the dies are a little different it means turning the die up or down 1/4 turn maybe. Every 1/16th turn moves the shoulder .0035" so a quarter tun would move the shoulder .014" You don't need to use a 30-30 set to size the whole case and all of that junk.
Some historical info by Strawdog in post 958.
LEE FCD DIES: both AlphaSig and Strawdog were able to get Lee to make FCDs. Post 974 has a link to separate, brief thread. This may be an occasional option offered by Lee. Contact their customer service. Dummy rounds were sent in.
Finally, ARP made about 300 of these barrels, 200 in 16” and 100 in 18”. In post 1043, member jlaxton mentions a great idea of getting a 28” bbl blank and having Paladin Machine in SC doing 10.5 and 16” barrels for minimal cost over one barrel.
Last update 4 July 2024
Chamber drawings
Reloading data comments: THESE ARE THE MAX CHARGE I FOUND IN THE THREAD. PLEASE REDUCE AND WORK BACK UP IN YOUR FIREARM. I included some velocity data here if available in the thread. Not everyone has a chrono. While your load may generate different velocity, within the hunting parameters of this round, these velocities should get you ballpark in any free ballistic calculator. Take a moment to thank the members of this great forum for sharing their data and experience with this ‘cat. This document wouldn’t be possible without them taking the time to post up their results.
Format for whatever data is available:
Mfgr Weight Type BC Projo Length
Powder Charge COAL Velocity/bbl length
85 grain projectiles
Lehigh 85 Extreme Cavitator 0.151 0.690"
5447 30.0 n/a 2900+
110 grain projectiles
Barnes 110tsx BC:0.264 Length:0.955”
A1680 30.5 2.295” 2680fps/16 2748fps/18
31 2678/16
32 2796/16
RE7 27(max fill)
H4198 27(max fill)
SWBO 31 2800/16 2905/18
Barnes 110ttsx 0.295 1.047”
A1680 31.3 2.33" 2915/18
CFE BLK 32 2.345" 2870/18
H4198 30.5 2790/16
N200 30.8 2725/16
Hornady 110SP 0.256
LT30 30.5 2.225" 2674/16
Hornady 110Vmax 0.296
A1680 30.3 2.290" 2794/16
Nosler 110Varmageddon 0.293 0.920”
SWBO 30.5 2.278"
Sierra 110Varminter 0.188
H4198 28.0
115 grain projectiles
Lehigh Defense BC:0.284 Length:1.065”
CFE BLK 27.0 2.285" 2770/13.5
123 grain projectiles
Lapua 123FMJ 0.270
A1680 28.5
125 grain projectiles
CBB 125MKZ 0.320 1.066” (Cavity Back Bullets)
CFE BLK 29.0 2.28" 2603/16
SWBO 29.0 2658/16
SWBO 29.4 2790/18
Hornady 125SST 0.305
A1680 29.5 2570/16
Nosler 125AB 0.366 1.080”
A1680 30.2 2.3" 2729/16
SWBO 29.7 2778/18
Nosler 125BT 0.360 1.060”
A1680 30.5 2.3" 2680/16 2748/18
CFE BLK 32.0 2.29" 2815/16
H4198 28.2
SWBO 30.2 2.298" 2780/18
Sierra 125PH 0.277
A1680 30.5 2.24" 2610/16
SWBO 30.5 2.24" 2822/18
Speer 125TNT 0.341 0.920”
A1680 28.5 2.295" 2500/16
A1680 30.5 2.295" 2655/16
A2200 33.0 2600/16
CFE BLK 31.9 2799/18
H4198 29.5 2593/16
N200 30.0 2400/12.5
SWBO 31.0 2827/18
130 grain projectiles
Barnes 130ttsx BC:0.350 1.176”
A1680 30.0 2.33" 2750
H4198 29.0 2.33" 2570
N200 29.3 2550/16
Hornady 130SP N/A
A2200 29.0 2420/16
RE7 29.0 2.220"
Speer 130HotCor 0.248 0.840”
A1680 30.9 2723/16
SWBO 29.0 2685/18
Mk 319 BC 0.277
A1680 30.0 2.295" 2530/16 FC
A1680 30.5-30.7 2.295' 2600/16 SSA(old)
140 grain projectiles
Hornady 140GMX N/A
A1680 28.5 2.1" 2540/16
149FMJ ~0.398
A2200 30.0 2.295" 2426/16
A2200 31.0(max) 2.295" 2510/16
1200R 30.0 2.295" 2440/16
RE7 29.0 2.295" 2470/16
150 grain projectiles
Hornady 150Interlock 0.338
A2200 29.6-30.0 2.295" 2445/16
LT30 29.0 2380/16
SWBO 27.5 2744/18
Sierra 150SBT 0.368
A2200 31 2.295" 2470/16
Speer 150Gold Dot 0.463 1.040”
SWBO 28.0 2548/18
Hornady 155Amax 0.405
A2200 30.0(max) 2367/16
180 grain projectiles (Subsonic, won’t cycle midlength)
Nosler 180BT 0.507 1.360”
A #9 8.8
A1680 9.8
Longshot 6.2
This information was skimmed from the 68forums, developed by forum members. ALL LOADS ARE MAXIMUM listed unless noted, use at your own and your rifles risk. If the poster/loader said "too hot for me" etc, I did not list it. ALWAYS back off 10% and re-work up in your rifle. Different brass and primers can cause changes in pressure. Please practice good reloading technique.
Cut-n-paste intro from Constructor, Post 1, “30 Herrett AR” thread in the Alternative Calibers subforum:
“Many of us have been talking about this cat for years. I decided to go ahead with it since many like the 30 cal bullets and it's based on the 6.8SPC case. This cat will be very close to Marty Terweem's 30HRT. Both use available 30 Herrett dies. The only difference is in the freebore length and the trim to length of the case. 1.580 is the length to the wall, 1.570 is trim to length. The shoulder is 30 degrees. The shorter case length I use allows all of the 125 and 130gr bullets to be used correctly positioned in the freebore of the chamber. The barrels have the same 1 in 11.25 twist 5R rifling that the 308 barrels have. For plinking or volume loading the 147gr FMJs will be cheap. The 30HRT and 30 Herrett AR will push bullets apx 200 fps faster than the 300 BLK for those intending to hunt deer and hogs. IMO this is easier to tune loads and find accuracy than the 6.8 however, this is not the best cartridge for someone just learning to reload. Best results will be seen when the case neck is turned to a consistent thickness from mouth to shoulder(especially with SSA brass)[added by greentick: some members have found neck turning was not necessary]. The brass shoulder needs to be sized close to the chamber size, do not just screw the resize die down to the shell holder. The brass does not have to be fireformed but maybe a good idea when loading near max charges.”
Brass prep: using 6.8spc brass or Starline 6.8 basic brass the “trim then size” or “size then trim” techniques seem to be successful. Annealing before (and possibly after) the sizing step seemed to help some folks having issues with split necks. Recommended trim size for the initial conversion is 1.573” as the brass will shrink about 0.003” upon first firing. After that the max case length is 1.580” and the trim-to length is 1.570.”
If you use a Dillon 550/650/750 the “AK” powder funnel (#13015).
The TAC30 headspaces on the shoulder. Folks have used the 0.350 insert to set shoulder at 1.310-1.314” in posts 316 and 318. Harrison mentioned using the 0.375 insert and setting shoulder at 1.283-1.293” in post 321.
Some max COALs are posted throughout the thread. BE AWARE THAT SOME MAX COALs ARE SHORTER THAN “MAG LENGTH.” While we can usually use “mag length” as a guide you should make a dummy round or max COAL widget to verify your chamber/projo combo. Check the COAL in your chamber before you load up a pile.
Homebrewer put up some case capacities (post 606):
FC 35.2grain
“Old” SSA 35.98grain
S&B 35.78grain
There’s some Quickload info for 125/130gr projos in post #777. USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON!
A clarification post by Constructor (post 795): Just to clarify this whole thread full of mass confusion. This chamber is the same as a 30 Herrett pistol from the early 80s except for the freebore. It was a wildcat, it is still a wildcat. Every brand of dies that were made in the 80s were not the same because it was a wildcat. Until I had headspace gauges made a few years ago there was no way to set all chambers the same in a rimless barrel because the 30 herrett was a rimmed cartridge and headspaced on the rim.
The die set I use is an RCBS set from 1982 I believe. I screw it down to the shell holder and size my brass because that is what I used to determine the headspace dimension to have the headspace gauges made.
ALL DIES made from 1980 until now ARE NOT the same but they should be close. If you are using 2-3-10 steps to size brass you are making it harder than it needs to be.
This cat is about as simple as a wildcat can possibly be. Trim the brass and size it in one step using 30 Herrett dies. IF the dies are a little different it means turning the die up or down 1/4 turn maybe. Every 1/16th turn moves the shoulder .0035" so a quarter tun would move the shoulder .014" You don't need to use a 30-30 set to size the whole case and all of that junk.
Some historical info by Strawdog in post 958.
LEE FCD DIES: both AlphaSig and Strawdog were able to get Lee to make FCDs. Post 974 has a link to separate, brief thread. This may be an occasional option offered by Lee. Contact their customer service. Dummy rounds were sent in.
Finally, ARP made about 300 of these barrels, 200 in 16” and 100 in 18”. In post 1043, member jlaxton mentions a great idea of getting a 28” bbl blank and having Paladin Machine in SC doing 10.5 and 16” barrels for minimal cost over one barrel.
Last update 4 July 2024
Chamber drawings
Reloading data comments: THESE ARE THE MAX CHARGE I FOUND IN THE THREAD. PLEASE REDUCE AND WORK BACK UP IN YOUR FIREARM. I included some velocity data here if available in the thread. Not everyone has a chrono. While your load may generate different velocity, within the hunting parameters of this round, these velocities should get you ballpark in any free ballistic calculator. Take a moment to thank the members of this great forum for sharing their data and experience with this ‘cat. This document wouldn’t be possible without them taking the time to post up their results.
Format for whatever data is available:
Mfgr Weight Type BC Projo Length
Powder Charge COAL Velocity/bbl length
85 grain projectiles
Lehigh 85 Extreme Cavitator 0.151 0.690"
5447 30.0 n/a 2900+
110 grain projectiles
Barnes 110tsx BC:0.264 Length:0.955”
A1680 30.5 2.295” 2680fps/16 2748fps/18
31 2678/16
32 2796/16
RE7 27(max fill)
H4198 27(max fill)
SWBO 31 2800/16 2905/18
Barnes 110ttsx 0.295 1.047”
A1680 31.3 2.33" 2915/18
CFE BLK 32 2.345" 2870/18
H4198 30.5 2790/16
N200 30.8 2725/16
Hornady 110SP 0.256
LT30 30.5 2.225" 2674/16
Hornady 110Vmax 0.296
A1680 30.3 2.290" 2794/16
Nosler 110Varmageddon 0.293 0.920”
SWBO 30.5 2.278"
Sierra 110Varminter 0.188
H4198 28.0
115 grain projectiles
Lehigh Defense BC:0.284 Length:1.065”
CFE BLK 27.0 2.285" 2770/13.5
123 grain projectiles
Lapua 123FMJ 0.270
A1680 28.5
125 grain projectiles
CBB 125MKZ 0.320 1.066” (Cavity Back Bullets)
CFE BLK 29.0 2.28" 2603/16
SWBO 29.0 2658/16
SWBO 29.4 2790/18
Hornady 125SST 0.305
A1680 29.5 2570/16
Nosler 125AB 0.366 1.080”
A1680 30.2 2.3" 2729/16
SWBO 29.7 2778/18
Nosler 125BT 0.360 1.060”
A1680 30.5 2.3" 2680/16 2748/18
CFE BLK 32.0 2.29" 2815/16
H4198 28.2
SWBO 30.2 2.298" 2780/18
Sierra 125PH 0.277
A1680 30.5 2.24" 2610/16
SWBO 30.5 2.24" 2822/18
Speer 125TNT 0.341 0.920”
A1680 28.5 2.295" 2500/16
A1680 30.5 2.295" 2655/16
A2200 33.0 2600/16
CFE BLK 31.9 2799/18
H4198 29.5 2593/16
N200 30.0 2400/12.5
SWBO 31.0 2827/18
130 grain projectiles
Barnes 130ttsx BC:0.350 1.176”
A1680 30.0 2.33" 2750
H4198 29.0 2.33" 2570
N200 29.3 2550/16
Hornady 130SP N/A
A2200 29.0 2420/16
RE7 29.0 2.220"
Speer 130HotCor 0.248 0.840”
A1680 30.9 2723/16
SWBO 29.0 2685/18
Mk 319 BC 0.277
A1680 30.0 2.295" 2530/16 FC
A1680 30.5-30.7 2.295' 2600/16 SSA(old)
140 grain projectiles
Hornady 140GMX N/A
A1680 28.5 2.1" 2540/16
149FMJ ~0.398
A2200 30.0 2.295" 2426/16
A2200 31.0(max) 2.295" 2510/16
1200R 30.0 2.295" 2440/16
RE7 29.0 2.295" 2470/16
150 grain projectiles
Hornady 150Interlock 0.338
A2200 29.6-30.0 2.295" 2445/16
LT30 29.0 2380/16
SWBO 27.5 2744/18
Sierra 150SBT 0.368
A2200 31 2.295" 2470/16
Speer 150Gold Dot 0.463 1.040”
SWBO 28.0 2548/18
Hornady 155Amax 0.405
A2200 30.0(max) 2367/16
180 grain projectiles (Subsonic, won’t cycle midlength)
Nosler 180BT 0.507 1.360”
A #9 8.8
A1680 9.8
Longshot 6.2