30-30 160FTX LeverEvolution experiences on game?

[Slaymoar]

The Hornady 160FTX 30-30 is sub MOA in my rifle. It is my round of choice based on accuracy.

I was just wondering if anyone here has any experience with these rounds on various game and at what distances?

I was thinking coyote up to 300yards, deer up to 200, and larger game ~50..

Thanks!

 

[Northman999]

I think you're underestimating your ammo.

I've heard of guys with scoped 30-30's being just fine shooting moose out to 200+ yards with this ammunition.

And for something like coyotes, you'll only be limited by how far you can accurately shoot.

 

[cyclops666]

I think you're underestimating your ammo.

I've heard of guys with scoped 30-30's being just fine shooting moose out to 200+ yards with this ammunition.

And for something like coyotes, you'll only be limited by how far you can accurately shoot.

I think he's asking how the bullit does on impact

 

[Slaymoar]

I've heard of guys with scoped 30-30's being just fine shooting moose out to 200+ yards with this ammunition.

Wow.. I've seen moose taken at ~20-50 yards with regular powerpoint, but 200+ yards would be pretty impressive.. Bang/flop type shots, or did they need follow up shots?

 

[blasted_saber]

I'd shoot a moose at 200 with leverevolution ammo. No problem. 50 yards is selling it WAAAAAAAAAAAAY short.

 

[Slaymoar]

I'd shoot a moose at 200 with leverevolution ammo. No problem. 50 yards is selling it WAAAAAAAAAAAAY short.

Really? Heart/Lung shot?

 

[Brianma65]

I got a 700 lb bull 4 yrs ago with Remington ammo , 100yrds or so, first shot was in the neck , that made him stop , second in the heart that dropped him. Old timer loaned me his old Winchester 30 30 , it took plenty of moose , used whatever ammo was cheapest and he told me he cleaned his gun with the next bullit down the pipe. So I think these revolution should be good out to 250 yards with good placement.

 

[blasted_saber]

Really? Heart/Lung shot?

Absolutely. These bullets are leaps and bounds ahead of traditional 3030 bullets. Hell, the first moose my grandfather ever shot was a cow at 100 yards with a 3030 and some old Dominion ammunition. He says it dropped like a sack of potatos.

 

[JamesM]

I wouldn't try and drive it directly through the shoulder, but I would happily take the leverevolution and happily let some light into a moose or deer with it out to 200-250 yards. I shot a doe with it at less then 15 yards through her on side shoulder, I got 3 exit wounds and found parts of the copper jacket scattered through the wound channel, so its a little fragile for punching through heavy shoulder bones of a moose or elk in my opinion.

 

[dgradinaru]

The 30-30 is underestimated these days....they have been used for a long time on most game in North America. Deer,bear,moose,caribo, elk....you name it, the 30-30 has the done the job. I my self have used a 8mm mauser loaded to 30-03 specs. 170gr bullet @ 2200fts and I have killed moose,bear,deer, no problem. 200 yards would be max shot though.

 

[kennymo]

Good to go, stretch it out a little further on the large game. Unless you're planning on grizzly.

 

[medvedqc]

works well on barren ground caribou at 250 meters.

 

[freebore]

I used the 160 ftx in my 308 Marlin express and @ approximately 100 yards broadside the round entered and ,,,, is best described as grenade like results the biggest fragment weighing 37 grains

The deer ran about 125 yards and piled up .I was so surprised that the round failed to exit after impacting just rib bone and flesh

Not my cup of tea I almost lost the front quarters with blood shot ,I use the 140 grain Mono-flex and totally different results, I like bullets that somewhat stay together

I use my 160 grain for paper shooting and would work beautifully on Coyotes

 

[mike Crawford]

I would say the 30-30 has killed more game because that is what people had ..30-30 was considered a powerful gun compared to the 44-40 .. but today there is better guns .. A 30-30 would NEVER be seen on a moose hunt with me .. and if some one showed up with one .. I would be very deeply disappointed in that person .. A game animal deserves more respect than that as far as an ethical kill .

 

[GMC403]

A 30-30 would NEVER be seen on a moose hunt with me .. and if some one showed up with one .. I would be very deeply disappointed in that person .. A game animal deserves more respect than that as far as an ethical kill .

That's right all those old timers had NO respect back in the day??........

But back on topic, 30-30 160g Leverevolution's have been very accurate for me but I wasn't impressed with the hunting performance. 125y shot on a buck, barely nicked the shoulder and it was like a grenade. I stick with my 170g fusions (check out the ballistics on that load)

 

[mike Crawford]

Back in the early days the shots were much shorter to start with .. My grandfather used a 56-50 rim rifle for hunting .. Nothing more than a oversize 22 shell that was loaded with black powder.. That is all he had .. Nothing to do with respect for the animal .. He needed food .. there was No clear cuts .. a mile long clear cut today is not uncommon .
I have hunted Moose a long time .. and have seen and used a number of different guns for moose for sure .. Have shot a couple at 250 yards also .. But a 300 win mag is a little bit more gun than your average 30-30 ..
and along with hunting them ..helped look for a few also ... and helped skin a pile too so I know how much damage was done with different calibers and different shot placements
Hard to take a 100 yard deer rifle and turn it into a 250 yard moose rifle

 

[jaydog]

1916fps and 1304ft*lbs at 200y with factory ammo. Not exactly a 'barn burner' but still numbers that most people would consider ethical without knowing any of the million other variables in killing a critter.
I'd like to get a modern combo rifle in 20ga/.30-30 and hotrod the hell out of it just for fun. With a bit of powder behind something with a respectable BC it could be fun.

 

[jethunter]

People really don't understand how it works. Your bullet will probably penetrate just as well or better at 100 yds than it does at 50 yards. Less impact velocity equals less bullet expansion and deformation. Less expansion enables deeper penetration.

 

[mike Crawford]

I skinned a moose a few years back that an old timer shot and still thinks a 44-40 is a moose rifle .. He shot it in the neck and did kill the moose .
The bullet was literally an inch under the hide..I guess you could say there was no meat loss.. And he did kill the moose .
The question is does that make a 44-40 a moose rifle .. I would think there was lots killed over the years with 44-40 ..
But I believe the wolves and birds get a few moose each year because people still use guns that are not real powerful .
The 30-30 has killed a lot of grizzly bears too .. Most likely because that is all the guy had and the bear was there and had to be taken care of .. But I believe the same guy would have felt a bit better at that time if some one had handed him a 338 .
I just think to shoot a moose with a 30-30 .. when there is such better choices ,, is a bit of a let down of the hunters part ..
years ago some of the old guys had one gun and that was it .. Today most people have a lot more options

 

[Slaymoar]

I wouldn't try and drive it directly through the shoulder, but I would happily take the leverevolution and happily let some light into a moose or deer with it out to 200-250 yards. I shot a doe with it at less then 15 yards through her on side shoulder, I got 3 exit wounds and found parts of the copper jacket scattered through the wound channel, so its a little fragile for punching through heavy shoulder bones of a moose or elk in my opinion.

I used the 160 ftx in my 308 Marlin express and @ approximately 100 yards broadside the round entered and ,,,, is best described as grenade like results the biggest fragment weighing 37 grains

The deer ran about 125 yards and piled up .I was so surprised that the round failed to exit after impacting just rib bone and flesh

Not my cup of tea I almost lost the front quarters with blood shot ,I use the 140 grain Mono-flex and totally different results, I like bullets that somewhat stay together

I use my 160 grain for paper shooting and would work beautifully on Coyotes

That's right all those old timers had NO respect back in the day??........

But back on topic, 30-30 160g Leverevolution's have been very accurate for me but I wasn't impressed with the hunting performance. 125y shot on a buck, barely nicked the shoulder and it was like a grenade. I stick with my 170g fusions (check out the ballistics on that load)

Ok, would I be better off with somthing like the 140gr monoflex or 170gr Fusion? They all have similar trajectory but a bit less retained energy than the 160 at 300 yards..