Favourite .30-30 bullet weight?

Kilo Charlie

Kilo Charlie

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At the risk of splitting hairs like one of those ".270 vs .280" threads.......

What weight bullets do most hunters prefer in their .30-30? I was taught as a young'un that the 170 was the "proper" bullet for the .30 WCF. Later, what I read from gunwriters like Simpson and Swiggett et al seemed to suggest the 150 as a better bullet due to its more reliable expansion on deer-sized game, and its slightly flatter trajectory. The 170 was suggested more as a heavy brush and/or bigger beasts up close choice. I've only shot a couple critters with the .30-30, using 170 grain handloads, and no problems.

Not counting cast bullets or the LeverEvolution ammo, what do most of you prefer for deer hunting? 150 or 170 grain? I'm not much interested in the 130-grainers.
 
I have always used 170s on deer,and bear.They always worked well.My favorite 170gr factory load was the Imperial Saber Tip which I have collected 20 or so boxes over the years that I use only for hunting.
I have been hand loading some 150gr Barnes X that I shot one deer with,and I would say it didn't do any better job than my 170gr Imperials.I still want to try the Barns bullets for bear,as the extra penetration would be a good thing on the big fellas.
 
I have used 170s always in my 30-30. I used a 30-30 for about 6-7 years, was my first rifle i bought, until i became a Gun Nut!
But at those velocities, I found my 170 sp bullets did what they were designed to do on deer sized, or bear sized game.
Not my cartridge of choice but effective and is still used today in every deer camp.
 
Close but no seegar, RePete,
The .30 WCF first appeared with the 160 grainer at 1970 fps. The 170 was offered shortly thereafter by UMC, but not by Winchester until 1903 and the 150 came along around the WW I era.
 
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Bullets designed for the 30-30 will all do the job; in mine I found it like the 170's a little better accuracy wise, though it did shoot them new fangled LeverEvolution 160's pretty darn well.

Can't go wrong either way in a traditional cup and core flat nose.
 
I use nothing but 150 gr.. bullets. They shoot the best out of my guns and seem to have both the distance and bush punching power. No reason for any heavier as when deer or bear are hit, down they go. My early( pre-1910) rifles and carbines love this weight.
 
the 170 grains work well in my 30-30 but I really wish they made a heavier bullet for them something like a 190 or a 200 grain bullet or if Barnes would get there rear in gear I am sure they could sell a goodly amount of 170 grain bullets for the guys that want to hunt bigger or more robust game with the 30-30 then just deer
 
I have an article at home where Sam Fadala talks about making a real potent brush load for the .30-30 Ackley by using 190 gr Silvertips. Of course, to do that he had to pull the bullets out of .303 Savage ammo. Pretty pricey way to do it! Mind you, the article was ten years ago.
 
Shot a deer with 150s this year & they killed it just as dead as any 170 :D

170s might have an edge when larger animals are hunted, but deer is not a larger animal :)
 
Winnipeg Toymaker said:
I use nothing but 150 gr..
Click to expand...
X2 ..... While I haven't shot game with a 30/30, I have loaded for a few and found the Remington 150gr RN to be quite accurate. I would start with them and go from there till I found something better.

Winnipeg Toymaker said:
They shoot the best out of my guns and seem to have both the distance and bush punching power.
Click to expand...
What is "bush punching power"? :confused:



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i like my Chambers' version of the Lyman 31041, which is a 175gr. flat point gas check, when sized correctly it can be driven to top speeds(2200fps) with good accuracy and no leading. Also gives total penetration on deer. This same bullet, cast very hard, produces 1/2" groups at 100yds. from my .308. Saves money over jacketed and more effective!! If I was looking for a change, j-word or cast, i would opt for a heavier flat point bullet than the std. 170gr. Oldtimers swear that the .303 savage with it's 190gr. bullet was more effective than the 30/30s 170gr. A 200 gr. cast flat pt......Hmmmm.....
 
i stick with 170 hornadys only because there far more accurate in my old marlin than any 150 i have tried. in use i don't think there would be much difference
 
For those of you who want a heavier bullet weight than 170 gr just loadup some 180 or 200 gr round nose. You can still get 1975 fps safely with the 200 gr. bullets.
If your concerned about R N's in your tube mag. just load one in chamber and one in the mag. .....or just file the RN flatter and fill your mag if a two shooter isn't enough.
 
Barracuda: RCBS mould #30-180FP drops a bullet that weighs about 195-197 when cast from alloyed wheel weights and lubed and gas checked. Just an excellent bullet, perhaps the best of all cast bullets for the 30-30.
 
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