Hornady 30-30 Leverevolution 160 gr FTX deer kill

[astuart44]

I shot a 185 lb buck two days ago at 15 yards with a 16.5" Win 94 trapper using factory Hornady 30-30 Leverevolution 160 gr FTX.

The shot was directly behind the right front shoulder and a complete pass-through, exiting in the exact same place on the opposite side as the deer was standing broadside.

While the hole was clean on the exit side, I had a fair amount of blood shot into the right front shoulder which indicated fragmentation of the bullet on impact. The deer ran 50 yards and piled up. This was my first experience with this round so I thought I would share the results. I did not have a camera to take pics of the wounds but hopefully, some real-life feedback will help you out if you are considering this ammo.

I think it would perform great at a longer distance as 15 yards is a close shot lol.

Cheers!

astuart44

 

[win94luver]

I tried the 160 grain ftx hornady factory 30-30 ammo in my 336SS and it wouldn't group worth a crap.
All over the target board like buckshot.

Getting 3-shot key holes @ 100 metres with the federal factory ammo pushing 170 grain nosler partition bullets and the same gun.
Pretty decent groups with the pedestrian remington factory 170 grain core-lokts also so it ain't me or the gun.
Both of the above ammo brands shoot to the same poi @ 100 metres.

 

[astuart44]

I will admit 170 gr PPs group better in my trapper than the LE FTX.

 

[nomad 68]

My 77 Marlin 336 Texan groups the LE quite well. I bought a few boxes before I started handloading. Still have quite a few left. When I finally do start loading for this rifle, I hope I can duplicate the accuracy these have produced.

 

[win94luver]

... yet the uncanny accuracy of the factory hornady 325 grain FTX factory ammo hasn't been equaled in my 1895gs to date.
One ragged hole contains any number of shots @ 100 meters.
Go figure.

 

[Slamfire]

Congrats! I would have expected a bang-flop at that range but it got 'er done anyhow.

 

[astuart44]

Thanks! The 30-30 FTX sure did not drop him like my Ruger 44 Mag with 240 JSPs has in the past. Hammers 'em.

 

[Slamfire]

Big bores rule!

 

[win94luver]

Big bores rule!

... so do smaller bores as long as you put the bullet in the right place.

Guy I know who lives on manitoulin hunts deer with a 30 m-1.
Can't recall a year when there hasn't been a buck handing from the meat pole in his back yard.
He'll wait silent as a tombstone in a ground blind until one comes within the magic 50 yards (preferably less) then whammo another one bites the dust.
A crappy beat up 30 m-1 rifle he bought at a surplus store 50 years ago.