Light bullets in a 30-30?

I think you will be disappointed as a deer round. I have used 120’s in the 7-30 Waters, which is higher velocity, and found it wanting unless a perfect side way presentation. Stay with 150’s if a lever, or the FTX from horn Andy.
 
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I have used the same 120 gr .308 slug in my .30 carbine to kill deer, slightly lower velocity than the 30-30 but still kilt em just as dead.
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i have also used those same slugs in a 94' 30-30, not hunting but shooting steel sillywets. They worked good accuracy wise but had to be used "single shot" style. Those short slugs won't feed properly from the tube. If your shooting a Marlin, they may work as they use a different "cartridge cutt-off" system than the Mod 94.

On second thought, they probably won't work through a Marlin neither as my Marlin .35 Remington wont feed short cartridges loaded with 158 gr pistol slugs.
 
synik said:
I am curious if anyone has used light bullets (125, 130) in their 30-30. How did it work and would it be an option for deer?
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Years ago I used the Accelerator Ammo. in 100 grs. I believe. It was much more accurate than a 170 gr. Used it for
groundhogs with great success. 170 gr. had a 2 1/2" group @ 100 yds. The 100 gr. had a 1 1/2" group @ 100 yds.
I was very surprized with it's small group. In a Win. 94 SRC.
 
A number of companies including Speer make flat point 125/130 grain bullets for the 30-30 for deer hunting. Many people seem to like the 170 gr bullets dribbling out of their barrel at 1800 FPS though.
 
I have recently learned that there is additional damage, impact or shock to the critter if the bullet is traveling at a velocity higher than, 2200 FPS. (I think that was the velocity I heard. Maybe it was a touch more). Anyway, it got me thinking that the lighter bullets might actually work better with the higher velocity.
 
synik said:
I have recently learned that there is additional damage, impact or shock to the critter if the bullet is traveling at a velocity higher than, 2200 FPS. (I think that was the velocity I heard. Maybe it was a touch more). Anyway, it got me thinking that the lighter bullets might actually work better with the higher velocity.
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Oh, boy... not enough time.
 
BurlewLLB said:
I used the 125 gr but the low load of powder did not fully burn and left much fowling. Not a good idea.
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That is a load issue not a bullet weight issue.

I have used 125's, but found a terrific load with the 150 NBT and stick with that... no good if you want to stack them in the tube, but for my No.1 and when double jacking the 94, they work great.
 
synik said:
I have recently learned that there is additional damage, impact or shock to the critter if the bullet is traveling at a velocity higher than, 2200 FPS. (I think that was the velocity I heard. Maybe it was a touch more). Anyway, it got me thinking that the lighter bullets might actually work better with the higher velocity.
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I think there is a bit more to that. Had read from Ganyana - Dr. Don Heath - he felt lions (cats) were particularly susceptible to that "shock" effect and wanted clients using cartridges that would deliver 2200 to 2400 fps minimum impact speed - not muzzle speed, but impact speed. I do not recall him wanting lightly constructed bullets, though - he wanted the minimum impact speed. But, apparently Zulu (?) took the things with a speer, which likely had not much for "shock". However, other than that, light constructed bullets not really great "all-round" things - probably work quite neatly on a perfect broadside - "through the ribs" - kind of shot on a deer, but not going to go well if have to get through even a deer shoulder, or a going-away shot through side of paunch to come out the front chest - need some amount of penetration for that.
 
captonion said:
I loaded some Speer 110gr hollow points, for deer a long time ago, they worked good..
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This. Speer Plinker initially designed for the M1 Carbine.
Additional plus unlike the 110 grain FMJ one can safely feed them through magazine.

Light kick with Ken Waters Pet Load: 27.2 grains IMR-4198. (2450ish fps?) You have to play around with the crimp position as that cannelure indent is designed for .30 M1 carbine throat.
Otherwise it's accurate at 100 if you are willing to readjust your sights.
 
synik said:
I have recently learned that there is additional damage, impact or shock to the critter if the bullet is traveling at a velocity higher than, 2200 FPS. (I think that was the velocity I heard. Maybe it was a touch more). Anyway, it got me thinking that the lighter bullets might actually work better with the higher velocity.
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I think the idea is certainly plausible but ultimately limited by a number of factors including general demand and the various firearm design considerations (feeding, bullet shape, etc)

In European the mandate and future with lead-free projectiles is really at the forefront of 'light and high velocity' which has been rather promising for evolving old calibers. However, .30-30 isn't really common in Europe so there is no real development there either.
 
I just don't see the advantage of using light bullets in this application. I have shot a number of old 125 grain loads - although I cannot recall the manufacturer. They never shot anywhere near the point of impact that my Marlin would shoot with 150's or 170's so it was a pain to resight the gun in all the time. Now, 170 grain Nosler partitions over Leverevolution are stout and I wouldn't hesitate to use them on just about anything I hunt in my neck of the woods.
 
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