30-30win Bullets for SE Whitetail

The Win or Rem 150 gr 30-30 will do the job, at about 25 cents a bullet.

Here in NE PA I like to use a 170gr bullet because the woods are thick and branches are many. The heavier bullet will deflect less if I hit a thin branch. I usually use a 170gr FN Sierra Pro Hunter bullet.

If you are in the open you could use a 150gr bullet or even the newer 160gr FTX bullet. The 140gr Mono Flex bullet is all metal with no lead for those restricted hunting areas like parts of Ca. Looking at the Hornady site I see the discontinued their 150gr & 170gr 30-30 bullets in favor of their 140gr & 160gr tipped bullets.

If you want standard 150gr or 170gr 30-30 bullets I suggest buying the Pro Hunter bullets from Sierra in either weight specifically made for the 30-30.
Part #2000 and #2010. Sierra also has a 125gr HP/FN 30-30 bullet for lighter game.
https://www.sierrabullets.com/products/bullets/rifle.cfm

Velocity = shock and trauma. Keep deer from running off.

The old 30 WCF (30-30) needs all the help it can get in the velocity department. The 150 gr can produce from 119 to 252 fps more than the 170 gr. Knock off 4" of barrel reduces the velocity even more than the Hodgdon data shows. [/URL][/IMG] View attachment 755315

Well last year I worked up different loads. One with the 150gr Sierra RN and one win a 170gr RN and one with the Hornady FTX 160gr.

The FTX bullets are ok, but in the end it is still a .30-30, not a .308 Win or a .30-06.

100 yards and under no problem. I hunt in the brush and normal shots are under 70-80 yards. Good for that.

A deer shot through the heart, lungs, or spine at under 100 yards will never know the difference, and neither will you.

SwaneeSR said:

Well last year I worked up different loads. One with the 150gr Sierra RN and one win a 170gr RN and one with the Hornady FTX 160gr.

The FTX bullets are ok, but in the end it is still a .30-30, not a .308 Win or a .30-06.

100 yards and under no problem. I hunt in the brush and normal shots are under 70-80 yards. Good for that.

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I wonder how out parents and grandparents managed to feed their family with such a terrible gun. I think this generation is spoiled with inexpensive hunting rifles that are close in accuracy with match rifles. I'm down to only 4 leverguns but all have taken game. Know your gun and you can take game even when it's not standing in front of you.

First what is available in your local market
Second buy a box of 140/150/160/170 grain bullets - soft points/flex point
Third sight your rifle in and practice hitting a saucer every time with the bullet you've selected
Third keep all shots with in the maximum range of the saucer guarenteed hits
Fourth be patient and take only those shots that you can be certain of hitting (no brush shots)

Fifth - enjoy those venison steaks and sausage.

ArchAngel -

You have 40 times the firearms knowledge than I.

However, I did not call the .30-30 terrible. I found little difference in the performance of the loads I tested. The FTX bullet seemed no different than my RN options. Ballistic coefficients do not seem to matter much in the .30-30 caliber. I can not recommend the extra cost for the FTX.

Of my two .30-30's, one of which is a 1955 Model 94 Winchester. It has the most sentimental value of any firearm I own.

SwaneeSR said:

ArchAngel -

You have 40 times the firearms knowledge than I.

However, I did not call the .30-30 terrible. I found little difference in the performance of the loads I tested. The FTX bullet seemed no different than my RN options. Ballistic coefficients do not seem to matter much in the .30-30 caliber. I can not recommend the extra cost for the FTX.

Of my two .30-30's, one of which is a 1955 Model 94 Winchester. It has the most sentimental value of any firearm I own.

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I for sure agree on the bullets. I am very happy with the time tested cup & core bullets.

As for my other post, it really wasn't aimed at you even though I quoted you. It was more about the new shooters of today thinking they have to use a rifle that will do less that 1MOA out to 1000 yards or it won't take game. You know, the guy who says you need a 300 Win Mag to take a deer when shooting 300 yards. I can't help to wonder when deer grew armor plating for skin and if they ever went hunting.

If my grandfather took a 30-06 out for deer his friends would laugh at him and wonder why he needed "such a big gun" for deer. My grandfather had 3 guns, a .22LR, a shotgun and a leverguns in 32 Special. (I wish I had that levergun lol) Before the 32 Special his leverguns was in 25 Cal. (he was born in 1897)

243winxb. "The old .30WCF (.30-30) needs all the help it can get............"

I am not going to tell you how many deer (mostly Blacktail) I have shot with a 1949 .30 WCF mod 94 using the Remington Core-lokt 170 grain because I'm not a bragger (like hell I'm not). Very few ever ran more then 25 yard and dropped. Several even dropped on the spot.

For the ranges that the op is planing to shoot the .30-30 Winchester mod 94 and a good 170 bullet is one of the best rifle/bullet combinations for the job.

Use what you like, no problem. Its a free county.

Very few ever ran more then 25 yard and dropped. Several even dropped on the spot.

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With a hunter behind every tree and shots under 100 yds. There is a need to drop a deer in its tracks. If it goes 25 yards here, someone will run up and shoot it, even if its laying down. The 30-06 drops them dead where they stand. [/URL][/IMG] My 94 is older. I win.

The Bushmaster said:

243winxb. "The old .30WCF (.30-30) needs all the help it can get............"

I am not going to tell you how many deer (mostly Blacktail) I have shot with a 1949 .30 WCF mod 94 using the Remington Core-lokt 170 grain because I'm not a bragger (like hell I'm not). Very few ever ran more then 25 yard and dropped. Several even dropped on the spot.

For the ranges that the op is planing to shoot the .30-30 Winchester mod 94 and a good 170 bullet is one of the best rifle/bullet combinations for the job.

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Got to go with this. I have never killed a deer with a 30-30, but I have taken over 200 deer. Where I hunt I could use a 30-30 with 150gr or 170gr CorLok and never feel cheated. 90% of my deer are shot less than 100 yards and the 30-30 has been proven time and time again. If you think that you need a little more reach, choose another caliber. I think that you will find that the old workhorse will fill 90% of your needs.

Hornady's FTX(lead cored with an insert) and Mono-Flex(solid copper with an insert) bullets are about pointy bullets being in a tube mag. Nothing to do with expansion, but do help with the solid.
SE Bambi won't care, but try 'em and see if your rifle likes 'em.
Gilding metal is a copper alloy. Copper mostly mixed with zinc. Primarily decorative.
"...heavier bullet will deflect less if..." Not reliably it won't. Old wives tale like RN's doing that.

Interesting Winchester serial numbers say my Model 94 is not a 1955 but manufactured in 1952. Could my rifle have sat at a hardware store for all that time?

This thread has got me pumped up. I think I will start working on some .30-30 loads.

Thanks OP for a kick in the rear.


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Contrary to some opinions, the 125gr Sierra FNHP is a deer bullet. As per Sierra; I've never retrieved one from either a pig or deer. (Don't just take my word. Read what Sierra says about it in THEIR MANUAL.)
I like it over 36.0gr of RL15. Runs about 2,500fps from 20"bbl.
very (typical Sierra) accurate. Another good load for smaller southern deer is the Speer 130gr FN. Due to bullet seating shallower in the case than the Sierra, I use 37.5gr of RL15 fo 2,550fps.
However, the worst I've ever messed up a deer with a .30/30, was with a 150gr Corlokt running 2,400fps. Easily done with LVR.
This year I'm going to try the Nosler 150gr BST-BT .30/30 bullet.

I'm working on a 30-30 load right now with the 165g MBC coated bullet and IMR 4227.

It seems to have decent accuracy, I would think a lead bullet would get the job done.

Its economical, the bullets are around $30 for 250, and with IMR 4227, you don't need much powder, less than 20g to push it at 1600fps.

Something to think about

SARuger said:

I'm working on a 30-30 load right now with the 165g MBC coated bullet and IMR 4227.

It seems to have decent accuracy, I would think a lead bullet would get the job done.

Its economical, the bullets are around $30 for 250, and with IMR 4227, you don't need much powder, less than 20g to push it at 1600fps.

Something to think about

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There is no reason a lead bullet won't work. For the first 70 year or so that was all that was available and the 30-30 is probably responsible for more deer being taken in North America than any other cartridge.

165g MBC coated bullet and IMR 4227 How is that working out? Accurate? Is that the PB version?

I'm still working on it, but so far it's good, not great. I was working loads for my 1981 model 94AE. Then I bought a Mini 14 and well you know how that goes. The Mini is shooting MOA now so I'm back to the 30-30 this week. We will see.

I've only shot two deer. They were both one shot kills. One was 40 feet...the second was maybe 60 yds. The bullet was Sierra 170 gr Power Jacket. Choose a bullet, (lots of choices), and make a good shot. You'll have venison on the table!

Good hunting!

Mark

Crimp- i dont crimp. The long neck of the 30-30 provides about 75 pounds of bullet pull from .002" neck tension. If the necks expand .002" or more on bullet seating, that should be enough. If you do crimp, trim all brass to the same length after FL sizing.

An older gentleman that I grew up near (extra grandpa essentially) hunted for years and killed all kinds of critters with 3 guns. 16ga hammered pump shotgun (win?) 22 magnum bolt rifle, and 22short revolver. If I recall the story right, the 22 short was for anything between squirrel and raccoon. The 22 mag was for coyotes and bigger (including whitetail) and the shotgun was for critters with wings. If he did so well with those 3 for 8 decades then maybe we don't need all these superboomers