30-30 150 grain

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Catpop

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Is the 30-30 150 grain a later offering!

Reason I asked is I’ve got a number of boxes old 30-30 factory cartridges. Some even labeled full metal patch!

And surprisingly they are all 170 grain! Not a 150 in the bunch.

Just curious
 
For what it's worth, I've been buying 150 grain since the early 70's. I think the original load was either a 160 or 165 grain.
 
Is the 30-30 150 grain a later offering!

Reason I asked is I’ve got a number of boxes old 30-30 factory cartridges. Some even labeled full metal patch!

And surprisingly they are all 170 grain! Not a 150 in the bunch.

Just curious

The original was a 160 grain in 1895, the 170 grain load followed a year later from Western.

As for the 150 grain, as far as I can tell, it came out in about 1922 as a high-velocity alternative (also from Western).

From American Rifleman, Volume 70 (1922):




Western High Velocity 30-30 Cartridge

The Western Cartridge Company has just developed a special 30-30 high velocity cartridge that brings the old type 30-30 rifle up to the modern high-power standards. This new cartridge is supplied with 150-grain open-point Lubaloy bullet which gives much flatter trajectory, especially at long ranges.

Many tests that have been made with this new cartridge demonstrates conclusively that it has remarkable striking and penetrating qualities which make it particularly desirable for big game shooting. ln one test this bullet penetrated one-quarter inch of boiler plate at 100 yards, with sufficient remaining energy to enter a back stop several inches.

While this new cartridge has been speeded up to 2,370 f. s. the pressure developed is lower than the old standard type. The Lubaloy jacket gives the added advantage of absolutely preventing metal fouling in the barrel. Notwithstanding the open-point construction, this bullet gives accuracy equal to the full metal patch bullet; it has tremendous destructive power on big game.


BALLISTIC DATA
The new Western 30-30 High Velocity Cartridge Compared With the Standard 170 Grain.
_______________________________________________________________
.................................High Velocity............Standard
......................................150 grain............170 grain
Muzzle velocity.................2,370................1,940 f. s.
Muzzle energy..................1,870................1,420 ft. lbs.
Velocity at 100 yards.........2,105...............1,710 f. s.
Energy at 100 yards..........1,472...............1,110 ft. lbs.

Trajectory
100 yards.........................0.85..................1.18 in.
200 yards.........................3.62..................5.88 in.
300 yards.........................10.02...............15.34 in.
 
The standard factory loads for the .30-30 Winchester for a long time was with 150 and 170 grain bullets. I think hunters chose the 170 grain bullet more often than not. Craig Boddington, in his book "American Hunting Rifles" noted, "...While the .30-30's initial loading used a 160-grain bullet, for many years the standard loading has been a 150-grain bullet at 2,390 feet per second, yielding 1,903 foot/pounds; and a 170-grain bullet delivering 2,220 fps and 1,827 foot/pounds." Mr. Boddington opined, "...On deer-sized game, the higher velocity of the 150-grain bullet tends to embark a bit more shock, but even so one should expect deer hit in the heart/lung area to exhibit little reaction to receiving the bullet. I've historically been more a fan of the 170-grain bullet, on the theory that since there isn't much velocity anyway you might as well have the added penetration of the heavier bullet". I seem to recall that Jack O'Connor shared the same opinion when comparing the 150-grain and 170-grain bullets shot from a 30-30 rifle while hunting for deer-sized game.
 
Was the 30-30 ever offered with a lead bullet?

I’m talking 1900-1970s factory and not a modern specialty load from HSM or a reman brand.

The best 3030 ammo I’ve shot was Winchester Super X with a flat nose. It was old ammo by my standards but the bullets appeared with the eye more concentric and uniform than Cor-lokts or other current bullets. Shot much better.

All I had were 170gr as well.

HB
 
Was the 30-30 ever offered with a lead bullet?

I’m talking 1900-1970s factory and not a modern specialty load from HSM or a reman brand.

The best 3030 ammo I’ve shot was Winchester Super X with a flat nose. It was old ammo by my standards but the bullets appeared with the eye more concentric and uniform than Cor-lokts or other current bullets. Shot much better.

All I had were 170gr as well.

HB
I found that Winchester offered a 150 hollow point which I used for decades (still use it). It doesn't deform like jsp when you have to load & unload & they kill just as quick as any other round I've ever used.
 
I've cast some 150 grain flat nosed with a gas check, using the equivalent of Lyman #2 lead, and tried them on wild hogs. The last one that I used it on was about 140# sow and it did do the job, however my shot placement wasn't quite right so I destroyed a lot of meat. I've never seen the 150grn HP by Winchester, only the 150 and 170grn silver tips.
 
I've cast some 150 grain flat nosed with a gas check, using the equivalent of Lyman #2 lead, and tried them on wild hogs. The last one that I used it on was about 140# sow and it did do the job, however my shot placement wasn't quite right so I destroyed a lot of meat. I've never seen the 150grn HP by Winchester, only the 150 and 170grn silver tips.

I accidentally picked up a box of the 150 gr HP from Winchester. The 150 gr SP were on clearance at Sportsman's and I grabbed 6 boxes, one of which was the HPs. They shoot pretty well, but I've never shot anything other than paper or other random targets with them (soda cans/bottles, rotten apples (fruit, not tech) and tomatoes, etc).

The cavity in the hollow point apparently is large enough to whistle over, but small enough that it creates a frequency that humans can't hear. I blew over the tip of one of them like you would with a pop bottle to get a tone from it. I didn't hear anything but our dog came running up looking really confused. He went back downstairs and I did it again. Same result. Maybe I'll try it again when I get home tonight. :D

Matt
 
My favorites were the WW Silvertip loads in the .30/30 with a 150 gr bullet. These never seemed to deform when loading or unloading either, and the 150 was just right for the distance and deer size the ranch offered.

I still have some silvertips, some newer Federal and older PMC flatpoints, some Rem core lokts with the RN profile and even one box of Speer .30/30 ammo that came in the yellow hard plastic container like an MTM box.

Stay safe!
 
I've cast some 150 grain flat nosed with a gas check, using the equivalent of Lyman #2 lead, and tried them on wild hogs. The last one that I used it on was about 140# sow and it did do the job, however my shot placement wasn't quite right so I destroyed a lot of meat. I've never seen the 150grn HP by Winchester, only the 150 and 170grn silver tips.
You have to get your local gun shop to order them. I think they still make them, but they are not cheap.
 
I've cast some 150 grain flat nosed with a gas check, using the equivalent of Lyman #2 lead, and tried them on wild hogs. The last one that I used it on was about 140# sow and it did do the job, however my shot placement wasn't quite right so I destroyed a lot of meat. I've never seen the 150grn HP by Winchester, only the 150 and 170grn silver tips.

This is interesting... Do you know the brinnell hardness? Did the bullet expand or grenade? I've shot some Lazercast 170gr LFP-GC, .310" diameter, but never on deer-size game. I wonder how it'd compare, if it's not too hard to expand. Last I knew, in Georgia we still have to use "expanding bullets".
 
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