308 vs 30-30

[helotaxi]

The FTX for the .308 MX is longer if I recall. This leaves to little case to hold powder in the 30-30. I believe that Hornady even mentions not for 30-30. Yes, they are .308 in caliber. So you're right there, but it isn't recommended.

Actually the two bullets are exactly the same length. The difference is the radius of the ogive. The .30-30 version has a smaller radius ogive and a more blunt profile because the case is too long to allow a better ogive profile to function through the action. The correct FTX bullet for the application doesn't intrude on the powder space any more than a normal round-nose or flat point bullet. Hornady doesn't recommend the FTX (MX) for the .30-30 because it will not function through the action. The M94AE has the same problem with that bullet in a .307.

As far as opening too fast, the .307, as mentioned above, has a thicker case and is limited to a slightly lower pressure than the .308 because of the action that it was designed for. As such it isn't capable of .308 velocity and the .308MX is slightly faster with the same bullet. It operates well within the design velocity of the FTX bullet.

 

[joed]

I think the only reason lever guns are referred to as "brush guns" is because most of them are short. I would carry my lever gun in places where a bolt rifle would get hung up on brush and small trees. The .30-30 cartridge has nothing to do with firing thru brush.

 

[jmr40]

I think the only reason lever guns are referred to as "brush guns" is because most of them are short. I would carry my lever gun in places where a bolt rifle would get hung up on brush and small trees.

There are far more options for short light bolt rifles in 308 than leverguns in 30-30. Finding levers with barrels shorter than 20" is uncommon. There are lots more options for 16"-20" barreled bolt rifles.

For some reason folks think leverguns are lightweight. Most bolt guns with full length 22"-24" barrels are actually much lighter than 20" barreled 30-30's. My 300 WSM with 24" barrel is exactly the same weight as my 20" Marlin 30-30. My 308's are as much as 2.5 lbs lighter.

 

[Eb1]

Eithway.

Not a fan of .308 bullets from Hornady in my rifles.

 

[JSNAPS]

2 different beasts.

 

[BluegrassDan]

I own both and I'd get a .308 bolt first because it is more versitile. Then, get a .30-30 lever for those rainy days crawling on you hands and knees through laurel thickets for a maximum 40 yard shot.

 

[George1951]

I like the 30-30 round, and would like to obtain a break-action single shot 30-30 at some point that I can load spritzer cartridges for. Just to play around with.

 

[JHenry]

50 BMG, because theres no brush... branch... tree it cant handle

 

[janobles14]

im just wondering who has actually had a bolt gun fail them in some jungle situation. dont get me wrong...i took 3 this year with my cheap 30aw but it made them no less dead than the a-bolt .30-06 which is my go to. damn...how long does a weapon have to be to fail as a brush gun? for me it was the opposite and no branches got in the way. deflected is deflected.

 

[303tom]

I like the 30-30 round, and would like to obtain a break-action single shot 30-30 at some point that I can load spritzer cartridges for. Just to play around with.

Here is a pair of mine, .45-70 & .30-30......

 

[Stevie-Ray]

A "brush gun" is not about shooting "through" brush but about a short, easy to maneuver rifle that's easy to carry through brush and heavy forested areas.

Since when? A brush gun is not all about being short, but also about being able to blast through leaves and small twigs without too much deflection. That's why the .35 Remington was always deemed a fine "brush gun."

 

[MCgunner]

Since when? A brush gun is not all about being short, but also about being able to blast through leaves and small twigs without too much deflection. That's why the .35 Remington was always deemed a fine "brush gun".

Not even a 12 gauge slug retains stability after hitting so much as a twig. I've seen this theory of "shooting through brush" tested in many articles and all call it BS. Best find a path through the obstacles that does not involve hitting anything until bullet hits flesh. For that, i want ACCURACY and good optics, not a .30-30 and iron sights. I'll take my .308 M7 stainless Remington every time, just as light and handy, 3/4 MOA accurate, and hits with more punch to boot. This gun is as at home in the brush as it is in a box blind or a mountain ridge in mule deer and elk country.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Oh OK. So I suppose the old guys that we used to read are full of it and none of their swill should be taken with as much as a dose of salts? This didn't take much searching:http://www.chuckhawks.com/woods_rifles.htm

Excerpt:
This article is about rifles for hunting medium game (like deer and black bear) in wooded or brushy country, where ranges run from a few yards to a maximum of 200 yards. The average shot in this sort of country will be less than 100 yards, so high velocity and long range killing power are less important than short range stopping power and the ability of the bullet to sneak (or blast) through leaves and twigs on its way to the target.

Yeah, brush gun was never about going through brush.

 

[MCgunner]

You go right ahead trying to shoot through pine trees. Good luck with that.

I shoot both, but no longer have a .30-30 rifle. I shoot .30-30 with a 150 nosler in my Contender, 12" hunter barrel. 2050 fps MV out of that gun, 2800 fps for the .308 out of a 20" barrel. In rifles, the .308 bests the .30-30's best handloads by 400 fps in my experience. That's significant enough that in this comparison I'll default to .308 for ANY terrain, personally. I like .30-30 rifles, the lever guns, but I'd as soon be shootin' my 7.62x39 SKS as far as ballistics.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

You go right ahead trying to shoot through pine trees. Good luck with that.

So now it has to be pine trees for you to right, eh?

 

[MCgunner]

You ain't gonna get through grass any better with your .30-30 or .35 Remington than I am with my .308, either.

 

[Mike1234567]

I once hit a cat hair in Texas with a .308 Win and it deflected the bullet to New York. Then I hit a dog hair in Texas and it deflected to Washington DC. Good shooting in both cases, me-thinks!!

 

[03Shadowbob]

I killed a pig this year with my 35 lever that moved behind some brush at the last minute. Lots of leaves and one twig broke and the bullet hit where I aimed. It does happen but it is not as common as being deflected. I don't recommend shooting through brush.

 

[guyfromohio]

30-30 is moar cooler.

 

[MCgunner]

I killed a pig this year with my 35 lever that moved behind some brush at the last minute. Lots of leaves and one twig broke and the bullet hit where I aimed. It does happen but it is not as common as being deflected. I don't recommend shooting through brush.

Nor do I. However, if you'd wounded that pig, no biggy, not like if you'd wounded a deer IMHO. Any wounded hog will die sooner or later and the only good hog is a dead hog to a lot of land owners around here.