Reloading 30-30 with Pointed Bullets
- Thread starter DMW1116
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No. But I did try the Sierra 135 varminter. It's supposed to be a good 300 BO hunting bullet. In the 30-30 it is a varmint bullet. A neck shot on a deer left a 3" hole with no exit.
I always neck shoot a doe if I question the bullet's performance. If it doesn't do something stupid. I use it. If it splashes. I move on.
AJC1
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The 110 and 120? Barnes was talked about a lot for supers in 300bo on hogs. Might be another good one. The plastic tip should be mag safe but I don't know if it would deform effecting accuracy.
Most of the plastic tips are harder than lead soft points. I wouldn't want to risk it. Unless you meant the mag follower deforming them.
BRatigan
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This week I will test the 160XTPs over Win 748. Should fly nice with enough energy to do the job under my circumstances and velocity.
GeoDudeFlorida
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This discussion and many more like it over the years are what lead Browning to release the magazine-fed BLR, a plethora of single shot pistols and rifles with interchangeable barrels, nearly always including the much loved and maligned .30WCF, and flexible tips on Spitzer .30-caliber bullets. Reinventing this particular wheel has been a challenge since the cartridge was developed and it’s going to be long after the last tube-fed lever action leaves the factory floor.
Next the debate will turn to a statistical analysis and disagreement over data on whether or not using pointy bullets really is dangerous in a tube magazine….
AJC1
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I've already tried to open the door to how big the meplat needs to be. I believe the best answer will be found in a book for firing pin requirements for good ignition. Kinda a use that information to reverse engineer a senerio bad for ignition.
I hear you. I question the danger of using pointed bullets. Considering the fact primers need to be hit with a decent amount of force. But I can't recommend something that is said to be dangerous.
The ideal test would be primed dummy rounds in a magazine and use a test rig that stimulates the correct recoil.
I do know at 30-30 distances a round nose or flat point is devastating compared to a spire point. Until you get into ballistic tip bullets.
Did the same. Very accurate. As you said though a big jump to the lands. Had to load them to the top of the shoulder for them to eject if I didn't shoot it.
AJC1
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I've watched many YouTube videos on this. Demolition ranch went to extreme measures to get the 50bmg to light off and this was another that failed to recreate the actual problem.
Seedy Character
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120 -125 gr bullets @ 2500 - 2600 fps are outstanding in my Marlin and perform on deer, out to 200 yards.
Be very aware of COAL if trying to magazine feed. I in the mag and 1 in chamber works fine. I have used it as a single shot and chamber fed. Never needed a follow up shot.
Be very aware of COAL if trying to magazine feed. I in the mag and 1 in chamber works fine. I have used it as a single shot and chamber fed. Never needed a follow up shot.
Enjoy yourself. I did some experimenting several years ago with my 336 since I have tons of .30 cal bullets. Some shot better, some shot worse. I ended back up on the old reliable 150 and 170 gr RN bullets. It was a fun rabbit hole to go down though 
AJC1
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I haven't tried it yet but comparison of bullet ojives I'm guessing most regular bullets are to long in the bearing surface to meplat to work in the feed system.Enjoy yourself. I did some experimenting several years ago with my 336 since I have tons of .30 cal bullets. Some shot better, some shot worse. I ended back up on the old reliable 150 and 170 gr RN bullets. It was a fun rabbit hole to go down though
Hugger-4641
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Yep, the 165 sp I loaded had to be set pretty deep to get the coal acceptable.
GeoDudeFlorida
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That’s why the Contender and NEF/H&R single shots are so popular as platforms for pointy .30WCF. If the factory chambers are a little long and the factory lifters are a little short, single feeding or tube feeding becomes a moot question. You’re not going to get pinhole accuracy at 300yds. A Super 16 Contender barrel will probably get you there, though.
lordpaxman
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I always worried that if I reloaded some pointy non-traditional 30-30 loads with the idea that I’d shoot them one at a time, at 3AM hauling off into the woods, with not enough coffee… well…. I decided just to use Hornady’s FTX line. The 160 flies just fine for what I do. I know they have the 135 listed as a .308, not sure how it’d do in a 30-30 load.
Forgot to add:
https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/rifle/30-30-win-140-gr-monoflex-leverevolution#!/
Forgot to add:
https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/rifle/30-30-win-140-gr-monoflex-leverevolution#!/
bluetopper
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My experience in 30-30 is that flat base bullets are much more accurate at its range and velocity. That's a great deal more important than the shape of the front end of the projectile.
n2omike
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GooseGestapo
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The Speer 130,150, and 170gr FN have excellent B.C.’s and perform well from the 30-30. The cannelures are also properly positioned for crimping. I’ve used all three through the.30/30, .308ME, and even the .30/06 for a close range load. They work real well.
I’ve used the 125gr Nosler Ballistic Tip in a Savage M340 bolt action. Performance was excellent, but I still prefer a flat nosed bullet.
I’ve wanted to try the Lee 113gr FNGC in my .30-30’s @2,200fps. Experience tells me I’ll regret not using this combo for the several decades I’ve played with other more expensive alternatives!
I’ve used the 125gr Nosler Ballistic Tip in a Savage M340 bolt action. Performance was excellent, but I still prefer a flat nosed bullet.
I’ve wanted to try the Lee 113gr FNGC in my .30-30’s @2,200fps. Experience tells me I’ll regret not using this combo for the several decades I’ve played with other more expensive alternatives!
AJC1
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The federal fusion bullet looks really good smaller meplat and was sold as a component. If I could find some I'd test them to see.
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