The 30-30's Effective Range

[Abel]

What is the longest one shot kill that you have made with a 30-30?

I can say that I've killed several deer at ranges under 100 yards with my 30-30, and they didn't get more than 20 yards from where I shot them. But I have stepped off 128 yards for another fella with a scoped Marlin 30-30. His big-mammi doe went a whopping five yards from where a 170 grain slug tore through her chest cavity. Massive blood. I would feel comfortable shooting out to 200 yards with a scoped Marlin 336 and traditional round nose bullets. What has been you folks' experiences?

 

[skiking]

My farthest with the 30-30 was 163 yards on a whitetail buck, one shot through the lungs, buck did a 1/2 backflip and was dead when he hit the ground with a exit hole I could stick my fist through. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a deer to 250 yds with round nose bullets and open sights, using a Williams peep would extend that to 300.

 

[336A]

The farthest shot I've ever taken was right around 140yd. I don't have a laser range finder but I paced it off and I made sure to stretch my legs. So in essence it might have been a little less or a little farther. I was shooting 150gr Federal Fusion ammunition. At the shot the doe kicked and bucked and made a stiff legged 25yd trott and fell over dead. This year I'll be using my handload which consists of a 150gr Sierra.

Now what is the farthest shot that I would take with that rifle? Well it depends to tell you the truth, and here is why. Regardless of what the ballistic charts say actual velocity from the common 20" rifles is closer to 2200fps for the 150gr bullet and right around 2050fps for the 170gr. Yes there will be few exceptions to this as some rifles might have a faster than normal barrel.

However real world results will be very close to the above figures listed. Due to this I zero my rifle for 150yd, that puts me 2" high at 100yd and about 4" low at 200yd. Remember the vital zone of a deer is only 6" so this allows for a dead on hold to 200yd. Could you shoot further yes but those FN and RN bullets start to bleed velocity rather quickly. Bullets designed for the .30-30 are fairly lightly constructed due to the velocity operating window we're dealing with in this cartridge. The bullet expansion floor is right around 1500 fps (as per Sierra technical rep I spoke with) which happens to be right around 200-225yd. So for ethical reasons I won't shoot past 200yd when using conventional FN and RN bullets.

Of course the rules change completely when using the Hornady 160gr LeverEvolution ammo. I get 2380fps from my 20" 336A with this ammo. Shots out to 300yd are now ethicaly doable, however I would try to get closer if possible. I don't hunt with the Hornady ammo though it does shoot well from my rifle. But I still will try to get as close to my quarry as I possibly can. hope this helps. Shoot straight and stay safe.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I've got to try that new leverevolution ammo. I've been saying that for years.

 

[W.E.G.]

I think this topic is an answer, begging for a question.

People who hunt with a 30-30 rarely hunt in areas where 200+ yard shots are available.

Those hunters who do hunt areas where such a shot is probable, usually select a rifle other than the 30-30.

The 30-30 starts dropping like a rock at 300 yards.
That's not to say I would want to be hit with one at that distance.

 

[W.E.G.]

The LeverRevolution stuff shoots a little bit flatter (~3 inches better at 300 yards), but that wouldn't convince me to make the 30-30 my first choice for hunts where deer-sized game would likely be encountered at that sort of distance. Remember too, that 30-30 bullet - traditional or fancy-schmantzy is moving real slow at 300 yards. If you are in a place that will allow that sort of shot, you have CROSSWIND to account for too.

Just bring a flatter-shooting gun, and you will be much happier out in those wide-open, windy places.

 

[336A]

W.E.G, where did you find that chart? The reason that I ask is that it is off by quite a bit. Here is one published by Sierra for their bullets.

http://www.exteriorballistics.com/ebexplained/4th-rifle_tables/pdf/308150fn.pdf

Also there is no flies on the Hornady LeverEvolution ammo if ones rifles shoots it well. It is for the most part the ballistic equivilant to the .300 Savage which was a highly respected deer cartridge. If Hornady ever gets their scrap book page up and running again take a look at what the 160gr .30-30 LeverEvolution has accomplished. This is what the performance of the Hornady 160gr LE represents from my rifle if I were to zero for 200yd. It does drift a bit though given a 10MPH cross wind.

Ballistics Table in Yards 160 gr., .330 B.C. www.hornady.com

Range (yards) Muzzle 50 100 200 300 400 500
Velocity (fps) 2380 2254 2132 1900 1684 1489 1320
Energy (ft.-lb.) 2012 1805 1615 1282 1008 788 619
Trajectory (200 yd. zero) -1.5 1.7 3.1 0.0 -12.8 -37.9 -78.8
Wind Drift (inches) 0.0 0.3 1.2 5.3 12.6 23.8 39.3
Come Up in MOA -1.5 -3.2 -3.0 0.0 4.1 9.0 15.0
Wind Drift (moa) 0.00 0.55 1.18 2.53 4.03 5.69 7.52

 

[joed]

I have 1 .30-30, a Win 94 that belonged to one of the mounted police units here. I've never been in love with it but it has some uses so I keep it.

If I were going hunting in bushy country with lots of trees it would be my first choice. But for open country I have a Rem 700 in .25-06 which shoots as far as I can see. So it depends where I'll be hunting that dictates the choice. I wouldn't feel comfortable with anything over 150 yds with the .30-30 only because I don't shoot it enough.

 

[375shooter]

With open sights and flat point bullets, I would keep my shots within 200 yards. Using a scope with LEVERevolution ammo, I would stretch that to 250 or 300.

 

[Abel]

Thank you everyone who has replied so far. I know what the charts say. I'm more interested in actual kill shots. What is the furthest one shot kill that you have made with the 30-30 with traditional round or flat nosed bullets. Thanks again.

 

[W.E.G.]

W.E.G, where did you find that chart?

http://www.biggameinfo.com/BalCalc.aspx

Those numbers are good for the 170 grain bullet zeroed for 200 yards.

 

[paintballdude902]

if you know your rifle then you can take shots at the 300yd mark. but that will take practice. 200 is the normal max. i had a 4.5x scope on mine and ive take a few shots right around 250 paces (roughly 230yds)

 

[W.E.G.]

ive take a few shots right around 250 paces (roughly 230yds)

That's a completely reasonable shot.
If your rifle is zeroed for 200 yards, you would only need to aim four inches high, and that even using "ordinary" 30-30 ammo.

 

[ms6852]

It is doable. My longest has been 189 yds in Terlingua.

 

[JustsayMo]

I've never had a hunting shot longer than 100 yards and doubt I'd ever really need to. I do regularly shoot at 200 yards with my 30-30 in silhouette matches. Got this dude four times, 200 yards, offhand, open sights, in a right to left cross wind - Aiming point was under his chin... Got him in the "unit" twice but he went down both times.

I also enjoy shooting my 30-30 out to 400 yards. Hitting a 20" wide by 32" tall dinger is pretty easy off the sticks.

the firing line is down there by the shop.

Those old cartridges (30-30, 32-40, 38-55 and 45-70) are amazing at long range. The most fun I have shooting is ringing dingers and knocking over silhouettes at long range with "obsolete" calibers.

I didn't take a picture of my 30-30 hits but they looked very similar to my 45-70 hits in this picture.

If I had a fixed stand I'd range all the possible shots. I'm certain that if I was pressed to make meat at long range I could put it in the vitals out to 300 with a rest. Even 400 would be doable but not ethical.