October 8, 2013, 11:20 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 2, 2007
Location: Missouri
Posts: 8,306
|
30-30 Winchester for deer
At ±100 yards 150 or 170 grain bullets. Remington Core Lokt of Winchester Super X Power Point? NOT Hornady Lever Evolution. I'm not trying to make a 30-06 out of It. If I need more range I have a 7MM Remington Magnum.
Leaning toward the 170 gr because as I understand that is the bullet weight the 94 Winchester was built around.
__________________
Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING! Last edited by Cheapshooter; October 9, 2013 at 12:18 AM. |
October 8, 2013, 11:27 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 13, 2010
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
Posts: 421
|
I'd find what runs best through the gun and go with it. Deer aren't armor plated and they die with arrows blasting through them. The 30 30 will do fine with either bullet weight would be my guess.
__________________
Never enough toys |
October 8, 2013, 11:31 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 13, 2006
Location: Washington state
Posts: 15,247
|
Never heard of a 200 gr load for the 30-30. But no matter.
150 or 170 grainers have been killing them dead for 118 years, they die real well, and it doesn't ruin meat like the big bangers. 30-30 is a really good deer cartridge.
__________________
Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services |
October 9, 2013, 12:20 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 2, 2007
Location: Missouri
Posts: 8,306
|
Thanks Scorch, I must be getting tired. Don't know how I let the 200 slip through. Corrected It to 170.
__________________
Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING! |
October 9, 2013, 01:52 AM | #5 |
Member
Join Date: September 18, 2013
Location: Minnesota "Nice!"
Posts: 43
|
I always go with the heavyer for deer in my 30-30 its the perfect brush gun!
|
October 9, 2013, 04:32 AM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 28, 2006
Posts: 1,482
|
Being in MO, and based on the size of the deer, you dont NEED more than the 150s. However, as has been mentioned, I'd try the 150 and 170 just to see what the gun liked more.
For a period of time growing up in FL, I carried a Marlin 336 and used the 150s for both deer and hog. I never felt undergunned.
__________________
NRA Life Member "We have enough gun control. What we need is idiot control." |
October 9, 2013, 05:18 AM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 31, 2013
Location: East Texas
Posts: 1,705
|
Having driven through the Ozarks many times, it would seem that a Ford F-150 might be the preferred weapon there. Sure a lot of dead ones along the roads....but seriously the 150's in a 30/30 have been taking deer for a long time and I guy really doesn't need any more. The Mo. woods are a lot like my area, and long shots are seldom necessary.
|
October 9, 2013, 07:31 AM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 17, 2007
Location: Anoka, MN
Posts: 273
|
Last deer I got was with Federal 170gr. Carefully chosen after exhaustive...aw shucks, because it's what I had available at the time (last November). It worked fine.
The last one before that with a .30-30 was 150gr, either Remington or Federal (I can't recall exactly, but I do know I've used both) and that worked fine as well. Now that I think on it, I can't remember any issues with .30-30 and either bullet weight on deer. Just dead deer that I've shot with 'em. I guess I'd recommend trying the different brands and weights available to you and see if your particular rifle shows a marked preference for one in terms of grouping. |
October 9, 2013, 07:35 AM | #9 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 13, 2010
Location: Virginia Beach
Posts: 2,016
|
Quote:
why not?
__________________
NRA Life Member USN Retired |
|
October 9, 2013, 08:18 AM | #10 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 18, 2005
Location: On the Santa Fe Trail
Posts: 8,192
|
Quote:
__________________
NRA Life Member |
|
October 9, 2013, 08:44 AM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 11, 2009
Location: Northern California
Posts: 1,766
|
Remington Core Lokt in either weight would be my choice. I don't know enough about the Winchester Power Point to have an opinion on it, but I have shot a few deer with Core Lokt's and they have always done a good job. Plus, the Core Lokt's cult like following comes from years of doing a good job.
|
October 9, 2013, 11:11 AM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 24, 2012
Location: South Texas
Posts: 2,126
|
The 125Gr Fed HP is a hot little bugger, my 70's vintage 336 shoots it very well.
|
October 9, 2013, 12:30 PM | #13 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 12, 2000
Location: Wilkes-Barre, Pa
Posts: 1,029
|
Quote:
Actually the first offering was 160gr at a blistering 1960 fps ...... it was a red hot mama compared to the black powder loadings of the day. Hard to argue that 10 grains matters either way. In my entire circle of friends and family, best unbroken string of clean single shot kills belongs to Win's 150gr hollow points. Wish I could buy them for reloading
__________________
A gun is like a parachute... when you need one you usually need it pretty bad... |
|
October 9, 2013, 12:46 PM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 2, 2007
Location: Missouri
Posts: 8,306
|
The main reason for not considering the Hornady LE is based on internet information. Lots of reading turned up lots of reviews that say It doesn't work well in 94 Winchesters. Some rave about it's accuracy in the old "cowboy" gun, most say It is inconsistant at best.
While I am in Missouri, the area I hunt is in the Northern flatlands, not the Ozark hills. I have options of Ozark style woodlands around Thomas Hill lake, and open fields in surrounding areas where 200+ yard shots are not uncommon. My Remington 700 in 7MM Rem. Mag has done fine in the woods as well as the open fields, but I thought why not something else in the tight shooting places. I've also used a G2 'tender Super14 in 35 Remington, and now have the option of a NEF Handi Rifle in 500 S&W Mag. Do't they say variety is the spice of life?
__________________
Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING! |
October 9, 2013, 12:55 PM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 15, 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 10,786
|
Hornady uses some deceptive advertising with their Lever Evolution ammo. All other ammo makers show their 30-30 loads zeroed at 100 yards. Hornany does not tell us at what range they zero their Lever Evolution ammo, just that it is about 1/2" high at 200 yards. Makes for some pretty impressive trajectory numbers at 300 yards when you compare it to standard loads zeroed at 100 yards. You also end up hitting enough higher than the line of sight at 50 yards to easily shoot over a deer at close range.
Use any standard round nose 150 or 170 gr round nose 30-30 bullet and zero it at 250 yards and you end up with about the same bullet drop as the Lever Evolution ammo at 300 yards. The Lever Evolution ammo is an improvement over standard ammo, just not nearly as much as it seems at first glance. The pointed bullets have a little less drop at extended ranges, but their biggest plus is keeping energy numbers up at longer ranges. They seem to be quite accurate and are reasonably priced, so there aren't a lot of negatives. But it is still a 30-30 with the same limitations of effective range. You might squeeze another 50 yards out of the round with their ammo. |
October 9, 2013, 01:08 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 6, 2010
Location: mountain view ,ar.
Posts: 184
|
As mentioned above the 30-30 has been bringing home the meat for over 100 years so either weight bullet at 100+/- yds and well placed will make them deader than a rocking horse
__________________
instant karma's gonna get you , knock you right in the face...... j.w.l. |
October 9, 2013, 01:35 PM | #17 | |
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: June 25, 2008
Location: Austin, CO
Posts: 19,578
|
Quote:
__________________
Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley |
|
October 9, 2013, 02:13 PM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 30, 2010
Location: Missouri
Posts: 1,337
|
150 grain handloads used to work beautifully for me. And as I don't like to think too much and didn't need to use the .30-30 for long range shots I zeroed at 100 yards dead on, and not knowing any better kept killing deer, not knowing or caring that I wasn't using the MPBR system. I have taken longer shots since them with other rifles zeroed using the MPBR system but almost every time old "aim high" birdie starts chirping on my shoulder and I hold high and shoot right over the top of them, so I still tend to zero dead on 100 yards.
|
October 9, 2013, 02:58 PM | #19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 14, 2012
Location: Southern Appalachian Mtns
Posts: 1,520
|
We can analyze this till we are blue in the face but the fact of the matter is at 100 yards the deer nor the shooter will be able to tell the difference in a 150 or 170 gr bullet.
As a matter of opinion between the two I would use the 170 gr for shorter range, especially if your hunting area is wooded. But I wouldn't feel any less confident with a 150 gr As for the LeverEvolutions I like them in my .35, they are a bit faster and use a flex-tip pointed bullet as opposed to the round nose, so the trajectory is a little flatter. I have found them to be the most accurate factory ammo I've tried. Which is irrelevant now because you can't find .35 rem ammo anywhere. I've already bought a set of dies and when I start reloading for it I'll be duplicating that Hornady factory load. But my experience is with a Marlin 336, so a Winny 94 could very well not like the LE ammo. But I'd be more inclined to believe that it varies from rifle to rifle not brand to brand. I said all that to say giving the LE ammo a try might be worthwhile. Use what groups best in your rifle.
__________________
DEO VINDICE Last edited by steveNChunter; October 9, 2013 at 03:04 PM. |
October 9, 2013, 03:57 PM | #20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 23, 2009
Posts: 1,624
|
You'll do fine with either the 150's or 170's. I'd give both a try and see which your rifle likes better.
|
October 9, 2013, 04:10 PM | #21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 29, 2010
Location: Shoshoni Wyoming
Posts: 2,713
|
I had a Marlin 336 long ago and I used both 150 and 170 grain bullets on Nevada Mule Deer. The 150s were extremely accurate in my rifle (more so that I would have expected from a 336) and the 170 shot about 2" at 50 yards, but the 150s didn't exit the deer I shot and the 170s did.
The 170s killed faster. So after a few years I stopped loading the 150s even though they shot better groups. |
October 9, 2013, 04:23 PM | #22 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 24, 2012
Location: South Texas
Posts: 2,126
|
Maybe the Hornady Lever Evolution ammo overstress the receiver on a Winchester, affecting the accuracy.
|
October 9, 2013, 04:34 PM | #23 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 11, 2007
Location: S. Florida
Posts: 280
|
30-30 Winchester for deer
My 336 didn't like the Hornady LE at all, in fact, I had a hard time extracting the casings after firing them. I tried Federals too, but my gun ended up preferring Rem. Core-lokt's in 170 gr.
|
October 9, 2013, 04:47 PM | #24 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 18, 2013
Location: closer than you think
Posts: 967
|
A few inches difference in shot placement makes a bigger difference than 20 grains of bullet weight.
Boomer
__________________
The number one cause of death in the 20th century. 290,000,000 citizens were first disarmed and then murdered by their own governments. This number does not include those killed in war. We're from the government, we're here to help |
October 9, 2013, 04:48 PM | #25 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 17, 2005
Location: Stillwater Oklahoma
Posts: 790
|
I shoot the 150gr bullet zeroed to 200, but right now your lucky of find any...
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|