Need a 30-30 load - Page 2

ShootistPRS · October 14, 2017, 09:15 PM

Wendy,
The 7-08 is a fine cartridge. With the proper bullets you can shoot groundhogs, coyotes, deer, elk and just about anything you like. It is a superb round for black bear and the recoil probably won't bother you at all. They do bark but it is manageable with muffs or plugs. Get as long a barrel as you can because the shorter barrels tend to breathe fire. It is fairly tolerant of medium and medium slow burning powders up through 150 grain bullets with WW748 one of my favorites. H414 is a better powder from 150 to 175 grain bullets. There are some who like RE 15, 17 and 19 and they will work with the appropriate bullet. You need a faster twist if you are going to be shooting the long and heavy bullets so if you have a choice as fast as you can get, up to 1:8 twist.
To contrast that the Ruger American comes with a 22" barrel and a 1:9.5 twist. It will stabilize the lighter and medium length and weight bullets but the heavy ones are not likely to stabilize. The American is still a good varmint to deer gun and although it is lighter tan 6.5 pounds the recoil is still manageable. There are no sights on it but it ships with a scope base mounted.

October 14, 2017, 09:15 PM	#26
ShootistPRS Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2017 Posts: 1,583	Wendy, The 7-08 is a fine cartridge. With the proper bullets you can shoot groundhogs, coyotes, deer, elk and just about anything you like. It is a superb round for black bear and the recoil probably won't bother you at all. They do bark but it is manageable with muffs or plugs. Get as long a barrel as you can because the shorter barrels tend to breathe fire. It is fairly tolerant of medium and medium slow burning powders up through 150 grain bullets with WW748 one of my favorites. H414 is a better powder from 150 to 175 grain bullets. There are some who like RE 15, 17 and 19 and they will work with the appropriate bullet. You need a faster twist if you are going to be shooting the long and heavy bullets so if you have a choice as fast as you can get, up to 1:8 twist. To contrast that the Ruger American comes with a 22" barrel and a 1:9.5 twist. It will stabilize the lighter and medium length and weight bullets but the heavy ones are not likely to stabilize. The American is still a good varmint to deer gun and although it is lighter tan 6.5 pounds the recoil is still manageable. There are no sights on it but it ships with a scope base mounted.