Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Favorite 30-30 factory load for deer

There are more options out there now than ever but I am still using the 170 grain Winchester Power Points. Is there anything significantly better? I haven't shot many deer over 150 yards with a 30-30 and don't plan on doing so.

I like 150 grain Winchester Powermax bonded loads. Don't know if they are significantly better or not but in a sample of about 4 they seemed to expand a little better than some I've used.

Whatever brand and bullet weight shoots the best groups in your rifle.

Nope, Winchester is as good as any.

I've always been a Winchester 170 grain guy but this year I'm sighted in for Hornady Leverevolutions. My 16" barreled 30-30 gets fed 150 Core-Lokts.

The 170 grain Power point has worked well for me, deep penetration and an exit. No problem breaking bones either. When I reloaded for the 30-30 I used the 150 grain Sierra flat noses and that was a good bullet too but my current 30-30's both shoot the 170 grain bullets better.

170 gr federal blue box or fusions for my 30/30 ( 1923 savage 99 featherweight takedown). Will group as well as I can shoot with the sights it has, 2-3" at 100 yds.

Winchester loads shoot ok, but the primer protrudes a small but noticeable amount after firing (I suspect federal primers are harder?)

Remington corelokts shoot about 4 inches lower at 100 yds than federal or winchester.

I like the Barnes vor-tx

Barnes 150 TSX FN should do it.

Shot a few deer with the Remington 170 Core-Lokt and wasn't too impressed. Moved away from the 30-30 and haven't shot anything with one in over 20 years. If I were going to shoot one again and "IF" it were to be fed factory loads I would try Winchester, 150 or 170, whichever shot best.

I liked the Remington 170 gr hollow points back when I owned a Marlin carbine. I haven't seen them in a while though.

In the Savage 99 it is whatever 150 gr load I have on hand. I have several boxes of Federal blue box and Winchester Power Points that get used off and on. 170s work well too but a brother in law and nephew believe in that weight and a box or two of Winchesters seem to wander off with them.

In reloads 150 gr Sierra and Hornady round noses are my go to in the similar 30 Remington. I shoot more of these than 30/30 and these are most accurate in my rifles.

150 gr core-loks from Wally World is what I shot for years and they never failed me on deer and hogs. Then I got into reloading.... bad habit to have!!!

150gr Remington Corelockts shoot 2" groups with Iron Sights in my 1942 model 94. Love this old gun. I've really gotten back into hunting with older rifles vs the 400 yard tack drivers in the safe. Kind of gives more of a challenge.

150 Silver Tips👍

170 Federals in my Marlin and 150 core lokts in my Winchester. Both good deer killers. The 170 Winchester silvertips were my favorite so of course Winchester discontinued those.

I've used Winchesters power points, rem corelokts, and the hornady leverevolution. All killed deer. I buy whatever is cheapest for the .30-30 typically. It's been killing deer with those brands for a long time.
-Jake

the old winchester 170gr silver tips, now its the hornady 170's flat nose, Bill likes the speer 150 flat nose

+1. Any of the major brands are fine in either 150 or 170 unless there is just some noticeable difference in your rifles preference. Never seen that in my rifles. Seems Federal blue box is usually cheapest here lately. A lot of hunting to be had for about $12-$15 .

Same here. I swore by 170 Silvertips. Even killed a Bull Moose with that bullet.

I guess I'm one of the few people on here who have never killed a deer with a 30-30. I've hunted with one several times, just never seen deer. That being said, the Remington Hog Hammer with the 150gr Barnes shoot beautiful little 3/4 inch triangles at 100yds, so of course Remington discontinued them. Good thing I bought a half dozen boxes when they went on clearance at Midway. That should last me the rest of my life. If they perform like the rest of the Barnes bullets I've used, I'll be perfectly happy with them.