Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting 30-30 w. pointy bullets

Like a 3/4 size double? Yes!

My dad bought a pair of the Savage 840s .. slightly dolled up 340s .. that were sold under the Western Field brand years ago, one for mom, one for grandma. (For Valentines Day no less.) He did quite a bit of load workup. He settled on 30.2 or 30.3 grains of IMR 3031 and 150 grain Sierra flat base bullets. In those cheap guns, with cheap POS 2-7X scopes, they'd give 3/4 inch 5 shot groups. Dad was all about accuracy. Problem was the velocity was not high enough and those bullets would "pencil" like made making them great for head shots and not much else. I remember mom shooting one of dad's cows and getting about 7 feet of penetration .. bullet went in the neck and lodged well down one ham. It wasn't hardly deformed at all.

I've wanted to try a couple of bullets ... Speer 130 grain HP, Speer 125 grain TNT, and Nosler 125 grain ballistic tip and Accubond. I think the light Accubond would do quite well in the .30-30.

Tom

YES!!!

A tougher 125 is likely going to perform identically to a softer 150 at 30-30 speeds, at least on deer. I have been farting around with the 150's and 165's because I like the idea of using one on an elk, and I want it to lose some weight in frags, expand, and still penetrate. A 125 or 130 that is sturdy, like an Accubond may do the same. I'm not stunt-shooter enough to shoot elk with 125gr 30 cal cup and core bullets though. Maybe someday. Until then, It seems like any soft 150 works pretty well for deer at moderate speeds, and could also ruin an elk's lungs if I happen to see one.

+2

From what I've read on Contender forums, many times, the 125 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip is the darling of the 30-30 shooters. If it works fro ma 14" Contender barrel is should work just as well from a rifle barrel.

I figured I would let the dust settle a bit before I flapped my gums about what I use in my .30-30's (Winchester M54 bolt gun with 24" barrel, and Savage 99G takedown).

190 grain cast bullet, cast relatively soft (10-12bhn), wide flat nose, gas checked. 28.0 grains 3031 pushes it at a chrono'ed 2000fps flat, out of the Winchester 54. Hell-on-wheels accurate and knocks deer ass-over-teakettle.



Were I to use a jacketed bullet I would probably just buy a box or two of Remington Core Locts and go hunting.

If you’re looking for a project, find a decent/cheap 20 ga double and have some barrel inserts made.

Ace Dube is still in business, www.mcaceak.com

I have a 14" contender, and that is the bullet I use. It shoots damn good, group-wise, but I haven't shot any game with it. Every time I get excited about hunting with it, I go to the range and discover how much of a pistol shooter I ain't.

every time i get ready to order a set of 45-70 inserts from Ace something breaks on the place then i lose his address. going to email it to myself and save it. then my puter will blow up

I'm learning more here all the time. This place has got some good info.

My thuty thuty is addicted to 150s and 160s. Do y'all scope those contenders?

yup....agreed

Dude! You got a Winchester Model 54 in .30-30? You Suck Dude! That is so damn Classic! I'm so jealous of you right now! It don't get any cooler than that!

The 130 gr Speer soft point works very well on deer, one of those over a moderate charge of H-335 has killed a few dozen deer at our camp over the last couple of decades. It is my standard load for kids, women, and those who are adverse to recoil. Mixed in with those has been 150 gr Sierra GK and 150 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips of the old style but they recoil enough more that it is noticed. I used standard 30/30 data for these.The 130 gr Barnes bullet has also worked well for some of the younger guys in camp though I haven't loaded any myself.

I have about 300 of the Speers loaded up but they are unlikely to get used this year as it appears there will again be no new shooters this year. The last new member is using one of my 8x57s with 150 gr bullets pushed somewhere between 30/30 and 300 Savage velocities. I would consider using a 30/30 next fall but I have plans to use something else. Maybe if a bonus tag for the cabin is issued I'll bring along one of my 30/30sthough there are several other rifles that need to be blooded too.

I have harvested a truckload of cow elk with the 160 grain FTX bullet for the 30/30 outta a pre war 300 savage 99.

There is no doubt in my mind a bolt action 30/30 handload could not be very similar in preforming at 200 yards or less.

The factory Lever evolution would preform most excellent on deer IMO.

I know were there is a double 3030 made on a Parker 20 gage frame even still has the Parker take down case. Aaron Little makes them , saw one on here I think. he used a cz frame if memory is correct. god bless

Thanks all for your ideas. I don't know why, but I thought that use of HPBT target bullets in a bolt-action 30-30 was far more prevalent.

I've got plenty of standard 30-30 bullets; I'll probably stay on the well-trodden path.

Gnoahh's idea of the cast bullet looks good as well. I've already got that mold. I will probably give it a try. After the Obama years, I'm always on the lookout for a DIY alternative.

I would recommend Nosler 125 gr. Ballistic Tip. I loaded for a friend in 14” Contender handgun chambered in 30-30. He successfully killed deer and hogs with that no problem.

Mine has a 2X Leupold pistol scope on it.

I had originally tried Sierra 150 grain .30-30 bullets in a plain ol' .30-30 load. The Noslers do shoot a tighter group, though. I haven't shot it lately, so I reckon that's one more thing that needs fixing.