Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting 30-30 Bullet Recomendations

I was searching through my Inbox for something else entirely and came across an email I’d missed from Midway informing me that the Winchester 150 grain 30-30 FN had been discontinued from the MFG.

Within 15 minutes, I’d cycled through all 5 stages of grief and was left feeling empty and resigned. Yes, indeed. The bullet was no more.
I’m going back now 20 years. I was new to 24hourcampfire.com. I’d had all sorts of trouble with my 30-30, and been faced with my first serious reloading dilemma. I’m not going to rehash all that, only to mention that Adobe Walls quietly suggested that I try the Winchester 150 grainers and see if my success improved. It did, and through 20 years, it has been a mainstay of my reloading shelf.

Did the bullet fix my problem? Probably not. I’d just had some bum luck. However, I stopped having trouble after adopting the new load, and that was good enough for me. It was Adobe Walls’ confidence in the bullet that really did it.

So here it is, 20 years later. What’s left out there for the 30-30? I need something to believe in. I'm looking for a cheap dependable bullet that gets the job done on whitetails inside 100 yards.

If you reload this bullet and 3031 or H4895 powder shoots excellent in all my 30-30’s.

https://www.bluecollarreloading.com...3060?_pos=4&_sid=b32ae1e4d&_ss=r

RCBS 30-180 FN

From Hornady out of Grand Island, NE, there are the 150 grain RNs, 160 grain FTXs, or 170 grain FPs?

I didn't look to see if Hornady offers the 160 grain FTX as a component bullet or if they only offer it as loaded ammo in their LeverEvolution line. I bought a box of it to try in my Savage 170 pump gun and was pleasantly surprised how well they shot. If I was going to hunt with a 30-30 factory ammo, that would be my first choice. In 30-30 factory ammo, the Winchester/Olin 150 grain Deer Season XP is also quite accurate in my Savage.

Beats me. I’ve only used one once, with factory 170 Core-Lokts. I’m supposed to be getting a nice 336 soon in a trade, along with a few boxes of this ‘n that factory ammo. Not even sure if it’ll make it out this season as there’s a long line of others ahead of it. Can’t recall from my reading if there are any really bad choices, so it’ll probably be a matter of the the most accurate of what I can get.

Agreed, I don't think that there are any bad choices in U.S. made 30-30 factory ammo. I used to load the 190 grain Winchester/Olin Silvertip that they factory loaded in the 303 Savage just to be different. Also loaded the 170 grain Remington RNCL 30-30 bullets inthe 300 SAV just to be different.

Take a look at the Hornady 140gr Mono Flex 30-30 bullet.
51 cents a bullet is cheap on sale at Midway now. They work well!
They load/seat easiest with Hornady dies that have enough room in the seating stem for the semi pointed bullets.

Glad you're planning for the hunts to come and fighting to get there!

Shaman, read your post a couple times and think maybe you’re looking for factory ammo? Can’t help you with that, but can say w/o reservation that .30-30 levermatics and other styles respond quite well to reloading. There are a plethora of bullets available for the cartridge, and you can cast your own if looking for a graduate degree in Loonyism. Hand loads in the .30-30 can whup any factory ammo for the .30-30 ten days a week.

Just the bullet.

Fixed it.

I have a Winchester M94 that absolutely loves 3031 and a Hornady 170 fp. Deer ain't liking so well, but none have complained.

I use the Speer 0.308" 170 grain flat point over 32 grains WW748 (no chrono) from a 1976-mfg Marlin 336A 30-30 (24" bbl, micro-groove) . Groups about 1.25" at 100 yards. It has a good ballistic coefficient of 0.304. Probably only the Hornady 160 grain gummy tip has a higher BC for 30-30 loading.

Speer makes a .308" 150 grain flat point bullet too.

Hornady, Speer, Sierra and Nosler can all hook you up with great .30 WCF bullets. You would probably have trouble telling one from the other on the inside of a whitetail bucks ribcage. I have used the 170 gr. Remington Core Lokt, Hornady, Speer and Sierra with complete satisfaction on deer and hogs. The Speer 170 gr. has stood out just a bit in my favorite old Marlin as accuracy champion. Five shots in 1.25" at 100 yards at a velocity of 2140 fps from my Marlin 336 is poison in the Ozark mountain timber where shots are well inside a football fields length.

I’ve never killed a thing with a 30/30 even though I’ve owned a pair of Marlin Sporting Carbines for forever. But I’ve shot them a bunch for fun and the most accurate bullet I’ve ever tried is the 150 Sierra. Out of either of the little carbines it is astonishingly accurate. I see no reason why it wouldn’t be a perfectly good deer and pig bullet.

I also have cast and shot a boxcar load of Lyman 311291s out of them too. Cast from WW and sized .311 then loaded over a pinch of Trailboss for around 1000fps gave good accuracy and was about the sound and recoil of a 22 magnum. Surprisingly the Microgroove gun with the super short throat will shoot circles around the Ballard rifled one with cast bullets.

For powders I never had the need to look further than BLC2 and 3031 for jacketed and Trailboss for cast.

This is the first time I’ve given those little carbines a thought in forever, I may have to drag them out, load up some ammo, and go shoot a pig or two.

50 yard target with a Model 94 Trapper, and the first time I'd shot cast with the rifle:




The bullets: Lyman 311041

This!

The RCBS bullet, gas checked and powder coated, over 29 grains of WW846. Gets around 2050 fps out of my M54 Winchester using a Lyman receiver sight. I have also used the Lee 170 gr FN and the 311291 RN bullets with similar results.

Nosler makes a 170 grain bullet for the 30-30. Use them for subsonic loads in a 308. They kill pigs well at 1100 fps, should be great at 30-30 velocities. They are hollow points.

I have a couple jacketed bullets that shoot well 170 RN and 150 RN, both core lokts.

My brother used to shoot cast, I think it was RCBS 180 grain fn, gc - he'd get 1" groups with it at 100 hundred yards - he used 3031.

I've mostly used 3031 with my 30-30's and my 32 Special.

I've never tried factory ammo.

I'm loading Cast bullet in my wife's 30-30, but I forgot which mold. I used 3031 in it and it shoots very well. I've been shooting gophers with it and cast bullets this summer, so it is accurate enough for that.

I've shot deer with 150 and 170 gr. core lokts, 150 and 170 gr. power points, 170 gr. silvertips, 150 gr. hornady interlocks and 170 gr. sierra fp.. They all killed deer very effectively. Years ago I killed a bunch with handloaded 150 gr. core lokts over a heavy charge of 3031 {actually an overload according to todays data}. A few of those at ranges between 200 and 250 yards and one at just over 300. All died quickly and none required a second shot. My current loads are pushing 170 gr. sierras at 2240 fps with cfe .223. They group 3 shots into 3/4" at 100 yards consistently and produced quarter sized wounds out the far side of the two deer I killed with them last season.

Good to know. I like the accuracy of the 170 Sierra, but wondered if it might be a bit hard, or not expand enough on deer sized critters.

I've got a doe tag this year and want to use my 30-30 Glenfield, it's been quite a while since I took game with one of my lever action rifles.

Guy

So Shaman, what ya want? Which one will be your new sweetheart?

Don't know quite yet. I'm still stuck in this hospital room, so it's not like I'm going to be up to anything for a while. I just thought I'd ask the question and let the answers wash over me.

One thing is for certain: comparing answers from 2002-2003 to now, things are not as polarized. More people had definite tastes in 30 WCF. Sadly, a lot of those old curmudgeons are now no longer with us.

I've actually toyed with 30-30 more than most of my chamberings. I'm always getting ideas. Since 2002, I've also added a Savage 340 to the rack. That's #1 granddaughter's if she wants it. Although she still has some growing to do.

My guess is that I was WAAAAY over-thinking the problem back in 2002. Just about every common bullet has its proponents, and I'm sure that if the situation had been different, all the bullets I tried would have been suitable.

BTW: One of the biggest peeves I had was that I was using the Marlin 336 for Mooseboy's first Yute rifle. He had horrible luck. It took about a decade for him to fess up and admit he'd been closing his eyes before pulling the trigger. Once I switched him to the M1 Garand, he stopped having trouble. Lil Angus also had good luck with the Marlin stoked with the Win FP's.

Let us know when you figure it out. Some of us have stash we can part with.

working on loads with the new Apex Outdoors copper hp 161 gr Haymaker bullets in my 30-30 AI Contender

bullets were designed for & to open up at 300 Blackout velocities, the 30-30 is a bit faster

big ol hollow point/cavity that could work in lever guns

...

then there's the 143 gr Lever Hammer ....

...



...

143 gr Lever Hammer

Putting monos in a 30-30 is like putting a spoiler on a K-Car.

The 150 Speer FP has always worked well for me, both accuracy and terminal performance wise. Speer has also somewhat kept up with demand and their bullets have been more or less available through this whole mess these last 2 years.

Except in California and then it’s like putting a 10 round mag into a Glock 17…

Dang if you don't have the cleanest brass I'VE EVER SEEN......darn brighter than new.

Good morning shaman!
Keep your good fight going.
Years ago I used the Speer 130 grain flat nose in Deer and antelope. Have never recovered one. It’s an excellent bullet. In the tall hills I use the nosler partition and a cast 195 grain hollow point loaded to full speed with lever lotion. The hollow point cast went into the seventh gallon water filled milk jug and also dropped a huge sow pig down south.
The 30/30 is my favorite rifle and cartridge. All I use are model 64s cause I like them.

I have killed about 12-14 deer with 30-30s in my life and in every case I shot a 150 grain the bullets didn't exit and in every case but one, all my 170s did exit. Just 2 seasons ago I killed a white tail with a 170 grain Speer that came apart on me and didn't exit the deer. Odd, because up until then the 170 grain Speer was always a great killer with good penetration and all others exited. I have used 170 grain Winchesters, Remingtons Sierra and Speer and never had a problem. In fact the deer I killed with the Speer 170 that I just told about did drop instantly, so I don't have a lot of complain about, but I just always like bullets to exit.

If my count is correct I believe I used 150 grain bullets 5 times. I remember 2 Remingtons, 2 Federals and 1 Winchester. None exited the deer. All looked good when I recovered them, but just would not get through a Mule Deer buck. When I switched to 170s I never failed to get an exit until 2 years ago.
Other then the Nosler Partition, I think all the 170 grain 30 cal flat nose bullets are about the same. So I would be OK with a Speer, Hornady, Sierra, and if you can find any left, a Remington or a Winchester. The Partitions probably do hold together better then any of the others, but if you get exits it's not important that one hold more weight then some other. Since you mentioned "cheap dependable" bullets I omit the Nosler Partitions. They are very dependable, but not cheap.

My go to 300 savage bullet is the hornaday 160 ftx.

Elk to 400 yards

I bet at 100 yds 30/30 would be muey bueno.

My favorite bullet when I was doing a lot of hunting with the 30-30 was the 150 gr. Sierra flat nose. Opened fast and did a lot of damage. The 150 gr. Speer flat nose worked great also. I usually didn't use the 170 grain bullets but when I did the Hornady flat nose opened a lot faster than I thought it would and worked well also. On the other hand I have to give the Remington corelokt 150 credit as used in a factory round, this was way back in the 70's so I don't know if the new ones are the same bullet.

any body use the 140gr. hornady factory load? first hand reports still count when the real world guessing poops out. 3030 the 160 works ok just looking for new toy to try.

3031 powder and 150 or 170 Interlocks. Leverevolution and Monoflex are gimmicks. I've killed a lot with 30-30's up to and including a Moose

I like that

I've never loaded for the .30/30, but my cousin loaded for it for awhile. He strongly favored 3031 and one of the 170s, probably whatever was cheapest (he is THE tightwad of the family of tightwads). The rest of us figured that the ammo companies had plenty of time to figure out how to make .30/30 bullets work.

I've only killed one deer with a .30/30, and I killed it with a Winchester 150 Power Point load, it did not exit, but the deer only ran about 30 yards with a nice bloodtrail, despite having only one hole in it. That load will shoot into an inch!!! at 100 yards (Marlin 336 Sporting Carbine, Leupold M8-4X) I like the little Marlin, but I like the straight grip leverguns a bit better than the Marlins. Doesn't matter a bit to the deer, though.

Reloader 15 is the schizzle.

I have loaded the 170 grain Speer flat point over 4320 powder for nearly 30 years now. Always excellent terminal performance. I recently loaded up a batch using the Hornady 160 grain FTX, and in my Marlin 336Y (16 inch barrel) it seems accurate enough. Haven't killed anything with it yet though.

Thanks all for the ideas.

Let me ask y'all a follow-up question: Are there any 30-30 bullets you'd warn against?

Pretty hard to find a 30-30 bullet that is bad since they are made to perform at 30-30 velocities only instead of other 308 bullets that could end up in anything from a 30 Herret to a 30-378.
Good luck in your quest.

I had dropped the last 5 deer I'd shot with a 30-30 almost where I'd shot them, with either a 336 or a Mod 64 Win, all with 150gr bullets, 4 Win PP, 1 with Rem CL. 2020 I had run out, so I reloaded Sierra PH 150gr with LVR, and about 2400fps, they where more accurate than anything I'd ever tried, so I figured better off!
That fall, I shot no doubt the biggest buck of my life, really big body easy over 200lb, good rack. I'm convinced I made a good shot, but I never even found a speck of blood. He was perfect broadside and on the shot bowed back up, and jumped straight up high. The rest of those Sierras are for target practice.
Since then, I haven't shot another deer yet, and I've got a good supply of 2 loads ready. 170 Hawk & LVR @ 2220fps, that I'm sure will get the job done!
But I also tried the Hornady FTX 160G. Wow, I've come to a final conclusion, no not proven on game yet, but too many people swear of good performance with this bullet!
And with a Max load of LVR I'm getting 2420fps in my Mod 64 and with the high BC of this bullet, it's doing more at 200yds than a most factory loads is at 100yds, and half the wind drift.
I've since got a dandy Mod 94 Carbine, and it's a very accurate load in both, 2350fps in the carbine.
I even got a box of Nosler Partitions 170g for my 30-30s, but haven't tried them, probably never will, because that load with the ftx is right at heels of a 300 Savage and even the 7mm Mauser!

I'm finally starting to feel more like myself after the stay in the hospital. I'm far from venturing down to the Reloading Room, but at least I can make some observations.

I bought a Marlin 336 in mid-2002, and started cooking up loads for it. I was only 2 years into reloading at this time, and I'd never shot a deer with anything but 30-06 and 12 GA slug. I detailed the story here:

Ode to a 30-30, Part 1

I've been trying to piece together the trail that led me to the WIN PP 150 grain. Going back and covering the sources available to me at the time, I can say that my original focus was on the Hornady 170 grain and 150 grain FN's. I was going to be initially using this load as a Yute load for #2 son's first rifle hunt, so I picked the 150 grainers-- slightly less recoil. I then switched to 170 grainers when the results were less than ideal.

Mind you, all the bad results probably resulted from the kid closing his eyes and not telling me. I didn't find that out until years later. The icing on the cake occurred when I took the rifle out for a late morning sit in one of the stands and managed to put several rounds into the chest of a small doe at less than 20 yards. The rounds hit in the right spot, but the doe was unfazed. I was left with a surrealistic vision of this deer wandering off with an arterial spurter, finally keeling over about 40 yards later. I felt snakebit.

After a couple of seasons of mixed results, I finally got Mooseboy onto the M1 Garand, and all the problems he had been having evaporated. For myself, I ended up buying a Savage 99 in 308 WIN for the next year's hunt. This has been my go-to rifle ever since. When #3 son, Angus came online a few years later, he got the Marlin 336 and the Winchester 150 grain PP's. He nailed a nice doe with it, and broke the jinx.

I retired the Marlin 336 from active service as a deer rifle, but kept experimenting with loads. When LeverEvolution and the 160 grain FTX came out, I tried both in comparison with the WIN 150 grain PP as a benchmark. Out of that comparison, I found that the LVR powder was a sincere winner over my previous favorite of H4895. The 150 grain Win PP did better at ranges under 100 yards. The 160 grain FTX did better for ranges above 100 yards.

I've had the Savage 340 for a few years now. I had always wanted a 30-30 bolt, just for the heck of it. I figured it would be a good first deer rifle for #1 Granddaughter. If memory serves, I compared loads with the 170 grain Hornady FN and the 160 grain FTX against the 150 grain WIN PP's. Much like Ken Water's, Pet Loads, I found the 170 grain Hornady FN to be the most accurate in the Savage.

Just about any 130-180 grain JSP or cast 308 bullet with the right nose profile will kill deer and hogs in a 30-30.

Monos? IF I was going to use my 30-30s for elk or even big black bears, they do make sense. Cast is fine, in my mind, though. I have played with and will load some more of the Barnes 30-30 150gr X bullet. Not sure if they even still make them? Anyway, stuff hit with it at 30-30 speeds act like they were hit at 300WM speeds. It definitely does damage fast.

I'd think it would be too long to feed in a lever.
Have you tried it?

Behind what bullet, Dan?

The Hornady 160 FTX factory is all I shoot in my Foremost (Savage) bolt gun. Great on hogs and deer. Birthday present from my dad over 50 years ago.

Hornady 170 JFP, 150 gr Anything. The Hornady 170 is the only bullet I ever loaded for the Model 94. I shoot 150’s in the Contender Carbine. It does sub MOA at 100 with Sierra 150 FB spitzers.

RE 15 (36 gr.) and 150 gr. Sierra 30-30 FP gamekings have been awesome for 30 years out of my 336

For handloading? 150 or 170 grain speer, 170 grain hornady, 170 grain partition. If you don't mind a 2-shooter, one in the mag and one in the chamber only, the 125 grain accubond would be worth a try. If I was only interested in traditional, and sticking to deer, not elk or black bear, I'd go with the 170 grain Speer. In old days IMR 3031 was good fuel. Today I really like CFE 223.

For factory ammo it is hard to beat the ol' 170 grain Remmy CoreLokt ammo.

Tom

I finally made it home from the hospital and got up the strength to venture down to the Shamanic Secret Underground Reloading Facility. It turns out I've got enough bullets to get a start. I even found an unopened package of WIN PP 150 grain FNs. I don't really have a plan yet. The trip pretty well left me gassed, and I had to take a nap.

There has been a complicating factor added. #1 Granddaughter AKA Mooselette announced that she was ready to take a deer this fall. The trip to the SSURF was with her and together we went through the inventory of deer rifles. The Marlin 336 was the only one that came close to fitting her.

Keep getting better. We're rooting for you to get through this and get that little girl hunting.

I bought a few hundred Barnes TSX 30/30 bullets Pre-Biden for $22 a hundred. My Marlin likes them so much I standardized, though I haven't used them on game yet. I expect that cave point won't disappoint and there are youtube vids claiming penetration on Moose.

Back when, yes- the old Winchester 150 Jacket RN Hollow Point. (1969) ( i think they were meant to be a better penetrator on big game?) Anyhow, I always used the Remington 150CL factory ammo as a kid of 16...back when...I had ran out during deer season ( long in Texas, from Mid November to early January) shooting mostly varmints and on hogs. When I went to the local Western Auto store ( I had a credit account then! ha) all they had were these unknown Winchester 150HP. I bought a box, they shot to the same zero at 60yds, so off I went. I ended up having them zip through a small spike buck. First shot behind shoulder ( about 40yds) he turned and ran toward me. Second shot went from stem to stern, and he fell, I ran around some bushes and shot him the neck at 10yds. All this happened fast, of course, but skinning him showed the pinholes.
Later in life (1976) I was into bowhunting in October, then rifle hunted in November, using that same old 30-30. The week before I was given 5 handloaded rounds by a guy whom I helped zero his Savage 170 pump. "He said" they were 200gr Round Nose loaded by a mutual friend ( looked like Hornady's?) I shot one at 60yds and one at 100 to see where the hit (I was zeroed for 150cl again) I had to raise my rear one notch. I ended up shooting another spike ( lots of them back then and where we hunted in SE TX) I shot from tree stand about 35 yds away, he ran and I swung ahead and shot him right below the tree, he rolled like a rabbit! First shot cut a groove through the sidewall of the heart, some lung tissue had a thumb sized hole. Second went through head into 6 inches of neck vertebrae. That left me one round. I don't know if they were 200gr, 220gr, or just some other 180 round nose .308 cal . but they hit hard! ha

Out here in Utah, I loaded/shot alot in a Marlin 336 for a year and then had it Ackleyed. I shot the 170CL and Speer 170. I also made up a load for the standard 30-30 with the Hawk .030" jacket 190FN. I was trying to mimic the old 303 Savage , but I was getting 2100 with H335. As luck would have it, a week long buck mule deer hunt skunked me. I freely confess...I was camped by myself and I was "sorely tempted" to shoot the pick-up full of does I was amongst every day, ha! Good luck to you and stay healthy friend!

My kids started shooting deer with a 30-30 in 1996. Soon after that I happened upon a box of Federal Premium ammo loaded with a 170 grain Nosler Partition. I started loading those over IMR 4895 and it's been the go-to hunting load ever since. They kill deer just as well as every other bullet available for the round, but they cost a lot more! Hmmm...

In a single shot I also use a 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip. 28 grains of 4895 under the BT is super accurate in my rifle and it's a real mild load even for a 30-30. It's fun to shoot and kids love it!

I never touched one until my son started shooting. Now I'm back to hunting in thick places and getting close to the deer and it's one of my favorite cartridges. Go figure.

I have shot some game with the old .30-30. Mostly with my 336 Marlin with a 24 " barrel. Antelope, whitetails, mule deer and mt. lion. Often I used WW 150 gr. Silvertips, the old ones. Good killers, but one of the most destructive bullets I used was WW 150 gr. Hollow Points. I still have a stash of both factory loads, but will try handloads also. I have 130 gr. Speer and a few boxes of Horn. 150s..
I always felt it was a better killer of game under 150 yards than the 24's.

Shaman, Try putting a WTB ad in the Classifieds here. I bet somebody will come to your rescue.

The bullets designated as 30-30 bullets perform as designed at 30-30 velocity. And are good deer killers. I have been able to get 170 Speers to shoot best in my contender carbine.

My Glenfield 30A loves Remington 150 gr core lokts..........I never argue with a gun.

Since jacketed bullets have been covered well ( I voted for the Speer .308 -170 grain), here is a specific recommendation for cast bullet mold design for the 30-30, from Arsenal molds. They are "Ranch Dog" design. "Ranch Dog" is the handle of a contributer from castboolits.com, who designed it specifically to work in Marlin rifles. The key design elements: maximum meplat for energy transfer, and max bullet diameter for good throat fit/ groove diameter gas seal. Available in "standard" lube grooves, and micro/tumble lube band design.

Arsenal Molds have an added benefit, that at no additional charge, you can specify the bullet diameter for best throat fit of your rifle-for best accuracy. Excellent quality, and high value. Also available in gas check /no gas check options or combo molds ( nice option for low cost shooting). Highly recommended. If you don't have a lube/sizer ( and lube sizer dies ... $$$), you can due VERY well with the tumble lube design.

http://arsenalmolds.com/products?product_id=107&limit=100

http://arsenalmolds.com/products?product_id=84&limit=100
i

You can get a push through sizer ( with diameter bushing choices ) from Night Owl Enterprises (NOE molds), and either pan lube, then size, or use as a gas check seater ( less $ than expensive set up with lubesizer and dies). NOE also makes excellent molds, carries the Ranch Dog design in standard and micro-band, but they are often out of stock.

https://noebulletmolds.com/site/product-category/bullet-casting-reloading/sizing-tools/

For best accuracy, get a good measurement of your chamber's throat (do an internet search for "pound cast" method), and get a bullet diameter just a smidge smaller ( so it enters/ fits), like 1/2 thousanths".
With the high cost and limited stock of jacketed bullets, a simple cast bullet system may make sense. A big meplat mold design of proper diameter with a plain base bullet combo ( with also gas check version) with a micro-band ( no expensive equipment) could be a way to overcome bullet supply issues, while being an accurate, deer-focused hunting design.

I shoot 150 gr in mine. Round nose or flat point. Depends on what is available. 3031 powder. Have fun!

I’ve tried the 160 FTX as well as Speer 170 fn my personal fave is 150 Sierra fn on top of 34 gr of 4895

I got up close and personal with a spike buck with the 170s trying to prevent a up hill drag on a ridge top he died on top of the hill “all” the bullets penciled thru shot a few with the 150s and had nice exits

yeah, I am partial to the 150 FN Speer.... it does great in a 30/30...

and in an 06 right at 2700 to 2800 it will really smack 'em down...