Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Your favorite FACTORY .30-30 loads

I just picked up a 26" barreled Winchester, and although I have dies and brass for a .30-30, I am about to decide that I may just try to lay in a supply of factory rounds for this one and let it go at that.

On the menu, are deer, black bear, and any other miscreant varmints that may present themselves, such as coyotes, etc.

I was perusing the Midway offerings, and noticed the 170 grain Remington Corelokt HP's. I admit they are interesting to me. I am open to suggestion, though, and look forward to hearing the experiences of others.

go to walmart and buy the federal 170 grain $11.98 a box here and shoot well. i don't think a guy can load them cheaper than that.

if i couldn't find them it would be winchester 170 power points.

12.00 a box is right reasonable. You are probably right, they can't be loaded for that price. I've been working 78 hours a week since September, and have come to realize that my time is worth a little, anyway.

damn thats a ton of OT

Judging from what I see availible at places that sell ammo the 150 gr is more popular.So alot of people use them instead of the 170 gr. Not being critical, just would like to hear the rational for the 170 gr choice. Magnum Man

Just a second job.

Has anyone tried the Winchester PowerMax loads? They are billed as bonded bullets, wonder how they stand up?

Magnum man, I know alot of .30-30's seem to prefer either the 150 or the 170, in the end, I'll let the rifle decide the weight. I can live with either, as ranges for this rifle's application will be 125 yards and less.

The 170 grain Federal load mentioned previously shoots well in my Marlin 336.

Magnum Man,

I would go with the 170-grain load as well--because I once had a 150-grain factory load fail to penetrate the shoulder of a 120-pound whitetail doe. This isn't supposed to happen with the .30-30, but it did. I have never experienced the same sort of thing with a 170-grain load, and the difference in trajectory between the two isn't important enough to worry about.

I remember reading that in one of your articles JB and do not discount it. I have a 336 with a 20" barrel and a 24" barrel M94. Lots of brass,huge pile of 150 gr RP bulk Corelokts, some 150 gr WW PPs , 150 gr Sierras and 3 boxes of the old Nosler SB 150 gr FP's . Guess I'll scout around for some 170's too. I try real hard never to hunt around others and to utilize double lung shots and/or shooting for the FAR shoulder.I hate shooting anything thru the near shoulder.Around here 12-14 bucks gets factory 30-30's also. Magnum Man

If you're going factory ammo, then it's Hornady's LeverEvolution.

Out my standard Marlin 336, sighted in 3" high at 100, it's dead on at 200. And it definitely tightened up the groups.

The 26" barrel on your Win., I would think, should wring out maximum performance from this round.

Only way to go, IMHO.

Like many I have been shootin a 30-30 for a long time, first CF rifle given to me by my dad at 12 yrs old. If handloading, I like the 170 Nos Partition though to be honest not needed. In my Marlins the Fed Blue Box, Rem Core lokts and Winchester PP's have all shot well and usually go to Dick's or Walmart and pick up a few boxes of whats cheapest, and they work.

There is alot written on here about different cartridges, bullets, etc. but after 115 yrs the 30-30 still gets it done when shooting is limited to 150 yds or so.

Good luck with the new gun

the leverevolution shoots great from my savage99. saw artical were juy shot everything that year with 3030. van zueal i think is name. elk, deer, prong horn, bear ( big one ), and another elk if i rember right. worked on the last 7 texas does in last 2 years for me.

LeverEvolution makes an honest 250 yd rifle out of a 30-30.

Ballistics info...

Compare the downrange ballistics at 100 and 200 yds to any other ammo, not likely to find anything that comes even close.

Be sure to watch the video...they're introducing a LeverEvolution Monoflex bullet, 140 gr, based on the GMX ammo!

This should be an awesome combination!

Another vote for the cheap 170 grain Federal blue box.

My 30A shoots all the heavier stuff well, but really likes the Federals. Which is awesome considering the price.

Dan's factory: Hornady 150/170 gr IL over RX15/4895/BLC2 etc ad nauseum. Never used the store bought stuff to speak of. Maybe once or twice back in '84 at the range. SUX sucked then, mebbe it still do.

All of my .30-30s shoot the 150s better. They also shoot the Core-Lokts the best. I have taken many deer with the .30-30 and Remington 150grainers.

Last time I used store-bought, the silvertip was state of the art. Those in 150 grain were what I used.

I stumbled onto a load that is super scary accurate in my M94, using 748 and Hornady 170s. I've tried the load with other bullets, and the group size will double. Still usable, but it's fun to watch a little ol' carbine print little ol' groups.

Yep, 748 too. House a'fire in the '94...

170gr Winchester Super X Silvertips!!