Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .30-30 antelope load

My buddy wants to use his .30-30 for an antelope this year. I do all his handloading, but I've never loaded for a lever action before (it used to be my Marlin 336 and all I used were factory loads at the time). I'm thinking about doing something fun like a 125 grain Ballistic Tip to buy him a little flatter trajectory. I know we can get one under 200 yards, but in some cases 150 would be pushing it. I know they have pointed bullets, but I don't see any reason we couldn't make it a two shot rifle by just keeping one round in the magazine?
Dumb idea? Just go with the Leverrevolution flexi tip bullets if I want something pointy instead? Open to better ideas too.

I loaded some Barnes 150 flat nose HP bullets over 35.5 grains of LeverEvolution. I got spectacular accuracy (well under an inch) and 2400 FPS. Hodgdon lists 38.5 as max, and from what I saw with the work up I would bet you can get 2600 FPS out of 38.5, and maybe a little more. That ought to be good for a three shooter and 200 yards without messing with pointy bullets.

I tried the bullets into a water jug at just about 2000 and got advertising perfect expansion.

Has Hornady released their new 140 grain flex tip for the 30-30 yet? I know one can purchase the rounds from them but not sure about the projectiles. Of course, as you know, the 160's are available as a component. I have not loaded any of the 160's but the factory rounds do nicely from my 336. Took a buck at 185 yards with one shot. I'm zeroed at 200 so just aimed for the vitals. I also took a 6x6 bull at 110 yards with the LE round. He dropped where he stood. Bullet entered behind left shoulder and lodged in the off side shoulder. It had expanded about 50% and retained about the same.

exbiologist I use to load 125 gr sierras and the 130 gr speer hp in 30-30 a lot and do just as you said 2 shots. It made the 30-30 a very viable 250 rifle imho. I would much rather have to make a 250 yd shot with that combination than a 350 yd shot with a 308/30-06. One thing to remember is don't try and spiff up the loads too hot as the 30-30 case is fairly thin. With the 125 gr 2500+ or - is probably about it.

160 Hornady FTX over some LEVERevolution powder. The pointed flex tip improves BC

I loaded the 125BT to over 2700 FPS in a 24" barreled Model 64 Winchester. I didn't see any indication of excessive pressure. I would hunt with it if I could but I need to use copper bullets in my area so I use the 130 TSX. I could only push the 130 TSX to 2500 FPS before I ran into pressure problems. The 125 BT has a short bearing surface and seems to be a fast bullet.

The best thing for long range work with a .30/30 is your hind legs. Any of the new bullets/powders are only going to add a few more yards of point-blank range over what you get with "traditional" loads. The solution isn't in trying to increase the long range effectiveness of the .30/30 but in putting yourself close enough to the animal so it works.

What's the point of trying to make a .30/30 perform like a .300 Savage or .308? No matter what bullet you use, to make that happen you're stretching the thing to it's limits. I don't get it (and I'm a dyed-in-the-wool .30/30 guy).

Suit yourself! And I'll do what makes me happy! We will both be ahead.

I'm thinking about using my 30-30 this year also (If I draw the tag) I'll be using traditional 170grn load's. In the right terrain, it is no big deal to get close enough.

One of the most accurate bullets I used in lever-action 30-30�s is the 130-grain Speer. From the 20� barrel it is easy to push the 130-grain bullet to 2,480 fps. 36.0 grains of IMR 3031 and 31.0 grains of Alliant Reloder 7 will do the deed.
If you zero your rifle at 150-yards, you have a point blank range of 190+ yards on a 6� target circle. I have shot this bullet quite a bit at 200-yards and have found the loads mentioned above will shoot into 5� with a good field rest - I am not talking about shooting range stuff where the rifles will shoot better.
At 200-yards, you have just short of 1,000 fpe and that should be good enough. The Speer 130-grain bullets perform very well on our small deer at this distance so it should work fine on the speed goat.

I use the 160 flex tip with the new leverevolution powder from Hodgdon. If not the 125 BT would be great at full speed and use as a 2 shot. One in the tube one in mag.

...as opposed to your front legs?

The nicest antelope I shot was at 40 yds. after an excruciating infantry crawl through prickly pear cactus, so I guess one's front legs do come into play sometimes. Could've shot him from a couple hundred yards initially (w/.257 Roberts)but wanted to try and get close. Big mistake. Ended up chasing the bugger across half the state, on foot, before successfully completing one last stalk.

I'll not be so brazen as to suggest that everybody could/should shoot antelope from no further than long archery range. It's just that some guys automatically assume that it's strictly a long range sport.

Man you gotta love that low crawl across the cacti! YUK!

One of my lope hunt buds and I are thinking about doing the 30/30 lope thingy this fall as well. My Dad's old 94 is sighted with 150 Win HP's (I think that's what they are) and would most likely use those.

And, doesn't Speer make a 130 flat nose or something like that? Maybe that would perk for a lope load? Thoughts...?

Thx
Dober

I know Speer has a 125 HP for the 30-30. I have loaded some up.

Sam Fadala uses the 130 FP quite successfully in the 30-30

Regarding the 130 FP, what manufacturer? Sierra does not make a 130 FP, nor any 130 in .308 for that matter. As I mentioned earlier, they do make a .308 125 HP for the 30-30.

Speer makes the 130FN. They shot very well in my Model 64 at lower velocities.

I tried some of the Leverevolution powder in my Model 64 with the 130 TSX this morning. Absolute max velocity with Win 748 was 2500 FPS. I had a slight lever stick with that load so not suitable for normal use. I worked up to 38.5 grains of LVR which is Hodgdon's max load for 150's. Velocities for three rounds were 2644, 2649, 2654 fps. Pretty consistent and no lever stick! 38.5 grains fills the case. I might try squeezing 39 grains in and see what it will do. Accuracy was nothing to brag about. Two in one hole and the third made a 2-1/2" group. The rifle normally shoots into 2".

Now I wonder what the 125 BT will do with the LVR powder.

"Speer makes the 130FN. They shot very well in my Model 64 at lower velocities."

10-4...Guess I can't read...LOL. I have not tried the LVR yet. Wonder what it would do for the 300 Savage? Wonder why one can't get factory velocities when loading the 160 FTX with LVR? I'd be curious about trying it with the 140 Flex tips as well.