30-30 bullet recommendation

With a Win M94 30/30 Trapper I've had forever, I don't expect great velocity for the 16" barrel. I load 170 JFP with IMR3031 for something a ways south of 2000 fps. But I do like the way it shoots. Killed a deer years ago with a 130 grain load but saw nothing special about it.
 
I had a 150 gr bullet stop on the opposite side of a spike whitetail through the chest.
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What's wrong with that? If the bullet passes all the way through less of it's energy is absorbed. I like mine in the hide on the other side.
 
2 thumbs up for Hornady 160 grain FTX projectiles. I handload them using LeverEvolution powder as per the recipe printed right on the canister label.
 
What's wrong with that? If the bullet passes all the way through less of it's energy is absorbed. I like mine in the hide on the other side.
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Nope I believe two holes is better than one. A good expanding bullet through and through. I was disappointed because the 30-30 should have enough energy for a pass through on a small to medium deer. I understand both schools of thought so I'm not trying to put the expend all energy inside view down but that can make tracking harder.
 
"Ya gotta have Silvertips......"

Silvertips are killers OK, but I do not like to use them because they always flew apart spreading little bits and pieces of bullet all over the critter. I prefer softpoints that would mushroom but stay together in one piece. The key to getting game for the pot is to hit the critter in the right spot. The brain or the heart gets the job done.

PS..... and there won't be any tracking necessary.
 
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Zipspyder. The thing I like about what I have seen with the 30-30 is that it's slower velocity has a bit more grab when it hits. I've seen 2 deer go down with the 30-30 and both of them fell like they had been hit with a canon. Slight exageration but I have never had one fall that way with my 30-06.... until I decided to use my bear bullets. The 220 grain out of the 30-06 had a comparable MV. It was a nosler partition and it knocked the buck off his feet.
 
I am standardizing on two loads, Hornady LR powder in both using the Sierra 170 grain FP 30-30 bullet and the other the Hornady FTX 160 grain 30-30 bullet. Both seem to shoot very well thus far.

My first Sierras were from a friend who bought a bunch of factory seconds, liked them so much bought some more not factory seconds.

3C
 
Kind of odd the bullet didn't exit. What brand was it? Factory load? I have used the 150 gr, Corelokt, the 150 gr, Power Point, the 150 gr. Sierra and the 150 gr, Speer on both Whitetails and Mulies out as far as 200 yards and never caught one. Busted through bone several times also.
 
My Father had an ol 30-30 long tom. It was likely a hand me down. It had been shot so much the barrel was about shot out. At 100 yards the best pattern you could get was about 5 inches. Any way when I turned age 16 I got a deer license. We only had the one rifle and we had one riding horse, so opening day we take the rifle and both get on the one horse and start riding up the canyon. Well we had not went far when a 2 point buck showed itself. Dad says, "Jump off" so I slid off the horse and he handed me the rifle, He says, " Pull a fine bead" . I had never shot this rifle before but I did as he said and pulled a fine bead and fired. The buck went down. I killed a deer with my first shot with that ol long tom. I still have the rifle. Never shoot it now days.
 
Here is the work up on my Win 94 30-30 today with Leverevolution.
I don't know why it was slow but I think I will try again with mag primers (I was using CCI200). My 20" barrel may be a issue with this powder.

150grain
# Charge Velocity
1 34.9 1689
2 35.3 2115
3 35.7 err
4 36.1 2198
5 36.5 2321 ??
6 36.9 2272
7 37.3 2276
8 37.7 2267
9 38.1 2322
10 38.5 2346

170grain
# Charge Velocity
1 33.6 1980
2 33.9 1993
3 34.2 2076
4 34.5 err
5 34.8 2153
6 35.1 2138
7 35.4 2127
8 35.7 err
9 36.0 2164
10 36.3 2172
 
Did you only fire one round of each charge or is that an average of several each? Hard to work up a good load with such a small sample? Also, you should not need magnum primers for those loads and LR powder. I would not expect to get Hornady FTX 160gr speed out of reloads. Getting 2150-2200 fps for a 170gr bullet is pretty good for the 30-30 in a 20" barrel.
 
One shot of each in search of nodes. I will work on loads/groups later. The reason I am thinking of the magnum primers is that I don't think t all of the powder was being burnt. It is a blended powder so getting the start pressure up will help with getting the high pressure powder burning sooner. Of coarse it will require a full separate workup.

For this combination to work on grouping I will start with 37.5 and work up to 39.0 for the 150 grain and start at 35.0 and work up to 37 for the 170 grain. But I will probably try the magnum primer ladder first to see how it performs. If it doesn't show some improved results I will likely go to Tac or W748. I hate to waste powder.
 
Loading 30-30? get 3031 powder, 150 gr round nose bullets and large rifle primers. Always full length size 30-30 brass and check its length. Sometimes a little trimming is needed. A gentle crimp may be in order so the bullets will stay put when in the tubular magazine. Have fun!
 
I congratulate you on trying to be thorough Steve but I think you are expecting too much from a 30-30 in a 20" barrel vs a 24" test barrel. You may sneak a little more out of the 150gr bullets but 170's are right about where they are optimal with max powder at 2200 fps. Bullet seating depth and or crimp may help a little.
 
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