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7.62x39 vs. .30-30
- Thread starter Conformer
- Start date
7.62x39 has the velocity edge. It keeps a good amount of energy past the 200-300 yard mark, compared to the 30-30. 30-30 usually has a few hundred more ft. lbs. at muzzle.
Either round would and does work fine on deer out to 150 yards when loaded with the proper bullet. Just expect more bullet drop from the 30-30.
Either round would and does work fine on deer out to 150 yards when loaded with the proper bullet. Just expect more bullet drop from the 30-30.
Major "limitation" of the .30-30 is the flat-tipped bullets normally associated with a tubular magazine - causes a bit of a drag re ballistic coefficient, which affects trajectories.
In all practicalities, they're the same ballistically - maybe with a bit of an edge to the .30-30 on the heavier bullets & initial muzzle velocity & energy.
I've known a folk or two using tube-fed .30-30 levers who would load their first round with (a known-to-print) spitzer bullet. It gives a good (better) trajectory for that first (perhaps longer) shot & afterwards, they'd adjust accordingly for the remainder w/flat-nosed.
Zip for personal experience on either ('cept for a few 100 X39s downrange), but the X39 round usually "maxes out" at w/about a 147 grain bullet, while the .30-30 goes to (standard factory loadings of) 170. Can be a fairly major difference on game regards the sectional density.
In all practicalities, they're the same ballistically - maybe with a bit of an edge to the .30-30 on the heavier bullets & initial muzzle velocity & energy.
I've known a folk or two using tube-fed .30-30 levers who would load their first round with (a known-to-print) spitzer bullet. It gives a good (better) trajectory for that first (perhaps longer) shot & afterwards, they'd adjust accordingly for the remainder w/flat-nosed.
Zip for personal experience on either ('cept for a few 100 X39s downrange), but the X39 round usually "maxes out" at w/about a 147 grain bullet, while the .30-30 goes to (standard factory loadings of) 170. Can be a fairly major difference on game regards the sectional density.
The Russian round has little velocity advantage.
Cartridges of the World shows:
7.62 Russian (military) has a bullet weight of 122 grains at 2329 ft/sec.
.30-30 has factory bullet weights of 150 grains at 2410 ft/sec; or a 170 grains at 2220 ft/sec.
Semi-auto rifles for the 7.62 must be loaded with rounds loaded to specific pressure levels. If not, the action won't work or the rifle gets beat silly. In a bolt rifle, one could probably do something a bit hotter.
Off hand, I'd say the .30-30 has the horsepower advatage. The 7.62 has the advantage in shots fired per minute. Within usable distances, I'd stick with the .30-30 in terms of factory loads.
Cartridges of the World shows:
7.62 Russian (military) has a bullet weight of 122 grains at 2329 ft/sec.
.30-30 has factory bullet weights of 150 grains at 2410 ft/sec; or a 170 grains at 2220 ft/sec.
Semi-auto rifles for the 7.62 must be loaded with rounds loaded to specific pressure levels. If not, the action won't work or the rifle gets beat silly. In a bolt rifle, one could probably do something a bit hotter.
Off hand, I'd say the .30-30 has the horsepower advatage. The 7.62 has the advantage in shots fired per minute. Within usable distances, I'd stick with the .30-30 in terms of factory loads.
I should have listed this earlier... I'm just lazy like that.
This is from Cor-bon's site:
7.62x39 Sporting 150gr JSP
2300 fps
1762 ft/lbs
20" barrel
Not too incredibly hot velocity-wise, but the energy levels are quite impressive.
If I were to use this caliber for hunting, I would seriously consider this.
This is from Cor-bon's site:
7.62x39 Sporting 150gr JSP
2300 fps
1762 ft/lbs
20" barrel
Not too incredibly hot velocity-wise, but the energy levels are quite impressive.
If I were to use this caliber for hunting, I would seriously consider this.
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Not ballistically speaking, but 7.62x39 is a whole heck of a lot cheaper to practice with. Even if you reload, you are hard pressed to reload for less than bulk 7.62x39 goes for.
I have not used either for deer hunting, but I would think that at standard ranges either would work well. My Dad's last deer was taken with a 30-30 at just over 100 yards, worked just fine.
The 30-30 probably has more options in game loads, but the popularity of the russian round is increasing.
I have not used either for deer hunting, but I would think that at standard ranges either would work well. My Dad's last deer was taken with a 30-30 at just over 100 yards, worked just fine.
The 30-30 probably has more options in game loads, but the popularity of the russian round is increasing.