bailey bud
New member
My local FFL recommended (but doesn't carry) Hornady's Leverevolution bullets in 30-30.
Anyone here use them?
Will they work in my Remington 788?
Anyone here use them?
Will they work in my Remington 788?
Anyone use leverevolution bullets?
- Thread starter bailey bud
- Start date
Todd Porter
New member
I use them in an old Glenfield, the first 30-30 I've ever owned. I have to say I'm very impressed (surprised) at how accurate this gun is scoped. I shot a three shot group at 100yds. that measured just under 2 inches...off a pillow. I think with a good set of sand bags I could definitely do better. I have read some posts, maybe here, saying they aren't worth the time, but I like them. I would have no idea how they would work in your Remington, but it's worth a try. I always try to keep this thought in my mind: a two inch group at 100 yds. is a dead deer.
Most of my hunting is with a bow. That said, nearly all my rifle hunting is at the end of doe season when we are culling. This usually means take a rifle for potentially longer shots. I've found these bullets, coupled with a good dose of your favorite powder (I use Hodgedon's leverevolution), To be very deadly deer medicine. It flattens out your shooting, and has a very good record for me in knocking the deer down quickly. Probably not for shooting shoulders with. The bullet was meant for a good heart/lung aiming point. I can't recommend them enough. They will drive up pressures, so a typical 160gr. powder charge will not apply. They are more accurate for me than Core lokts, and anything else you bring up. I've made effective kills with this bullet and a 18.5inch barrel at distances up to just under 300 yards. The 308MXLR will go to 400 yards with aplomb.
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Lever-Age 450M
Inactive
I have tried Leverevolution in my Marlin 1895M, .450 Marlin, twice. Both times I experienced Marlin Jam in less than 10 shots. I have cycled quite a few boxes of factory and reloaded ammo and have nothad any jamming problems with any other load. Beyond that, they shoot very well and are quite accurate.
I have shot several hundred (2 boxes of bullets) out of a Ruger 77/44 and I was not that impressed. Granted this is with a 44 mag not a 30/30 but accuracy was not its strong point.
For hogs and deer maybe 75 yards tops.
The biggest problem that I had with them was seating the bullet. I know this is not a reloading thread but any one that thinks about reloading them in a pistol case, DON’T do it with the standard bullet seater. They make contact with the plastic point before the jacket and deforms the bullet.
I contacted Hornady about the problem and the “help” I got from then was to go out and buy another seater and have it machined to the shape of the bullet.
I am sure they are a great idea and product for a lever action or tube fed rifles but to me they are not worth the money.
For hogs and deer maybe 75 yards tops.
The biggest problem that I had with them was seating the bullet. I know this is not a reloading thread but any one that thinks about reloading them in a pistol case, DON’T do it with the standard bullet seater. They make contact with the plastic point before the jacket and deforms the bullet.
I contacted Hornady about the problem and the “help” I got from then was to go out and buy another seater and have it machined to the shape of the bullet.
I am sure they are a great idea and product for a lever action or tube fed rifles but to me they are not worth the money.
Sparks1957
New member
I use the factory loads in my Winchester 94 in .32 Win. Special.
Not a gun I shoot much, but I always have ammo around for it if I need it. Seems to work just fine for me.
Not a gun I shoot much, but I always have ammo around for it if I need it. Seems to work just fine for me.
treefarmernc
New member
My .357 mag. Ruger BlackHawk loves them. I get my best groupings with them.
Lever-Age 450M - I had the same problem when I first bought my 1895M. I found out that the follower in the magazine tube that comes standard from the factory is for the standard flat point ammo, there is a different follower for the leverevolution rounds (it has a dimple in the end for the tip of the round). Since I have changed the follower I have not had one jam. Hope this info helps.
No reason to use them: the whole point of the Leverevolution bullet was to allow use of a pointy bullet in tube magazined .30/30 rifles..... your 788 is a box fed bolty, is it not? You can use any bullet that will expand at .30/30 velocities and groups well in your gun.
Hornady's interbond, due to the heat used in the bonding process, are pretty soft, yet hold together really well...... but like the Leverevollution, they are not cheap, either.
Do you handload?
I gave the loaded ammo a whirl in my .32WS 1904 Winchester 1894 rifle, but I think that the bullet is a bit too small for the bore. I usually shoot a cast .324 flat nose that is pretty accurate at around a hundred yards. I could not keep the Hornadys inside about 8 inches from a rest with open sights. I can hold a 3 inch group easily with the cast bullets.
It shoots just fine, though, from a ~1973 Winchester 94 in .30-30, just as tight a group with the FTX as with cast round nose. I haven't tried more than 100 yard shots, so I don't know how they compare, but it seems reasonable to expect the Leverevolution bullets to be more accurate at longer ranges.
It shoots just fine, though, from a ~1973 Winchester 94 in .30-30, just as tight a group with the FTX as with cast round nose. I haven't tried more than 100 yard shots, so I don't know how they compare, but it seems reasonable to expect the Leverevolution bullets to be more accurate at longer ranges.
bailey bud
New member
My 788 is a bolt action --- however, the Leverevolution bullets have MUCH better ballistics than your typical round-nosed 30-30. (1300 pounds of energy at 200 yds --- well above a round-nose bullet)
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