30-30 ammo choice

since inheriting dad's Model 94 30-30, I've been reading up on the different factory loads. Do you guys have any advice? I've been reading up on those Hornady 160gr. LEVERevolution loads with the flex tip (which I had not heard of since I haven't looked at 30-30 loads in my life) as well as the traditional 150 and 170gr. corelok loads by Remington and Winchester, and Hornady. Have y'all noticed any difference in performance with those flex tips vs. the traditional rounded nose bullets?

Also, any advice on sighting in an open sight rifle would be appreciated.

Dr. B

Sometimes those rubber tipped ones bounce off the deer so be careful.

I’ve extensively tested EVERY 30-30 load there is and 150gr Powermax is the best.

I feel the Hornady Leverevolution 160gr and 140 gr is better suited for longer range and larger animals. The Federal 125gr “varmint” round actually works real good on deer.

The Powermax holds together, EXPANDS, makes a great exit wound, and shocks the piss out of the animal. Probably won’t be a better performing game bullet in my remaining lifetime than this bullet, its all I use now. I will test anything new for kicks, its what I do.

The performance betwixed Pmax and standard round nose bullets is like night and day. I’ve never recovered a Pmax bullet and the exit hole is almost always the same fifty cent piece size.

If your rifle likes the 150gr Powermax, don’t try anything else. I went to powermax after being a faithful follower of the 160gr LeverE. I started having bad lots and projectile problems with the Hornady so I tried the powermax. The first and most every animal I’ve hit with Pmax, I got comments after jerking their pants off like “what the hell did you hit that with?” You will never wonder if the deer was hit using Powermax.

The 30-30 using Powermax 150gr will kill with ease anything in North America.

Knock that rear sight out and put in a Skinner Dovetail peep.

http://www.skinnersights.com/barrel_mount_6.html

Every caliber has a particular bullet weight that just outperforms the rest.
For a 308 the 165 grain is far better than any others.
The 150 grain seems to be the most accurate in a 30-30.
I prefer a lead round nose bullet, but the lever revolution also is a great choice.

You might find a bullet that outperforms ballistically but you won’t outperform the terminal performance of powermax.

For the 308 Winchester, NO 165gr bullet outperforms 150gr powermax on terminal performance. I’ve put it to the test on several calibers. The only reason I use the 180gr Powermax in my 30-06 is because its always on the shelf.

The 150gr 30-30 Powermax is the best terminal performing bullet for the caliber bar-none.

Your rifle has to be accurate with a bullet first so you have to find what it likes.

I don't have any advice for 30 30 ammo but I have a suggestion for using open sights...

Put a scope in it.

Ha Ha! I took the side-mounted scope off that dad put on it. Trying to go traditional with look and hunting. Plus, based on the comments in another forum on here, I'd risk get the permanent ban hammer if I posted a deer kill with a lever action rifle with a scope on it.

Dr. B

I've probably killed around 100 deer with my old Marlin 30-30 and the vast majority of them were killed with your plain old 170 gr flat nose...Remington or Winchester. That being said though, I'm gonna try some of the 150 gr powermax that Johnhyloco is recommending next year. Right now I'm using my 30-30 as my blood tracking gun.

Harold, you shooting open sights, I assume?

Dr. B

Yep....back when I hunted with my 30-30 I always had a scope on it......Now that I'm tracking with it I just use iron sights. A scope is definitely more accurate but iron sight will get the job done at short distances.

There are better bullets out today but early in my career I had some unsatisfactory performance with 150's as compared to 170's. Therefore I've always shot 170 grain Silvertip, PowerPoint or CoreLokt and never had a problem killing anything with it. They all provide complete pass through and while I have been unable to recover most of the bullets I have recovered a few including one Power Point within the last couple years... and it was 91% weight retention with about a 50 yard shot.

If you can't kill a deer with that you got problems. Like you might want to look into Tennis lessons kinda problems.

I have also shot the flex tips. They work fine but not really needed where I hunt my shots are usually no further than 100 yds in the woods. I shoot the flex tips in other calibers as well and they do fine.

If this is an older rifle it may not feed the leverRevolutions. My old 444 wont feed them at all. FWIW

Just replace the follower and it will feed LeverE, even your 444. If you must use your flat follower, push the last round into the loading gate and into the tube a bit with something then let it ride back, it won’t jam after that.

All 30-30 bullets kill deer, its a fact.

LeverE fouls Marlin microgroove faster, a Winchester seems to like it. This doesn’t matter, why?
Your eyes are getting heavy, you are getting sleepy, you are gonna use 150gr Powermax.

You can get some decent things here and folks will debate on the followers but the factory plastic type are number one. You want the best loading gate, see the link.
http://www.rangerpointstore.com/marlin-flyweight-easy-loading-gate/

In Alabama, this is as good as it gets http://www.apwcogan.com

The velocity of the 150gr coupled with the expansion and composition of that powermax...Works!

Scope is no more accurate than irons. Its the mitigating factors that make a difference...the shooter!
Scopes do make us lazy but do have their perks. Many times, at dusk or dawn while the color green is still faded, I can see an animal on low power that I cannot see with my naked eyes. If you've never toted a Winnie 94 with ghost sights through the deer woods, in the mountains, or the plains...Its quite the feeling!



On the 7-08 subject in the other thread, the powermax supply dried up for 7-08, I think it got discontinued, so I sold my 7-08 and went back to 30-06.

This and the 120gr Barnes are the best 7-08 ammo for deer sized critters there ever was/will be

My brother killed a tractor trailer full of deer with 170 gr silver tips. Never lost one that he hit correctly. Don't remember many tracking jobs either. It was accurate and deadly.

I use lever revolution and like it. Never lost a deer and extended range is great.

Don't over-think it. Just get 170gr Core-Lokt. I use some more complicated stuff in other guns, but for a 30-30.... just keep it simple.

Powermax 150gr

I’m beginning to think this guy gets paid for how many times he mentions the above. Or he sponsored by them somehow. I’m not gonna say it. He’s said it enough. Lol

Or maybe just an idiot.

The core lokt has been a killing machine for decades.
Regardless of weight or caliber choice, you won't go wrong with a simple core lokt.

What about the POWERMAX!!!! ammo? Anyone tried it?

Just kidding. Back when I was a hunter and shot a few deer in the early 2000's, I used the Hornady LeverEvolution 160 grain a good bit. It's a very good choice and was always quite accurate in my .30/30.

I guess now the name calling has started, I’ve been called much more than idiot in my lifetime. I’m just pushin what works and when it comes to the 30-30, I highly doubt anyone kills as many game animals per year with it than I. I’d have to put the figure from 40-200 animals per year depending on if its what I feel like using that particular year. This is across the United States on all kinda critters. Give Powermax a whirl, I won’t even ask for an apology.

Post Script: that figure above ^^^^ is with the 30-30, it could be up to 1000 animals with different calibers, bow, and spear, per year. I am a lucky man. I killed around thirty boar hogs this year using 410 Brenneke slugs from a 410, all one shot drops. This stuff is how I entertain myself.

Note to self: If I only could go back to killing ragheads instead of big game animals in my retirement, I’d subject myself to much less guff, write Trump.

Nosler Partition core lokt levrevloutions....even the powermin....er max will slay deer. Your rifle will like it's favorite.

150 grain Corelokts, I bet I have killed 50-75 deer with marlin 30-30. Deer have always traveled less distance then 30-06 or 7 mag or 270. I shoot em bow style double lungs and I guess bullet is slower and more energy is felt as it passes through boiler room.

You should check out Powermax 150gr

Bought a box of 150gr. Rem. Core Lokt and Winchester Ballastic Silver-tips. Didn't have Powermax at BPS. Gonna send a few down range next week.

Dr. B

They all work they just don’t hit the same spot.

The old PMC starfire HOs would outperform most any regular cup/core on deer from a 30/30, and the Barnes allcopper 30/30 HP is in a different league than anything Winchester, Remington, or federal make for 30/30. If you want the ‘most’ from a 30/30 to 150yards, hand loaded Barnes are it. Fact is, it’s not needed for deer or most hogs, and ANY load mentioned here will kill deer from a 30-30, within 30-30 ranges, and some further.

The copper Barnes even if hand loaded with LeverE powder don’t really outperform 150gr factory powermax, They are a decent bullet though. I’ve killed piles of game with both.

No 30-30 outperforms 150gr powermax on deer and hogs.

Don’t know about the imposed ranges of the above post but anything past 200 yards, I think the 140gr Hornady or 125gr Federal varmint rounds have the edge, sub 200 powermax 150gr is the one.

Almost any 30-30 is a 250 plus yard gun

Depending on bullet, 150-165 is where you see 30/30 loads separate in performance vs bullet type. Any gun is at least a 250 yard gun.

If there were two locos there would be no animals left in a years time as many as he has killed.

You aint lyin, I mean dang. 1K / yr.????????????
He work at a animal shelter?

Haven't you been reading this thread? The 150 gr. Powermax is the only 30-30 load that will kill deer!!!

I don’t want to get into how I feel about stray dogs and cats but I try to keep as many out of shelters as possible. CCI Stingers are the best on Feral cats and Velociters work awesome on big dangerous dogs.

As far as the other game goes, I’m retired and hogs reproduce.

If you read the thread you definitely know that didn’t come from me, I only claim the 150gr Powermax is the best at the job.

Wait, Post Script...

Just so there is no confusion, I am a big fan of the 30-30 and the Powermax 150gr Hollow Point.

Powermax, you say?????

Are you sure they are better than core-lokts?

Just having fun Loco, nothing personal or ill will intended.

What about a Hyperthem Powermax Plazma Cutter.... How do y'all feel about those? Are they as good as the .30-30 ammo?

Oh Bro, I’m all about fun myself, I don’t get my feelings hurt from computer data.

Plasma cutters ain’t my thang

Yes, but the 150gr version. Buckwheat say Powermax O-Tay

Yeah, but since I heard they bounce off bobcats, I’ll keep shooting 125gr NBTs.

Yeah, and at least as many rag heads too.
Frigging superhero stuff.

Hey, “I lived it”, got the scars, missin parts, the retirment check, ID Card, and the medals, to prove it. And, the only T-Shirts I wear are straight from clothing sales on base right next to the gym where I grow my triceps.

All of dat aside, 30-30 150gr Powermax is where its at.

y'all heard about them 150gr Powermax?

Good stuff!

Me too.
I just don't shoot my mouth off about it.

Not my problem, you were likely a regular soldier.

Thanks for your service and remember...

Use Winchester Powermax 30-30 150gr

1C2/2W0 with multiple SEI’s

It is what it is, it is who I am, I don’t shroud myself in mystery by not talking about it. Its just “shop talk” and business if you will.

Powermax

I was a Veteran fighter by the time I got released from George Hall Middle School in Maysville (Mobile). Its where I learned to destroy a human with a fork after they put their fingers in my cinnamon rolls. I also learned to break a man’s face with a basketball, and use a combo lock as brass knuckles. I had a body full of afro pick scars before I even enlisted.

Y’all can read about the experience in my up coming book “Johnny White in an all Black school”

Now ifin that weren’t enough training/punishment, in the 9th grade I started dating a sweet thang Greek Girl in Alabama Village. I took my share of beat downs but I learned how to beat a man close to death with a CB antenna and slice someone up with an oyster shell.

Y’all heard about them turty turty powermaxes? I hear they da best.

Awww sheeit. Incoming!!

Make time for 150gr Powermax, “It Sho’ Am good”

Don’t break your arm patting yourself on the back. Try humble pie every once in a while. Pretty good stuff.

Oh and Thank you for your service.

Sometimes the “pat” of my God given indomitable spirit is the only thing that kept me alive. Its not a problem for me in the least.

Too bad the SD of the powermax is only .226.Why even Barnes 120 6.5 has higher SD which means deeper penetration.

SD is important if SD is important to ya. I like a flatbased rapid expanding bullet that doesn’t fragment and blows a hole out the other side.

My 30-30 with 150gr Powernax drops deer better than my 6.5 or 7mm-08 did at my particular ranges. The negative effect of SD, bullet constuction, and animal selection is why (I) feel bullet selection is very important in the 6mm-7mm ranges.

All of my go-to hunting calibers are .30 cal or Forty-Four with Keith style cast bullets or Hornady flat nosed

SD is of no consequence to my hunting style.

Powermax 150gr

If you don't have multiple SEI's for .30-30 ammo selection.....that would be a crying shame. If only you could retrofit an A10 to shoot some Powermax maybe you could show your fellow Wing Nuts how to do some real fighting.

The A-10’s Weapon configuration is more than adequate.

30-30 Powermax 150gr plug for Sunday Morning.

A 30-30 is slow enough that bullet choice isn't critical.

Then you haven’t used powermax 150, federal 125gr, or Hornady 140gr. Regular 30-30 bullets don’t perform like these three.

I most especially like the “30-30 slow” argument from folks who shoot other calibers in short barrels. I do advocate any 30-30 choice slower than 150gr. The factory 170gr bullet essentially performs the same but has less velocity. Some rifles most especially the savage bolt actions shoot better with the old 170’s. Things I’ve found with regular 170’s is they don’t always perform or expand as well as the 150 regular but in powermax (so far) at different distances the 170’s open up to the same diameter as the 150’s but don’t always make it through, so the added velocity of the 150gr Powermax makes it the mackdaddy for 30-30.

Mr. Clark. My knowledge of 30-30 performance and my arrogance are unprecedented, you just cannot compete with either.

Loco, I know you a newbie on Aldeer, but RH is an expert on many things guns and gun related (especially scopes) because he has read about it on 24hourcampfire.

Its all in fun brother, I have the same screenname on the 24hrfire too.

Yea,don't worry Johnny,there's lots of eggspurts on here.

I’d like to do a Saturday afternoon Pre-Huckabee 30-30 Powermax Plug

.30/30 is a decent 100 yard deer killer. Not sure why anyone would take it past that with the other options available.

Me neither.

Limiting the 30-30 to 100 yards is comical.

No more so than trying to make a long range gun out of it.

If you need a Sendero, buy a Sendero, but 30-30 150gr Powermax is King!

I know everyone ain’t good at getting game within the 15 yard line so “long range” is associated with ones lack of hunting skill.

For folk as good as I am, a 30-30 will work across the board.

Now I generally don’t ridicule or begrudge a person for getting outside and shooting something. But, just like someone can’t piss down my back and tell me its raining, You ain’t gonna bait a game animal nor shoot him over 100 yards and tell me thats hunting.

I don't care how other folks hunt. I could have killed every deer I've ever killed except just a couple with a 30-30. I never used one much though because they fit me horribly.

One of the last few deer we tracked last year was a big bodied buck that was shot with a 30-30 from 150 yards with a silver tipped bullet. The hunter hit the deer square on the shoulder and I believe the bullet just exploded into the meat and bone. I wish I could have seen this one skinned out to see exactly what happened. We got the deer up several hours after the shot though, bayed it up, and finished it off…..He made a really good shot but the gun and bullet choice did not preform well at all in that situation.

Please bestow us with your wisdom O mighty one.

Simple, if he’d a hit it across the lungs with powermax, the deer would’ve walked twenty yards and fell over. So it ain’t enough a fella has to snipe a buck at 150 yards but ruins meat in the process.

That ain’t my words of wisdom, these words are...nomatter what a hunter uses, “crap” happens. Cept with the 444 though.

The power max sucks.

Aww sheeit. You're gonna get Loco riled up with comments like that.

I had a couple runners with 150's back in the day (seemingly larger TN deer) and switched to 170's and that pretty much ended it. Swap up to a 200 in .35 Rem and that gives even a bit more oomph in my experience. You can't quantify it on paper just shoot a couple deer with each and decide for yourself or take my advice and save yourself the trouble.

Goatkiller you're wrong. The 30-30 makes 2 times the power (3 if you shoot powermax) as a .35 Rem. The deer I shot with the .35 laughed at me before throwing the bullet back. .

I heard that the SOCOM snipers were switching from the Barrett 50 bmg to the 30-30 with power maxes.

I know that can't be true because deer lack opposable thumbs necessary for throwing.

I just saw this... I wanted to respond, but I realize now that I'm in the presence of greatness.

Truth be told, it knocked me out so I don't recall much about it. I guess it could have been a squirrel tossing a Powermax green pinecone.

Heck, y’all can’t get me flustered. I might not know much, but I know Powermax 150gr 30-30 is the best 30-30 round.

Johnny,

Hows bout sending me a box of them Powermax 150 grain .30-30 ammo and let me try them out in my thuty-thuty.

I can PM you my address.

What do I need to shoot in my Marlin 336 lever gun chambered in .35 Remington?

I’d love too but I’m stingy when it comes to Powermax 150gr 30-30

The 35 Rem is best suited with LeverE unless you handload.

Uh, I believe .30-30 Powermax 150s.

I can tell you what to shoot in this, I ordered one with y’alls tax dollars.

http://www.lipseys.com/itemdetail.aspx?itemno=RUK1A3030

Powermax 150gr

When I saw they were chambering that today Johnny, I somehow knew you had already ordered one. I hope it stacks them, love a No. 1.

I hope so too brother or I’ll have to bend it on a ranch hand bumper and throw it in the dumpster.

So long as I know which dumpster to salvage the action for a .300 H&H.

Roger dat

Forget a 30-30 and get a 45-70

My 444’s wouldn’t allow it.

What about the 150gr Powermax?...anyone ever heard anything about them?

Yeah, its as close as it gets to a “magic” bullet

Only magic bullets are made by Nosler,Federal,CorBon and a dude named Garrett.

And that .268" 160gr RN they found on the gurney in November 1963.

All I know is, everytime I use Powermax regardless of caliber, I say “Abracadabra” each shot...It works!

Powermax 150gr 30-30 Plug

Core Lokt 150gr

They are good enough but not like a Powermax.

thats the only thing ive ever shot thru any 30-30 never even knew all these other rounds existed until i read this post

speer 170-grain handload at 2,300 fps for the .30-30. of course that was 26-27 years ago before deer got so stout ...