.30-30 Ammo: 150 gr Vs 170 gr...

[David4516]

What load do your think is the better .30-30 deer load, the 150 gr or the 170 gr?

The reason I ask is that I've always used 150 gr bullets, but lately I've been thinking that maybe the 170s might have some advantage...

 

[sm]

In my old Win model 94 I use the 170 gr.
This guns prefers the Power-Point ( S.P.) X30303 , Most accurate. It also likes the 170 gr from Fed.

I have shot others lever actions from both Win and Marlin, new and old, each has their preference, some like 150gr, some like 170gr.

I just let the gun tell me what it likes , buy it and feed it.

For the distance, "tasks", and environs , kinda like patterning a shotgun to me. I want reliability first ( feed, extraction) , POA/POI, then I get into the terminal stuff. Terminal - if the the first two req's ain't there, well, not gonna make difference I figure if the cartridge don't feed or if it does feed and heads to the next county...

---

Art, perhaps I'm lost in the wrong forum...and yeah I know it( my 94) ain't a smoothbore...someone done cut lands and grooves in my bbl. - on purpose

 

[Roadkill]

I use the 170. Probably aren't necessary but I want as much hit as possible on the deer.

rk

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Are we talking 180 lb whitetails or 350 lb mulies here?

If I were doing load development: On the smaller deer 150's are plenty, but on the larger species I would stick to 170's. However, if your gun shows an appetite for one weight or the other by a large margin, listen to it. Your gun will be happy, you'll be happy, and your freezer will be full.

FWIW: My winchester 94 loves speer 150's over h335 and a federal primer.

 

[foghornl]

My Marlin Model 30A prefers the Rem 170-Gr "Core-lokt" softpoint over any other ammo. I set the sights for "Zero" at 100 Yds, will be within 3" out to about 165 yds.

I have tried all the Rem loads, as well as the Win & Fed offerings. In MY Marlin, I always come back to the Rem 170-Gr.

Your Mileage Will Vary.

 

[ECVMatt]

I like Win 150 Silvertips for three reason..

one, that is what came with the gun when I bought it.
two, I killed two pigs and a deer with them the first time out.
three, they worked so well why change.

Seriously, I would shoot both weights and see what works best for you particular gun. I really do not think there is that much of a difference. Whichever load is most accurate should get the nod.


Have fun,


Matt

 

[mondocomputerman]

I've always used 150 grain Winchester Power-Points. That got me 4 deer 4 years in a row. Why change? The last one I couldn't pass up, it was a 14 pointer at 200 some yards. I would think the 170 grain would drop a fair bit faster at that range.

 

[TrapperReady]

My particular Winchester 94 seems to shoot most accurately with the Core-Lokt 170s. If I found some 150s that made tighter groups, I'd be just as happy using them.

 

[Lone Star]

I suspect that the factory-loaded 170 Nosler might be preferable if you carry the gun in bear country, but otherwise, agree that it's best to load whatever the particular gun shoots best.

Lone Star