30-30 bullets in .308 Win

[Hungry1]

Evening All,

I ordered some Speer 170gr SPFN bullets for my Marlin 336.

I got to wondering, can these bullets be loaded for my .308 Win rifles?

This particular bullet isn't listed in the Speer 14 for .308 Win, only 30-30 Win.

Can the bullet construction handle the increased powder charge/velocity of .308 Win?

I read one review that claimed that the bullet was being used in 30-06.

Any insight appreciated.

Thanks

 

[41 Mag]

I have used 30-30 round nose and flat nosed bullets in my .308, however I was using a slightly reduced loads with H-4895 which gave me reduced recoil and velocity.

These were used for hunting hogs up in tight cover where a shot would only be 25-50yds usually max, and gave not only a slower bullet but also a bit less of an instance of a ricochet when we were working with dogs. Usually the bullets would get into the vitals but not over penetrate. To be honest it was cheaper for me to buy the bullets than another rifle, so I downloaded them for the intended purpose.

They worked very well for that purpose however, you just have to remember that they are a bit lighter in construction and can open up pretty violently if driven over the usual 30-30 velocities. If you drive them fast they may or may not work like you want them to and you would probably be better off using them for the 30-30 and keeping the regular spitzers for the 308 and 30-06.

 

[Slamfire]

41 Mag has really said it all. If Speer does not list that bullet for the 308 it is probably for the best not to use it hunting at higher velocities. My 30-30 Win only pushes 170's out at 2150 fps. To get good expansion at those velocities, the bullet has to be of a lighter construction than one that is designed for a 2700-2800 fps cartridge.

You could use those bullets on paper, it does not matter one bit, one way or another, how you humanely kill a paper target. But an animal, you should use the most effective combination for a quick and humane kill. If the bullet blows up in flight, which I have seen when light construction bullets are pushed too fast, it does not matter if all you are doing is punching holes in paper.

You can download the 308 Win, and I have shot tens of thousands of rounds of a 168 SMK with 39.0 grs IMR 4895 with outstanding accuracy. This might be a little fast for a 30-30 bullet as I have chronographed this load and it clocks at 2440 fps.

 

[redbullitt]

I use them in subsonic and reduced 308 or similar loadings. They do very well under 2000 FPS give or take a bit in my experience. Good terminal effects on deer sized game.

 

[jmr40]

Not the Speer's, but I picked up a box of Remington 150 gr RN meant for 30-30's a few years ago by mistake. I experimented loading them down to 30-30 speeds. Accuracy wasn't anything to brag about. I suppose it is possible and I just never hit the right combo.

 

[Grumulkin]

Evening All,

I ordered some Speer 170gr SPFN bullets for my Marlin 336.

I got to wondering, can these bullets be loaded for my .308 Win rifles?

This particular bullet isn't listed in the Speer 14 for .308 Win, only 30-30 Win.

Can the bullet construction handle the increased powder charge/velocity of .308 Win?

I read one review that claimed that the bullet was being used in 30-06.

Any insight appreciated.

Thanks

I would use them without hesitation in any gun with a .308 inch bore. You just have to understand that at higher velocities they're not going to hold together as well as some bullets of heavier construction; not a very bad thing in my opinion.

 

[TimSr]

I agree with those who say its fine for plinking, paper, and small to medium varmints that your not expecting to harvest meat from, or coyotes you're not keeping the fur. They tend make a mess of deer meat at 308 velocities, so I'd use a hunting bullet for deer an up.

 

[Garrobo]

What

.41 Mag said.

 

[kerreckt]

I loaded them to 30-30 velocities and they worked pretty well in my .308. They were accurate enough for my purposes.

 

[David4516]

Could you use .307 load data for .308 with round nose bullets?

When I was a kid hunting with my Dad, he gave me a .308 rifle and loaded .30-30 style bullets in it, loaded down to about .30-30 velocity. I never shot any game with it but it seemed to shoot well enough. I think he was using Remington Core-Lokt bullets (150gr?) and H335 powder...

 

[witchhunter]

No don't use .307 data. It is a different cartridge! Just use 308 data with a 180 jacketed bullet. Probably not the best bullet for hunting, unless loaded to 30/30 velocity, but they will be fine for plinking.

 

[David4516]

I thought .307 was the same as .308, but with a rimmed case for using in lever actions with round nose bullets?

 

[j1]

Load to 300 f/s over 30 30 loads and you are loading to a very useful level which kills quite well.
The ballistic equivalent of the. 307. I have had a 356 for many years which killed like the Hammer of Thor. Never should have sold that gun.

 

[Bexar]

I'd do it with as mentioned by J1 maybe kick it up a little in velocity if you stay within reputable loading manual specs. The 30-30 has been deer meat getting every year by probably the millions along with black bear and hogs since before the Spanish-American war.

Canadian guides use the 30-30 on everything from moose to their near elk sized deer. Depending on what you hunt and what ranges I wouldn't hesitate to pop a deer in the boiler room at 30-30 velocities out to 300yards in an accurate .308 bolt gun. Kick that velocity up a little if you think it's necessary but I wouldn't Monty Python razz you at 1000 yards if you kept it at 30-30 velocities.

I do love those round soft point Core-lokts. Your Speer flat nose should serve you well on deer equivalent game.

 

[PapaG]

I've used 30-30 bullets in .308, and 30-40 at 30-30 velocities with good results. I'd expect fragmentation on game at 308 velocities and close range.