30-30 Winchester or 300 AAC Blackout

[savanahsdad]

well now that I see pictures , I take back what I said , you should sell that 30-30 with that ugly walnut strait stock , if you want I could hide that ugly thing for you ,



I've been hiding this Classic Carbine for about a year now , I guess I could deal with a matching 30-30

 

[witchhunter]

I would look at a different cartridge also for your stated needs. Just because two cartridges can use the same powder does not mean that it works efficiently in both. I say this as you stated "for paper punching", assuming you will want to try to get the most accuracy out of your rifle. I would look at a .223.

 

[JSH1]

300 BLK. Cases are cheap, bullet choice is a wash, it takes advantage of a short barrel better, and it is a semi rimmed case, which is what you need to learn on, vs rimmed, to start.

Or in my case free. I've have quite a few courtesy of the slobs at the local public shooting range.

 

[CaliCoastie]

Opinions are like. .... if you don't like the general concensus? Get what you want. And i have a hard time believing that 300blkout cases are cheaper than 30-30. There are all sorts of loads out for 30-30, but like i said. Get what you want.

 

[JSH1]

Opinions are like. .... if you don't like the general concensus? Get what you want. And i have a hard time believing that 300blkout cases are cheaper than 30-30. There are all sorts of loads out for 30-30, but like i said. Get what you want.

223 cases are free. All I have to do is look on the ground. I have yet to find a 30-30 Winchester case on the ground.

Likewise 380, 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP cases are easy to find while revolver cases are rare. Last time I went shooting I picked up 50 40 S&W cases and hundreds of 22 LR.

 

[jamesinalaska]

If you are determined to get a single shot rifle, I recommend the 30-30 as you will be able to do all types of experimenting with pointed bullets. The range and power in a 30-30 is vastly superior to the 300 BLK. I've read much from people who are enthralled about their new 300 BLK, but of the several owners that I have spoken with in person, not a single one has confided that it is a great cartridge. All of the 300 BLK owners I have spoken with said they wished they had not spent the money on that cartridge, that it gave them nothing over the 7.62x39.

 

[JSH1]

If you are determined to get a single shot rifle, I recommend the 30-30 as you will be able to do all types of experimenting with pointed bullets. The range and power in a 30-30 is vastly superior to the 300 BLK. I've read much from people who are enthralled about their new 300 BLK, but of the several owners that I have spoken with in person, not a single one has confided that it is a great cartridge. All of the 300 BLK owners I have spoken with said they wished they had not spent the money on that cartridge, that it gave them nothing over the 7.62x39.

These are guns I currently own.

I am looking to sell some guns to fund either a Ruger Single Seven in 327 Fed Mag or a custom H&R barrel in 327 Fed Mag.

 

[35 Whelen]

There's nothing easier to reload than a case with a large rim, such as the 30-30. The 30-30 is a VERY accurate cartridge in rifles capable of good accuracy (singles and bolts). Years ago I handloaded 30-30's for a buddy who owned one of those cheap Savage bolt action rifles. That rifle grouped factory and handloads at 100 yds. under 1" all day, every day, time after time.

The 30-30 is infinitely more versatile and I have no doubt you'll come nearer finding ammunition for the 30-30 at Bob's Bait Shop or the local Walmart than you will the 300.

If you want inexpensive, light loads in the 30-30 the solution is quite simple; buy inexpensive cast bullets and load them over light charges of shotgun powder. Somewhere around 6.5 - 8.0 grs. of Red Dot, 700-X, Green Dot, Unique, Herco, etc. under a 150 gr. cast bullet would make for a fun plinking load.

35W

 

[JohnMc]

JSH1, my vote was 300 BLK, because with it you can start with ready made brass, then transition to cutting and forming your own. As far as 300 BLK going away, this particular round won't really go away until .308 bullets, .223/5.56 cases and hacksaws/Dremels are gone. As you noted, the per round powder cost of 30-30 would be somewhat higher.
On top of all that, I can't easily find 30-30 brass right now, except for the fun route of "emptying" some factory ammo.
If you were hunting, then 30-30, for the reasons others have noted.

PS: The 30-30 you have is WAY prettier than the 300 BLK.

 

[BSA1]

I'm looking at which H&R Handi Rifle barrels to keep and which to sell.

Are you saying you already have barrels in both calibers and are just picking between the two.

I looking for a light shooting round that is economical to reload.

This round will be used for punching paper and learning to reload bottleneck rifle cartridges.

As previously commented on neither round is preferred for paper punching. However depending on how much accuracy you want I imagine you can work up so good loads.

Not going to be hunting with it. If I do start hunting again it will be for squirrels and rabbits.

30-30 of course is way too much round for bunnies. Subsonic 300 Blackout probably would not damage too much meat.

What centerfire do you recommend for target shooting at 100 yards or less? I've been looking for a 22 Hornet barrel but haven't found one yet.

22 Hornet will not leave much game and brass is more expensive.

.223 is widely used in target shooting and all of the bugs have been worked out. Reloading data and information is commonly available to help you work up loads. It is way too much for squirrels and bunnies but is finding acceptance as a deer round.

30-30. And Winchester 94 just go in hand in hand. No reason why it wouldn't be just fine in a single shot. It is easy to reload and like the .223 you should not have any trouble finding reloading data and advice.

300 Blackout. No first hand experience...yet. I have a AR build planned for the winter. I am looking forward to working with it.

OK. Final choice (drum roll please).

32-20

The 32-20 will do everything very well.

Recoil...what recoil?

Economical...my standard load is 4.5 grains of AA-5 with 115 gr. cast lead bullet.

Paper punching...I have won numerous matches out to 100 yards against all comers.

It is easy to reload. The case mouths are a bit on the thin side but I don't find it any harder to reload than the .223. The only time I crunch a case mouth is when I get in too big of a hurry and don't make sure I have the round completely seated in the shell holder. (Actually I have this problem with all of the cartridges I reload on my single stage press. I tend to get sloppy when I get tired meaning it is time to take a break).

Brass is easy to find (at least pre banic).

With cast bullets it is a great squirrel and bunny round. Back 50 -70 years ago it was a consider more than adequate as a deer round. History repeats itself as the .223 is finding acceptance and is becoming legal as a deer found.

 

[Eb1]

I know you bought the rifle, but I'd would have went the 30-30. In a single shot format you can load the 30-30 with 125 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips, and some other low grain .30 bullets effectively making the 30-30 a flatter shooting, and better cartridge for longer distances.

 

[JSH1]

PS: The 30-30 you have is WAY prettier than the 300 BLK.

Yes it is. I bought it for the look. The grain on the stock is really nice. No doubt I could sell the Classis Carbine stock set for more than the entire 300 BLK rifle.

 

[JSH1]

Are you saying you already have barrels in both calibers and are just picking between the two?

Yes. I own handi rifles in 30-30, 300 BLK, and 45-70 GOVT

32-20
The 32-20 will do everything very well.......

Something to look into. I don't know if H&R ever made a 32-20 barrel. Of course someday I will have a 327 Fed Mag handi. That cartridge is basically a straight walled version of the 32-20.

 

[Catpop]

I'm for 223 for punching paper, no recoil, readily available reload supplies, lots of data, super accurate, surplus ammo, etc. But for hunting, 30 - 30 hands down. Jm2cw.
Catpop

 

[FROGO207]

I own several Handi Rifles. From .22 Hornet to 500 S&W to 30-06 to 45-70.--Rimfire and shotguns,----- lets see 21 in all with multiple barrels for most of them as well. The Hornet is OK but the case life is short and not a really powerful round. The bullets are necessarily light and Hornet specific due to the low velocity and fast twist rate it uses.. The best propellant is Lil Gun for accurate and fast loads BTW. The others that say get a 223 are onto something. I have four 223 bull barrels each employing different aiming options. You can load full power 223 loads with heavy .224 bullets or step down to hornet loads/bullets if you wish. Just get a 223 specific propellant if you want to shoot higher power loads than the Hornet. Brass is basically free and there is no special prep other than reaming primer pockets when needed. Of the two barrels you ask about 300 BK if you ever think of adding a suppressor to your fun. Otherwise just sell them both to get what you really want. Just my thoughts on this thread and your replies to it so far.

 

[R.W.Dale]

For a break action single shot I default to the rimmed cartridge EVERY time.

Reloading a single shot for a round with a very small and slight shoulder to headspace on requires the utmost precision, anything less results in everything from misfires to wild vertical stringing.

So 30-30 for this application

 

[R.W.Dale]

300 BLK. Cases are cheap, bullet choice is a wash, it takes advantage of a short barrel better, and it is a semi rimmed case, which is what you need to learn on, vs rimmed, to start.

300blk is not any more semi rimmed than the 223 parent case is.