Marlin 336 in 30-30 for deer/hog. 150gr or 180gr ammo?

[45shooter]

Okay, so my brother want to come along for a hunt this year.
He has no rifle of his own so he will be dragging my Marlin 336 along for the hunt. I checked my ammo locker and found that I have couple boxes of Winchester 150gr and Remington 180gr ammo. According to my notes both ammo will shoot about 3"-4" groups at 100 yards.

Which would be preferable ammo for deer/hog hunt?
I guessing that the max distance for a shot will be under 100 yards.

 

[rcmodel]

You sure it isn't 170 grain?
180 is a pretty uncommon bullet weight for a 30-30.

But regardless, either one should kill a deer just fine.

I might save the heavier ones for hogs.

rc

 

[45shooter]

Sorry, typing error.
It is Remington 170gr ammo... not 180gr.

 

[Badlander]

Use the one that shoots best in your rifle.

 

[Tentwing]

I have to agree with what all the others have posted.

Use whichever load your 336 likes best. With proper shot placement either the 150gr or the 170gr will both derail a hawg real quick like.

And I have no reasonable idea how many whitetails have been taken with a lever 30-30, but down here in the Southeast if someone told me that it has killed a greater number of deer over the years than any other single cartridge. I wouldn't have any trouble believing that at all.

Tentwing

 

[Abel]

Okay, so my brother want to come along for a hunt this year.
He has no rifle of his own so he will be dragging my Marlin 336 along for the hunt.

Ha! Don't make it sound like he's getting the short end of the stick. The 336 in 30-30 is the perfect hog/deer/bear rifle. You should be a good brother and let him use your main rifle. Then you could find out first hand what a 30-30 will do.

Use whichever load your 336 likes best. With proper shot placement either the 150gr or the 170gr will both derail a hawg real quick like.

Yep.

 

[stillkickin]

I have killes some of each with the Hornady LeverEvolution 170gr. works really well and adds a little range for the farther shots. I don't know about the 300y shots I heare of, but can testify that at 220y they are good for anything smaller than Elk.
I do know a woman who has killed two cow Elk with the round, both at less than 100y.

 

[rori]

All else being equal use the heavier bullet. Sure have been a lot of elk killed with the lowely 30/30 over the years. Saw one just year before last. Very dead I shot. Frank

 

[243winxb]

30 wcf

Velocity, shock & trauma stops deer. Go with light and fast bullets. You dont want one running off.

 

[CraigC]

I like 170gr CorLokts and 165gr RNFP's because they tend to exit from just about any angle.

 

[rori]

Velocity, shock, trama stops deer. WRONG!!!! Velocity kills nothing, shock is minimal to say the least proven in far to many tests etc to even talk about. TRAMA kills deer,elephant and people. If a fast light bullet was a sure killer then the .17rem would be a great elk caliber. Heavy bullets penetrate further than light ones end of story. Frank

 

[irondavy]

I like the 170 gr core loked for my marlin 336 30-30. Lots of Hogs that just fell over right there where they were shot. Lots of damage, break the spine or shoot out the heart. If you (I am) are desperate you can take a shot at the front shoulder to break it then follow up with a second to the vitals to put the animal down. then you can take some of the meat home to mix with the venison makes great sausage.

ID

 

[35 Whelen]

Like everyone said, try both and use the one that's most accurate. If they both shoot well, I ALWAYS go for the heavier bullet because given like design, the heavier bullet will always penetrate better.

Velocity, shock & trauma stops deer. Go with light and fast bullets. You dont want one running off.

Bullet holes through organs such as the heart and lungs kill. Period. I shot deer for years with a 220 Swift running a 55 gr. bullet at over 3800 fps and later a 257 Ackley Improved running various 100 gr. bullets at around 3300 fps. Both created lots of shock, but killed no quicker and certainly no better than my little 308 and a 150 gr. bullet at 2700. Ironically, some of the most sudden and definitive kills I've made were with my Marlin 375 Win. running a 220 gr. bullet at 2200 fps. For what ever reason, the deer I ht with them fell as though the earth had been jerked from under their feet!

35W

 

[foghornl]

I have a Marlin Mdl 30AW. It shoots the Rem 170-Gr "Core-Lokt" better than anything else..have not tried the Hornady Leverevolution stuff yet.

 

[Sav .250]

"according to my notes?" I`d go with the heavier of the to. Shot placement is key.........

 

[BluegrassDan]

Use the most accurate ammo. 150, 160, and 170 will all kill deer and hogs. Be sure to try Hornady's 160 grain LeverEvolution.

 

[45shooter]

"according to my notes?"

Yes, I keep notes on each of my guns.
When and where it was purchased, how much $$$, etc.
I also keep notes of performance at the range each time I got. I keep informations like ammo used, range and group size, number of round fired, any failures to fire, etc.

I'm going out to the range with my bother tomorrow morning and I'll see which one he shoots better.
Everything else being equal, I always prefer the heavier bullet when hunting.

 

[dprice3844444]

whatever your shooting will not know the difference

 

[Dr.Rob]

I always prefered 170gr ammo but 150 was always easier to find. Heavier is better when it comes to pigs.

 

[Eb1]

I shot a deer with 150 grain Win PP @ 70 yards head on, and found the bullet sticking in the skin of right ham. Bullet traveled over 3 1/2 feet. Expanded to .753. Deer feel, and raised his head on time. DRT.

I have shot several deer with the 30-30, and DRT is a rare occasion even with excellent placed shots regardless of 150 or 170 grain.

Reload some 125 grain Sierra HPFN @ 2500 fps, and then that is where the fun starts for the 30-30. It is a completely different ball game.

Federal loads this bullet in factory ammo. That is what I suggest if it shoots well in your 30-30.