Mini-30 deer hunting load

[ctrout]

Short version:

Has anyone here found that longer bullets shoot more accurately from the Mini-30 or any other rifle? Can anyone here state from experience the velocity threshold for expansion of the 130gr Barnes TSX?


Looong version:

I have been searching for several years for a load for my Mini-30 that is accurate enough, exhibits sufficient expansion, and penetrates well enough to hunt deer out to about 150 yards. I have tried at least 8 different bullets and have seen this rifle kill 2 small does. Performance on both was lacking. I shot one at about 40 yards with a 125gr Ballistic Tip launched at around 2400fps. Penetration was shallow enough that only the lung on the close side was destroyed. The deer died but I would prefer deeper penetration. My daughter shot a doe this year at around 130 yards with a 125gr Sierra Pro Hunter launched at around 2200fps. The shot was a perfect pass through both lungs and the deer died fairly quickly but the lungs showed that the bullet never expanded at all. Again, not ideal performance. I went back through my records and found that my best accuracy was a 2.3" 10 shot group at 100yds with Sierra #2300 150gr sp. My second best was a 1.6" 5 shot group at 50yds with a 130gr Barnes X. Based on that, it seems that longer bullets shoot better out of this rifle. Has anyone else found this as well? The 150 grain bullet did not expand in my tests so I've eliminated it from my list of possibilities. I need to test the Barnes for expansion and if it performs like I've read that it should, I may have finally found success. I was getting very good velocity from this load and suspect that I should be able to get a muzzle velocity near 2400fps with the TSX due to the reduced bearing surface. If that proves true, the Barnes software estimated an impact velocity greater than 2000fps at 200yds with energy of nearly 1200fp. This looks like it would be the best possible deer load that this gun can muster, making it an honest 200 yard gun. All of this hinges on the 130gr Barnes TSX's ability to expand reliably down to 2000fps. Does anyone here have any info on this bullest velocity threshold for expansion? I'd like input before I get my hopes up and spend another $30 on bullets that will not perform as I require.

 

[griz]

If the TSX doesn't expand, maybe you could try the 150 grain Ballistic Tip. It's long, should still expand at 1900 or so FPS, and should pentrate more than the 125 BT.

Just a thought.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Use the 123gr Hornady Soft point. It's not an interlok, but has performed as desired for me.

Secondly, run the Sierra to 2,400fps over 26.5-27.5gr of AA-1680. It will perform a "little" better, but is still a bullet intended for high velocity (3,000+fps m.v.)

I actually had very good luck with the 125gr Nosler BT. I suggest you keep using it. Yes it will expand rather explosively if it hits bone. And, as you experienced, it DOES work !

Going to the heavier bullets, you are going to get the "drill through" you experienced with the Sierra 125's. So you don't want to go there.

Using such an expensive bullet as the Barnes will defeat the purpose of your 7.62x39. I doubt you'll be happy with it anyway.

If you insist on using a heavier bullet, use the 150gr Remington Cor-lokt RN intended for the .30/30. It will expand and perform as you desire at the 2,200fps your 7.62x39 will be able to deliver. Just seat it to the same OAL as you do the pt'd bullets. You'll not be able to seat it to the cannulure and get proper feeding/functioning.

Also, you might try the Remington 125gr PtSP in .310 that Remington loads in their factory 7.62x39. However, I doubt you'll improve over the performance of the Hornady 123gr .310" bullet. Seat this to the cannulure over 26.5gr of AA-1680 and go hunting !!!

Shot placement with any of the above loads will bring down the venison.

 

[1911user]

Winchester 123gr power point bullets have a good reputation on deer and are available as loaded ammo and just bullets. I'll second the recomendation for AA1680 powder, it was designed for 7.62x39 loading and meters easily.

 

[ctrout]

Thanks for all the recommendations. I am seriously considering doing some testing with the 150gr 30-30 bullets as suggested above. As for the other bullets mentioned, I think I have tried most of them and the Sierras just substantially outperformed them all in the accuracy department. I never kept very good records on the 125 BT when I loaded it before so I may revisit this bullet as well. If I was doing the shooting with this rifle, I wouldn't worry so much because I can still put the bullet into the vitals with a 4-5 MOA gun. My daughter just doesn't shoot as well yet as I do so I don't want to handicap her with substandard loads.

 

[kjack]

Remington Core-Lokt

I might have a few (~20) 150 gr RN Remingtons at home I can send you to try (I have an extensive junque closet that my wife would love to see emptied sometime in her lifetime, so they won't cost you anything).

I will have to find them (no guarantees).

E-mail with your address if interested and I will look this evening.

 

[ctrout]

Thank you, thank you. That's what I love about some of the forums I visit. The helpfulness and generosity is top notch. I hope to be able to "pay it forward" someday. I'm sure I'll be able to. I have lots of spare stuff around that I'm sure my wife would love to see gone. Anybody need a couple hundred rounds of once fired (factory loads) .223 Rem brass?

 

[ctrout]

The .223 brass has been spoken for.

 

[kjack]

Senility Warning! (Heads-Up to Handloaders)

I'm posting this as a warning that even the best of memories fade (which can be especially dangerous with things that go BOOM!)

I went through my junque closet and actually found the CoreLokts (30 cal, 30 total) that I offered. However, the distance from the cannelure to both ends looked suspicious, so I dug into my reloading closet and set up my scale - they are 170 gr, not 150.

The net effect may have been a compressed load, dangerous pressures, high recoil impulse which could have damaged the bolt and shooter.

I don't think these would work very well in your Mini-30 and the lower velocity might not open them up.

On a somewhat happier note, I found a box of Speer 130 gr hollowpoints. They are, I think, designed for varmints, but at lower velocity (than my .308)may not be explosive. You are welcomed to try those.

My apologies.

 

[steve4102]

Here are some bullets that I think would work great in the mini.

http://www.hawkbullets.com/maintest.htm

I think the .308, 130 or 150gr, .025 RT would work well. Only thing is they are not cheap. I think I am going to purchase a box or two and see how they work in my mini-30.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I overlooked the above mentioned 130gr Speer HP's.

They do shoot quite well. (They shot well through the mini-30 I had, but rifle was a 3-5moa at best. The three SKS's I had shot better, but lacked the ergonomics of the Ruger.

The Speer HP's are even more explosive than the 125gr Nosler B.T.'s so be advised !

Hornady also makes a 130gr PtSoftpt. Also, same in a 130gr SSP (single shot pistol) The latter would do better in the 7.62x39. But, it's NOT an interlokt either, so performance won't be any better than the .310 123gr SoftPt.

So, we're back where we started !!! Hence my recommendation for this bullet.
BTDT.

 

[steve4102]

Hornady also makes a 130gr PtSoftpt. Also, same in a 130gr SSP (single shot pistol) The latter would do better in the 7.62x39. But, it's NOT an interlokt either, so performance won't be any better than the .310 123gr SoftPt.

The Hornady 130 SSP has been discontinued. My two favorite Mini-30 bullets, the Sierra 135gr and the Hornady 130 SSP, GONE.

 

[CZ57]

Take a look at the 150 gr. Remington .30-30 Core-Lokt. Velocity range should be closely suited to the 7.62 X 39mm. I believe it was steve4102 that gave me data for this bullet using Ramshot X-Terminator. If not, I'm grateful to whomever did~! I plan to use it with an SKS on Deer out to 150 yards, maybe on something that says Oink as well. The bullet should work well in the Mini 30 since it is a .308" bullet. The cannelure appears to me, to be in a suitable location if you want a crimp on the bullet.

 

[ctrout]

Would you be willing to share your load data for this load you mentioned? Do you know the velocity and barrel length?

 

[CZ57]

ctrout: haven't had a chance to try it yet, but here it is as it was given to me.My 150gr load with X-T:

Lapua Brass
Fed 210M Primers
29.7gr X-T
150gr Speer RN

As always "Start Low and Work Up"!!