Need help selecting a deer hunting load in .30 Carbine

[Scout21]

I've got a good amount of young, <125lb deer around my property and would like to give my M1 Carbine a spin this year. I'm confident that I can make it work, I'm just looking for a little help on selecting the right load.

I've found a few loads that I think would work. I'm looking at the Underwood Xtreme Cavitator 85 grain at 2,100 fps, Buffalo Bore Soft Point 110 grain at 2,100 fps, and Buffalo Bore 125 grain lead flat nose at 2.100 fps, and the PPU Soft Point 110 grain at 2,000 fps.

I'd like to use the PPU as I already have a few boxes of it, but the other loadings look enticing enough that I wanted to ask around first. I've looked around at info on the internet and they all seem to do a pretty decent job. Getting a hold of the other loadings will likely be an expensive endeavor and money is tight right now, but if they are worth it I may just pony up the cash.

Does anybody here have any first-hand experience or advice?

 

[LoonWulf]

Ive shot a dozen or so axis deer with 110gr Winchester .30 carbine loads. Id go with the 125, and treat it like a .357 handgun. Keep the range short and be selective about your shots.

Its also a popular pig hunting rifle/round, and what ive seen has convinced me that the user staying within the limitations of the rifle (accuracy/peep sights) and ammo (relatively low penetration/and or expansion) is key to making them work effectively.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Select a different rifle.

.30 carbine is on the wimpy side for that usage. I recommend a .30-30 or 7mm 08 for the task.

 

[22250Rem]

I'm with LoonWulf on this one. Approach it like you would a 357 Handgun. Short ranges and selective shots and you should be fine. My late buddy had extensive experience with a 6" Colt Python .357 on deer and never lost one. But he did it all at bowhunting range from his bow season hunting spots. You will have more velocity than his 180 gr. (IIRC) .357 loads but with a lighter bullet. I've heard of whitetail deer being taken with .30 carbine and they were all in thick cover at closer ranges . Although JCooperfan1911 has just come up with an excellent, rational excuse to get yourself a dedicated deer rifle.

 

[Scout21]

I'm with LoonWulf on this one. Approach it like you would a 357 Handgun. Short ranges and selective shots and you should be fine. My late buddy had extensive experience with a 6" Colt Python .357 on deer and never lost one. But he did it all at bowhunting range from his bow season hunting spots. You will have more velocity than his 180 gr. (IIRC) .357 loads but with a lighter bullet. I've heard of whitetail deer being taken with .30 carbine and they were all in thick cover at closer ranges . Although JCooperfan1911 has just come up with an excellent, rational excuse to get yourself a dedicated deer rifle.

Would you happen to know if your friend used a hollow point or soft point in his .357? I'm planning on picking up a 6 inch .357 from a friend and have been researching proper deer loads.

I agree that a dedicated deer rifle would be better. I've got a 30-30 and a .308 at my disposal, I just thought it'd be cool to use the War Baby. Still gonna use it, just need to find a proper loading.

 

[greyling22]

My grandfather shot lots of deer with the 30 carbine. He kept ball ammo in the top of the mag for squirrels and soft points further down for deer. Now, keep in mind, this is in east Texas, so the deer are small and 100 yds is a long shot.
Small deer are not durable animals. It doesn't take much to drop one. A 223 works well for them too.

 

[Nuclear]

The 110 grain soft points work well on short range (under 100 yards max) on Midwest white tails, so they will do fine for your 125 lb deer, if you keep the range short and go for heart/lung shots. I don’t remember what brand we used to use.

 

[lemaymiami]

Those standard PPU softpoints would be my first choice - and I'd listen to those that recommended keeping your shots under 100 yards... If memory serves that 30 carbine round will have the same energy at 100 yards - that 357 does -at the muzzle...

 

[22250Rem]

Would you happen to know if your friend used a hollow point or soft point in his .357? I'm planning on picking up a 6 inch .357 from a friend and have been researching proper deer loads.

...... My buddy used Hornady XTP hollow points and if I recall correctly they were 180 gr.; I don't think they make those anymore (?). They were heavy XTP hollow points for sure, though. I wouldn't know if a soft point would have been better but he never lost a deer with what he was using. He also passed up many shots because he was a disabled vet with both legs in braces and didn't want the deer to go too far after being shot. Like I previously mentioned, he gun hunted from the same spots he bow hunted from so it was all at pretty much bow range with a few out to maybe 50 yds. at the most. Did it all with iron sights, too. He proved to me that with marksmanship and selective shot placement it can be done if the shooter is up to the challenge.

 

[FL-NC]

My biggest concern would be the round not exiting and getting a bad/no blood trail as a result.

 

[MutinousDoug]

Back in the 1980s I loaded some .30 cal Hornady 125 HPs as a self defense load with less wallboard penetration potential than the 110 gr GI Ball. The hollow point gave me loading from the magazine issues so I had the feed ramp modified slightly. This modification needs to be approached cautiously as the chamber needs to fully support the cartridge head. There's only 1/8th" or less available at the barrel chamfer to work with.
The modification worked though, and the subsequent appropriately downloaded H-110 or 4227 yielded 1750-1800 fps and printed approximately where the GI ball ran at 100 yds. Groups actually ran a little better than the 1952 GI.
A Colorado Fish and Game Ranger suggested the load to me.

 

[ECVMatt]

Many years ago I did a lot of hunting in Texas. We had a ton of deer on our lease and got to see a bunch of different guns/calibers used. One of the most unique was brought by an older gentleman who was relatively poor and truly hunted for food. He showed up with a Marlin 62 Levermatic in .30 Carbine. We all thought he was joking when he headed off into the brush with that rifle. He was known for leaving first and not returning until he had a deer though. On the first day of the hunt he shot a nice doe with rifle. The next morning he heard a gentle pop from his stand and he shot one of the best bucks of the season. I can't remember what exact load he used, but I believe it was Winchester soft points. He obviously knew is rifle and its limitations well, but I never remember hearing more than one pop from his stand.

Lucky Gunner has a ton of good information on the 30 Carbine with gel tests to support their info. You might want to give it a read:

https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/30-carbine-ammo-testing/

I think you will be fine with the Carbine as long as you keep it close and only take clean shots.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Just stick with the PPU.
Be sure of your zero and shot placement.
Limit shots to under 100yds.
Did I mention shot placement?

I prefer the Speer Varminter 110gr JHP as it expands readily and is VERY accurate. I use a hand load of 15.2gr of H110, but the PPU 110gr Soft Point approximates it. I’ve shot both the 110gr PPU factory and hand loads using the PPU component bullets. They’ll work if you do your part.

 

[Scout21]

Many years ago I did a lot of hunting in Texas. We had a ton of deer on our lease and got to see a bunch of different guns/calibers used. One of the most unique was brought by an older gentleman who was relatively poor and truly hunted for food. He showed up with a Marlin 62 Levermatic in .30 Carbine. We all thought he was joking when he headed off into the brush with that rifle. He was known for leaving first and not returning until he had a deer though. On the first day of the hunt he shot a nice doe with rifle. The next morning he heard a gentle pop from his stand and he shot one of the best bucks of the season. I can't remember what exact load he used, but I believe it was Winchester soft points. He obviously knew is rifle and its limitations well, but I never remember hearing more than one pop from his stand.

Lucky Gunner has a ton of good information on the 30 Carbine with gel tests to support their info. You might want to give it a read:

https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/30-carbine-ammo-testing/

I think you will be fine with the Carbine as long as you keep it close and only take clean shots.

Good luck and keep us posted.

I watched the Lucky Gunner video a while back and really liked the penetration and expansion of the Federal Power-Shok load. I've been trying to locate a box ever since.

I also watched a video by the YouTube channel The Chopping Block demonstrating the PPU loading in gelatin. I was pretty impressed.

 

[Scout21]

Many years ago I did a lot of hunting in Texas. We had a ton of deer on our lease and got to see a bunch of different guns/calibers used. One of the most unique was brought by an older gentleman who was relatively poor and truly hunted for food. He showed up with a Marlin 62 Levermatic in .30 Carbine. We all thought he was joking when he headed off into the brush with that rifle. He was known for leaving first and not returning until he had a deer though. On the first day of the hunt he shot a nice doe with rifle. The next morning he heard a gentle pop from his stand and he shot one of the best bucks of the season. I can't remember what exact load he used, but I believe it was Winchester soft points. He obviously knew is rifle and its limitations well, but I never remember hearing more than one pop from his stand.

Lucky Gunner has a ton of good information on the 30 Carbine with gel tests to support their info. You might want to give it a read:

https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/30-carbine-ammo-testing/

I think you will be fine with the Carbine as long as you keep it close and only take clean shots.

Good luck and keep us posted.

I know you said it was many years ago, but would you happen to remember if the shots were complete pass-throughs? I'm not worried about inadequate expansion, but I am apprehensive of less than ideal penetration.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

By many accounts .30 Carbine with softnose hunting bullet is much more effective than full metal jacket. Similar in effect to a .357 mag.

I'd still recommend at least a .30-30.

 

[ECVMatt]

I know you said it was many years ago, but would you happen to remember if the shots were complete pass-throughs? I'm not worried about inadequate expansion, but I am apprehensive of less than ideal penetration.

I honestly don't remember. We would take the ranch truck and pick up hunters and deer around 10 or so in the morning. We usually had lots of deer in the truck so I really didn't pay that much attention to the wounds. All I can remember is that he shot a deer every time he was on a stand and they all seemed to fall to a single shot. He mostly shot does for meat and they were smallish Texas whitetails. He did select stands with short shooting lanes, probably 100 yards or less. Sorry I can't be of more help.