Practical and accurate range for a 30-30 Winchester

[Varminterror]

So for the sake of curiosity...

What would it take to establish an objectively defensible and universally referable standard for the “practical and accurate range maxima for the Dirty Thirty?

Try as I might, I have never been able to fully rid myself of 30-30’s, and two years ago, my FIL gifted his old 336 to my wife, acknowledging his official retirement from hunting and shooting - so that one won’t be going anywhere... I’ve considered hunting with it the last couple of winters just to thrill my FIL, so doing some load work up, long range shooting, and maybe blowing up some fruit could easily be arranged (finding projectiles, pending).

 

[Slamfire]

So for the sake of curiosity...

What would it take to establish an objectively defensible and universally referable standard for the “practical and accurate range maxima for the Dirty Thirty .

How about the maximum distance you can hit a pie pan on the first shot? I am not going to add the restriction, of shooting offhand, because hitting the black at 200 yards, standing, takes work and a lot of practice. I never completed a 20 shot string that I did not have an eight, or two. Sometimes worse. But, from a rest, a pie pan is doable for most people, and that is approximately the lethal zone of the average game animal. Varmints not included.

 

[someguy2800]

So for the sake of curiosity...

What would it take to establish an objectively defensible and universally referable standard for the “practical and accurate range maxima for the Dirty Thirty?

Try as I might, I have never been able to fully rid myself of 30-30’s, and two years ago, my FIL gifted his old 336 to my wife, acknowledging his official retirement from hunting and shooting - so that one won’t be going anywhere... I’ve considered hunting with it the last couple of winters just to thrill my FIL, so doing some load work up, long range shooting, and maybe blowing up some fruit could easily be arranged (finding projectiles, pending).

I was going to make an argument that its a totally different thing depending on if your typical hunting conditions allow you time to figure drop and drift and shoot from a bipod or an improvised rest compared to say walking and having to take a shot from your feet when you only have 5 seconds to pull or pass. But then I thought well that is a totally moot point because I'll have basically the same comfortable range in the latter scenario regardless of whether I have a shotgun with foster slugs or a 7mm mag.

But anyway my standard for deer hunting accuracy for what its worth is I want to be able to place a shot in a 4" circle at whatever range or shooting position I'm presented. If I don't feel I can do that I don't shoot.

 

[someguy2800]

Also I know you have a great deal of experience doing practical shooting at long range that most people don't. If you do this I think you should document what you are doing as far as if you are laser ranging and how you are calculating drop and drift and how you are accounting for it through holdover, turret adjustment, ballistic reticule, whatever. Basically showing your work. Otherwise people may view it as just "well this guy on the internet was making XXX yard cold bore hits with a 30/30", but may not appreciated what calculations and observations and practice went into making that hit.

 

[PonyKiller]

I'm going To double dip on this thread. "Practical and accurate range" is a relatively simple formula for a hunting rifle IMO.

Maximum point blank range -minus- your personal accuracy with that rifle. Pretty much covers most modern rifles suitable .for medium/ large game. The caveat is your practical range will extend with practice and comfort with that rifle

 

[Varminterror]

Maximum point blank range -minus- your personal accuracy with that rifle.

With almost every rifle I own, this “formula” would yield a negative number... Guess I’ll have to turn around and shoot backwards.

 

[ThomasT]

My 16" 7.62x39 AR15 shoots a 125 grain nosler at 2600 FPS muzzle with CFE BLK using the max load off the hodgdon website and no pressure signs. I have wondered what it would do loaded with a 150 grain 30/30 bullet and if it would feed. Round nose soft points hit well above their weight class.

The 7.62x39 is also a consideration. And any of the flat or RN bullets in the 125-150gr range should work. I have looked for a Ruger American in that caliber and they are far and few and I have seen asking prices of over $700. Nope. Not for me. At this point my old model 700 with a Williams guide peep sight and the above mentioned 150gr RN 30-30 bullets will serve.

I am not as concerned with longer range as some are. I don't like elevated stands and mostly sit on a small folding stool and watch trails and rubs and try to never sit in the same place two days in a row. Or still hunt. And if the shot is questionable I just pass on it. Getting a deer or two is not as important as just getting out in the woods. I could hunt with an open sighted BP rifle from now on and be happy. And no, not one of those inlines. A real BP rifle with a hammer or cock on the side.

The 307 was mentioned earlier. That would be a good choice but a Savage 99 in 300 Savage would be a good alternative if a lever action was wanted. And I bet I can find or make 300 Savage brass easier than I can find 307 brass or a rifle in that caliber.

And to get my post back on track just a regular old 30-30 is one of the best woods guns a guy can own if he knows how to hunt. A low powered scope sure is a help too.

 

[ThomasT]

Here is a good write up on the 30-30. Not a bad 200 group for an open sighted gun. And this whole website is full of good information.

https://www.hensleygibbs.com/edharris/articles/3030assaultrifle.htm