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.

[Jerry Lester]

I've talked to a few fellows over the years about the 7.62x39 in several styles of rifles. Some used factory ammo, and some used handloads. The factory shooters pretty much weren't concerned, but the handloaders of course were searching for that "majic" combination that would give them the best performance.

The very best reports I've heard are from a couple of them using 150g 30-30 style bullets. I wish now that I'd payed closer attention to the details, but it stands to reason that a bullet designed to be effective on deer at 30-30 velocity levels should be a near perfect match for the 7.62x39. I myself have no personal experience with deer, and handloads for this caliber, but I have killed a few with the surplus SP loads, and although it wasn't really impressive, it was plenty good enough with well placed shots.

[hillbill]

would it be possible to lower the velocity a little on a lighter constructed bullet like the ballistic tip maybe by 200fps and get deeper pentration without excessive overexpasion?as far as 150 grn bullets, you may not be able to push them fast enough from that little gun to make them expand. let us know what yu find out with the barnes. i have a mini thirty i would like to make deer capable for brush hunting too.

[steve4102]

  How about these   http://www.hawkbullets.com/maintest.htm  in the 130 or 150gr .025 RT.  Seems like a good choice for the velocities of the 7.62x39.