30-30 shooters

[highwayman]

 i am going to a 125 bt. this spring. what load are using in yours??? and do you completely shoot through a deer???

[Dezynco]

Any good 30-30 pistol load with a good "huntin" bullet will be fine out to 150 yards or so.  A hole all the way through does not a dead-deer make....

A good shot is more important than anything else.

[critter44]

I shoot a Contender with a super 14" barrel in 30-30. I shoot 125 Nosler BT's over a medium-heavy load of IMR 4198. I have taken whitetail deer with it from 5 steps to 175 yards. These deer are in the 125-150 pound range so are not 'big bruisers'. All were broadside or quartering away shots. Almost all the kills were very, very quick except one that had been run for quite some time and was all 'juiced up'. It ran only about 60-75 yards through a thicket though.

I have never recovered one of the bullets. All were pass-throughs and showed good expansion at the exit wound. Internals were quite well disrupted, thus the quick kills.

I think you have chosen very well. Put 'em where they need to go and you will be happy with the results. Good luck and best wishes as handgun hunting is a real hoot!