Bullets for 12" 30/30

[JW/OK]

I have just purchased a 12" 30/30 barrell from Ed's and will be loading for it in the future. I've noticed in recent posts that a lot of 30/30 and 30/30AI handgunners prefer the Nosler 125 gr BT. Why is the lighter bullet the choice for deer?  What velocity is ideal for this bullet?
I have shot 44 mag and 45/70 in the past and usually use mid to heavy bullet weights. Thanks in advance.

[Hopalong7]

In our short tubes it's hard to get the heavier bullets up to speed to perform as they should on game.  I'm one of those that prefers the 125BT...it has performed very well for me on deer size game.  In that 12" barrel(most of us use 14")the extra velocity out of the lighter bullet would be even more important IMHO.  For years I used a 10" barrel(.30 Herret) and used 110 grain bullets.  Now for historical pistol calibers, i.e. .44mag, velocity is low anyway and bullets are designed to perform at the lower velocity weight becomes your friend again. Anyway that my $0.02 worth.
GOOD sHOOTIN', Walt 

BTW You should be able to get a 125BT to 2500+fps in that 12" barrel.

[critter44]

I shoot a Contender super 14" in 30-30. I, too, use the Noslet BT and have killed quite a few deer with it. These are not the huge northern monsters, but usually are from 125-150 lbs.

I have killed then from about 15 FEET to 175 yards. The performance of the bullets have always been devistating. Never recovered a bullet and always get good expansion. By far, most are dead laying in the tracks they were standing in. I am very careful about shot placement though. Accuracy is scary!

Give 'em a try and have fun!

[Dezynco]

I'm a fan of "heavy" bullets in my 14" 30-30.  I use 150 grain bullets, mainly because the 150 grain class is the most economical, and most of my hunting shots are less than 150 yards.

If you use lighter bullets, you should certainly stick to a well constructed bullet like the Nosler.  You don't want to make the mistake of using a light-weight "varmint" bullets that might splatter rather than penetrate.  The Noslers (and most of those high $$ bullets) are very well constructed, and will penetrate for a clean kill.

I've got some 110 grain'ers that shoot fantastic out of my 30-30, but I wouldn't want to use them for deer-sized critters.

[David D.]

This is my first year using the 30-30IMP. My MGM 14" barreled 30-30IMP topped off with a Burris 3x12 scope on a G2 frame with custom wood made by myself. The load I use is 32.5gr IMR 4198 topped with a Nosler 125br. B-Tip. Three one shot kills from 30 feet out to 70 yds. All three were frontal shots dead center the chest. Two dropped in thier tracks, one went about 20 yds. before dropping. Lungs and hearts destroyed on all three and surprising to me from the shot placement there was no stomache damage. In my opinion I have no need to try other brand bullets with performance like this. But I do think after using the Hornady SST in other pistols I have like My 6.5X55 Sweede which has sevaral one shot kills, they would also be a good choice.