Handi in 30-30 cal.

[bigbigjoe76]

I am sure some will say this is a dumb question, but what I want to know is, what is considered to the the maximum effective range of a 30-30 with factory and handloaded ammo. I'm wanting to get a handi for hunting deer out farther than my 45bc can reach. I'm just tryin to figure out which calibers i should be looking at.  I hunt places that even a 500 yd shot could be made, but I would never try it that far. Probably 200-250 is the longest i would even consider tryin.

[PowPow]

It should still have enough punch at 250 if you use a bullet with a high ballistic coefficient, like a Sierra Pro Hunter spitzer.
I used their 150 gr in my NEF 30-30. (But my longest actual shot was about 100 yds.)
Try the biggameinfo.com ballistic calculator.

[joeinwv]

Might want to look at Hornady Leverevolution ammo for the 30-30.

If you are buying a new rifle expressly to shoot deer at long range, there are many choices that ballistically out perform the 30-30. I would stick with the common choices - 270, 308, 30-06, etc.

There is nothing wrong with 30-30, I am actually looking to get a Handi in that caliber. In WV, most shots on deer are in the woods around 75 yards - which the 30-30 is perfect for...

[petemi]

 "Probably 200-250 is the longest i would even consider tryin."

To my way of thinking, you're way out of da tirty tirty's habitat.  if you wanted to learn it, you could do it with a .45-70.  If you didn't want to take the time and bother, a '06, .308, .270, .280 will do it for you.

Pete
 
 

[bigbigjoe76]

thanks for the replies.   i'm getting the kind of answers that i thought i would.   i was only thinking about the 30-30  because everyone talks about how accurate they are.    i reckon i'll have to stick with my first thoughts and go with a 308 or 7mm08.   

[petemi]

thanks for the replies.   i'm getting the kind of answers that i thought i would.   i was only thinking about the 30-30  because everyone talks about how accurate they are.    i reckon i'll have to stick with my first thoughts and go with a 308 or 7mm08.   

I own rifles in both those calibers, and they are superb at long range.  If you're going to shoot some distance, I'd go with one of them.

Pete

[Spanky]

My 7-08 handi shoots just as good as my 30-30 handi. Recoil is light and it's a pretty flat shooter.
If you wanted to go with 30 caliber... I'd look at the 30-06... it's probably the best cartridge ever made.



Spanky

[Kal52]

Ive taken deer with a 30-30 out to 200, give or take.
It really does perform better than most give it credit for, but I dont know if Id reach out any farther than 200ish though, its stretching it unless you can practice shooting at those ranges on a regular basis.

If you can load it up with better bullets, it does extend it out some.

That being said, Id go with a sure thing and go with the .308 or 7mm-08, leaning to the .308 just because it tends to be on sale more often LOL.

Good luck

Dave

[wreckhog]

If you practice at that range, then do it. I can't practice at over 200 yards. I would push it to 225 yards for the right deer. I hunt powerlines and the poles are 75 yards apart. I'll go 3 poles and no more. The rule of the thumb on practice is one shot for each yard. Ie to shoot a deer at 200 yards, I feel comfortable if I have fired 200 shots at that range or greater fairly recently. Works for me. I know guys at my range that shoot about 5 shots every morning of the year at 200 yards. Obviously they are ready. i know guys that have not fired one shot in years, and they would still take the shot. They consider themselves hunters, not shooters, and they probably have not shot 200 rounds in 40 years. My neighbor claims not to have fired a shot at anything but game since he go out of the miltary 40 years ago.

[Dorado]

The more I shoot it the more I like my .270, alot of punch for a lil recoil, my observations anyway, good luck, you'll be happy with any of the above choices IMO.

[gcrank1]

The biggest problems for most is range estimation and cartridge trajectory. Yes, the new range finders are fine, but just another gadget in the way when the suprise deer steps out. A flat shooter, as you are thinking, is the wise choice, though not as romantic as some.
You have to be able to put the bullet where the critter 'lives' and the bullet has to also be able to expand and do its job at that distance. If it is going too slow it may not expand.
The big bores dont have to expand as they already have the bullet diameter, but I cant take the velocity required to get them flat shooting. With them you have to practice a lot and know line one.

[petemi]

gcrank1 is right.   The big boys are already expanded.....but you can't sight them in an inch high at 100 and be dead on at 200.  It takes a lot more work.  I, for one, will stick with the big and slow.  I'm retired, so I have time to learn them.

Pete

[thejanitor]

I took my doe in MT this year with my handi 30-30 at 178 yds. The book said a 130 bullet should work out farther and still have enough ft lbs of energy. But between 200 - 300 yds the drop gets pretty significant. But learn the gun and only take "perfect" shots and your good. If you have a 275 yd shot and need to shoot through the shoulder to get lungs, you will want to think twice. I had all my trajectories written down so I knew what each gun we had along would do. If you know the gun and are comfortable with a longer shot take it, but if you don't practice and just think you can hold an inch over you are probably gonna go home hungry and leave a crippled animal in the woods. The gun can do more than most think, but know the limitations by proving them to yourself so you know.
My handi 30-30 was my most accurate I had until the 45-70 came home, now it plays second fiddle.
thejanitor

[carbineman]

With a very healthy charge of W748 and a 130 grain Barnes X bullet, I consider my 30-30's a 225 yard rifle. That being said, there is only one spot that I can shoot that far in the places I hunt and don't know if I would try that shot. I'm tuning a 30-06 with 130 grain Barnes X bullets now for my upcoming someday western hunt.

I'm just about to start another 30-30 thread about bullets.

[catman50plus]

I saw a friend shoot some of that Hornady Lever stuff one day, at a deer I had no idea he would hit, but he killed it right were it stood. Used the range finder on it, 287 yards. That was with a Marlin 336. I have another friend that has I believe it is a 158, in 30 30, and he has shot 130 grainers in it a long time, out to 200 yards, with real nice groups. That is kind of what got me into this habbit I now have.

[cjrjck]

I load my Handi 30-30 with Barnes 130 grain Tipped TSX bullets at about 2450 fps. Have not had a deer or hog run more than 50 yards after hitting them with this combo. Most fall within 20. Ballistics are good out to about 200 yards. BTW, I have found Barnes TSX bullets to be very accurate in all my rifles. With the 30-30 handi, I get 1.2 inch or less easy.