125 gr. 30-30 ammo--Anyone ever used it?

[Bamasnyper]

I noticed last night in one of my hunting catalogs that Federal (I think) has a 125 gr jacketed hollow point bullet in 30-30. Has anyone ever used this? If so, how accurate was it, how fast, and how would it do on Alabama whitetails? It would seem to me that a bullet that light would have a better trajectory than the Leverevolution. Also, I notice that the 150 gr. stuff is rated 2390 fps. How would that compare to the Leverevolution stuff?

[Bob A]

The Federal 125 gr HP uses the Sierra 125 HP bullet. I have shot the Federal load and loaded my own with this bullet. I find it to be very accurate and I know others have found it so. Federal advertises 2500 fps. I think most 20 inch lever guns prob get about 2450.
The bullet has a really, really bad BC (like .150) and losses velocity quickly but it is a very good load for deer, within its proper range.
The new Hornady loads with the pointy bullets have excellent ballistics and really do hold their velocity and energy much farther than std loads, including the Federal 125. However, most deer are killed within 150 yards. If you don't expect to make longer shots, any of the std 30-30 loads will do the job. Pick the one that is most accurate in your rifle, whether its 125, 150 or 170 grs.

Good Hunting,

Bob A

[Bamasnyper]

Thanks!

[Snowshoe]

I use 125g bullets in my wife's bolt action .30-30, but they are Remington pointed soft points. They shoot fairly flat out to 250 yards, and start out at around 2630 fps.

[Coyote Hunter]

I shoot Speer 130g bullets in my .30-30 (along with the 150 and 170's).  The 130's will break 2500fps.