30-30

[Deerhunter#1]

Thinking about a 30-30 barrel. Have another in lever action but think the ability to reload the 308 pointed bullets would make it that much better. I know there is the new levolution ammo but I think I can get better results with standard soft points. Any experienced and info would be great

[lonewolf5348]

I will say the post here info on the 30-30 Handi has all been excellent :I don't think I ever read a bad remark on the 30-30 cal.
I know we both try to tame the 243 cal. I myself moved on and decided to stay with my 30-06 @38-55 both cal. shoot outstanding
I would say the single shot 30-30 hand loaded should work excellent
I think it is a good choice cal.

[watsisname]

I loaded some of Hornady's leverevolution bullets for my Winchester .307 last fall. First time out I had a nice black bear at 50yds broadside. I was in a blind and had lots of time to shoot. I shot him in the head. He spun around 90 degrees and hit the ground hard. He lay there motionless and I thought to myself WOW, those soft points are great. I started out of the blind and Mr. bear jumped to his feet and took off into the woods. I looked where he lay for blood but there wasn't a single drop. I hit him in the head and the energy from that bullet knocked him out but it didn't penetrate. I figure that it broke up on impact. I later found on the internet that others had similar things happen to them when the bullet hit bone. Anyways to make along story short I pulled the rest of the bullets I had loaded and threw them in the garbage.

[cjrjck]

My primary Handi hunting gun the last three years has been a 30-30 loaded with the Barnes 130 grain Tipped TSX bullet at about 2400 fps or a little faster.  I have taken several deer and hogs with the rifle. All one shot quick kills.

[cwlongshot]

I loaded some of Hornady's leverevolution bullets for my Winchester .307 last fall. First time out I had a nice black bear at 50yds broadside. I was in a blind and had lots of time to shoot. I shot him in the head. He spun around 90 degrees and hit the ground hard. He lay there motionless and I thought to myself WOW, those soft points are great. I started out of the blind and Mr. bear jumped to his feet and took off into the woods. I looked where he lay for blood but there wasn't a single drop. I hit him in the head and the energy from that bullet knocked him out but it didn't penetrate. I figure that it broke up on impact. I later found on the internet that others had similar things happen to them when the bullet hit bone. Anyways to make along story short I pulled the rest of the bullets I had loaded and threw them in the garbage.

Whatshisname
Don't take this wrong but you took a bullet expressly designed for the 30/30 and loaded it Ina 307. Now you didn't mention the velocity you drove it at but the caliber is capable of higher velocities than this bullet was designed for. In my mind altho it's very unfortunate. It's your fault you wounded the bear.

My father did the exact same thing many years ago looking for a better bullet in his 308 than a 180 RN. He loaded Hornady 150 canalured round nose bullets. These are designed for the 3030 at 2200fps not the 308 at 2700 fps. He shot and lost the biggest racked buck he has ever seen. It went down at the shot like a sack of potatoes. Shot was broadside on the shoulder.  The deer was never found. It was gone when he got to the spot where it dropped. All he found was a couple bloody hairs.

The 30/30 and a handi are a match made in heaven compared only to the 45/70 and maybe 22 hornet in a handy in terms of popularity. I have each of these and would never part with any of them.

I have loaded the 160 FTX bullet to excellent accuracy. I have only shot one deer with the load but it was text book. Band deer traveled twenty yards and piled up in a bush.

Give them a try I know you will be happy!

CW

[watsisname]

Well CW I have to agree that the 160 gr FTX were accurate in the .307, grouping was moa. However accuracy is useless without penetration, unless your shooting paper targets. As far as the bullets being a .30-30 bullet only I have to disagree. I had checked with Hornady before buying the bullets and they highly recommended them for the .307. Also if you go their website they show ballistic charts with various loads for the .307 with the 160gr FTX bullets.
I have gone back to the Barnes 150 gr TSX FN copper bullets. Nothing has ever walked away from those.

[dpe.ahoy]

Hornady makes 2 different 160 gr FTx bullets,  The one for the 30-30 is much softer than the one for the 308 ME.  Can't blame the bullet for not penetrating outside it's performance envelope.  Keep them in their recommended range and you should be happy with Hornady's performance.  DP

[quickdtoo]

The Hornady 8th shows the 160gr 30-30 FTX is #30395, they list it and the 160gr #30396, which is the 308MX bullet, for the 307Win.

Tim

[gcrank1]

FWIW, load a pointy bullet in the levergun chamber and one in the tube (a two shot repeater), no worries. Or one chambered and as many RN in the tube as you can get in.
Aint sayin dont get the H&R, but only that you can try the concept out until you find the right deal.

[Deerhunter#1]

Great point. If you cant get them with the first a second is nice if you got the chance and a 3rd is probobly not a chance especially in the crowded woods of PA.

[watsisname]

Well Quick there is definately a problem with Hornady's information. I emailed the Technical department and their reply was that the reason they recommend #30395 for the .307 is because "the points on #30396 was too long so the rounds would not come out of the magazine without the tips catching on the magazine tube." Makes you wonder if the right hand knows what the left hand is doing?

[quickdtoo]

They list a different COL for each of the 160gr FTX bullets for the 307, 2.525" for the 30395 and 2.675" for the 30396, the cannelure on the 30395 is much closer to the tip than on the 30396 which is closer to the base.

Tim