Author Topic: 30 caliber bullet ??? (Read 754 times)

BruceP · « **on:** May 28, 2004, 03:58:26 PM »

Does anyone know what the low end impact velocity for acceptable performance on deer would be with the Hornaday 150 gr SST. Nosler says that for the 150 gr. BT that it is 1600 fps. but I have never used any hornaday SST bullets so I'd like to know how they compare. I'll be using them in a 16 1/4" 30/30 Contender.
BruceP

Lone Star · « **Reply #1 on:** May 29, 2004, 05:51:54 AM »

The Nosler BTips begin to expand at ca. 1500 fps, but that doesn't mean they give great performance. Sure they'll kill a deer, but the nose is just starting to deform, at least on the one deer-killer and several paper-tested bullets I've examined.

BruceP · « **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2004, 02:50:57 PM »

Maybe I should give my reason for asking and some of you who might know may be more inclined to answer. I am not wanting to find a bullet that will magically transform the 30/30 into a long range deer gun. The reason I ask is to find out if the Hornaday SST would be as good of a deer bullet as the Nosler BT out of a low velocity round like the 30/30, or if it may be a little harder bullet and not give as good expansion. If I use Noslers information for low end expansion and their listed velocities and ballistic tables it says I will get enough expansion well past what I feel the 30/30 should be used for anyway. I would just like to try the Hornaday because they can be bought for less than the Nosler, but cheaper is not better if it does not kill as well.
BruceP

Bug · « **Reply #3 on:** May 31, 2004, 03:23:20 PM »

But, I wouldn't be afraid to use them.
FWIW, I do most all my hunting/shooting with cast bullets. My favorite is the RCBS 150gr flat nose. These bullets won't mushroom, per se, but they do "rivet" to a given extent.
I don't see why you would have any trouble getting 2100 fps+ from your 16 1/4" barrel. That should give you plenty of downrange velocity, to initiate expansion, given my admittedly limited experiences with the SSTs in rifles, at least as far as I would attempt to take game with the .30-30. Just be sure and place it right, which is MOST of the shot, anyway. JMHO..........Bug.

Blackhawk44 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 04, 2004, 12:56:05 PM »

Why not look at 125-130gr bullets. Both Sierra and Hornady have bullets designed for this velocity range. Also the Nosler 125gr should work well, since they open a little quickly for game from a rifle.

BruceP · « **Reply #5 on:** June 04, 2004, 03:56:15 PM »

I have some 125 gr. Nosler BT that I bought for my 300 Whisper and I will try them in the 30/30 also. Actually just the other day I also bought some 135 gr Sierra SSP bullets to try. I was just thinking about using a little heaver bullet in the 30/30. I had called Nosler about the 125 gr and the 150 gr BT and was told (a little to my surprise I might add) that both would expand down to 1600 fps. I would have thought that the 125 would have had a lower bottom end velocity than the 150. What really got me to thinking about this was the photos in a magazine of tests with some of the bonded core bullets and at an impact velocity of approx. 2000 fps (the low end test) the Hornady looked to expand a little better than the Nosler. It is hard to tell though because all the bullets were 180 gr. except the Hornady which was 165 gr. so it would have been shorter than the others to start with.
Thanks for the replys so far and if anyone has done expansion test on these two bullets I would still be interested in hearing from you.
BruceP

Gregory · « **Reply #6 on:** June 04, 2004, 04:25:36 PM »

I've compared the expansion between the Nosler 125 BT, Rem 125, and Rem 150 RN 30/30 bullets on gallon milk jugs filled with water out of my 300 Whisper 10" barrel. The 125 Nosler had the least expansion. The two Remington bullets performed well.

BruceP · « **Reply #7 on:** June 04, 2004, 04:48:38 PM »

Thanks for the info Gregory. I almost forgot I also have a 500 count box minus a few of the Rem 150 gr RN 30/30 bullets. Approx. how many gallon does it take to stop bullets in this weight and velocity range?
BruceP

Gregory · « **Reply #8 on:** June 05, 2004, 11:04:53 AM »

Quote from: BruceP

Thanks for the info Gregory. I almost forgot I also have a 500 count box minus a few of the Rem 150 gr RN 30/30 bullets. Approx. how many gallon does it take to stop bullets in this weight and velocity range?
BruceP

I only shoot through one jug. I base my "expansion" on the effect on the jug. Some bullets just punch through and leave little more than a 30 cal entrance and exit, other bullets tear the jug apart. Steve's reloading pages has info on how many jugs it takes to stop a bullet.
http://stevespages.com/page8f.htm

xphunter · « **Reply #9 on:** June 06, 2004, 07:57:24 AM »

If you can get Sierra's SSP bullet it would be good. Sierra's Game Kings also have IMHO a greater velocity spread of performance than do the NBT's (and I use NBT"s).