Anyone using 150 gr. in 30-30

[tipiguy]

Is anyone using 150 grain bullets in their 30-30 contender?  I have been using Noslers 125 grain B-tips but after shooting some water jugs I saw a lot of jacket/lead seperation (at 100 yards).  

I'm thinking about going to Hornady's SST or Interlock bullets but they have only a 150 grain B-Tip.

I am handloading for a 30-30 super 14 contender barrel.  Any experience with 150 grain bullets would be appreciated.

Tipiguy

[baitwaister]

I use 150 gr Nosler BT's for my hunting load.  I think it gives me a little better all-around load.  I have used it on deer, bear and elk.  I like 32 gr of IMR 4895.  I can shoot (the barrel probably does better) 2" groups with a 2x scope at 100 yds with that load.

[Elwood]

Hey Tipiguy,
what kind of water jugs will you be hunting?    :eek:
If it is big game you will be hunting water bottles will make a poor expansion test medium.  Jacket/core separation is to be expected hitting water bottles. Deer are much softer.
Elwood P. Dowd

[KYODE]

baitwaister.....could you give some details on how well the 150gr nosler worked on deer,bear and elk? what ranges....velocity, etc?

i use the 130gr hornady ssp in my 30-30AI for deer. i'd like to work up a load with 150's for heavier game.

[baitwaister]

Kyode,  as with all loads it is more where you put it than the bullet.  With that said those Noslers expand very well.  I have shot all three animals but the only one I have shot over 100 yds were deer.  On the elk and bear as long as you put them in the boiler room they will do a number on them.  Nice entry hole... no exit hole... mess inside.   On deer they blow a pretty big exit hole if they hit bone.  I don't know how well they would do if hit in shoulder on the bigger animals..with deer it does a number.  I don't know what the velocities are but I got the load out of the TC handloaders manual and when I get home I could look it up.  This load seems to hold its accuracy out to 200 yds where i can hit a 8" x8" gong at 200yds.  I don't think  would shoot at elk/bear at that range.  The manual under the nosler section says that their 170 gr partition will also work reliably in the contender.  I think next year I am going to work up that load and see how that one works.

[MS Hitman]

Kyode,

My favorite bullet for my .309JDJ is the 150 grain Nosler BT.  It's traveling around 2350 fps and gives great performance on whitetails.  Penetration is well balanced with expansion at these velocities.  Slowing it down just a bit out of the .30-30 should enhance the penetration a bit more without sacrificing much expansion.  I've found it to be a most effective bullet as far as whitetails are concerned.