Author Topic: 30/30 Handi rifle (Read 664 times)

tanoose · « **on:** September 24, 2005, 07:31:10 AM »

I am curious as i do not own a handi has anyone done tests to see how much more range they can get shooting spire point bullets as compared to round nose or flat points . the Hornady 150 or 165 SST's look right for the job. I was thinking about loading up some to see how they shoot in my win.94 turning the lever action into a two shot rifle might be fun for coyotes. ( note i said two shot guys as not to load up the tube with pointed bullets)

Mac11700 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 24, 2005, 07:53:58 AM »

One of the main problems you will encounter doing this...is the cartridges overall lenght not being able to function properly if you seat these bullets out to increase usable space in the cartridge and to improve accuracy...as to finding out how much difference you will get using the SST's over regular 30-30 type bullets...here's a link to the ballistic program Point Blank...I use it and it is pretty accurate..http://www.huntingnut.com/index.php..it's a free download...enjoy..

Mac

mt3030 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 24, 2005, 08:20:59 AM »

For your information. An oldie but goodie!! To be able to read it you might have to save it to a file, then reopen.

Wally

Haywire Haywood · « **Reply #3 on:** September 24, 2005, 08:23:14 AM »

Another thing I think has been brought up about using spire point bullets is that most of them are designed to perform at velocities far above what the 30-30 is capable of. You'd end up with a non-expanding pointy bullet.

Ian

mt3030 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 24, 2005, 08:35:10 AM »

I think any of the 30 cal bullets designed to expand at T/C Contender velocities will expand at Handi velocities. I know the Hornady 130 and 150 grain SSTs will. And someone (Sierra?) does or used to make a 130 specifically for the 30-30 Winchester, so that weight should be enough for deer. Maybe others can suggest from experience what 30 cals pointys would work in this application.

Wally

Mac11700 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 24, 2005, 08:47:04 AM »

Sierra part #7350 135 grain SPT SSP (single shot pistol)

Mac

JPH45 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 24, 2005, 10:38:42 AM »

When Ihad my 30-30 Handi, I did a bunch of shooting using pointy bullets. They shot very nicely, and I had no trouble getting reliable expansion with any of them including the Nosler 180 Partition which I was driving at 2250 fps (I wouldn't do that in a '94 or a 336 for that matter)

The bullets I used were:

Sierra GameKing 150 SPBT 2360 fps
Sierra ProHunter 150 SP 2360 fps
Hornady SST 150 2390 fps
Nosler 150 Ballistic Tip 2340 fps
Nosler 180 Partition 2260 fps

Sam Fadala was did a good bit of research using 180 grain pointy bullets in the 30-30 in an effort to get 303 Savage performance (190 grain bullet at 1950 fps) He had really good things to say about the Speer 180 Mag Tip and considered it a fine substitute for the 190 Winchester Silvertip bullet of the 303 Savage. As has been emntioned, in a 94 or 336 you'll ahve cycling problems as teh OAL is too long for functioning in the leveractions, but they can be singly loaded with very good effect. All the ballistic programs I ran on these bullets/loads showed trajectories being about 3" high at 100 to be 2.5" or so low at 200. The Partition didn't fair so well showing only a point blank range of 180 yards for a 5" circle.

It is a worthy endeavor, susbstitute pointy bullets weight for weight and always begin with starting loads and work up. If Ihad to choose one of these loads for a 30-30 I'd be torn between the Hornady 150 SST and the 180 Partition.