Author Topic: 30-30 Terminal Damage (Read 7526 times)

squirrel_hunter6 · « **on:** January 09, 2007, 01:18:39 PM »

Hello:

I just bought a new Marlin 336W in 30-30. I ordered a Bushnell 4200 3-9x40 scope along with Leupold bases and rings for this rifle. I plan on using this as woods a gun for Alabama whitetails where ranges will be less than 75 yards.

First off, I do not hand-load, so I will be stuck with factory ammo. I am trying to find out what bullet will do the most damage and still exit on a broadside shot. I like bullets that do a lot of damage because I believe this help to ensure that the deer goes down quickly. I would assume that in soft point styles of bullets the 150 grain would do the most damage. I would like to here about different experiences using different brands like, Remington, Winchester, and Federal. Which one will do the most damage?

I saw on MidwayUSA.com that Winchester made a 150 grain hollow point bullet and Remington made a 170 hollow point bullet. Has anybody tried these and what were the results?

I would really like to hear back about the terminal damage caused by each type of bullet.

Thanks guys

OLDHandgunner · « **Reply #1 on:** January 09, 2007, 02:03:44 PM »

DON'T use the pointed bullets in your Marlin 336!!! Try the new Hornaday 160 gr. LeverRevolution bullets. These should work well for you.

Keith L · « **Reply #2 on:** January 09, 2007, 03:39:29 PM »

My Marlin's favorite load is Federal Premium 170 grain Nosler Partition bullets. They shoot well, and leave most of their energy in the deer. They are expensive but I buy them on post season sales for the next year. A few boxes go a long way.

Dune · « **Reply #3 on:** January 09, 2007, 05:39:41 PM »

HI, Any remington or winchester 150 or 170 gr load will do plenty of 'damage' to whitetails in Alabama, just buy a bunch of 1 kind and spend some time shooting them.

Jerry Lester · « **Reply #4 on:** January 09, 2007, 05:47:16 PM »

Quote from: Dune on January 09, 2007, 05:39:41 PM

HI, Any remington or winchester 150 or 170 gr load will do plenty of 'damage' to whitetails in Alabama, just buy a bunch of 1 kind and spend some time shooting them.

That pretty much sums it up in my opinion.

I don't care much for nearly any Remington ammo, but "any" Federal, or Winchester 150g or 170g will work just fine with complete pass throughs on any reasonable angles as long as the range isn't extremely close. I've stopped several 150g 30-30 bullets in deer with broadside shots, but it's been at ranges under 15 yards or so with shoulder bones being hit.

The 30-30 gets very little attention nowdays, but make no mistake; At woods ranges, it's a devestating killer on whitetails.

Lone Star · « **Reply #5 on:** January 10, 2007, 05:05:12 AM »

The 150 WW and 170 RP hollow point bullets were designed for less expansion and more penetration than traditional soft points. A regular softpoint will be your best choice.

.

John Y Cannuck · « **Reply #6 on:** January 10, 2007, 03:16:05 PM »

All the factory loads I've ever used worked very well, and I never lost a deer to the 30-30.
I've found that south of the border, the 150 grain bullet is favoured, up here, the 170's reign supreme.
If I were you, i'd find the bullet that is most accurate, and not worry about damage. If you hit the deer in the vitals, he won't go far.

squirrel_hunter6 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 11, 2007, 08:04:54 AM »

Thanks for all the replies.

Quote from: Lone Star on January 10, 2007, 05:05:12 AM

The 150 WW and 170 RP hollow point bullets were designed for less expansion and more penetration than traditional soft points. A regular soft-point will be your best choice.

Thanks for the info Lone Star. My thoughts were it was just the opposite.

I went to Wal-Mart and bought three different boxes of ammo. I got 150 grain Remington SP's, 150 grain Winchester PP, and 170 grain Federal RN. They didn't have any 150 grain Federals in stock. I will try them all to find what shoots the best. If the Federals shoot the best I will try to find some in 150 grain and use them. One thing I really like is the price of the ammo. The Remingtons and Winchesters were $11.50 a box and the Federals were $9.00 a box. I will be able to practice a lot at these prices!

Ratltrap · « **Reply #8 on:** January 11, 2007, 08:32:47 AM »

Congrats on the new Marlin. They are great guns for what you are doing. Personally I think you would be better served with a compact low power scope than the 3-9, but try it and see.

Well placed shots will get you better results than massive tissue damage. That said, massive tissue damage in vital areas will of course kill quickly, but it doesn't guarantee deer won't run some after they are shot and besides - I like to eat my venison. If you are looking for a "bang-flop" kill, there has been some study of how that happens. As I understand it, to get an immediate kill you need to either disconnect the electrical system (high spine/brain shot) or hit the circulatory system when the heart valve that sends blood to the brain is open (i.e. cause a stroke). Personally I'm not confident enough in my shooting to hit their little brain or spine and I haven't figured out how to time their heartbeats, so when I can I shoot deer in the ribs behind the front shoulder about 1/3 of the way up the body (higher you don't get as much blood trail). I have also studied deer anatomy to better understand situations when I should not take a shot.

Aside from maybe the Remington "accelerator" (if they even make those anymore) most factory 30-30 loads are well suited to killing deer. Pick a load that shoots in your gun. Practice until you are confident you can hit vitals every time from inside 150 yards and go hunting. Finally, expect to do some tracking no matter which load you pick. Here is some reading if you really want to know about terminal ballistics of some 30-30 factory loads.

http://levergun.com/articles/3030_Rifle.htm

yellowtail3 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 11, 2007, 04:41:13 PM »

Did I read something about being stuck with factory ammo? Well... never fear, factory ammo is just fine. What some others here have said - plain old factory ammo, placed in the right spot, will do the job. I shot several this year; I had bang/flop with both 150 and 170gr Rem Corelokt, and I had a couple run a bit with both. I'm interested in trying out the Federal 150 ($8.38/box).

I've now hunting a grand total of one season with my Marlin, and I like it better than any of the other deer rifles/shotguns I've own. Good rifle.

S.S. · « **Reply #10 on:** January 12, 2007, 07:24:05 AM »

Save the brass and start reloading ...
You can do some really interesting things with a .30-30 !

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #11 on:** January 12, 2007, 11:54:18 AM »

the question was answered well allreay. Any 150-170 grain factory ammo will do the job. I dont think youll handload anything better then factory corelocks in a 3030.

Cottonwood · « **Reply #12 on:** January 15, 2007, 02:16:48 AM »

Here is something that I have, that I hand out to new hunters.... not to say squirrel_hunter6 is new. But with respect to shot placement on whitetail.

Lloyd Smale said it best I think..... Any 150-170 grain factory ammo will do the job. I dont think youll handload anything better then factory corelocks in a 3030.

1marty · « **Reply #13 on:** January 15, 2007, 04:28:56 AM »

Of all the rifles I bought through the years I still have the most fun hunting with my Win 94 30-30 with iron sights which my dad bought me in 1960. I hunt in heavy woods in NY which is also quite mountainous. The light rifle is ideal and the deer have never run more than 50 yards. Found the 150 grain Win shoots the best. Rems just don't seem to shoot as accurate. Fed 150 seem to shoot as well as the Win. Some rifles like one brand some like others-as they say it is a maater of "taste".

Snowman366 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 15, 2007, 06:01:41 PM »

Quote from: John Y Cannuck on January 10, 2007, 03:16:05 PM

I've found that south of the border, the 150 grain bullet is favoured, up here, the 170's reign supreme.

Any reason for folks up there favoring the heavier loads, JohnY.?

Cottonwood · « **Reply #15 on:** January 16, 2007, 12:17:50 AM »

Snowman366, I favor the heavier bullet simply because when hunting our north west woods, the possibility of running into a black bear or elk that I may be holding a tag for just might be in the right place at the right time as well. I have always just favored a slower heavier bullet anyways.

longjohn · « **Reply #16 on:** January 18, 2007, 03:59:07 AM »

hey folks ,i am new to hunting, after a 30 year lapse what is the range for a 30-30 in lever or any other gun , open field conditions , iknow windage, elevations, and alll are important , i mean just off the cuff, reason is i have a buddy always puts down 3030 "oh its not big enough" yall know the type....

squirrel_hunter6 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 18, 2007, 08:01:43 AM »

Thanks for all the replies. The shooting range near me doesn't reopen until the first of February so, I will have to wait until then to try the rifle out.

I really like the Bushnell 4200 scope. It is super clear.

Here's a pic of my gun!

qajaq59 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 20, 2007, 06:46:16 AM »

Quote

If I were you, i'd find the bullet that is most accurate, and not worry about damage. If you hit the deer in the vitals, he won't go far.

Truer words were never spoken. Store bought or handloads? It doesn't matter at all, so long as you hit the deer where you are supposed to.

S.S. · « **Reply #19 on:** January 21, 2007, 11:02:12 AM »

reloading allows more versatility, Not necessarily making "Better" cartridges,
I load everything from 100 grain to 180 grain loads in .30-30. This round can really shine in a bolt action or single shot. A 130 grain JFP is probably my favorite in a lever action. This being said,
factory 150 or 170 grainers are plenty for any whitetail inside a couple hundred yards.

Ratltrap · « **Reply #20 on:** January 22, 2007, 08:12:08 AM »

Quote from: longjohn on January 18, 2007, 03:59:07 AM

hey folks ,i am new to hunting, after a 30 year lapse what is the range for a 30-30 in lever or any other gun , open field conditions , iknow windage, elevations, and alll are important , i mean just off the cuff, reason is i have a buddy always puts down 3030 "oh its not big enough" yall know the type....

With an 8" target, maximum "point blank range" for a 170 gr. 30-30 is probably about 230 yards and that bullet still has at least 800 ft-lbs of energy at that range = OK for deer. Everyone has different skill levels, but I like to keep my scoped lever rifle shots inside 150 yards and inside 100 yards with open sights because my rifles only have that kind of accuracy for field shooting. They will do quite a bit better from the bench of course and I could probably reach out to the full 230 with a bolt gun.

dpastordan · « **Reply #21 on:** January 25, 2007, 03:53:40 PM »

Get the Federal premiums with the 170 grain Nosler partitions. They work very well. It is worth the extra bucks. I had a Winchester 94 with a 16 1/2" barrel that shot that load accurately and put 'em down in their tracks - deer and hogs.

Keith L · « **Reply #22 on:** January 26, 2007, 01:18:34 AM »

Thats what I use also. If you shop the big box stores after deer hunting when the shells go on sale you can get them for 8-9 bucks a box, so you can practice with them as well if you want.

dpastordan · « **Reply #23 on:** February 04, 2007, 03:39:15 PM »

Or you could brag so much about them that you get a box or two for Christmas. Got two boxes last year as presents - I got good friends

yellowtail3 · « **Reply #24 on:** November 01, 2009, 03:27:13 AM »

sighted in with Federal 150s this year. Experimented a bit - they group a little tighter than powerpoints in my 336. So far as terminal damage goes... I'll have to get a deer to cooperate. Took two with muzzleloader so far, now carrying the 336 into the woods. Keep ya'll posted...

mannyrock · « **Reply #25 on:** November 01, 2009, 06:30:03 AM »

I have consistently gotten complete pass throughs, on broadside shots on deer, at 150 yards (except for direct shots into the shoulder ball joint), with half-inch size exit holes, using factory loaded Remington Core-Lokts, 150 grain round nose soft-points and 170 grain round nose soft-points. Absolutely no problemo! You are shooting deer, not rhinos! :-)

Regards,

Mannyrock

mannyrock · « **Reply #26 on:** November 01, 2009, 06:39:06 AM »

LongJohn,

Since you have been out of the field for 30 years, and assuming you are using a scope, you should easily be able to kill deer out to 150 yards, which is fine.

If you have a really good scope, and a good hold, and steady arms, then you may be able to stretch the .30-30 to 200 yards, which would be its most practical limit, but I would stay away from that during your first year back in the field.

Regards,

Mannyrock

WyoStillhunter · « **Reply #27 on:** November 04, 2009, 05:57:36 PM »

For conditions as described in the original post: 150 gr. Winchester ammo will fill the bill. Of course so will 150 gr. from Remington and Federal.

Whether or not they leave an exit would is another matter. Even without an exit wound the 150s should give a permanent wound channel that puts whitetails on the ground close enough to find pretty easily.

PS -- Just noticed that this thread was raised from the dead. Oh well, always a fun topic to kick around.

yellowtail3 · « **Reply #28 on:** November 05, 2009, 12:13:56 AM »

Quote from: WyoStillhunter on November 04, 2009, 05:57:36 PM

PS -- Just noticed that this thread was raised from the dead. Oh well, always a fun topic to kick around.

I admit it, I did it. New to this board, enjoying reading old stuff.

Terminal damage. Shot two spikes this week, w/336 in 30-30. Load was 150gr Fed. powershok. Both hit front shoulder. The second one, is the first 30-30 bullet that didn't pass all the way though - it shattered shoulder bone, hit heart ('v'-shaped split) and ended up somewhere in the gutpile. I didn't want to dig through the eaten acorns for it...

spruce · « **Reply #29 on:** November 06, 2009, 01:10:42 PM »

Reading the ammo prices in those old posts almost made me cry!