Author Topic: Antelope 30-30 ammo suggestions? (Read 2895 times)

sstevens · « **on:** March 08, 2007, 08:49:43 PM »

Hello,

I am planning on using a 30-30 for antelope hunting in wyoming this fall. Does anyone have any suggestions for factory ammo that would perform well? I am planning on looking into the hornady leverrevolution, what bullet weight would be best?

qajaq59 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 09, 2007, 12:08:08 AM »

If you're hunting at a water hole where the range isn't too bad, I would think a 150 grain bullet would take them ok. I don't get any shots at game around here with my 30-30 much past 100 yards though, so it you have to really stretch a shot I'm not sure what would be best.

K.K · « **Reply #2 on:** March 09, 2007, 04:23:40 AM »

Give the Hornady LEver Evolution spire points a try. they increase your effective range and shoot very flat as compared to traditional flat-points.

SHOOTER 72 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 11, 2007, 06:40:16 AM »

nothing will compare ballistically with hornady's new ammo ! i would go with that .

S.S. · « **Reply #4 on:** March 16, 2007, 03:47:09 AM »

Inside of about 150 yards, I would shoot whatever you can shoot accurately with. But,
150 grain core-Lokt should do just fine at nowhere near the price of hornady's . And they are normally
quite accurate.

Blackhawk44 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 16, 2007, 07:27:12 AM »

I would think that a good set of camos and a pair of moccasins would be more important than the ammo.

Mad Dog · « **Reply #6 on:** March 18, 2007, 02:35:31 AM »

I've hunted antelope in Wyoming, and my impression is that more lopes are shot under 200 yds., tha over. Your 30-30 will do fine, but I would try the Leverevolution ammo. If it is accurate in your gun, you effectively can make it about a 300 yd. rifle, with a lot of practice.

Mad Dog

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 18, 2007, 03:43:20 AM »

A good 150 gr. bullet is all you need, I would practice out to 200 yards, but if you want to try the hornady leverrevolution, give it a shot. Whatever you find to be most accurate in your gun is what you should use.

S.S. · « **Reply #8 on:** March 19, 2007, 05:30:16 AM »

I have a slightly unrelated question for you other folks who have pronghorn hunted. Any of you ever see one jump a fence ?
I have seen them run along a fence but never jump it. Can they not jump vertically?
Not meaning to hijack the thread, Just that I am sure some of you have hunted them far more
than I have.

Dee · « **Reply #9 on:** March 19, 2007, 12:45:24 PM »

s.sumner, we used to chase'em in a pickup just to watch'em go UNDER THE FENCE. Yep, they go under it.
Back to the question. sstevens I have had the same Winchester Model 94 in 3030, for over 36 years now. My Dad (now deceased) bought it new in 1957. It will, when I am doing my part hit gallon milk jugs of water consistantly all day long at 270 yards. It has a Lyman receiever sight, and a post front, that has been there for many years. The load I shoot now is the load I started shooting back when Dad bought it. 150 grain roundnose at 2400 fps. It's more than enough for a praire goat. Good luck.

jim dab · « **Reply #10 on:** March 21, 2007, 04:26:36 PM »

I'd try the new Hornady stuff see how that goes. A good rear site is money very well spent, I put a Williams peep site on mine a few years ago and boy did it ever help. Older the eyes the more it helps. As for the can they jump the answer is yes. Have a buddy that farms and ranches out in antelope country and I'm sure he had said that they can but don't do it very often.

Jim
Alberta

WyoXJ · « **Reply #11 on:** April 04, 2007, 01:35:25 PM »

I would use any good 150gr bullet. Last year I took two Antelope with my 45-70 Lever gun and it was a blast!. Goats go down easy, I would just concentrate on an accurate load, practice with it and call it good. Get good camo and scout a bit and you should have no problems taking an Antelope or two or three with the 30-30. Good luck.......I will be the other guy out there with a levergun.

WyoXJ · « **Reply #12 on:** April 04, 2007, 01:37:10 PM »

Quote from: S.Sumner on March 19, 2007, 05:30:16 AM

I have a slightly unrelated question for you other folks who have pronghorn hunted. Any of you ever see one jump a fence ?
I have seen them run along a fence but never jump it. Can they not jump vertically?
Not meaning to hijack the thread, Just that I am sure some of you have hunted them far more
than I have.

I have, only one time and it left the whole lot of us staring at each other.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #13 on:** April 04, 2007, 11:36:14 PM »

like dee said a good shooting 94 with a reciever sight properly sighted in will take care of deer and antelope even out pas 200 yards with someone at the controls that can shoot using factory corelocks

Quote from: Dee on March 19, 2007, 12:45:24 PM

s.sumner, we used to chase'em in a pickup just to watch'em go UNDER THE FENCE. Yep, they go under it.
Back to the question. sstevens I have had the same Winchester Model 94 in 3030, for over 36 years now. My Dad (now deceased) bought it new in 1957. It will, when I am doing my part hit gallon milk jugs of water consistantly all day long at 270 yards. It has a Lyman receiever sight, and a post front, that has been there for many years. The load I shoot now is the load I started shooting back when Dad bought it. 150 grain roundnose at 2400 fps. It's more than enough for a praire goat. Good luck.

NONYA · « **Reply #14 on:** April 04, 2007, 11:47:18 PM »

Our Mt antelope go under or through the fence,BUT while hunting in Wy i saw a whole herd JUMP the fence,reason being that they have quite a few of those sheep style fences down there where i was with the square sectioned wire on the botom 3 feet of the fence and they have adapted to them.

Cottonwood · « **Reply #15 on:** July 04, 2007, 05:35:14 AM »

When I lived over in central Montana, we would practice stalking up on antelope in the off season. They are creatures of curiosity and it is just surprising how close you can get covered up with a large section of burlap. 50 yards was my closest encounter to a buck and several does. So my personal ammo choice would be for a 150-gr bullet.

454Puma · « **Reply #16 on:** July 20, 2007, 05:36:58 PM »

Close !! I've had lopes come bed down within 50 ft while I was capping wisselpigs! Last year while dove hunting had a herd come strolling by at twenty feet!! So get some good Core Loks and you'll be fine!

NONYA · « **Reply #17 on:** July 21, 2007, 10:28:43 AM »

I dont know where you were but any antelope within a mile of a gunshot in my area is running away.

handirifle · « **Reply #18 on:** July 28, 2007, 06:45:04 AM »

If you handload you could load up some of Sierra's 125gr HP lever gun bullets. Might flatten the arch out a bit and 125gr ought to be plenty for lopes.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/productview?saleitemid=491932&t=11082005

WyoStillhunter · « **Reply #19 on:** July 28, 2007, 07:01:54 AM »

All good advice given above.

I will add that practice from prone and sitting is more important than ammo selection. Shoot lots of milk jugs or paper plates at various distances from 50 - 200 yds. If you plan to use shooting sticks, by all means practice with them. But "get off the bench."

Having said that I would see which ammo my gun shoots best starting in this order: LeverEvolution, 150 gr., then 170 gr. Practice with each and you will learn which one gives you the most confidence.

Finally, be patient when hunting antelope. There are plenty of them around and there's no need to "poke and pray" beyond your personal effective range.

NONYA · « **Reply #20 on:** July 28, 2007, 10:57:38 AM »

You might even try on of Montana Decoy Cos fold up antelope decoys,might bring a buck into range.

Graybeard · « **Reply #21 on:** July 28, 2007, 11:07:26 AM »

Quote from: NONYA on July 28, 2007, 10:57:38 AM

You might even try on of Montana Decoy Cos fold up antelope decoys,might bring a buck into range.

NOT a good idea during rifle season. Save those decoys for bow only season.

NONYA · « **Reply #22 on:** July 28, 2007, 11:11:03 AM »

If you set the decoy out and dont hide behind it your not going to be i any danger.