New Handi 30-30 – Factory Ammo Suggestions

[bigmac_au85]

I’ve got a new Handi 30-30 on order.  I need some suggestions on factory ammo.

I’ll be using the rifle for deer hunting, open or peep sights only, taking shots at 75 yards max.  I’d like to stick with an economical round, so I can afford to practice enough.  But I also want something that’s reasonably accurate and deadly.  Would Remington Core Lokt 150 grainers be good to experiment with first?  Any other suggestions?

I also have some questions on rifle cleaning equipment.  This Handi will be my first rifle (I’ve always used slugs in smoothbore barrels for deer).  I’ve read the FAQ’s on barrel break-in and care.  Some guys I know use coated rods, bronze-only brushes, bore guides, etc.  They spend a lot of money, and take a lot of care, making sure they don’t damage the inside of the barrel during cleaning.  But they shoot for accuracy at 250-400 yards.

For my end-use (deer at 75 yards max), this seems like overkill, but I don’t know.  What type of rod/brush/jag etc do you guys recommend?

Thanks,

BigMac

[FLNT4EVR]

The Remington Core -lokt's  will shoot just fine and are very accurate in the Handy,as are all the brands of factory ammo I,ve tried. As  to the cleaning ,any one of the cleaning kits sold in retail and sporting goods stores will work ,as will any one of the readily available bore cleaning solvents. That's what makes the Handy rifle what it is. An inexpensive ,rugged  hunting rifle,thad doesn't need to be baby-ed .

[Mac11700]

Congrats on the new Handi:

Try some of these...they aren't priced too bad..and you'll be able to get in some practice with them..

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=001293030A for the 150 grainers....and http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=001293030B for the 170 grainers...

Both of these should do well at your yardages intended..

As to cleaning equipment..this will vary by individual..each have their own cleaning technique...but..a good place to start is getting a good quality 1 piece cleaning rod..and a bore guide to keep it straight in the bore...I also use the foaming bore cleaners like Gun Slick and Wipe Out...both do a pretty good job of getting rid of copper & carbon...I also use different types of cleaners..when I need to work more quickly than the foaming cleaners...I use Butches Bore Shine..& Barnes CR-10...these should be used in a well ventilated room..and can harm the finish of your gun if it gets on them and stays there...I use Tynex brushes... which have no copper or bronze in them..and work great...and won't deteriorate with the harsher cleaners..You want to clean from the chamber end out to the muzzle...and need to take care that you don't damage either the rifling or the crown up at the muzzle end...So when you push either the brush or patch out thru the muzzle..take it off and pull the rod back thru with out anything on it..this way you won't do any damage to the muzzle..and the bore guide will keep the rod from damaging the rifling up at the throat..

It's not over kill keeping your rifle in tip top shape...it's just good common sense...It doesn't matter if your only shooting 50-75 yards...or 500-750 yards...taking care of your investment is what most of us do...

Mac

[xhare]

Here are my 2 cents.  I have not owned a 30-30 before, but there are some guidelines you can follow for any cartridge as far as cost go.  The reasoning goes as follows:  hunt with a "premium" load, practice with a bargain load.  Do just enough shooting with the premium load before the season opens to make sure it is accurate and to sight it in.  Winchester Power Point Plus or the Hornady Loads probably fit into this category for 30-30s but there are a few others as well.  In articles I have read they seem to get higher velocity than most of the bargain loads.  Otherwise for the rest of your practice buy what you can find the best price at Wally World or online.  You may already know this, but many 30-30 loads don't get anywhere near the typical 2300fps for 150 grain bullet, or 2200 fps for the 170 grain bullet out of a standard lever action with a 20 inch barrel.  The ones I mention above seem to do so, or come closer than most.  

All of this matters only if you are looking for the most you can get out of a 30-30 with factory loads.  At the range you state (75 yards) and your use of open sights, the standard (bargain) loads from Winchester or Remington will be more than sufficient.  

As far as cleaning goes, I would go ahead and invest in good cleaning supplies.  I would buy a coated steel single or two piece rod.  I personally have had bad luck with the multi-piece aluminum rods that come in the kits you can get at any sporting goods store.  They tend to break and bend to easy for me.  The cleaning rod is the backbone of the barrel cleaning process, go ahead and get a good one.  As far as other accessories go, good proper bronze brushs and patches are cheap, then go ahead and spend a little money to get some good bore cleaner. A 6 ounce bottle will last quite a while so cost is not such a big deal.  In my opinion it is worth spending money in this department, even for a basic gun.  Substandard cleaning can have a cumulative effect after a lot of shooting.  Those guys that shoot long distance typically know what they are doing and why it matters.  A good cleaning kit will not set you back that much more than a bargain one anyway.


Besides, you are likely to be afflicted with Handiholism now and soon you will have growing family of Handis that needs TLC.

  

[LaOtto222]

I have never bought any 30-30 ammo, I hand load so I am of no use to you here. Bore Cleaning is an individual thing like Mac said. Here are some things that you must do mentioned above. I am just underlining what was said, because it is important. Use a good quality 1 piece rod. Use a bore guide. Clean from chamber to muzzle. From here people can change what they do. I never use a metal brush of any kind. I do use a plastic brush from time to time. I basically only use patches and solvents. I am not sure who invented the foaming bore cleaners, but what a god send they are. I use a non ammonia (because I am indoors cleaning) solvent in the bore first.  Let it soak a while. Then clean out. If it needs more then I send in the foam. With the bore guide sill in there to make sure the foam does not go into the action. I let it set for a while to do it's thing. Repeat if necessary as many times as it takes. Clean the bore dry and oil with Kriol. Let it set in there a while, then run one dry patch in to pick up excessive oil. If you ask 50 people how to clean a barrel you will get 50 different answers, but the three things that you must do is use a good rod, bore guide and clean from chamber to muzzle. How often you do it depends on how your gun reacts to fouling and what you expect in the accuracy department. Good luck to you

[LaOtto222]

There is one more thing. I forgot to mention a good rest. What a difference a gun rest makes in the cleaning process. It went from a dreaded chore to some thing I do not mind. You can point the muzzle down hill so the solvent an stuff runs out the muzzle instead of back into the action + it frees both of your hands to work the rod. One to push and one to keep it from flexing too much in the middle (use tight patches).The right equipment makes the job so much easier.

[darat100]

I have had excellent results from Federal Fusions on deer in my Marlin 336. I haven't gotten to shoot my handi at a deer yet, but they shoot very well out of it.  Performance should be similar.
Give em a shot.  Good performance, very good price.

[Bob A]

I asked the same question about factory 30-30 ammo when I bought my Marlin 30-30 a few years back. I received some good advise that I am always glad to share. All of the factory loads at 150 to 170 grains will kill a deer just fine. Find the one that your rifle likes best. At the time, Walmart had the best selection and prices around here, so I bought one box each of Win 150 PP, 170 PP, 150 HP and Rem 150 and 170 Corelokt. They all shot ok but the Win 150 HP was best. Later I tried the Fed Fusion, Fed Std and Hornady Evolution, they also shot pretty good but the fusion and Fed std 150s were the best. Seems that my rifle prefers the 150s, some have a clear preference for 170s.
You need to shoot that new rifle, so you might as well try whats available and find out what it likes best. At 75 to 100 yards there is no practical advantage in bullets with improved BCs (like Fusion or Hornady) unless they are more accurate in your rifle.

Later I started loading for the 30-30, I have some very accurate loads for my rifle but I don't save any money - I just shoot more.

Shoot it and enjoy,

Bob a

[PeterCartwright]

Here's my two cents:  I like to use premium bullets with some cartridges, but I think they are mostly unnecessary (read wasted) with the noble .30-30.  Here's why:  Bullet makers have had more than a hundred years to figure out how to make completely reliable "cup and core" bullets for the moderate and predictable velocities produced in .30-30 rifle/carbines.  I haven't done any testing (or read what others may have tested) but I'd guess one wouldn't find a huge difference in penetration between the 170 gr. Nosler partition and the humble Remington 170 gr. Core-lokt.

Exception:  I've never used the Barnes Triple-shock product.  I'd guess this bullet is the exception so far as penetration is concerned.

How 'bout it guys?  Have some of you done a  "wet newsprint" or gelatin test with cup and core vs. "premium" bullets?

[holahead]

I have used only one loading in mine Winchester 170gr. Silvertips. First ones I tried and they shot good. So I figured that would work for me.

[EVOC ONE]

I have used only one loading in mine Winchester 170gr. Silvertips. First ones I tried and they shot good. So I figured that would work for me.

Pretty much my experience with the exception of using Remington Core Lokt 150's.

I guess that's one reason why the .30-30 is one of the better choices in a Handi.   

[sureshot2040]

i have never owned a handi in 30-30 but i have always had a winchester lever in 30-30
and i have shot a lot of deer with one
and using the remington core-lok in 150 grain i have yet to have one take a step from the hit
all have dropped in their tracks
now i have shot alot of deer with other calibers and the only other caliber i have had a deer drop on the shot with is a .270
im not sure if the twist rate is the same with the handi as it is with my winny but my winny shoots the 150 more accurate than the 170
just my two on it
sureshot

[Mac11700]

Here's my two cents:  I like to use premium bullets with some cartridges, but I think they are mostly unnecessary (read wasted) with the noble .30-30.  Here's why:  Bullet makers have had more than a hundred years to figure out how to make completely reliable "cup and core" bullets for the moderate and predictable velocities produced in .30-30 rifle/carbines.  I haven't done any testing (or read what others may have tested) but I'd guess one wouldn't find a huge difference in penetration between the 170 gr. Nosler partition and the humble Remington 170 gr. Core-lokt.

Exception:  I've never used the Barnes Triple-shock product.  I'd guess this bullet is the exception so far as penetration is concerned.

How 'bout it guys?  Have some of you done a  "wet newsprint" or gelatin test with cup and core vs. "premium" bullets?

Oh yes you would...I've done my own testing with them and I can honestly say in jacketed bullets.. the Partition will out penetrate everything but a X bullet..The beauty of the Partitions...is they will shoot extremely well in just about all guns...were as the X- bullets won't always...The downfall is the cost of each to many..and is why I never suggested them in the first place..since he is probably looking to shoot the same thing at hunting time..as when he is practicing...If I was limited to just 1 gun..the Partitions would be the bullet I used..I have yet had any Handi that wouldn't shoot them as accurate as any other bullet...Since he isn't hand loading...buying factory to do a-lot of practicing with can get expensive..and at 75 yards the partition really isn't needed unless bears are in the area or available to be hunted at the same time...If they are..I would be using them over anything else available in the caliber...Just for whitetails..only buying factory...I would opt for the ones I posted the links to earlier...

Mac

[handirifle]

The 30-30 is not a magnum, never was meant to be.  The factory bullets like the Rem core-lokt will do anything the 30-30 was EVER intended to do, and they were designed to perform perfectly at the 30-30's velocities.  Mine likes the 170's better than the 150's but get both and use which ever one is most accurate.  I wont argue penetration or velocity, cause in my opinion, the 30-30 was never meant to be a powerhouse nor DOES IT NEED TO BE.  Just keep it withing the limits it was designed for, and it will "get er done".

Ammo should be about $7-8 a box, any more is a waste, especially at 50-75yds.  You picked the PERFECT caliber for the ranges you describe.  On Paco Kelly's leverguns forum, one fellow posted pics of his cow moose he killed with one 170gr core-lokt shot.  Into both lungs.  She walked about 10 steps and dropped over.  He shot her at about 50yds IIRC.

Try the peep that comes on the buffalo classic and the target model.  You can order them from NEF and the go right into the D&T'd holes already in the barrel.  Will work fine to 150yds or so.  Not sure which front sight you'll have, some have to get a higher or lower one to make them work.

Enjoy the thuty-thuty.  Great old caliber.

[quickdtoo]

Unfortunately, the Nosler partition isn't made in a flat nose for use in factory 30-30 ammo , that's where being a handloader can really make a difference, you can load spitzer bullets and make you own "leverevolution" ammo!!!  

Tim

http://www.nosler.com/index.php?p=11&b=5&s=10&t=30

[Mac11700]

It has never been a flat nose bullet for the 30-30 Quick...but round nose......Factory ammo is available...and so too are the bullets...The factory ammo has been very accurate in every 30-30 I have shot them in..I am looking forward to seeing how those 150's CT Partition Golds I ask you to load do...

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/productview?saleitemid=540255&t=11082005

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/productview?saleitemid=261895&t=11082005

Mac

[quickdtoo]

I didn't say the bullets weren't available, in fact I posted a link to the nosler page that shows them!! But I didn't know Federal offered them in their factory ammo, thanks. Now if anyone that thinks they need em can get over the $28 a box for em when  Leverevolution ammo is $11 cheaper, on sale any way!! And there's always the good ol' standby, Rem Core-lokts, I bought mine on sale for $8 a box a few years ago, dunno if we'll ever see that kinda price on em again.

Tim

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/productview?saleitemid=241599&t=11082005

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/productview?saleitemid=775263&t=11082005