Author Topic: No light-for-caliber bullets to be found.  (Read 562 times)

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Offline Trebor Snave

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No light-for-caliber bullets to be found.
« on: November 19, 2009, 09:59:45 AM »
So I just bought a 30-30 barrel for my Contender.  It's intended use is as a lightweight carbine that my daughters can hunt Mule deer and antelope with, and as a fun gun for me.  From reading, it seems most everyone else who handloads for this application uses light-for-caliber spitzers that weigh around 130 grains.  But do you think I can find any?  I've been to almost all the local stores (one more to check on my way home tonight) and none of them carry anything lighter than 150's.  I guess there must be little to no call for those bullets?

I finally got on Midway's site to check and while they do have the Barnes 130 TSX in stock, almost all other types are "out of stock, Backorder ok!"  The Speer 100 gr. "plinker" that I was planning to use for, well, plinking, is not expected to be in stock until October, 2010.  Hornady's version should be in by the end of thismonth anyway!

I suppose I'm not in a HUGE rush to get this barrel going, but not being able to find components ain't improving my mood!

Offline Ladobe

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Re: No light-for-caliber bullets to be found.
« Reply #1 on: November 19, 2009, 11:12:44 AM »
Both Graf & Sons and MidSouth have Speer 125 TNT's in stock.   They'd work.
Evolution at work. Over two million years ago the genus Homo had small cranial capacity and thick skin to protect them from their environment. One species has evolved into obese cranial fatheads with thin skin in comparison that whines about anything and everything as their shield against their environment. Meus

Offline Lone Star

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Re: No light-for-caliber bullets to be found.
« Reply #2 on: November 19, 2009, 03:12:53 PM »
If you can find them, 150 BTips will work great in the .30-30, in a carbine that's the bullet I'd prefer over a 125/130.  The latter are really pistol bullets.  I've used the 150 in my 15" .300 Savage at around 2350 fps for almost two decades and it is deadly on deer.  A .30-30 in a 20"+ barrel will give close to the same speeds and performance.



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Offline Trebor Snave

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Re: No light-for-caliber bullets to be found.
« Reply #3 on: November 19, 2009, 04:44:45 PM »
And of course, the last shop in town had the Barnes 130 TSX, Nosler BT's, and Sierra 125 prohunters on the shelf at an excellent price.  Lone Star, I'll have to try the 150's when I get these all shot up!

Offline Hopalong7

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Re: No light-for-caliber bullets to be found.
« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2009, 12:41:13 AM »
     I've had excellent results with the 125BT's on deer.  Yes, it is a pistol...but it has a 16.5" barrel.

Offline SD Handgunner

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Re: No light-for-caliber bullets to be found.
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2009, 11:15:28 AM »
I and a few friends of mine have use the 125gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips out of Handguns at 2600 FPS with excellent results. This is an under-rated bullet in my opinion.

Larry
T/C Handguns, one good shot for your moment of truth !