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30-30 for hunting #7121975 03/25/18 01:41 AM
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BassCat'99 Offline OP
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Who uses a 30-30 for hunting? What game and favorite load.


22 Creedmoor
Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: BassCat'99] #7122068 03/25/18 03:48 AM
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TexFlip Offline
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I do on occasion. Deer, hog, axis. 160gr FTX.


Originally Posted by unclebubba
Just to make sure that it is done thoroughly, I go both ways.

Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: BassCat'99] #7122071 03/25/18 03:57 AM
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I do sometimes. WT deer and javelina. 160 gr Leverevolution load.


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Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: BassCat'99] #7122114 03/25/18 06:04 AM
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booradley Offline
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Hogs. Remington 150 grain Corelokt.



Don’t roll those bloodshot eyes at me.
Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: BassCat'99] #7122147 03/25/18 12:28 PM
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I consider my 30-30 to be my "brush gun", not because 30-30 bullets are better at cutting brush, but because it works great when hunting in brushy areas were shots might be 40 yard or less. Want some people call brush guns don't exist because ANY bullet is going to be negatively impacted if it hits anything between the shooter and intended target. I like the 30-30 for being easy to handle and carry in areas where a heavier and longer rifle becomes more difficult to maneuver.

While I've traditionally been a Core Lokt shooter, I recently switched to Federal Fusion because they seem to perform better at just about the same price. IMO, 150 grains of lead is plenty to sling at deer and hogs.


"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: BassCat'99] #7122168 03/25/18 12:51 PM
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BassCat'99 Offline OP
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The reason I ask is where I'm going on a whitetail hunt is dense wooded areas. The 30-30 package with open sights seems a better choice in those conditions. Also I have a box of Speer 130gr hot-cor I'm working up a load with. I notice that ya'll are in the 150gr range, do you see any problem with the bullet selection? I'm using W748 powder.


22 Creedmoor
Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: BassCat'99] #7122170 03/25/18 12:55 PM
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Originally Posted By: BassCat'99
The reason I ask is where I'm going on a whitetail hunt is dense wooded areas. The 30-30 package with open sights seems a better choice in those conditions. Also I have a box of Speer 130gr hot-cor I'm working up a load with. I notice that ya'll are in the 150gr range, do you see any problem with the bullet selection? I'm using W748 powder.


I shoot 150 grain bullets only because they seem to be the smallest off-the-shelf loads you can most frequently find in the 30-30 caliber.

I also shoot an open-sighted 30-30 because at such close distances a scope just gets in the way. The last deer I shot with my 30-30 was just 15 yards away. The last feral hog was no more than 30.


"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: Texas Dan] #7122235 03/25/18 02:23 PM
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Originally Posted By: Texas Dan
I consider my 30-30 to be my "brush gun", not because 30-30 bullets are better at cutting brush, but because it works great when hunting in brushy areas were shots might be 40 yard or less.

Of course any bullet will/can be deflected and change course by hitting something before the target. I only have 1 experience shooting the 30-30 through brush and it was positive. Walking back to the house after an unsuccessful deer hunt I heard something in the thick under brush of East Texas. I took a knee and quickly realized it was hogs. It was so thick I couldn't tell which end was the head or the hind so I aimed for the center and fired. When I got in there, sow was hit dead center from about 20 yards. I consider it a good experience with what many call a "Brush gun". 2cents

Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: BassCat'99] #7122247 03/25/18 02:39 PM
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I've used most 30-30 loads over the years. I haven't found one that will not work. Just find one your gun shoots well and you're going to be happy. Right now my favorite is a 165 gr cast over trailboss for a whopping 1400 fps. It works pretty well for pigs.

Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: BassCat'99] #7122257 03/25/18 02:55 PM
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Upon us all, upon us all, a little rain must fall
Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: BassCat'99] #7122274 03/25/18 03:10 PM
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Use mine occasionally for old times sake. Owned it for almost 50 years...corelokt, white tail and hogs.

Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: BassCat'99] #7122394 03/25/18 05:37 PM
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Whitetails. Winchester 150 grain Power point.

Kills them completely dead.

Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: PKnTX] #7122400 03/25/18 05:48 PM
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Originally Posted By: PKnTX
Whitetails. Winchester 150 grain Power point.

Kills them completely dead.


Yes it does


lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true
Mainstream news might be fun to watch
Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: BassCat'99] #7122407 03/25/18 05:53 PM
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I have an inherited 94 in .30-30 that I have never hunted with (but I do hope to get around to it). I chose 170s because I tend to have a little more faith in a heavier bullet's ability to penetrate. How much difference there really is in the field? I wouldn't expect a hell of a lot of difference. It's only about a 5% difference in weight between a 150 and a 170.


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Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: Texas Dan] #7122426 03/25/18 06:18 PM
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Originally Posted By: Texas Dan
I consider my 30-30 to be my "brush gun", not because 30-30 bullets are better at cutting brush, but because it works great when hunting in brushy areas were shots might be 40 yard or less. Want some people call brush guns don't exist because ANY bullet is going to be negatively impacted if it hits anything between the shooter and intended target. I like the 30-30 for being easy to handle and carry in areas where a heavier and longer rifle becomes more difficult to maneuver.

While I've traditionally been a Core Lokt shooter, I recently switched to Federal Fusion because they seem to perform better at just about the same price. IMO, 150 grains of lead is plenty to sling at deer and hogs.
brush guns lol35


hold on Newt, we got a runaway
Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: BassCat'99] #7122430 03/25/18 06:22 PM
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I've shot a fox, axis doe, and aoudad ram with 150gr "soft points." By soft point I mean that I can't remember if it was loaded with Federal blue box, Winchester Power Point, or Remington Corelockt/Corelockt SP.

All of these were killed at further distances than what I think you want yours for. The fox and ram at around 65 yards, the axis doe ranged at 89 yards.

Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: BassCat'99] #7122757 03/26/18 12:35 AM
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Winchester 150gr Power Points. typical 100-120 yd shots.


FJB - Lets Go Brandon
BBB - Bring Back Better
Awake - Not Woke!
Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: BassCat'99] #7123505 03/26/18 06:33 PM
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The "brush gun" concept has been argued over the wrong issue for a long time. A good brush gun isn't good because it gets through brush, a good brush gun is fast handling, shoots bullets that penetrate game deeply and don't tear up an excessive amount of meat. The penetrate game deeply part is the real issue in "brush guns" as often you don't get the perfect broadside shots. Fast handling allows you to get on target before the animal gets out of sight. If I wanted to do damage to "brush" I think a 12 gauge shooting buckshot would be the way to go.

Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: BassCat'99] #7123585 03/26/18 07:28 PM
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The 4 bore double rifle I’m building doesn’t care about a little brush.


.450-400 barrel(.410” bore dia) on top.


A.M. Little Bespoke Gunmakers LLC
Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: TDK] #7123613 03/26/18 07:56 PM
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Originally Posted By: TDK
The 4 bore double rifle I’m building doesn’t care about a little brush.


Or a lot of brush, or a heckuva lot of brush, or even a small forest!


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Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: TDK] #7123654 03/26/18 08:22 PM
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Originally Posted By: TDK
The 4 bore double rifle I’m building doesn’t care about a little brush.


Remember years ago reading about one gun writer taking a 4 bore double on a hunt for elephant. He got his bull.


lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true
Mainstream news might be fun to watch
Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: BassCat'99] #7123659 03/26/18 08:23 PM
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Originally Posted By: TDK
The 4 bore double rifle I’m building doesn’t care about a little brush.


Remember years ago reading about one gun writer taking a 4 bore double on a hunt for elephant. He got his bull.

4 Bore double the weight of the gun goes up over a pound with loading it.


lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true
Mainstream news might be fun to watch
Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: TDK] #7123699 03/26/18 08:52 PM
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Originally Posted By: TDK
The 4 bore double rifle I’m building doesn’t care about a little brush.


My shoulder just started hurting and my nose is bleeding. Weird. eek2

Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: BassCat'99] #7123724 03/26/18 09:17 PM
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I'm a fan of the 30-30 Win, hunted with it since I was a kid (I'm in my mid-sixties now). I have a number of rifles chambered in the cartridge; bolt, levers, and a pump.

For the last 15 years, I've been using 170-grain cast bullet but have shot just about every offering made other than the Hornady FTX bullets. The OP asked about the Speer 130-grain, I've used it and it works well. As of late, I'm using the Speer #2007 with my 30-30 Ackley Improved.



748 is a good powder choice.



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Re: 30-30 for hunting [Re: BassCat'99] #7123779 03/26/18 09:52 PM
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I like the model 94' lever action for a brush gun and just plain practice . Perfect for thick areas , shooting close-up and small compact size for packing especially when horse back riding . That's why they were so popular from the beginning . I shoot 150gr which is more than enough for the use of that gun . Anything higher is really of no use for that particular rifle . Thing about this style is shooting distance is short for accuracy . The open sights is really all that is needed for brush work . Sights easily set and any good shooter can hit his target if he practices .

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