30-30 load for Whitetials
Question:
At the beginning of the year I bought a Winchester Model 94 30-30 for various reasons. I plan on using this for whitetails, exclusively. Thanks to the many members of this and rec.guns NGs, I trashed the factory rear sight and bought a Williams receiver sight. NOW I LOVE THIS RIFLE!!! I’ve been practicing with the 150g Winchester ammo and have been getting good results at 50 and 100 yards. Actually, the 100 yard groups were slightly better (using a bench in both cases). My question now is: Would the 150g or 170g bullet be best for whitetails? I’m more concerned with my shot placement, but thought I’d get some opinions. Let me know what you think. I thought of trying some of the Federal Premium bullets, but I figure that with "iron sights", my human error would cancel out any gain in performance of the more expensive bullets. Most of the places I will be hunting in Virginia only allow for shots within 100 yards ( Normally less than 50 yds. I like to get in think stuff where the deer hide), so I feel the 30-30 will be best for me. I know I could use my brother’s 300 Win Mag, but I kinda like to leave some meat on the bones! Bob
Response:
|> I thought of trying some of the Federal Premium |> bullets, but I figure that with "iron sights", my human error would |> cancel |> out any gain in performance of the more expensive bullets. I’m inclined to think about it the other way around. Premium bullets– with their controlled expansion and enhanced penetration–tend to grant you some forgiveness for marginal shot placement. —
Response:
Bob – .30-30 ammo is .30-30 ammo, with two exceptions. I believe Federal is loading the 170 grain partition and PMC I think offers an X bullet load. Why you need them in a .30-30 is beyond me … unless you’re asking the .30-30 to do things it isn’t designed to do. In my last .30-30, I relied on Remington’s 170 grain factory load ’cause it was cheap, available, and performed much more than adequately. Out of the little Trapper’s 16" barrel, I could keep all 5 shots in half of a matchbook cover which is all I ever needed out of that rifle. I, like you, replaced the factory rear sight with a Williams receiver. I don’t think there’s a measurable difference between 150s and 170s in the field. Both are plenty for deer. Neither offers any advantage in trajectory at ranges appropriate for the .30-30 and iron sights. Basically, shoot what your gun likes best and what you can get most readily where you hunt and be happy. Enjoy!! Tom
Response:
|> In my last .30-30, I relied on Remington’s 170 grain factory load |> ’cause |> it was cheap, available, and performed much more than adequately. Out |> of the little Trapper’s 16" barrel, I could keep all 5 shots in half of |> a matchbook cover which is all I ever needed out of that rifle. Tom, "half of a matchbook cover?" You’re pretty particular. I only insist on "one minute of matchbook cover" for my big game ammo… ;) —
Response:
> At the beginning of the year I bought a Winchester Model 94 30-30 for various > reasons. I plan on using this for whitetails, exclusively. Thanks to the > many members of this and rec.guns NGs, I trashed the factory rear sight and > bought a Williams receiver sight. NOW I LOVE THIS RIFLE!!! I’ve been > practicing with the 150g Winchester ammo and have been getting good results > at 50 and 100 yards. Actually, the 100 yard groups were slightly better > (using a bench in both cases).
I know that this isn’t the question that you’re asking, and you probably know this as well, nevertheless, here’s some unsolicted advice: Bench rest shooting is perhaps not the best practice for hunting. Try shooting from the positions you’ll be hunting from. For example, standing, kneeling, etc. Jared
