ORIGINAL: Figsy
Hi All,
I just signed up to this forum, lots of great info. The reason that I am writing is that I am fairlynew to hunting (I do huntpheasant though). I just inherited my grandfather's Marlin 336 30-30 (iron sights)and had some ammunition questions. The local stores basicallycarry Winchester 30-30 Powerpoint and Silvertip both in 150 and 170 grains. Can someone please tell me (or direct me where to look) what the difference is between Powerpoint and Silvertip? What type of game should be hunted with Powerpoint vs Silvertip and should the round be either 150 or 170 grains? I know that shot placement is the key factor in taking down game. What is the longest range that you would recommend hunting with the Marlin 335 in30-30 WIN? What is the largest game animal that should be hunted with 30-30 WIN? As you can see, I know almost nothing about the 30-30 cartridge, so any info would be useful and much appreciated. Thanks, Figsy.
Power Point and Silvertip bullets designed for the .30/30 will actually give about the same performance, as the .30/30 is basically intended to be a deer gun that is also usable for black bear. I would use150-grain bullets of either type for deer hunting, but would switch to the 170's if you think you might get a shot at a bear. The reason for this is that the 170's don't expand quite as fast, and will generally give deeper penetration. Deeper penetration is better when shooting a bear because their muscles and bones are thicker and tougher.
Out to 150 yards or so, the .30/30 is perfectly adequate for deer & black bear (and even for bigger stuff if you are a good shot and know the anatomy of your quarry), so don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Just practice & learn to shoot it well!