Best round for a Marlin 30-30
#1
Curiosity question..... With general firearms season around the corner, I bought a buddies old Marlin 30-30 with nice Simmons scope on it a while back. It's beautiful and a sweet shooter and sighted in so "it will knock an acorn off a fencepost at a 100 yards" - quote unquote from my friend. [8D] I have been using the standard 150gr Winchester SuperX rounds in it, but am curious as to what others use in a 30-30.
Thanks...
Butch A.
Thanks...
Butch A.
#2
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 776
Likes: 0
From: SW Virginia
Best round for your 30-30? Answer: Whatever shoots best in your particular rifle.
What you're using is a good round for deer hunting. Personally, I've always preferred
the 170gr bullets, believing they might give a little better penetration. I used the
Remington 170gr. Core-Lokt Soft Point, and another that was very accurate in my
Marlin was the Federal Premium load using the 170gr. Nosler Partition bullet.
Good hunting!
What you're using is a good round for deer hunting. Personally, I've always preferred
the 170gr bullets, believing they might give a little better penetration. I used the
Remington 170gr. Core-Lokt Soft Point, and another that was very accurate in my
Marlin was the Federal Premium load using the 170gr. Nosler Partition bullet.
Good hunting!
#3
Typical Buck
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
From:
When I was a youngster and used a 30-30 I always used the 170 gr. Partition loaded by Federal. Out of my Marlin it would group 2" at 100 yards. I had an old Weaver scope on mine and took deer out to about 130 yards with no problems. More important than ammo selection is bullet placement.
#4
I don't think you can beat the Remington Corlokt 170 grain load for the 30-30. This said, there is nothing wrong with the 150- grain WW load either.
#9
Typical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 640
Likes: 0
From: Wardensville West Virginia USA
Like Virginia7 said whatever shoots best in your rifle. My Win Model 94 loves 170 grain Core-lokts, but hates most 150 grains, especially ones from Winchester. If your friend had it shooting that well with the 150 grain super-xs than maybe that is what you should use. After the season try a few diffrent rounds and see what you like best. One of the great things about the 30-30 is that ammo is pretty cheap and plentiful so it wont break the bank to try diffrent ones.
#10
Typical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 750
Likes: 0
From: Free Union, VA
Let me throw in for the Winchester rounds as well.
My Savage 30-06 hates Winchester Ammo. ( at least the ones I've introduced to it so far.)
But my MArlin 30AS 30-30 feels differently. I ran some 150's thru it and got 3 inch groups with a few floaters. I switched to the 170 Grain power point and was able to creat groups that reside in the space of a quarter. I'm talking about 3-5 rounds covered up by a U.S. quarter at 100 yards. I have to disagree with some others in here as well. If you place your shot properly The 30-30 is more than capable of taking Deer sized game at 225 yards. I sight mine for 2 inches high at 100 using the 170 grain so anywhere from barrel to about 200 yards I fee comfortable of making a true aim on a deer.
Butch if you want to hit the range together one day after season ends, I'm sure I'll have some comp time at work that needs burning.
The only problem I usually have is I lose track of time out there.
David
My Savage 30-06 hates Winchester Ammo. ( at least the ones I've introduced to it so far.)
But my MArlin 30AS 30-30 feels differently. I ran some 150's thru it and got 3 inch groups with a few floaters. I switched to the 170 Grain power point and was able to creat groups that reside in the space of a quarter. I'm talking about 3-5 rounds covered up by a U.S. quarter at 100 yards. I have to disagree with some others in here as well. If you place your shot properly The 30-30 is more than capable of taking Deer sized game at 225 yards. I sight mine for 2 inches high at 100 using the 170 grain so anywhere from barrel to about 200 yards I fee comfortable of making a true aim on a deer.
Butch if you want to hit the range together one day after season ends, I'm sure I'll have some comp time at work that needs burning.
The only problem I usually have is I lose track of time out there.
David


