.30-30 Ammo

F

Frank44

New member
I just bought a scope sighted Marlin .30-30. What would be a good accurate 170g factory load for deer, and bear? The Remington Core-Lokt was the gold standard years ago. I have a good bolt action for long range work.
Frank
 
I would suggest trying a couple factory loadings to determine what shoots best in your Marlin. My opinion is the Remington Core-Lokt is still a very good bullet and a proven game killer. I have used the Remington Core-Lokt in component form when putting together handloads for the .30-30 and they work. I also really like the Sierra 170 gr. FP as well when handloaded. I would stay away from the Hornady Leverevolution if I intended to use it on black bear though, but it should be fine for whitetail. I have used the Leverevolution in .45-70,.444 Marlin and .44 Magnum on whitetail and it performed well.

Good luck to ya'
 
I too would suggest trying several different loads but I have used Remington Core Lokt all my life with great results. I have used them in everything from .22-250, .243, .270, .30-30, .30-06 with no complaints. I cant vouch for there effectiveness when it comes to bears as we have none here but they are by far the best factory whitetail round money can buy in my opinion. Just my .02 Josh
 
Originally Posted By: Frank44I just bought a scope sighted Marlin .30-30. What would be a good accurate 170g factory load for deer, and bear? The Remington Core-Lokt was the gold standard years ago. I have a good bolt action for long range work.
Frank

Do you reload your ammo?
Or, are you looking for factory ammo?
 
I recommend you try the flex-tip pointed loads that are available now. I think that Hornady is the manufacturer.

Very good ballistics, including lots of retained energy at any distance, as compared with blunt point, flat base bullets.

Best wishes,

Karl in Phoenix
 
I hunt in the mountains of Virginia. My 30-30 with peep sights has been my primary rifle for the last 25 years. I only shoot the 170 grain Remington Core Lokt factory loads cause they group better than Federal and Winchester 170 grain loads in my gun. I shot one doe in the head at 40 yards and a black bear at about 30 yards last season. The wound channel through the bear was significant and took out 3 ribs on the far side with a hole about 2" in diameter. Not sure if it exited through hide or not. The bear ran 120 yards and lived for a while. It weighed 210lbs gutted so it was not very big.

That being said I would have no problem shooting a bear with the new flex tip ammo. The Hornady bullet looks tough enough to me. I like the Remington ammo and it works fine but it does not drop deer as fast as my 270 with any brand ammo. They just seem to run a bit farther with the 30-30 usually about 50-70 yards after being hit. Average 6 to 8 point buck here is about 110lbs gutted. I have shot about 15 deer with my 30-30.



 
Frank44, The Hornady ammo is loaded with a flexible pointed bullet that is designed to be safely used in the standard under-barrel tubular magazine.

Good Hunting,

Karl in Phoenix
 
I've only ever used Core-Lokts in mine, but the new Lever Evolution stuff from Hornady looks pretty impressive.
I haven't tried it, but they sure make some impressive claims.

Hornady link
 
I have a 336 in 35 rem that loves the hornady leverevolution ammo. I switched 2 young hunter friends of mine over to the hornady last year and can say it is quite effective in 30-30's.
If for some reason your rifle does not like the hornady, then try rem 170 corelokts.
 
Leverevolution ammo will make a different kind of weapon out of your 30-30. I shot it in a Savage 340, very accurate, ballistics that most never thought possible with that caliber.
 
I have a marlin 336 in 30-30, I have taken 4 deer using 170 grain core-lokt, all the shots 100 yds or less. Last year swithced to the 160 grain lever revolution, took a nice buck at 175 yds. Both bullets will do the job, but the lever revolution will let you take one out to 200Yds. I think the advertising claims 250yds, but I'm not sure about that. On a different note, I mounted a scope using see-thru rings when I switched ammo. I wouldn't reccomend the see-thru rings, the scope is so high it pulls your cheek off of the stock.
 
Originally Posted By: Frank44I will use only factory ammo. I won't be shooting the .30-30 enough to reload for it.
Frank

Frank, something to keep in mind if you ever start reloading for the 30-30. Nosler 170 grain Partitions. My son has been hunting with a Marlin 336 in 30-30 for a lot of years, and he's 42 now. I started doing his reloading for the 30-30 and decided to try those Nosler bullets I mention. I watched him shoot a three shot, 1" group at 100 yards using a 4x scope, and decided those bullets were very accurate.
Last summer, I bought a 336 in 30-30 and shot some loads with the Nosler's and got good results. I'm keeping mine iron sighted, so my groups were around 2 1/2" at 100 yards, but sure good enough for Northern Michigan Deer. I did install a Williams Rear Peep sight, and a fire front sight.
Have fun with your 336. I think they are one of Marlin's greatest designs. For me, far better than a 94.
 
Last edited:
I have a marlin as well, but haven't shot it in years. Always used the Remington ammo.
How is the performance after impact of the Hornady's? Good expansion, fragments, punches through?
 
I've loaded for my two boys in there 30-30 marlins for years and they like the 150gr Hornady with 4064 powder. Makes a nice tight group. They have shot a lot of deer over the years. Only once did one of there deer need a second bullet. Of course shot placement is always a good thing.
 
Originally Posted By: Frank44Thanks for all the input. I will go for the Leverevolution.
Frank

Frank, I have no experience with the Leverevolution ammo.
But, I've read some mixed reviews of it by guys shooting it (Some good, some bad), so be advised it may not be the best ammo since sliced bread in your rifle.
 
I had some second thoughts on the Horady ammo. I also heard a few bad reviews on terminal performance. I ordered 3 boxes of 170g Federal fusion .30-30. They have been fantastic in accuracy, and terminal performance in .30-06, .308 Win, and 7mm Remington Mag for me. They should be the same in .30-30. The bottem line is how they kill.
Frank
 
I know you said factory ammo but if you get into reloading my M94 loves either a 170gr Speer, or Hornady over H322. This is my hunting load and it does a great jobs. Last buck I shot wasn't a very big body deer (155# dressed), but it was a quartering away shot and the bullet struck at the 2nd rib from the last traveled up through the vitals and exited out the front of the chest at 20 yards. Deer kicked up ran 25ish yards and fell over. I also shot a 201 dressed 11pt at 30 yards just behind the shoulder, complete pass through and he dropped in his tracks kicked twice and was dead. This load is very accurate out to 100 yards using a williams peep sight, I've only tested it that far, shots around here are close.
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top