.30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

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1894c

.30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by 1894c »

Hi -- I finally picked up another 30/30 this week--a Marlin 336Y (16.25" barrel, in the old days this would have made a great patrol rifle). I missed having one, the 30/30 has always been my favorite rifle of all time. I have only used the 170 grain bullet, both factory and reloading, always thought bigger was better (i started using the 30/30 for deer hunting in NYS, I now reside in the PNW, and have been hunting with the same bullet weight).

I was wondering, besides the difference in weight, if there is an advantage between the 150 or 170 grain bullet? Because I am going to do some reloading and thought I should give the 150 grain bullet a try--thank you in advance for your comments and insight... :)
Last edited by 1894c on Sat Sep 14, 2019 2:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by earlmck »

I'm not sure 30wcf functions with anything other than 170 grainers. 36 grains of LVR, 170 grain Speer, heavy crimp. That's the sum-total of my 30wcf/jacketed bullet knowledge.
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by J Miller »

I have shot most all the bullet weights from the 30-30s but my all time favorite is the 150 gr Speer Hot Core over 34.5 grs of Win 748. It has been an accurate load from every one of my 20 and 16" barreled guns.

Each gun is an individual but I doubt there will be much difference from a 16" carbine.

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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by Ray »

Then there are these.....

https://www.targetsportsusa.com/remingt ... -1587.aspx

Federal also makes a 125gr. hollowpoint......

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/pr ... uctId/3822
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by wolfdog »

I have shot both, some rifles seemed to prefer one over the other but not by a wide margin. The deer and pigs I shot with them could not tell the difference.
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by OldWin »

I've only ever used 170's, but shot a few 150's out of a 16" trapper last year and it seemed to really like em.
Been thinking of giving them more of a try. Also been thinking of giving the Speer 130 a try in the 16" guns.
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by J Miller »

"Managed Recoil"? 125gr bullets at around 2175 fps? Why? The 30-30 doesn't have any recoil to speak of anyway.

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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by Pisgah »

Generally speaking, all of the .30-30s I have owned had had a preference as to which bullet they shot most accurately -- usually not a huge preference, but it was there. Fortunately, there's not a heckuva lot of difference in the performance of the two. The 150s run a wee bit faster and shoot a wee bit flatter. The 170s give a very slight penetration advantage which is nice to have if you're shooting something really big. But I couldn't assign any big advantage to one or the other.
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by t.r. »

I own two 30-30 rifles. My Glenfield shoots 150 grain Core-lokts best. My Mossberg shoots 170 grain Power Points best. Both rifles have toppled deer sized game with zero problems. I load the Sierra 125 grain spitzer bullet for longer distance shots and the wound channels appear noticeably wider. Probably because of higher velocity and thinner jacket material? Just guessing.

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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by TraderVic »

I primarily shoot (and reload) 150 grain bullets. 170 gr bullets are fine as well.
As has been said, go with whatever your rifle prefers.

All 30-30 (30wcf) bullets are designed to expand at 30-30 velocities.
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by wm »

I like them both but I shoot a lot more 170 grainers. I like to buy them in bulk and use them in 300 Savage, 30-40 Krag, 308 win, 30-06 & 7.5X55mm. Those round noses just make a good general purpose, for whatever you happen to be doing sort of bullet at light recoiling velocities.

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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by JimT »

My preference in my Trapper Model 94 is the Speer 130 gr. Hot Cor at 2400+ fps. Nothing I have shot with it could tell it was not a heavier bullet. This is not to say it is "THE BEST". I am just saying what works for me with my levergun. Experiment. Find what pleases you and run with it.

I once guided a hunt with a lady who used a Model 94 30-30 carbine with Remington Accelerators ... the 55 gr. .22 bullet in a sabot. They run around 3400 fps. She was very accurate with it and it worked quite well.

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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by Thunder50 »

Just like JimT, a friend of mine uses the Speer 130gr hot core bullet in his Savage 24 O/U 30-30/12ga. It will print three shots with bullet holes touching @75 yds. He seldom shoots over 100yds. 7 years/7 shots/ 7 dead deer. He used to use WW 150gr silvetips. The 130's chrono close to 2700fps IIRC
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by gcs »

Here's my take for what it's worth, I hunt only with a 30-30, I don't practice , or plink with it, I've taken a LOT of whitetail deer here in the East, enough so I can see the average of my most taken heart/lung shot with both weight bullets, these are all factory loads.

170 corelokts, very accurate in my gun, all pass throughs, all angles, all ranges up to 100 yds or a little more. Avg H/L shot and they will run 75 yds on avg. some way more.
150 corelokts and Win power points, about as accurate, needs a sight adjustment from the 170's, all pass throughs , under same conditions as above, Avg H/L shot, run under 40 yds, usually within sight of the shot.,,, This makes tracking very easy, as there is hardly any, the longer runs with 170's, even though usually under 100 yds can be challenging, thick cover, dry conditions, coming nightfall, close property lines....

So, IMO, the 170's are for critters larger then a deer, any deer, The 150's give me a faster kill and still pass through for good blood trails. Accuracy is about the same in my gun, I frankly don't care if they shoot flatter, 100 yds is a chip shot.

All that said, I then tried and switched to the Hornaday LE 160's, very accurate, same pass throughs, it smacks them like the hammer of Thor, devastating wound channels, it's a 30-30 on steroids. over half the deer shot just fall down, the rest almost never get out of sight, or barely make it 100'. I've shot them from 50 feet, to about 125 yds, same results.

This has been my experience for about 50 years and several large truckloads of deer, as always, YMMV, Cheers, :mrgreen:
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by piller »

My Marlin prefers the Core Lokt 150 grain bullets. They are as accurate as I can shoot in it. As far as wound channels and dead animals, I have never lost an animal I shot with that combination. I have found what my gun likes, and I have reloaded it using Speer bullets. 3031 powder gives accuracy beyond my ability to shoot, and the few Speer Hot Cor 150 grain bullets I have left are set aside for hunting. I have not used 170 grain bullets in it yet as the accuracy and efficacy are all I could ask for with what I am already using.
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by Pete44ru »

30-30 wrote: Fri Sep 13, 2019 11:57 pm
I finally picked up another 30/30 this week

I was wondering, besides the difference in weight, if there is an advantage between the 150 or 170 grain bullet ?

A question for the ages...………….. :mrgreen:

.
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by J Miller »

Pete44ru wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2019 12:52 pm
30-30 wrote: Fri Sep 13, 2019 11:57 pm
I finally picked up another 30/30 this week

I was wondering, besides the difference in weight, if there is an advantage between the 150 or 170 grain bullet ?

A question for the ages...………….. :mrgreen:

.
Been shooting the 30 W.C.F. (30-30) since sometime around 1966 ish and this was a topic of discussion even then.

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1894c

Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by 1894c »

Pete44ru wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2019 12:52 pm
30-30 wrote: Fri Sep 13, 2019 11:57 pm
I finally picked up another 30/30 this week

I was wondering, besides the difference in weight, if there is an advantage between the 150 or 170 grain bullet ?
A question for the ages...………….. :mrgreen:
Pete44ru -- your answer made my day... :)

Thank you for all of the replies, I had never given any thought to a 125 or 130 grain bullet.
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by Grizz »

my son and his friends have found that different guns prefer different bullets, and he hunts with whichever one is more consistent in which ever gun... that's all I know. I have a 30-30 somewhere. I think. never shot it though, so if I find it I'll try the one box of each weight method...
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by Nath »

Always wished I had tried the Speer 130.
It may of suited my needs perfectly.
However what I did use the 150&170 Speers, there was no difference in my opinion. Both worked.
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by Old Savage »

Federal and Winchester factory 170s have been the most accurate in main Win 94.
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by Ray »

Don't forget about the hollowpoints....

Besides the 125gr. federal listed above.....

This oddity is actually tougher than the regular soft-nose and was developed for bear & moose.....

https://www.outdoorlimited.com/rifle-am ... 20-rounds/

Winchester's version.....

https://www.targetsportsusa.com/winches ... 09293.aspx

And in 150gr.

https://www.luckygunner.com/30-30-winch ... d=AmmoSeek

And the rare and seldom seen older super x version developed specifically for peace officers....

http://www.selwayarmory.com/winchester- ... of-20.html

Don't forget the barnes x.....

https://vizardsgunsandammo.com/barnes-2 ... ox-10case/
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by Ray »

There is this which can be loaded for homestead defense.....

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/ ... nt?Tk=DFBU

Looks like an old fashioned 158 gr. .357.....
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by JimT »

If you have never read it, I tested a lot of 30-30 ammo and handloads years ago. The data is dated of course, but most of it is still relevant.

http://leverguns.com/articles/taylor/model94_3030.htm
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by piller »

Thanks Jim for reposting that article. It was a lot of good information.
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by Grizz »

Thanks a bunch for the article. I liked the cast portion a lot, keep thinking I'll try it, don't know if I will. I think I'd need a plot of land with a good berm and wide window sill.. thanks again for the info, it's a permanent part of my gun box now.
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by Rusty »

I don't know if it was here or on the old forum but I seem to remember a thread about folks that were pulling 190 gr. bullets from .30-40 rounds and reloading them into .30-30 Win cases because of the better accuracy they got from them.
There has been a lot of progress in bullets in the last 10 years. I'm inclined to think that just about everything we used to know is outdated now.
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by JimT »

Rusty wrote: Tue Sep 17, 2019 12:23 am There has been a lot of progress in bullets in the last 10 years. I'm inclined to think that just about everything we used to know is outdated now.
Yes, there has been progress. But don't buy the story that the old ways are outdated. They worked just fine for Grandpa. They still work.
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by JimT »

And speaking of the old ways ... LYMAN HANDBOOK #45

190 gr. Winchester Silvertip (intended for the .303 Savage)

3031 -- 24 gr, - 1731 fps
27 gr. - 1978 fps

4064 -- 26 gr. - 1776 fps
29 gr. - 2015 fps

Rx11 - 25 gr. - 1859 fps
28.5 gr. 2102 fps (this is listed as their "accuracy load")
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by Blaine »

An erstwhile Marlin 336, my 1951 Win 94, and the 94 16" SRC all shoot nicely in an inch at 50-60ish yards without trying too hard. Why try to improve when it's not broke?
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Re: .30WCF -- 150 or 170 grain bullet?

Post by JB »

I shoot whichever round my rifle handles best. 150 or 170 work just fine for the whitetails I hunt.
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