30-30 Ammo. ?

[cshold]

Just picked up a couple boxes of 125 gr. hollow points for a good price.
What do you guys that use them, use them for?

[O.S.O.K.]

Those would be good ranch defense loads

I think they are intended for varmints but will blow a large exit hole, so not good for pelts...

Other than that, target practice.

[cshold]

Thanks, was just curious as to if anyone used then on deer, and if so what the results were. Normally I use 150 gr. Win. P.P. for deer.

[Kansas Ed]

Use 'em for livestock killing dogs, coyotes, possums, skunks, groundhogs and them big ole snappin turtles.

Ed

[cshold]

Thanks guys,

I may never use them, but will keep them on hand.
Hard to pass up an unopend box of ammo. for less than
$10.00 a box in this day & age.

[rhead]

I have used them on deer in a Handi rifle and also a contender. In both cases the deer died within a few steps.

[Buffboy]

Long ago, my brother bought some for deer hunting(they were cheap). The results were less than stellar. Big entry holes, not much penetration, lots of drop after 100yards, and a lot of wasted meat were the rule. He went back to 150s. I think I still have the leftover (partial) box he gave me. He said never again and considering, I helped cut up the deer harvested, I'll never use them either for deer.

[AJMD429]

We 'use' them as DECOYS to have the gun dealers keep on the shelf for other people to buy, so we can have the good stuff...

[Blaine]

Those would just BlowUp a ground hog or possem or feral cat/dog.......Mess up too much meat on a deer, but would be ok if that's all ya had.

[Travis Morgan]

Depends on what bullet they're loaded with. You can sometimes find Winchester .30-30 ammo for $10 on sale.

[Kapincrunch]

I have shot quite a few 125 grain hollow points reloads. They are an explosive bullet designed for big game. As stated before they would also serve well as a self-defense round. Would probably be the best man stopper. Unlike some, I like the bullet to do more than just poke a hole through the deer. 125 grain hollow points will do the trick.

Here are the negatives. They start out very fast but they dont fly very flat because of their poor b.c. Point of aim will be very different than with any other load you put through the gun. My Marlin will shoot 150 grain Fed bullets and 160 grain Hornady LE bullets at the same point of impact at 100 yards. the 125 grain bullets may be off as much as 8 inches.

All that said, I was at Bass Pro today and saw Winchesters new hollow point 150 grain bonded bullets. Those would be worth a try and at about $18 they are $4 cheaper than Hornady LE rounds.
pb

[DarryH]

I have used them on varmints and wild cats and dogs.
On the farm, we often times had feral animals come visiting.

I have used them on squirrels with fun results.
I always make sure I am shooting into the side of a big tree,
so I have to be very careful about choosing my shots.
Head shots pretty much decapitate the squirrels.
They ALWAYS fall dead !

I sell hunting items at work.
I will oftentimes recommend these to someone who is a bit recoil shy.
It is a good starter round for someone who has not shot many larger calibers. A 30-30 seems to be the first high power load for deer sized game, that guys let their wives try for the first time.

Have fun with them!
Good Shootin!!
DarryH
Nebraska

[Travis Morgan]

I have shot quite a few 125 grain hollow points reloads. They are an explosive bullet designed for big game. pb

No such thing. The rest of what you wrote about the "poor b.c." was pretty much stuff you made up, too. The 125 gr. loading IS popular with law enforcement,(though not necessarily with the frangible bullets{btw, they're not "explosive", they're "frangible"}) and some smaller rural depts. carry it even to this day.

[Travis Morgan]

A 30-30 seems to be the first high power load for deer sized game, that guys let their wives try for the first time.

Have fun with them!
Good Shootin!!
DarryH
Nebraska

A lot of us just buy a second, third, or fourth .30-30 so she can have one and not take ours!

[Hobie]

I a farmer friend load several hundred of the Sierra 125 gr hp over IMR 3031 for his use on his farm. Over the years he and his sons have used them to kill groundhogs, deer and more and they are satisfied and wanted more! In my experience one can't load them sufficiently faster than the 150 gr. to give a real ballistic advantage. They are a LOT of fun and useful in the .30 Herrett but they are starting 200 fps slower from that cartridge.