Ultramax .30-30win. Cowboy ammunition question

[junkwrencher]

It is advertized 1170fps, 165gr. lead bullet for cowboy action.Is anyone here using this load or have experience with it? In your opinion,is this enough for deer at 75 yards or less?I assume the muzzle blast, if any would be mild.

[Griff]

No. But, .357, 158gr. slugs are ok, I have to say this could do the job... with proper placement.

[junkwrencher]

Griff, thanks for responding, no you wouldn't use them for deer,have you fired any of them?Anyone using these?It is the only significantly reduced factory loading I can find.The Hudson Bay Co. used to supply their employees with a reduced loading in this caliber for less than big game.Griff the .357 158gr slugs you're talking about,standard velocity or cowboy loads?If they're off the shelf stuff they should run around 1500-1800fps from a rifle 20"-24",right?Thanks.I'm looking for factory light loads for the .30-30.Remington offers the Managed Recoil load but it's running over 2000fps.

[TedH]

Welcome junkwrencher.

The load you're describing is about the same energy level of a standard 158 gr. 357 Magnum out of a handgun. So yes, it could be used for short range deer hunting with perfect shot placement. I'd have to ask why you would want to use it for deer with so many better choices available. If recoil and or muzzle blast are of concern, Remington's reduced recoil loads would be far better deer killers than the Cowboy ammo.

[junkwrencher]

At close range it should kill with authority.Some .300Whisper loads don't go this fast and kill much farther.My question remains unanswered so I guess I need to buy a box and find out.

[w30wcf]

junkwrencher,
A few years ago I tried some .30-30 Ultramax Cowboy ammunition and it shot reasonably well with groups running about 1 1/4" @ 50 yards. One will have to adjust his sights accordingly.

I never ran them across the chronograph, but I did dissect some to see what they were loaded with. The powder charge was 12 grs. of what appears to be Accurate Arms 5744 under a 165 gr. plain based lead alloy bullet.

I have not tried them on deer, but I would suspect that they would work ok at very close range. It's doubtful that the bullet would expand but I would think that it likely might tumble since it is somewhat marginally stabilized at the lower velocity. That would increase its harvesting capabilities.

The Hudson Bay Co. used to supply their employees with a reduced loading in this caliber for less than big game.

Do you know what that ammunition was?

w30wcf

[junkwrencher]

A man by the name of John Kort supplied my info. http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=2202
I think this should pull up some info. and thank you for your response.I am so sorry, the information is what you already know because you wrote this article! I was so excited about a response I didn't notice it was you.

[Rusty]

John,
Not to hijack a thread but IIRC didn't you get Hobie and a few others working on some small game loads a while back by producing a picture of one of those low power rounds?

[junkwrencher]

http://home.comcast.net/~parslowb/labels/Reloading.html
This is the link to Shooting with Hobie. It is Monday, May 8,2006, Recreated .30WCF Small Game Load.
If I had not posted what I had John might not have told me of his experience with the Ultramax loads.Thanks so much, John and Hobie.

[w30wcf]

junkwrencher,
You are most welcome. PMC also made a .30-30 Cowboy cartridge up until a few years ago. It's velocity was in the 1,300-1,400 f.p.s. range which makes it a bit more powderful than the Ultramax. Too bad it was discontinued.

It would be great if someone would produce a factory .30-30 Mid Range load with a velocity of 1,400 - 1,500 f.p.s. Unfortunately, at this point, it is a handloading proposition only.

Rusty,
T'was I and probably a few other folks. junkwrencher, thank you for the link.

w30wcf

[horsesoldier03]

Not sure why you need the reduced recoil. My youngest (11 yr old, 4'4" 85lb) daughter shoots my 30-30, 150 grn without a hitch. Even took her first deer with it this year. Not sure if you reload, but the factory reduced recoil loads are about as light as I would go if I wanted to shoot a deer. I wouldnt drop the velocity below 1500. You may want to try some of the 125 grn FNHP w/ 32 gr of IMR4895 it should run about 2100 fps, that recoil should be manageable for just about anyone. Check out some of PACOs articles on the 30-30.