30-30 accuracy

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cecil30-30

cecil30-30

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Dec 5, 2006
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32,529
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Morgan Co
Okay guys,just cause my username has 30-30 in it,doesn't make me a 30-30 expert,I chose it because it what I took my first deer with..With that being said, I havn't had my 30-30 hunting in about 3 years,mainly because it had a bad scope on it,Well I replaced it over the summer with a good scope. When I was useing it,I wasn't as concerned with accuracy as I am now,I'd just draw a X on a sheet of paper and sight it in by useing a tree in the yard as a rest,and just get it as close as I could.But now i'd like to have the smallest group as I can get with my rifles,I use a gun vise,i'll lock em down tight and sight them in at 100yds and see what kind of group they will shoot..

I thought i'd use the winchester 150gr powerpoints since my 30-06 shoots the 180gr powerpoints so well,and they have performed real well for me out of my 06.Anyway,today the best group I could get was like 3 inches,maybe 3.5inches,and this was at 100yds(laser rangefiner).Is this the kind of accuracy the 30-30 does at 100yds? I think im gonna give the hornady leverevolution ammo another try..
 
well all guns like different weights & bullets,try the 180g & see how it shoots,just dont do really long shots with out some testing to find the drop,mike243
 
Just noticed,I put this in the ML forum...LOL Wrong place.. Im gonna try differ loads,because im sure it should shoot better than what it did today..
 
2 to 3 inches is what I've experienced with the few lever actions I've had. The flat-nosed bullets have poor ballistic coefficients, and even a little side wind can throw them off. Also the triggers on most lever actions leave a lot to be desired.

I'd deffinately try the rubber-tipped Hornady bullets...even at that, be aware of the limitations of that rifle.
 
I don't want to shoot over 100yds with it,just want to be real confident up to 100yds with it and maybe 125yds max..I have my 30-06 for anything farther and the ole Reminton 700 put em in there real tight..LOL
 
I had a gunsmith install a Wild West Happy Trigger on my 30 30. Do a google search on this trigger. My trigger pull is now 2.5 lbs! I put a Nikon Buckmasters 3-9X40 a week ago. I shot a .75" group at 100 yards today off sandbags. I am using the Leverevolution, best ammo ever for lever guns. Don't let people tell you a lever gun can't shoot great groups. It takes a crisp trigger, solid mount and scope, and good shooting ability.
 
That's what my Marlin XLR 444 is for. :D
Nothing feels right like an open sight lever gun in my right hand stalking the woods.
Snow on the ground, raining ......even better!!!
 
UTGrad said:
I had a gunsmith install a Wild West Happy Trigger on my 30 30. Do a google search on this trigger. My trigger pull is now 2.5 lbs! I put a Nikon Buckmasters 3-9X40 a week ago. I shot a .75" group at 100 yards today off sandbags. I am using the Leverevolution, best ammo ever for lever guns. Don't let people tell you a lever gun can't shoot great groups. It takes a crisp trigger, solid mount and scope, and good shooting ability.
Click to expand...

Good choice on the scope and trigger. Lever actions are fun! The best are really accurate; unfortunately there are a lot of sub-standard performers out there, especially the cheaper/older ones.

And like DA said, the trigger on my 336 was better than on my 94 by a large margin. I no longer have either gun.
 
jakeway said:
UTGrad said:
I had a gunsmith install a Wild West Happy Trigger on my 30 30. Do a google search on this trigger. My trigger pull is now 2.5 lbs! I put a Nikon Buckmasters 3-9X40 a week ago. I shot a .75" group at 100 yards today off sandbags. I am using the Leverevolution, best ammo ever for lever guns. Don't let people tell you a lever gun can't shoot great groups. It takes a crisp trigger, solid mount and scope, and good shooting ability.
Click to expand...

Good choice on the scope and trigger. Lever actions are fun! The best are really accurate; unfortunately there are a lot of sub-standard performers out there, especially the cheaper/older ones.

And like DA said, the trigger on my 336 was better than on my 94 by a large margin. I no longer have either gun.
Click to expand...

Worked for me today (opening day)



Deer4November009.jpg
 
ShaneHallum said:
Nice deer! I'm still wanting to get the trigger for my .35
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Have a gunsmith install it unless you have the skills. I don't and the gunsmith installed it and got the trigger nice and crisp.
 
Mine loves the 170gr federal soft point. the cheapest walmart had. I put 11 rounds in a inch at 100 yards just to see if i could. I went the next day and bought 5 boxes (all they had at the time) good luck
 
The 30 30 was the first smokeless cartridge available to the public back in the 1890s. Given its length of time, yes there is no question it has killed more deer. Heck, a Marlin 30 30 is very affordable at any of the major retailers. It is a great gun unless you are many miles west of the Mississippi.
 
My CVA Optima is WAY more accurate than my Marlin 30-30. So much so, that I no longer use the 30-30.

I was shooting the Winchester 30-30 (170gr) bullets, but they only grouped a 5" pattern at 100 yards. I went to the Hornady 8085 170gr. flatnose and it groups at about 2.5" at 100 yards.

Compare that to the CVA Optima with the 300gr SST with 100gr 777, groups less than 1" at 100 yards. Drops less, too (I am sure due to the tumbling effect of the 30-30).
 
UTGrad said:
The 30 30 was the first smokeless cartridge available to the public back in the 1890s. Given its length of time, yes there is no question it has killed more deer. Heck, a Marlin 30 30 is very affordable at any of the major retailers. It is a great gun unless you are many miles west of the Mississippi.
Click to expand...

Yea though the old saying is.......
The 30/30 killed the most but it probably wounded the most too.
Great saddle rifle and easy on the shoulder.
 
skynimrod said:
UTGrad said:
The 30 30 was the first smokeless cartridge available to the public back in the 1890s. Given its length of time, yes there is no question it has killed more deer. Heck, a Marlin 30 30 is very affordable at any of the major retailers. It is a great gun unless you are many miles west of the Mississippi.
Click to expand...

Yea though the old saying is.......
The 30/30 killed the most but it probably wounded the most too.
Great saddle rifle and easy on the shoulder.
Click to expand...
I have to disagree,i'd give that to the 22lr
 
Still-n-Quiet said:
My CVA Optima is WAY more accurate than my Marlin 30-30. So much so, that I no longer use the 30-30.

I was shooting the Winchester 30-30 (170gr) bullets, but they only grouped a 5" pattern at 100 yards. I went to the Hornady 8085 170gr. flatnose and it groups at about 2.5" at 100 yards.

Compare that to the CVA Optima with the 300gr SST with 100gr 777, groups less than 1" at 100 yards. Drops less, too (I am sure due to the tumbling effect of the 30-30).
Click to expand...


My CVA Accura and my Marlin 30 30 have both shot sub MOA groups, but I would say they average 1.5" at 100 yards. I love the Accura, but I'm anal about keeping clean so I get tired of the 45 minute cleaning job after each hunt or range session.
 
i love my 336. my grandpaw bought it for me when i was 14 and i hunt with it every year. i used to use the winchester powerpoints. switched this year to 150gr. winchester supreme silvertips with the polymer tip. my groups were very tight. i could cover 3 holes at 75yds with a quarter.
 
30-30 said:
i love my 336. my grandpaw bought it for me when i was 14 and i hunt with it every year. i used to use the winchester powerpoints. switched this year to 150gr. winchester supreme silvertips with the polymer tip. my groups were very tight. i could cover 3 holes at 75yds with a quarter.
Click to expand...
group.jpg
 
WestTn Huntin'man said:
I've shot 170 grain Remington Cor locs out of mine for over 25 years.1 1/2" or under groups at 100 yards .
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Awesome gun! awesome bullets!
I have used my gold trigger 30/30 for over thirty years and when it finally lays down, guess I will too!

One shot/one kill
 

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