30-30 Lever Action ammo???

[trex]

Which factory ammo do you believe is best for deer/bear?

Which bullet do you believe is best?

Which powder do you believe is best?

I know it depends on each rifle liking certain ammo but pretend the rifle will shoot any load.

 

[44 mag]

I have always used the federal power shok in 170 grain. It was the cheapest and shot good out of my rifle. I think at the time it was $12 a box so I bought all that Walmart had. That was close to 20 years ago. I still have a couple boxes left. It's also the only round I have tried so I don't have any experience with other ammo but it works.

 

[Acorn]

Hornady leverevolution 160 gr ftx.
This ammo is a game changer. I have had great luck with it.

 

[trex]

Hornady leverevolution 160 gr ftx.
This ammo is a game changer. I have had great luck with it.

How?

 

[Acorn]

How?

More velocity, shoots flatter, more energy on impact and better accuracy. When I shot the flat nose I was comfortable shooting out to 150 yards. With this I'm comfortable shooting it out to 200 yards. They work great in my rifle but they are a little pricey compared to the flat nose.

 

[Remi]

For factory ammo I use the 170gr Remington Corelokt


In my handloads I use the 170 Hornady and 30grs of imr3031


Good read on factory 170's

170 gr .30-30 ammo test

Standard for decades, 170 grain soft point .30-30 ammo is a mainstay of the ammunition industry, and a reliable partner of countless hunters. There has been a long time now for this .30-30 ammo to be perfected. The modest muzzle velocity of the .30-30, coupled with the large exposed lead tips of...

www.marlinowners.com

 

[Moonman]

Federal fusion is my go too. I couldn't find it and ran out last year and used the federal blue box power shock blue box. I didn't get a pass through and blood trail was terrible. Ran 50 yds and was hard to find blood.

 

[Patrick H]

Winchester Power Point 150 grain. Consistently the most accurate out of 4 different Marlin 336. I can put 3 out of five shots into 3/4" and all 5 in 1.5" at 100 yards with a solid rest and using a scope. Always puts deer down.

Next best have been Remington Core-Lok 170 grain and Federal blue box Power Shock 150 grain which shoots very close to the Winchester Power Point 150 grain.

Hornady Leverevolution did not shoot well out of 4 different Marlin 336 and it does not extend maximum point blank range by much.

 

[trex]

Anyone use the 170 grain Hornady Interlock FP bullet in 30-30, do they hold together good?
They say it has a sectional density of .256 so it looks like it should be a good bullet.

 

[tnanh]

More velocity, shoots flatter, more energy on impact and better accuracy. When I shot the flat nose I was comfortable shooting out to 150 yards. With this I'm comfortable shooting it out to 200 yards. They work great in my rifle but they are a little pricey compared to the flat nose.

Not necessarily. I have two 30-30s and they both shoot this ammo really bad. Six inch groups at 100 yards. Powerpoint 150s shoot about 1 1/2 inch groups in both. But, I have shot the leverevolution in a 35 and a 45-70 with good results.

 

[Lost Lake]

My favorite cartridge, and I appreciate the 30/30 for what it is. No way I'm going to try to turn it into a longer range round by using the gummy tips.

Any good cup and core flat nose 150 grain will drop deer well. Penetration is more than adequate as I usually never recover a bullet.

When I'm going after bear or hogs, I like the 170's.

Sierra bullets in my handloads are my favorite.

 

[TheAirMan]

I don't know if it's the best, but I like Winchester Power Point 150 grain.

 

[Shag]

I don't know if it's the best, but I like Winchester Power Point 150 grain.

That is the ONLY ammo my Marlin will group with! Seriously, the ONLY ammo it will shoot a group with!!!

 

[TNReb]

Good old Corelokt works well for any deer in TN. Can't comment on bear.

 

[thale51]

Just shot a doe yesterday with my 30-30 using Federal Powershok 170 grain bullets. Great entrance/exit holes and she didn't run 40 yards before she fell. It seems to group pretty well in my rifle. I've also had good luck with the Winchester Power Points.

 

[Hduke86]

Not a 30-30 BUT in my 35 rem the Hornady 200gr LEVERevolution has been my go-to for anything 200 yards and in.

 

[TN Larry]

I always shot 170 gr Core Lokt in mine.

 

[hillbillyfab]

Another 170 Grain Core Lokt user here.