30-30 bullet weight
A "will be new to me" Winchester 94 Ranger 30-30 lever gun and I need to get a few boxes of ammunition for it. Mainly used for target shooting, most of what I see is 150gr or 170gr bullet weights. I do not know the rate of twist, but it is a 20" barrel if I remember correctly. Any thoughts from the forum to the better performing bullet weight?
Thanks
EDIT
Thanks for the info, experts! Happy Thanksgiving to all!!
Thanks
EDIT
Thanks for the info, experts! Happy Thanksgiving to all!!
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Your rifle should fire either weight just fine.
For hunting, particularly bigger game, I'd say the 170s are a better bet since they potentially offer a little better penetration and bullet weight retention.
For pure target shooting, try both types and see which is more accurate in your gun. All else being equal, I'd pick the 150s for a bit less recoil, but they may or may not be more accurate.
If you think you're going to do a lot of target shooting, but also some hunting, then maybe just stick with the 170s since you'll get more practice with them overall and be more familiar with them and their drop rates for that "money" shot.0 -
Another thing to consider... all of the older Model 1894 and 94s were specifically designed for the 170-grain bullet weight. The sights were regulated for it, and the rifling twist rate was optimum for that weight bullet. 0 -
I still have some Accelerator 30-30 ammo which is very light. That fad didn't last long. 0 -
The last box of Speer 170 FN I got about a year and a half ago to give away cost like $30. The good news she got her elk this with the ammo I taught her to load. I think you should look at the leverution plastic nose for reloading. I also like cast bullets for the 30-30 as they make for cheap shooting. Case life isn't real long so score more that you think you would. 0 -
Yup, most .30-30 bullets are 150 and 170's. The Hornady leverEvolution line are 160 gr. I like the 150's because that's what I'm used to, but 170's shoot just as well from my 2 m-94's (post-1964). If you want a good 170 to load, the Nosler Partition comes in a 170. It'll do for you just about anything a .30-30 can do.
My grandpa used 150 gr Winchester silvertips for ages, he liked the fact that when they're unloaded after a hunt they don't damage the tips as much as regular exposed lead bullets..at least that was his reasoning. He rarely used more than 2 rounds a year to get his 2 doe tags filled, but his shooting was 70-100 yds max from a blind so the shots weren't too extreme.
Try them both (or all three weights if the Hornadys are on the shelf) and see what works best for you. Have fun!0 -
The original .30 WCF load was with a 160 grain bullet at a good deal lower velocity than the eventual standards of 150 or even 170.
If there has been a Winchester .30-30 with rifling twist other than 1 in 12" I would be interested to hear about it and just how it was optimum for any particular load, then or now.
I know there was a lot of emphasis on iron sight graduations in early days but doubt much attention was paid the economy model Ranger; the elevator steps are probably pretty arbitrary. If it is drilled and tapped for a receiver sight, that would be a very worthwhile improvement.
You will be fine with either load but pick one and stick to it. The sight settings will be different and not easy to adjust precisely.
But in my opinion you will soon get tired of target shooting with a .30-30. It is no Mag-Numb but the rifle is light and its buttplate is narrow; felt recoil is substantial.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Hawk Carse
The original .30 WCF load was with a 160 grain bullet at a good deal lower velocity than the eventual standards of 150 or even 170.
If there has been a Winchester .30-30 with rifling twist other than 1 in 12" I would be interested to hear about it and just how it was optimum for any particular load, then or now.
In regards to the rifling twist rate always being 1:12 for the 30 WCF cartridge, that is incorrect. More specifically, and in the year 1928, Winchester manufactured several thousand Model 94s with a rifling twist rate of 1:10. They used left over Model 95 .30 caliber barrels to make them.
The April 1900 catalog listed the bullet weight as 160-grains, and it was changed to 170-grains sometime before the October 1905 catalog (most of my catalogs are on loan to a friend, so I can not at this time confirm precisely when the change was made).0 -
quote:in the year 1928, Winchester manufactured several thousand Model 94s with a rifling twist rate of 1:10. They used left over Model 95 .30 caliber barrels to make them.
That is something I did not know, and a fascinating example of the gun companies' attitude of "waste not, want not."
But it doesn't appear to have anything to do with "rifling twist rate was optimum for that weight bullet." Else why go back to 12 after using up barrels on hand?0 -
I elected to go with 170-grain bullets exclusively, several decades back. Energy figures between the 150's and the 170's are close, but with the 170 having a little better momentum. But both bullets have a good record on white-tails. I just prefer the heavier bullets, in anything. I used to handload the 190-grain Silvertips (that were designed for the .303 Savage), for .30-30 single shots. I use only open or reciever sights on my .30-30's, and I restrict my shots to about 100 yards, so drop isn't a factor.
For centerfire plinking, a .30-30 eats only about half the powder that a lot of other cartridges use. A good source of .30-30 brass is the 'sighting in' ranges, around deer season. I've bought buckets full from them for 5 cents per round, after they had it sorted.0 -
Also, if recoil is an issue you might try the Federal 125 grain loads. Less recoil and I've succesfully used them on deer and hogs.
Just a thought.0
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