Practical range on a 30-30??
I have a Savage model 24 30-30 over 12 ga. and I handload the 165 gr. Nosler ballisitic tip for it. My thinking has always been the outer limits for this cartridge is around 150-175 yards before it starts dropping fast. I have never studied the trajectory or ballisitic tables on it, I just wonder what the actual range is on it. I hunt a farm where 250-300 yard shots are possible. I feel handicapped when I carry the 30-30. Anybody got any insight on it? Thanks.
"They call me Don. Dr. Jason Donald Dalinger."
"They call me Don. Dr. Jason Donald Dalinger."
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The 150-175 yard range you mentioned is the effective range usually cited for this cartridge, generally (IMO) this is due to accuracy limitations of the rifles chambered for this cartridge, rather than low power. A rough-and-ready check of your particular rifle's maximum effective range would be the longest distance you can reliably keep all your shots on a paper plate (shooting from hunting positions, not off the bench!). Your personal effective range may vary significantly with your particular rifle and marksmanship. Great practice for deer season (and lots of fun) would be to take your deer rifle and handloads out to the farm in the off-season and hunt groundhogs. This earns the farmer's gratitude (woodchucks eat a lot of crops and their holes have been known to break axles of farm equipment), hones your skill and confidence with your rifle, and reveals any limitations in your equipment.
"I think of my gun as a tool for converting worthless human garbage into valuable fertilizer." John Dollar in the novel "Bridge City" by Fred Rexer0 -
Yes you are handicapped with the 30-30 on the 300 yard shot.
Get a scoped .270, or a .308, 30-06 etc.0 -
Allen, I've got quite a few other long range rifles that will easily handle 300-400 yards if I do my part. I just like to mix it up with the hardware. I generally rotate the guns I hunt with as I go through the season depending on the terrain I am hunting. The nice thing about the combo rifle/shotgun is if a deer comes running close by, I can switch the selector to shotgun and send a swarm of buckshot. I think I will set up some milk jugs at 200 yards and see if I can hit it with the 30-30. Thanks for the input.
"They call me Don. Dr. Jason Donald Dalinger."0 -
I have hunted with a Marlin 30/30 since I was young and have always opted to keep my shots within 100 yards and have had very good success.Most of what I hunt are woods though and not many openings or clear cuts so alot of my shots are under even 100 yards but Even my long shots have not exceeded that range.Over 150 yards use a .308. 0 -
Assuming your getting good groups, and figguring 2200fps at the muzzle........
If you sight in 3" high at 100, you will have a 188yd zero and be 3" low at about 222yd. At 250 you'll be about 6.5" low and at 300 expect to be almost 15" low.
Velocity/energy baised on a 165 NBT at 2200fps MV
100yd 2034fps/1515fpe
150yd 1954fps/1398fpe
200yd 1876fps/1289fpe
250yd 1799fps/1186fpe
300yd 1725fps/1090fpe
Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.0 -
You could also use Remington Accelerators, but you'd be limited to a .223 projectile.
I've loaded some with Sierra 125 & 150 grain bullets for my Contender; they seem to work really well out to almost 325yds.
Since you've got a single shot, why not experiment with which bullet weight gives you the most range?
"Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit" --OVID0 -
Just for the fun of it you should try the 125 BT. A few friends hunt whitetail with them in there 30/30 AI's Contenders, and have never lost a deer even out to over 200yds.
Gun control is hitting what your aiming at.0 -
Except for nostalgia, preference to lever actions, or something else I would scap the .30-30 in favor of anything from .243 to .30-06.
Sako Fan0
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