150-165 grain pointed 0.30 for 3030 reloading

[danny pay]

Hi
which brand of bullet(sierra,hornady, speer,etc) is more reliable for loading in a3030 (blot action and combo not lever action).I mean it would open and mushrooms at low speed 1500-1700 fps impact velocity? weight would be 150-165 gr and pointed
regards
danny

[gd357]

Since you haven't specified what game you're intending on hunting, I'll assume you're wanting to shoot deer with this load. I'd suggest you take a look at nosler ballistic tips. They have a 150 gr bullet available, and also a 125 gr bullet which should be a superb choice in the 30-30. The 125 may give better expansion at 30-30 velocities, but either would work fine. Hornandy's spire point would also probably work well, and they have both a 150 gr offering, and a 130. Either of these will work on deer as well. Sierra also offers 125 and 150 gr bullets in their ProHunter line that would be very similar in performance to the Hornandy spire points. If you're wanting a 150 grain bullet, there's the first three I'd look at.

gd357

[Rocky Raab]

I agree. All of those are very good choices.

You might also consider the Sierra 135 #7350. It's designed for single-shot pistol use and will expand at very low speeds.

Finally, I should point out that the regular, non-pointy bullets designed for the 30-30 are absolutely no handicap whatever. There is virtually no ballistic advantage to a pointy bullet at 30-30 ranges anyway. The difference in drop or energy is miniscule at ranges inside 200 yards.

[Brithunter]

Hi All,

I wish I could use the 150-165 spitzer bullets in my 30-30 Bolt action, but the magazine is not long enough to do so. It was built around the Factory Winchester 170 grn FP loading. I use 130 Grn spire points from Hornady but at a higher velocity than normal, 2800fps using H335 powder. I have used a box of Sierria 150 Grn Flat points but at 2800 fps these are being pushed beyond their design limits.

Now as to what you can load bullet wise will be restricted by the length of the magazine and the throating of the barrel, you may find that you cannot like I found use the 150-165 grn spitzers as they have to be far too deeply seated to work. Personally I would certainly try the 125-135 grn spitzers. I did and they work very, very well indeed, accuracy is outstanding from my rifle with them, however it's not anything special with 150 grn factory 30-30 loads that I have tried so far.

[danny pay]

Hi
thanks for replies. i have tried 125 gr and 135 gr sierra in front of 32,5-33 grain norma 202 and it gives 2400 fps in my savage 24 and 100-150 fps less in my savage 340 accuraccy is excellend in both guns. i have tried 150 grain hornady spbt,but i couldn't get enough fps just around 2100 fps and it oppened barely at 40 yds !! I was curious about other brands like sierra 150 spbt or nosler sb-,in my 340 magasin length limits the cartridge length and force me to seat the bullet deeply, but in savage 24 i may could increase the catridge length and may be get some more fps, but 24 is not a strong action as 340 and i doubt about pushing the bullets too fast.
cheers
danny

[eldeguello]

I agree with gd357. The Nosler BT is about as "soft" a pointed bullet as you will find. I'd use the 150's, since you can launch them a little faster.

[polo]

Tried it once, shot well, dropped a doe. Had to overcome over all length problem first. In a bolt/clip I set them too long and it would chamber and shoot great, untill I tried to extract a still loaded round and found the bullet point hung in the too short action. Reduced load 8 grains to seat properly and problem stopped. Don't use in tube magazines!