Marlin lever .30-.30 ammo question

Blodgett Bret · 06-02-2008, 11:27 AM

First time poster on the hunting board. I just traded and got a 30-30 lever with a 4x scope and was wondering what is a recommended manufactured ammo for it? I read somewhere that you don't want pointed bullets with lever's. I plan on going hunting for the 1st time this coming season on my property and was wondering what type of game I can kill within 150yards. Is Elk out of the question? Is it best to target practice with the exact round you plan to hunt with (ie if I try the leverevoltution should I target with that or can I get away with target practice with a cheaper bullet but hunt with it)? Any answers would be greatly appreciated. I am a fisherman but with the price of everything going up it is time to fill the freezer with the other red meat.

thresher · 06-02-2008, 01:00 PM

Try the hornday lever evolution ammo. My 30-30 loves the stuff and it puts together very nice groups as well.

k9jeff · 06-02-2008, 01:06 PM

I will second the hornday leverrevolution ammo. It turned my 30-30 from a brush gun to an almost anything gun.

Chrome Bumper · 06-02-2008, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blodgett Bret

First time poster on the hunting board. I just traded and got a 30-30 lever with a 4x scope and was wondering what is a recommended manufactured ammo for it? I read somewhere that you don't want pointed bullets with lever's. I plan on going hunting for the 1st time this coming season on my property and was wondering what type of game I can kill within 150yards. Is Elk out of the question? Is it best to target practice with the exact round you plan to hunt with (ie if I try the leverevoltution should I target with that or can I get away with target practice with a cheaper bullet but hunt with it)? Any answers would be greatly appreciated. I am a fisherman but with the price of everything going up it is time to fill the freezer with the other red meat.

If you shoot at elk with it it will feel like a popgun. 30-06 feels much better out to a couple hundred yards.

Don Fischer · 06-02-2008, 01:29 PM

Sight it in with whatever your going to use hunting.

Incredible_Bulk · 06-02-2008, 01:34 PM

I use the Remington Core-Lokt 170 grain in mine. I love it.

Bulk

bignate · 06-02-2008, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Fischer

Sight it in with whatever your going to use hunting.

This is the best advice. I really like the Hornady leverevolution out of my .357 marling lever gun. My buddy shot some good groups with hornady out of his 30-30 marlin too. Now with the advances in ammo, and prices also, you have to ask your self
1) Will it be for hunting only? or will I shoot pop cans too? (remington= cheap and reliable)
2) What type of range do I want? (hornady will give you a little more range, but is more expensive)

Hornady is not cheap. Actually its very spendy compared to Remington. I chose to shoot remington out of my gun but I also know that it shoots about the same out to 100yards and I will probably not shoot a deer past 100 yards with a 357 anyway.

Other than sticking with 1 type of ammo, the only other advice I can give you is to GO AND SHOOT. Its fun and you will see how the gun handles. Go to the range, or where ever, shoot 50yards, 100 yards, and 150 yards. Try 200 yards but that will be stretching your luck with a 30-30, but this is my opinion. I would grab another out of the safe if I were to shoot further that 200.

This will show you bullet drop and how you will have to compensate for it.

https://www.hornady.com/story.php?s=198

Its a good gun out to 150 yards, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Have fun and be safe, Nate

James in Idaho · 06-03-2008, 06:27 AM

I remember reading somewhere (Americian Rifleman maybe?) that in all their testing, factory loaded 30-30 was some of the most consistant ammo found. I handload for mine, and old H & R single shot (pre handyrifle), so I can use spire points. Gal friend of mine, who maybe weighs a 100 soaking wet has used it to drop a couple of elk and a deer. Light recoil, short rifle. One of these days I will own a pre '64 Winchester 30-30, just 'cause they're too cool. Good gun with 170 grains out to 150 yards and you won't really be "undergunned".

SImudBogger · 06-03-2008, 09:24 AM

Leverevolution all the way. My uncle has killed 2 deer with this round out of his marlin and neither even blinked after they where hit. This round is devastating on deer. Much faster and more powerful than old round nose and flat point cor-lokts or winchester power points

Doc_Rhen · 06-03-2008, 10:16 AM

I killed four Elk with a Marlin .30-30 shooting 170 grain Nosler Partitions (it never felt like a pop-gun). Yes with tubular magazines you should stick with the flat or round nose bullets. I have not shot any of the new Hornady lever bullets but it sounds like a good concept, I just am exceedingly partial to the Partitions for all big game hunting.

KingFisher85 · 06-03-2008, 10:44 AM

After shooting the Leverevolution out of my T/C Contender 30-30 and 35REM, id say give the Hornady a try.

Grantspastor · 06-03-2008, 11:34 AM

The 30-30 is not out of the question for Elk..but most would agree it's less than ideal. If you're 100 yards or under and put it right in the boiler room it will do the job.

Incredible_Bulk · 06-03-2008, 11:48 AM

I've hunted with a .30-.30 all my life, was the only rifle I owned at the time, and I loved it. Decided last year to bump up to .30-06 for Elk. I was sighting it in, and touched off that first round with the .30-06, and ended up laughing so loud. My .30-30 had this nice little "BOOM" when I fired it, the .30-06, took my mark, and squeezed the trigger... and

KKRAACKKKOOOOOMMMM!!!! Had a nice little muzzle flare, and I officially fell in love.

When it comes to deer rifles, the .30-30 is in my book bar-none the best. But I'll definitely be sticking to the .30-06 for Elk from now on.

With that said, I shoot the Remington Core-Lokt in both. It's cheap to target with, and mushrooms quite nicely.

Ben

ICHTHYDEMON · 06-03-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grantspastor

The 30-30 is not out of the question for Elk..but most would agree it's less than ideal. If you're 100 yards or under and put it right in the boiler room it will do the job.

I killed my first elk (spike bull) with a Marlin 30-30 when I was 10 years old.

More than likely it was loaded with 170gr. Core-Lokts as that was what my step dad used to buy.

IIRC it took 3 shots to drop him and another to finish him off.