30-30 stopping power?

[dxthunter57]

my buddy has a 30 30 and we are headed to New York
i was wondering does a 30 30 have enough juice to get through and break the front shoulder and kill it
 

[shaman]

Yes, but. . .
If you are hunting with a lighter 150 grain bullet, and the distance is at the farther end of the 30-30's 150 yard operating range, don't try for the shoulder.  In fact, I would recommend that you go for a boiler room shot at any range-- heart and lungs. I find it to be a lot more certain and you end up losing a lot less meat.

I experimented with reloading for the 30-30 quite a bit since 2002, when I tried 30-30 for the first time.  Honestly, starting out I was not impressed with the stopping power, even at close range.

See "Ode to a 30-30"  especially Pt III for details. 

Over the next couple of seasons, Mooseboy lost one doe and had trouble putting down another.  In retrospect,  some of it was probably jitters.  During this time I tried 150 grain and 170 grain bullets with only some improvement.  Someone finally suggested Winchester Power Points in 150 Grain and . . . my son Mooseboy, switched to an M1 Garand in 2005, so there was a 3 year gap.  #3 son came on line this year and had one-shot/one-kill success with the Winchesters. I was impressed.

I know there is a lot of talk this year about the new Hornady stuff and how it boosts the effectiveness of
a 30-30 out to 300 yards.  Yes, but. . . I don't see where it is helping any inside 50 yards where most of the killing actually takes place.  There is no magic here, just high-school level physics.  A 150-170 grain bullet will only go so fast without blowing up the rifle. There is only so much energy that can be transmitted when it hits the target.  30-30 is still not a 30-06, and that would be what I would be choosing if I were a dedicated shoulder shooter. There will be disagreement on this, but that is my opinion.

The thing that I don't like about shoulder shots is the uncertainty.  If any bullet is going to fail, the majority of cases are when it hits a shoulder.  One bunch of fellows I respect agree that the deflection from a glancing blow to the bone is what causes even so many premium bullets to fail. All I know is that I have been hunting deer for 26 years. I have never deliberately shot for the shoulder, and I never seem to need to do any serious trailing.  Punching through a rib and taking out the heart and both lungs also puts them down with a lot less meat loss.

If you are going to be loading for yourself, I can recommend H4895 and Winchester PowerPoint 150 grain RN. If you are using factory fare, I know a lot of dedicated 30-30 hunters who swear by the Remington Hollowpoints. 

[PrairieShadow]

Used to use Win 150grn silvertips(not the ballistic silvertips either). Not sure if they even still make them but man did those things rock.
 
My dad has been shooting a 30-30 for as long as i can remember and has taken god only knows how many deer with it out to about 200yds.
 
As long as you know its limits and your capabilities it is a sweet caliber.
 
As far as a shoulder shot i would rather hit the shoulder shooting a 30-30 than a .243 thats for sure.

[adirondackhunter]

I used 30 -30 for several years shooting 170 grain remmington bullets.Never had a problem. All my shots were 100 yards or less.My son- in law now hunts with the rifle.It's a model 94 winchester my grandfather gave me.

[PrairieShadow]

gotta love the 94!! What a great rifle they are!

[hunter480]

I`m with you. I just Love the Winchesters. I had a 94 30-30 that I unfortunately sold. But i currently have a Winchester `94 in .44 mag, that I`ll never sell. Winchester is an American tradition and my Winchester will be a legacy I`ll leave for my son.

[danesdad]

I used the 94 in 30-30 for years without a problem.  In fact, I only went to the 30.06 because i wanted to extend my reach (and because I won one at a gun bash).  I never take shoulder shots, so I couldn't tell you how that worked out.

[yellowtail3]

ORIGINAL: dxthunter57

my buddy has a 30 30 and we are headed to New York
i was wondering does a 30 30 have enough juice to get through and break the front shoulder and kill it

Absolutely. Unless you are waaaaay out there - 200 yards plus? - a 30-30 round, esp. in 170gr variety, will likely blow through both shoulders.

When you hear peeps complain about the performance of the 30-30 on deer, you can be pretty certain the problem was where they stuck the bullet, and not the bullet.

Not too long ago I made an atrocious shot on a doe. She was moving, I shouldn't have shot, I did. About 90-120 yards. Bullet shattered BOTH thigh bones, near-amputating both back legs, and buried itself in the leaves beyond her. I have never, NEVER recovered a 30-30 bullet, and I've shot a bunch of deer. Some through the shoulder.

The load on the doe was a power-shok 170gr. All you'll ever need.

[hunter480]

ORIGINAL: dxthunter57

my buddy has a 30 30 and we are headed to New York
i was wondering does a 30 30 have enough juice to get through and break the front shoulder and kill it

Oh yeah, by "juice", I`m guessing you mean "power".......
 
Is that what that means in every day speak?

[dxthunter57]

hahah yes juice means power
ha
i mean i love the 30-30 and yes i would go for a boiler room shot but like if the thing was facing right at me would it have enough POWER (hunter480 lol) to break through the brisket
and i think that the 30 30 round has killed more deer than any caliber out there