30 BR as a varmint round?

[squirrelsnpr]

Has anyone tried to put together a 30 BR varmint rifle. I was looking at the 30 BR and thought it would make a good mid range (out to 600 yards or so) varmint rifle. Hornady makes the 110 V-max, and Nosler makes a 125 grain ballistic tip. I don't know how the BIBs and other high end bullets work on varmints but someone must have tried it.

What happens to when a heavier bullet is loaded onto of the 30 BR? Say, something in the 150-168 weight?

I also posted this in the "big stuff" section hoping to get more responses.

 

[Spook]

Speer 125gr TNT's ;D I've shot 155 Hornady Amax through mine (15T) with very good accuracy.

 

[squirrelsnpr]

Spook, can you provide me with some details about your rifle? And what kind of accuracy are we talking about at 100 yards? How do the TNTs work on ground squirrels?

 

[mrl]

There are much better rounds for varmint hunting. I think a 30BR is a 300 yd round( I have had 3) I know that people have won matchs at 600yds with them, but people have also won matchs at 1000yd with a 45-70 and I don't think anybody will say that it a long ronge cartridge. I think a variation of a 6BR ex a Dasher or sonething like a 6X47 Lapua would be a better choice.

 

[Spook]

Spook, can you provide me with some details about your rifle? And what kind of accuracy are we talking about at 100 yards? How do the TNTs work on ground squirrels?

Brux 7 groove 15 twist chambered with the "Robinette" reamer from PTG. I've shot plenty of .1's using Randys bullets and can usually stay under.400 with the TNT's (without sorting). The TNTs pretty much vaporize anything soft. They're not quite as violent as a Vmax but close.
Be ready for an increase in recoil over the 6mm's.

 

[j_22250]

tht's a reel purdy gun spook. what benefits if any are gained when shooting lighter, yet bigger dia. bullets? i never understood it. i would think maybe splat factor for varmints, but don't see it with slower velocities of br.

 

[squirrelsnpr]

mrl, I am interested in the 30BR due to the outstanding accuracy people are reporting, coupled with the ease of tuning. I would love to spend minimal time at the range working up a load, and more time in the feild shooting varmints. And then there's the barrel life factor. With reports of getting 7,400 rounds down the tube and still winning competative matches; I would never have to buy anyother barrel again, EVER!

I am surprised to see that you believe this rifle would be good out to 300 yards. With own three different 30BR's why do you say it's a good 300 yard rifle. I was expecting about 2x's that at least.

If I cound get a 30BR to shoot a soda can at 600 yards consistantly with a 110 grain V-Max I would be happy. Or am I expecting too much?

 

[mrl]

I don't think the 30 BR has enough oomph to be a hunting rifle at much more than 300 yds. If you want a long range hunting rifle there are much better cartridges out there.

 

[squirrelsnpr]

Not enough umh even for ground squirrels?

 

[Spook]

tht's a reel purdy gun spook. what benefits if any are gained when shooting lighter, yet bigger dia. bullets? i never understood it. i would think maybe splat factor for varmints, but don't see it with slower velocities of br.

My understanding of it is that the 30BR was developed for score shooting where the extra diameter intrudes on the "X" by a factor of .0325 over a 6mm. and .042 over a .22 .
To be honest...I built the rifle to fireform brass for a Bat based bench gun.How well it shoots continues to amaze me. If there is anything more intrinsically accurate than the 6PPC its the 30BR. Loaded with Randy's 136 gr bullets...I think you're good to go out to 600.

 

[mrl]

Don't know never shot one, still don't think it is a long range round though. I don't think I would try one on a coyote or grounghog though at long range.

 

[Spook]

I dont care for coyotes. I'd shoot at one with a slingshot if I thought it would knock it down long enough for me to finish it off with a long stick.

Sierra load manual says Benchmark @ 34.1 gr will propel a 150 MK at 2600fps....still think it wont make it to 600?

 

[j_22250]

oh yeah it should make it to 600yrds no problem. if your only gonna stick to the lighter weights tho why shoot them out of a .30 cal. i've loaded for several different cals. without ever running into a real finikey one. to say the 30br is easiest i don't agree, but am not fixin to go build one jst to prove you wrong. my argument is that 115-125gr. .308 bullets are so short and fat that they don't fly thru the air as well as say the same weights in .25 -.277 cal. no doubt it isn't acurate tho. all i'm saying is they don't retain as much speed and have a tendancy to drop off more. reaching near .308 velocities with a 30br is impresive to say the least. very efficinet cartridge if you ask me. for those the 115 bullet weights tho i would prefer a 6.5 or .277 br. jst my 2 cents.

 

[mrl]

I don't believe I said a 30BR won't shoot that far. I don't believe it is a good round for LONG RANGE critter shooting. A 22rimfire will shoot a mile, a 30BR will shoot farther but that does not make them ethical long range hunting rounds.

 

[j_22250]

i see your point their spook. for punchin paper it's does have an edge over the competion.

mrl, i wouldn't go as far as saying a 30br is unethical for taking game, i def. don't think it's the best choice. i'm sure the 300 savage has taken plenty. which should be pretty close to compare with the 30br. a 150 sptizer bt outta any .30 cal at 2600fps will have about 775 ft. lbs. of energy at 500 yards. theoretically it takes 400 ft. lbs. of energy to kill a deer. so i think you could stretch that out to 600yrds. i'm sure it has and can be done, but like i said previously there are better choices for a hunting rig. ofcourse if punching paper is your objective then i think ol' spook may be on to something here.


keep up the good shooting!

 

[squirrelsnpr]

I'm glad my post stirred up the hornets nest, and appreciate everyones responses.

I don't want to take large game with a 30BR, I'm talking about ground squirrels. I figure if you can take a ground squirrel out with a pellet gun, the 30 BR should be able to do the same at 600 yards.

What I was originally looking for was an easy to tune varmint caliber with good barrel life that would give me excelent accuracy to about 600 yards. I saw the 110 grain V-max and 120 grain Nosler ballistic tips and read about the 30BR and put two and two together. I'm really looking for someone with expeirence shooting varmints with the 30BR. It sounds like the 30BR does stray much from the benchrest scene. I just might have to put one together and find out for myself. It does sound like a fun project.

 

[j_22250]

you can do all that with a 22 br. and maybe heavier bullets like 62-75gr. 223ai is a real zinger too. i wouldn't worry about barrel life out of either of these two. i myself have always wanted a .221 fireball.

 

[mrl]

Have at them guys I still don't think a 30BR is a long range hunting round.

 

[mason]

I plan on using mine this year for yotes..
I think the 30 has more poo in its pants then the 6br out to 600.(energy)
I have some 115gr boat-tails that flat shoot out to 500 and im sure 600 + would
come with the same results..

30BR+115BT+3125fps=DEAD CRITTERS @ 600 YARDS ;D :'(

 

[Northman]

Just read up on what a 308 will do to critters when shooting 115-130 grain bullets. Most posts I have seen they get them up to 30-3100 fps, and really making a mess out of things. Thats 30br territory..

The problem would be richochets(sp).. and I do think it could be overkill on PD, but not on groundhogs or coyotes.